The Great Comic Book Heroes (Jules Feiffer) - The Dial Press - 1965 - 189 pages

Feiffer paid his dues as a cartoonist while he was an assistant to Will Eisner (1917-2005) from 1946 to 1956, performing miscellaneous duties and eventually becoming Eisner's primary collaborator on The Spirit.  From the Eisner studio, Feiffer went on to become a popular comic strip artist with The Village Voice.  And then, he expanded his portfolio to novels, plays, movie screenplays and works on non-fiction.  This book on comic book heroes covers his memories of the Golden Age of Comics in the 1930s and 1940s.  His commentary on these times is a a first-person testimony from a reader, artist and fan of the pioneers of the comic book industry.  I came to comics during the Silver Age (1950s to 1960s) when the artists got better and the heroes got more super.  Reading through 128 pages of Feiffer's favorite, it seems to me that all of the art was drawn in the same style.  However, it was these mostly-uncredited artists who paved the way for all who followed.  Feiffer's comments are just as valid and articulate today as they were when compiled this landmark book over 50 years ago.  [JAM 4/15/2018]

Following are the great comics to be found in this book:

Superman (Action Comics 1938)
Captain Marvel (Fawcett 1941)
Batman (Detective Comics 1939)
Human Torch (Timely Comics 1939)
The Flash (DC Comics 1940)
Green Lantern (National Periodical Publications 1941)
The Spectre (More Fun Comics 1940)
Hawkman (Flash Comics 1940)
Wonder Woman (All-Star Comics 1941)
Sub Mariner (Funnies Inc. 1939)
Captain America (Timely Comics 1941)
Plastic Man (Police Comics 1941)
The Spirit (Register and Tribune 1940)