The Atlas Comics Library No. 7

This new volume in Fantagraphics’ and Marvel’s collaborative Atlas Library presents Girl Comics #1-12, a long unseen subversion of romance comics beautifully designed for a new generation of readers! In 1950, Timely/Atlas/Marvel took a typical romance title called Girl Comics and turned it into a sister companion to its successful men’s-adventure comics: an empowering girls’-adventure comic! Mystery, adventure and suspense was promised and delivered! At the hands of a stellar artistic line-up, including John Buscema, Mike Sekowsky, Bill Everett, Joe Maneely, Russ Heath, and Bernard Krigstein, Girl Comics evolved from heart-stricken love stories to hair-raising girl-power thrill rides like ‘The Death Plunge!,’ ‘The House of Shadows!,’ ‘I was a Murderer’s Daughter!,’ ‘They Called me a Spy!,’ ‘The Dead Hands at the Controls,’ and ‘The Dark Hallway.’ This volume also features the story behind the stories, with editor Dr. Michael J. Vassallo’s essays on Marvel publisher Martin Goodman’s enthusiastic relationship with romance comics and magazines at a time when the artform was cementing itself into American youth culture!

Author Biography

John Buscema (1927 – 2002) was an American comic book artist and one of the mainstays of Marvel Comics during its 1960s and 1970s ascendancy into an industry leader and its subsequent expansion to a major pop-culture conglomerate. Bill Everett (1917-1973) was the foundational artist of Marvel Comics. He originated Namor, the Sub-Mariner as a freelance creation, before placing it in Marvel Comics #1, the first publication from Timely Comics, later Atlas, then Marvel. Everett wrote and drew the early appearances of the character from 1940-42, and would periodically return to him during the post-war ’40s, right up until the early 1970s. During Atlas’ heyday, Everett worked extensively on horror anthology shorts, including taking over the romance/fantasy series Venus and converting it to straight horror. After Marvel’s wholesale move to a superhero universe, Everett co-created the blind hero Daredevil with editor/scripter Stan Lee. Russell Heath Jr. (1926-2018) was an American artist best known for his comic book work, particularly his DC Comics war stories and his 1960s art for Playboy magazine’s “Little Annie Fanny” feature. Heath was inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2009. Ann Brewster (1918 – 2005) was an American cartoonist and illustrator during the Golden Age of comics. She provided art for many different publishers, including Ace Magazines, Fiction House, and Atlas Comics. Brewster is most notable for illustrating romance comics. Bernard (B.) Krigstein (1919-1990) was trained as a classical painter, but early on he recognized the artistic potential of the comics medium. He worked for major publishers including Harvey, Fawcett, Atlas (Marvel) and National (DC), in 1952 he moved to EC Comics, where his work is widely recognized as among the most innovative in comics history. Dr. Michael J. Vassallo is a noted historian on Marvel’s early pulp, Timely and Atlas periods. A Manhattan dentist, he spends his free time attempting to bring recognition to artistic creators of the 1940’s and 1950’s. He has also written introductions to 20 Timely and Atlas Masterworks volumes, dissecting the credits for posterity and providing historical context, as well as writing the detailed captions to the first 210 pages of Taschen’s 75 Years of Marvel coffee table book. He lives in Westchester County, New York.