“Comics have become a big business, high stakes….making millions and millions of dollars.” A quote from yesterday’s Beat comment thread? No, from a 1978 documentary about comics called “The World of Comic Books” which was apparently produced for Canadian TV as part of a series. It’s narrated by comedian Jonathan Winters, who was […]
Preview: The original Alien by Archie Goodwin and Walt Simonson
Pop quiz: What was the first graphic novel to make the New York Times’ bestseller list?
Most people would guess MAUS, and although we don’t know exactly what book holds that honor, MAUS was predated by ALIEN: THE ILLUSTRATED STORY, by Archie Goodwin and Walt Simonson. First released in 1979 as a graphic “Album”, it was an unusually serious (for its time) movie adaptation with the usual stellar work by the great team of Goodwin and Simonson, who also collaborated on Manhunter. The book sold so well it did make the NY Times bestseller list at the time.