Well, while we're on the subject of Vaughn Bodé, we'd be remiss if we didn't mention this edition just published by Pure Imagination.  We'll be honest:  It's pretty much for Bodé fanatics and completists only.  It collects all that has so far remained uncollected:  his science fiction illustrations from the 1960s that originally appeared in Galaxy and If as well as those from science fiction and comic book fan publications and convention programs. Bodé brought his distinct vision and style to all his work, and that reproduced here is no exception.  He was truly one of a kind.

edited by Michel Choquette  Well, here's something you don't see everyday:  a comics anthology that has been completed but unable to find a publisher for nearly forty years, finally being published!  As readers of The Comics Journal #299 – the cover feature of which was an in-depth article on the history of this volume – already know, this volume had reached a legendary/mythical status.  Robert Greenfield's introduction squarely situates the work contained in this volume as a document of "The Sixties," While comics critic/historian Jeet Heer's foreword provides ample context and background for the comics work the book contains as well as a chronology of its epic 40-year journey from inception to publication.  We've barely dipped out toes in this majorly oversize – 11" x 17" – 216 page, full color hardcover volume containing 120 comic strips by 169 creators, so we're not going to say much about the contents at this time, but we will provide you with some of the contributors, and let you do the math:  Jack Kirby, Will Eisner, C.C. Beck, Wallace Wood, Harvey Kurtzman, Arnold Roth, Don Martin, Gahan Wilson, Bobby London, Trina Robbins, Vaughn Bodé, Steve Englehart, Archie Goodwin, Denny O'Neil, Ralph Reese, Alan Weiss, Herb Trimpe, Frank Zappa, Harlan Ellison, William S. Burroughs, Roy Thomas, Barry Smith (before he added Windsor) Guido Crepax, Ralph Steadman, Leo & Diane Dillon, Walter & Louise Simonson, Justin Green, Bill Griffith, Red Grooms, Russ Heath, Jay Kinney, Denis Kitchen, (a very young) Art Spiegelman, (also very young) Stan Mack, Ever Meulen,  Joost Swarte, Tom Wolfe,  Federico Fellini, and many, many more!  Also included is a "92-drawing take on Choquette's travels by Michael Fog" that parallels and brackets the comics the volumes contains.  Surprisingly (at least to us), the intent to create an interweaving bracketing tale was a component of the original volume's conception, and blank spaces were deliberately left in many of the pages at Choquette's instruction. 

NOW ON SPECIAL!

One of the classic old school greats of comic book illustration, Wallace Wood was also among the earliest champions of creator rights for cartoonists, and Witzend was perhaps his most important legacy in this regard.  Produced during the heyday of underground comics, Wood saw that "the kids" were taking control – and creative ownership – of their work.  As, of course, had his colleague, Harvey Kurtzman with Humbug & Help.  Witzend was Wood's contribution to evolving the commercial framework in which comics were made and sold, and the comics  and supporting material herein produced reflect these aims.  Fantagraphics has produced the definitive collection here in this full size, two-volume, slipcased edition.  And, realizing that they're going to have to go the extra mile to convince readers to part with the hefty chunk of change that is required to purchase this masterwork*, Fantagraphics has provided their biggest ever PDF preview.  Do yourself a favor and check it out.  *(here at Copacetic, we've done our part to ease the pain by offering an extra hefty discount).

This heavy-duty, oversize hardcover brings together the entirety of Vaughn Bodé's Cheech Wizard comics along with a nice selection of roughs and sketches, some never before published.  Also included are roughly forty additional page's of Chech Wizard related work by Vaughn's son Martk, who very much carries on the tradition.  Nicely designed and printed on heavy flat white stock.