Here's my Librarian vs. Reader Review:
This book is a really hard topic for me to be professional about, because it's directly tied up in my academic background. One of my major areas of study in grad school was the history of comic books, and I wrote a lot on the impact of comics on American readership and culture. As a result I own a lot of books on this subject, and will likely continue to acquire more. So I judge this kind of coffee table-esque guide a little harsher than I do others of it's kind, because I've read so many of them. Still I'll try to put that aside.
Librarian: I'll probably suggest ordering this for the reference section of the elementary/middle school library. While this is certainly not the most rigorous, or detailed book of this type, it's got a good amount of information for younger readers. Plus it's thin enough that it's not to heavy to hold, something which can't be said for everything in this genre.
Reader: As mentioned, I own many books on this subject, and am always acquiring more. The books I have range from academic treatises, to coffee table books, and everything in between. Still I was excited to receive a copy of this one at ALA this summer, and I eagerly read it in hopes of some new insight into one of my favorite subjects. There really wasn't a ton there. But then I didn't really expect there to be. With a subject as well documented as the Silver age of comics, most of the information has already been discussed to death. I did appreciate the emphasis placed on DC. Many books on the Silver Age tend to focus on Marvel, because for all the developments that occurred in DC (beginning of the Justice League, the modern Green Lantern & Flash, introduction of Green Arrow, etc.) Marvel had the far more important and ultimately influential impact on this era of comics (there's a reason it is sometimes referred to as the "Marvel Age"). As a result much of DC's history from this time can be overlooked. So it's nice to see that being covered.
This book is a really hard topic for me to be professional about, because it's directly tied up in my academic background. One of my major areas of study in grad school was the history of comic books, and I wrote a lot on the impact of comics on American readership and culture. As a result I own a lot of books on this subject, and will likely continue to acquire more. So I judge this kind of coffee table-esque guide a little harsher than I do others of it's kind, because I've read so many of them. Still I'll try to put that aside.
Librarian: I'll probably suggest ordering this for the reference section of the elementary/middle school library. While this is certainly not the most rigorous, or detailed book of this type, it's got a good amount of information for younger readers. Plus it's thin enough that it's not to heavy to hold, something which can't be said for everything in this genre.
Reader: As mentioned, I own many books on this subject, and am always acquiring more. The books I have range from academic treatises, to coffee table books, and everything in between. Still I was excited to receive a copy of this one at ALA this summer, and I eagerly read it in hopes of some new insight into one of my favorite subjects. There really wasn't a ton there. But then I didn't really expect there to be. With a subject as well documented as the Silver age of comics, most of the information has already been discussed to death. I did appreciate the emphasis placed on DC. Many books on the Silver Age tend to focus on Marvel, because for all the developments that occurred in DC (beginning of the Justice League, the modern Green Lantern & Flash, introduction of Green Arrow, etc.) Marvel had the far more important and ultimately influential impact on this era of comics (there's a reason it is sometimes referred to as the "Marvel Age"). As a result much of DC's history from this time can be overlooked. So it's nice to see that being covered.