Alter Ego #61 August 2006 (magazine review).
Going back to 2006, this edition of Alter Ego features a 70-page exploration of the American Comics Group (ACG), re-written by Michael Vance from his own book on the subject, now with plenty of illustrations. As editor Roy Thomas points out, the original book only had one illustration, so this edition helps to balance the scales. ACG was one of the earliest comic book companies, emerging in 1933 and heavily relying on the Sangor Art Shop to supply art.
Jim Davis in Los Angeles got animators to work for them as a side-line, keeping the extra work hidden from their bosses. Davis, by the way, was the animator of Snow White in the Disney film. Much of ACG’s output was comedy, funny animals, and such, with only a small portion dedicated to superheroes, which came much later. The content is divided into chapters, making it an easier read to settle down to.
Richard Hughes was the overall editor and writer at ACG throughout its existence, although he brought in other writers and artists. Among the artists were Al Williamson, Steve Ditko, John Buscema, Chic Stone, Kurt Schaffenberger, Pete Costanza, Wallace Wood, and Frank Frazetta. Thought that last name would grab your attention—though none of the work was signed. Much of ACG’s releases were in horror, romance, and westerns, with a few superheroes, as noted on the cover, added at the request of their readers. Their letter pages facilitated open communication between the editors and readers. Interestingly, the editors often hid their own contributions under various pseudonyms. Norman Fruman was another editor, who only gave up the role when he discovered freelance writers made more money.
An important fact is that ACG was producing grim horror stories long before EC Comics, and had to sanitize their content after Wertham’s influence, though they kept going until 1967 by focusing on other genres. The last two chapters concentrate on Wertham and the Comic Code Authority and how it affected ACG. Despite doing horror, ACG avoided the sex angle, which helped them survive a bit longer. The book also covers what happened to various individuals after ACG folded. I can’t recall if any of their publications reached UK shores, or perhaps I was too young to notice them, so much of this is new to me and offers a real step into early American comic book history. It makes for a fascinating read and provides valuable insights.
The rest of this issue feels a bit like an anti-climax, though there are connections to the company. Jim Amash interviews artist/writer Al Hartley (1925-2003), who worked for all the major companies. I tend to agree with Hartley’s assessment that his style was better suited for funny comics than superhero work, as seen in his opening page for Thor.
This is a rather unusual issue of Alter Ego, but it hides its importance in the history of American comic book companies, making it worth a look.
GF Willmetts
July 2024
(pub: TwoMorrows Publishing. 100 page illustrated magazine. Price: varies. ISSN: 1932-6890. Direct from them, you can get it digitally for $ 4.99 (US))
check out websites: www.TwoMorrows.com and https://twomorrows.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=98_55&products_id=389
