September 2023 MBR The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf

The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf

The Best of Simon & Kirby's Mainline Comics
Jack Kirby, et al.
TwoMorrows Publishing
10407 Bedfordtown Drive, Raleigh, NC 27614
www.twomorrows.com
9781605491189, $49.95, HC, 256pp

https://www.amazon.com/Best-Simon-Kirbys-Mainline-Comics/dp/1605491187

Synopsis: In 1954, comic book industry legends Joe Simon and Jack Kirby founded Mainline Publications to publish their own comics during that turbulent era in comics history. The four titles (Bullseye, Foxhole, Police Trap, and In Love) looked to build off their reputation as hit makers in the Western, War, Crime, and Romance genres, but the 1950s backlash against comics killed any chance at success, and Mainline closed its doors just two years later.

Now and for the first time, With the publication of "The Best of Simon & Kirby's Mainline Comics", TwoMorrows Publishing has compiling the best of Simon & Kirby's Mainline comics work, including all of the stories with S&K art, as well as key tales with contributions by Mort Meskin and others.

After the company's dissolution, their partnership ended with Simon leaving comics for advertising, and Kirby taking unused Mainline concepts to both DC and Marvel.

This newly published collection bridges the gap between Simon & Kirby's peak with their 1950s romance comics, and the lows that led to Kirby's resurgence with Challengers of the Unknown and the early Marvel Universe. With loving art restoration by Chris Fama, and an historical overview by John Morrow to put it all into perspective, the Best of Simon & Kirby's Mainline Comics presents some of the final, and finest, work Joe and Jack ever produced!

Critique: Simply stated, "The Best of Simon & Kirby's Mainline Comics" is an absolute 'must' for the legions of Jack Kirby, Joe Simon, and Mort Meskin fans. A unique compendium of beautifully reproduced and illustrated stories, along with being an informative contribution to American 20th Century comic book history, "The Best of Simon & Kirby's Mainline Comics" truly lives up to its title and is unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, college, and university library collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.

Editorial Note: TwoMorrows Publishing (https://twomorrows.com) is a publisher of magazines about comic books. It was founded in 1994 by John and Pam Morrow out of their small advertising agency in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Its products also include books and DVDs.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to promoting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We accept no funds from authors or publishers. Full permission is given to post any of these reviews on thematically appropriate websites, newsgroups, listserves, internet discussion groups, organizational newsletters, or to interested individuals. Please give the Midwest Book Review a credit line when doing so.

The Midwest Book Review publishes the monthly book review magazines "California Bookwatch", "Internet Bookwatch", "Children's Bookwatch", "MBR Bookwatch", "Reviewer's Bookwatch", and "Small Press Bookwatch". All are available for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www (dot) midwestbookreview (dot) com

Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them to:

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129

To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to Frugalmuse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title, author, publisher, publisher address, publisher website/phone number, 13-digit ISBN number, and list price).

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review