The subject of comics is front and centre in Hey Kids! Comics! #2, from Image. But keep it away from the kids!
Yes, this is an adult comic. So shoo the kids away when you are reading it. For those who are new to Hey Kids! Comics, here is the summary, at least as of issue 2; it’s about comics through the decades. From the early days of shady publishers who shortchanged the artists and issued rubber cheques, to today’s direct market fan hysteria – it’s all about comics.
And it’s mostly about the pain and politics of survival in the funny book business. Howard Chaykin’s writing and art (colours by Wil Quintana) have a sabre tooth, more than a sable brush. It’s a tough racket, this comic book stuff. Howard sets us down in 1945, 1955, 1965 and 2001, as we follow the life and times of several comic pros.
The times are tough, okay??; layoffs, firings, political backstabbing, tons of rampant racism and favouritism. That’s just for starters. Pile on layers of bitterness, regrets, and a few ulcers, and you’ve got the picture. It ain’t no picnic, and then there are the downsides of comics. Haha.
Not a funny book, but a good fictionalized account of how it was, and though peppered with pain, an eye-opening lesson in American comic business practices through the late 20th century.
Image, Hey Kids, Comics #2, $3.99 for 28 pages of content. Mature readers.