Legion World Forums LEGION COMPANION Dr. Gym'll's Cultural Rarities TwoMorrows Recommendations

The search function didn't seem to be working, so I just searched thread titles 10 pages back to avoid topic duplication. I hope I didn't miss something.

I recently discovered TwoMorrows wonderful publications. Well, recently started reading them, at least. They've been on my "I should try those sometime" list for a decade or more.

I'm slowly working my way through the huge backlog of the magazines that interest me, so no need for recommendations on that front. Back Issue is my favorite so far.

But they've also got a large back catalog of books, and I could use some guidance there. I'm reading the Krypton Companion, and have an interest in several of the other companions (I'm hoping they reprint the first LSH Companion at some point!)

Of the other books out there, are there any y'all would particularly recommend? My current storng interest is in Bronze Age forward, although I have an interest in older stuff as well, and could be convinced by a strong pitch.

For many years in the 1990's, when TwoMorrows was just getting going, I co-collected and read the Jack Kirby Collector, which was an absolutely fantastic magazine to read. If you love Jack Kirby, it's something you must buy, but they also spent a lot of time devoting issues to his colleagues and contemporaries and even creators he just liked or admired. As you might guess, the vast majority of articles were relevant to the Golden Age and Silver Age (and in between) so there wasn't much on the Bronze Age other than behind the scenes politics of the big 2 and Kirby's 70's work.

I found the magazine so enjoyable that I've always wanted to try the other TwoMorrows magazines but for whatever reason have not jumped in. Is Roy Thomas' AlterEgo one of those? I've heard its absolutely fantastic.

Jack Kirby Collector is on my to-read list. I'm currently reading three of their magazines, with a total of over 200 issues between them. It's going to take me a while.

Roy Thomas' Alter Ego is indeed one of their books, and it is very good. It covers comics' history from the beginning to about 1974. By his own admission, it's because that's when he stepped down and Marvel and started losing interest in the current state of the industry, and it's his magazine and he can cover whatever he wants.

As I mentioned, my favorite is Back Issue. Edited by former LSH editor Michael Eury, it covers the 70s and 80s, with a little bleedover into the 60s and 90s where appropriate.

Partially it's because those are the books I cut my teeth on when I was younger, but I've also realized it's the era of comics I know least about in terms of behind the scenes stuff. It was the late 80s when I started really learning about the real-world aspects of comics history, and as I learned about the past, I mostly learned about the formative golden and silver ages. As a result, I developed a huge black hole in my historical knowledge that weirdly focused on the period I actually came into the fold.

I don't have lots of them, but I've not been disappointed in any of the companion books that I have. That's mainly because I get the ones where I already have something of an interest.

I do find that I generally would like more information on the thoughts behind the process that went into specific parts of a story. That sort of extra depth can sometimes be missing as there is just so much ground to cover.

It's a similar feeling I get with the magazines. So they leave me wanting more, which can't be a bad thing. The magazine articles and modern masters supplement each other too.

As for Bronze age forward, I was going to say that I enjoyed the Titans Companion, but only noticed the second one on their website. Shame about the Legion one too, as that's also really good (both overly expensive on the likes of Amazon where I am).

One I don't have and would quite like is the Quality Comics one. I can see it going on a Christmas list.

I can state with absolute authority that neither The Legion Companion or The Titans Companion will be receiving second printings. Anyone that wishes to read either book is going to have to buy them second hand.

The Best of the Legion Outpost and The Titans Companion Volume 2, however, are still available for purchase but exist only in diminishing quantities. And I'll also add that the recent issue of Back Issue! (#68) that spotlighted the Legion is well worth the purchase!

I agree regarding #68. It has a lot of bronze age forward material. I picked up the digital version, which makes it exceptionally good value for money.

I really liked the Legion fantasy covers. Worth the price alone just to see those.

Yikes on second printings! I shall take extra special care of these as those second hand prices were more than a bit steep.

I saw this thread this morning and so when I was at my CBS today I thought to look for it, and gladly snagged the aforementioned Back Issue #68. Can't wait to read it while I'm on planes the next two days!

^ BTW, this was a great magazine! Chalk full of little bits of info and interviews I hadn't see before, so it wasn't just a rehash of the things longtime Legion fans already know.

Focused squarely on the 70's and 80's, it really delved into those eras nicely.

It had been a while since I'd picked up a mag from Twomorrows, but that issue made me dig out old issues. I'm looking forward to filling in some more gaps.

Much better value for money getting one of their digital versions than the price of a comic book.

I have a few binders of Comic Book Marketplace from Gemstone. I don't think I ever seriously read the Marketplace part of the magazine.

June's Alter Ego will have a focus on Legion & Supergirl artist Jim Mooney.

Oh, that's wonderful. I love Jim Mooney. Thanks, Thoth.

Mooney also did a lot of nice work for Marvel, inking various other talents and pencilling the original Ms. Marvel series (Chris Claremont didn't get on with Mooney and badmouthed his Ms. Marvel art, but whatevs.)

I,ll pick up the digital version for reading on the train. He drew a lot of legion infiltrators i think. Command kid and Dynamo Boy.

Issue 135 has a focus on Len Wein in the Silver Age. Another one to look forward to.

Thanks, Thoth. I love Wein's early 1970s work on JLA and Swamp Thing and Phantom Stranger.

Back Issue! 87 - April 2016 - Fickles Bait!
"we examine Justice League of America #200: “A League Divided”!"

Alter Ego 137 - January 2016 - Legion Bait!
"presents an incredible interview with JIM SHOOTER, who sold his first script to DC in 1965—at age 13! We chronicle the first decade of his color-splashed career"

Back Issue! 81 - July 2015 - Lash Bait!
"We open DC Comics’ vaults for an in-depth exploration of its 100-PAGE SUPER SPECTACULARS!"

Back Issue! 82 - August 2015 - Ibby Bait!
With extensive coverage of...Crisis’ 30th anniversary

Thanks, Thoth.

I do love JLA 200.

Blacula loves it even more than me. I hope he sees this.

Back Issue 83 - October 2015 - Legion Bait!
"it’s Supergirl in the Bronze Age ... The Maid of Might’s 1970s and 1980s adventures, including her death in Crisis on Infinite Earths and her many rebirths."

It's a while away but...

Alter Ego #187 focuses on Edmund Hamilton, one of the great early science-fiction authors—who then went on to an illustrious career at DC Comics, writing Superman, Batman, and especially The Legion of Super-Heroes!

Learn all about his encounters with Ray Bradbury, Mort Weisinger, Julius Schwartz, et al—a panoply of titans!
Plus FCA (Fawcett Collectors of America), Michael T. Gilbert in Mr. Monster's Comic Crypt, and more!
Edited by Roy Thomas.

Availalbe for pre-order here...
https://twomorrows.com/index.php?ma...s=0&zenid=3nrng2p1f4unidnlkfpop6qjj1

Thanks for the heads up, Thoth.

There's also The Life and Art of Dave Cockrum, which I only recently became aware of, even though it's been out since last August.

I've had that one sitting around since last september according to the file date. Opening it up, and it splits Cockrum's life and career into handy chapters. Chapter 2 covers the 70-74 and the Legion and 3 is 74 to 77 with the X-Men. So you can skip around to the parts you're most interested in.
Even getting to the contents page has a number of little bits of lovely art that already add to the enjoyment of the book. Looking forward to actually getting around to reading it properly.