The Comics Journal Library

A cover gallery is all that remains of the mystery series, Marchenoir. Can you solve a book by its covers?

The Comics Journal Library series is the most comprehensive series of lavishly illustrated interviews conducted with cartoonists ever published. To celebrate our republication of the legendary EC line, we proudly present the first of a two-volume set of interviews with the artists and writers (and publisher!) who made EC great. Included in the first volume: career-spanning conversations with EC legends Will Elder, John Severin, Harvey Kurtzman, and Al Feldstein, as well as short interviews with EC short-timers Frank Frazetta and Joe Kubert. Also: EC Publisher William Gaines on his infamous Senate subcommittee testimony, and probing conversations between Silver Age cartoonist Gil Kane and Harvey Kurtzman, as well as contemporary alternative cartoonist Sam Henderson and MAD great Al Jaffee. Part of what made EC the best publisher in the history of mainstream comics was some of the most beautiful drawing ever published in comic books, and every interview is profusely illustrated by pertinent examples of the work under discussion.

No comics publisher has had a greater impact ― or generated more controversy ― than the immensely influential EC Comics. The second and concluding volume of conversations with the creators behind the EC war/horror/science fiction/suspense line brings The Comics Journal’s definitive interviews together with several never-before-published sessions, including a new interview with the legendary Jack Davis conducted by Gary Groth. It also includes: Publisher Bill Gaines on the origins of the company and his terrifying grilling before the Senate Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency, editor/writer/artist Al Feldstein on introducing serious science fiction to comics and his interactions with Ray Bradbury. Harvey Kurtzman on bringing realism to war comics with Frontline Combat and subversive satire to humor comics with Mad, the master of chirascuro, Alex Toth, on the aesthetic values that guided him through a career that included drawing for EC and animating Jonny Quest, colorist Marie Severin on the atmosphere of pranks and anarchy that dominated the EC bullpen. Plus, career-spanning interviews with George Evans and Jack Kamen, rare Q&A sessions with formal experimenter Bernard Krigstein and EC writer Colin Dawkins, and a conversation between Jack Davis and award-winning alternative cartoonist Jim Woodring.

Interviews with Will Elder, William M. Gaines, Al Feldstein, Johnny Craig, Frank Frazetta, Joe Kubert, Harvey Kurtzman, George Evans, Al Jaffee and John Severin.

The 2011 edition of the newly formatted 600-plus page Comics Journal proved to be a massive hit, with Comics Journal #302 poised to replicate that success as a vital print compendium of critiques, interviews and comics.The cover feature is an extraordinary and unique interview-portrait of Maurice Sendak, one of the greatest children's book illustrators of the century. Other features include a lengthy interview with French graphic novel pioneer Jaques Tardi. Fans of all types of graphic novel and comics in general will find features that will inform and entertain.

A spectacular anniversary issue featuring intergenerational dialogues between alt wiz Kevin Huizenga and reigning Maus king Art Spiegelman, indy comics publisher Zak Sally and Love and Rockets co-creator Jaime Hernandez, Bottomless Belly Button auteur Dash Shaw and David Mazzucchelli and many, many more.