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Comics, From Niche to Mainstream

Credit comicbookplus.com / Space Western Comics #40, October 1952
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Space Western Comics #40, October 1952

Once upon a time, comic books were a niche for kids and nerds. Now they are mainstream culture. "The Avengers" is the number three all-time worldwide grossing movie.

I would like to pause, and say that I owned, as a kid, issue number one of The Avengers. I remember distinctly where I got it, and how I felt about it. I do not remember distinctly what happened to it.

Literary novelists, like Michael Chabon and Jonathan Lethem, have worked comic books into their fiction. Parodies of comic book culture are so plentiful that it's hard to think of a new joke. In "Mystery Men,"William Macy played the Shoveler, and JaneaneGarofalo played the Bowler. In "The Tick" one of the heroes was Bi-Polar Bear.

Today we tell you a less familiar story about where those comic books came from. 

Listen to the second half of our interview with Frank McLaughlin, a former freelance comic artist who worked for Charlton Comics. He currently teaches at Paier School of Art in Hamden, Connecticut

Filmmaker Helder Mira and Rabbit Ears Media bring you Royal Comics.

GUESTS:

Colin_McEnroe_Show_03-20-2014.mp3
Listen to The Colin McEnroe Show

Colin McEnroe is a radio host, newspaper columnist, magazine writer, author, playwright, lecturer, moderator, college instructor and occasional singer. Colin can be reached at colin@ctpublic.org.
Chion Wolf is the host of Audacious with Chion Wolf on Connecticut Public.
Betsy started as an intern at WNPR in 2011 after earning a Master's Degree in American and Museum Studies from Trinity College. She served as the Senior Producer for 'The Colin McEnroe Show' for several years before stepping down in 2021 and returning to her previous career as a registered nurse. She still produces shows with Colin and the team when her schedule allows.

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