io:
>>>>>I know you're a big comics collector. What part of your collection is most valuable to you, the one you would never depart from, no matter the price? Barks, Schultz, Eisner: in my opinion these are the brightest stars in the comics firmament. Do you know Schultz and Eisner? What's your opinion about them?
Schultz? Whom do you mean? Mark Schultz of "Cadillacs and Dinosaurs"? Or Charles Schulz (no 't') who did "Peanuts"?
Ah, well I never compare newspaper comic strips to comic books. And certainly not gag-a-day strips like "Peanuts". I mean, I like some of them... like "Peanuts", "Calvin & Hobbes", "Mutts", etc. ... but they are in a different class than the comic books or the classic adventure newspaper strips that told stories. But let's not get too far into that -- it's a big discussion!
I have virtually all the American comics of the main genres of 1946 to 1970. (I used to have 1970-1985 but I sold all of those "new" comics a few years back.) Let's see... I collect all the super-hero, adventure, horror, SF, mystery, jungle-hero, TV/movie tie-in, and MAD-style humor comics of all publishers of 1945-1970... of those years I have virtually full sets of everything. And those are the years when America DID have a LOT of comics that all sold well and were of EVERY type of genre... just like comics still are in Europe. In those days, American comic fans read ALL types, and bought LOTS.
About the only comics I have older than 1945 are ALL the Dell Disneys back to the first issues, and SUPERMAN titles back to the first few issues since he is also a favorite.
I have only DC, Marvel/Atlas, and M.E. western comics... those are the best, but that eliminates a LOT of Western comics from other publishers. I collect only DC and EC war comics, again eliminating LOTS from other publishers. I have only Dell funny-animal comics (the most and the best).
I have NO romance or teen humor ("Archie")... again eliminating a lot.
So... what would I keep? Let's ask what my favorites are. If you ask what I'd keep, there's the problem that some are easily available in reprints and others aren't. My very favorite comics are all reprinted many times, so maybe they would be the FIRST I'd get rid of.
Best of all are the ECs of 1950-55. No doubt about that! I think they are better comics than Barks' Ducks. Surprising? Sure they are. That was the best team of writers and artists in American comics history. But I didn't say I *liked* them best. I like humor/adventure with great continuing characters, so my favorites are still Barks' Ducks.
I like Eisner's "Spirit". Considering Eisner's long career and the innovations he brought to the medium, I consider him easiley the greatest American cartoonist of all time. But... I still prefer Barks' stories.
Walt Kelly's "Pogo" originated in Dell comics. He is another of the greatest geniuses of American comics... perhaps the triumvirate would be Eisner-Kelly-Barks. Again, Kelly was a better artist and writer than Barks, but I prefer Barks.
Also from Dell were the great LITTLE LULU and TUBBY comics written by John Stanley, another comics genius. I guess Little Lulu is one of the only "funny children" comics I collect -- Harvey Comics had a lot of that type, but they seemed rather stupid to me.
I love the DC comics of the 50's and 60's -- especially the Superman family of titles editted by Mort Weisinger, the SF comics editted by Julius Schwartz. The DC war and western comics were also great. You can't beat any of those.
Sure, I like the Marvel super-heroes of the 60's, and their "giant monster" comics of the 50's.
Quality Comics had BLACKHAWK and PLASTIC MAN, two more great series with wonderful stories & art.
Gold Key comics had MAGNUS and TUROK! Fantastic!
Fawcett Comics had the wondefully whimsical "Capt. Marvel" family of comics (those sold better than Superman comics in the 40's and they were printed right here in Louisville).
I must stop there! I like... so many others! That's why I have a collection of EVERYTHING.