Now here’s a thing. When I came across Mark Evanier’s 2002 book, ‘Comic Books And Other Necessities Of Life’, I was expecting it to be one of the usual large-format books TwoMorrows released. Instead, we have a standard enlarged paperback and an extended title, ‘A Collection Of POV Columns, Cartoons By Sergio Aragonés’. Essentially, these are 34 of his columns from the ‘Comics Buyer’s Guide’, 1995-2000. A long way back perhaps, but Evanier is a great raconteur on his life and comicbook history and, as he covers a wide range of subjects, he’s never boring to read. With Aragonés’ full-page illustrations to match the articles, you have an irresistible combination.
Picking out favourites is harder. The problems he and Aragonés had with a terrible bootleg Groo garage kit showed a wider problem. Seeing American comicbook shop owners clam up, and the difficulty of tracking down who made it and stopping them, is quite eye-opening, let alone that there were so many of them out there. His history of comicbook collecting and how easy it was in the USA probably has no match in other countries. Discovering comicmarts and early comicbook conventions in the UK outside of London was a lot tougher.
I doubt if there’s been any comicbook columnist or magazine that hasn’t explored the origins of the Comics Code Authority after the 1950s Senate hearings on comicbooks causing delinquency. Evanier spends three columns on the subject and doesn’t focus much on Wertham but on the other people involved. As we know, they were gunning for comicbooks anyway, which no one doubts. Now here’s a quandary: what did these people read when they were young, and how come none of them became delinquent? Generally, I doubt if delinquents could read much anyway, let alone in the numbers to be a problem. Evanier gives a fair discussion of the subject.
There are also several articles about particular people: artist Mike Sekowsky, editor/writer Archie Goodwin, artist Carl Barks, Aragonés of course, editor Chase Craig, artist John Buscema and Roz Kirby, with her influence on her husband.
Picking out the funniest piece is a lot harder, although him filling in for Dave Stevens at a convention, having to use an air ticket in Stevens’ name, not really knowing where he was going and then being met by someone who didn’t know where he was going either, had me chuckling. Then again, his look at the plot holes in one of the George Reeves ‘Superman’ TV episodes from series 3, which I haven’t seen, shows just how ridiculous bad plotting can be. The same goes for Superman’s trophy room in the Fortress of Solitude. It’s a shame he didn’t explore Batman’s in the Batcave. I’m still wondering how and why he wanted that giant coin in there, let alone the transport problems.
As I said at the beginning, Evanier is a good raconteur. The amount of insight he gives will also make a connection with you as both a fan and a professional. This is the first time I’ve come across this book. No doubt there’ll be a blue full moon before another copy pops up on the auction sites, but it’s worth keeping an eye out for at the right price.
GF Willmetts
September 2026
(pub: TwoMorrows Publishing, 2002. 197 page enlarged paperback. Price: varies. ISBN: 978-1-893905-15-3)
check out website: Not even a digital copy.
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