By Nicholas Afonsky, Ruth Jane Williams, N. Brewster Morse, Nicky Wheeler-Nicholson, and Jim Davidson
Before Superman…before there were even comic books…there was the Great Mystery and Adventure Series, the first-ever adaptation of classic literature to comics form. It spawned a host of imitators and launched an entire genre that included the highly-regarded Classics Illustrated comic books.
The man behind it all was Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson, who enjoyed an illustrious career as a U.S. Army officer and author of pulp fiction adventure stories.But his biggest claim to fame was as founder of the company now known as DC Comics, home to Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman.What’s less known is that, a decade earlier, Wheeler-Nicholson headed a syndicate that provided comic strips and features to daily newspapers.
This material has been unavailable in any form for 100 years. But now for the first time since its original publication, JD Press is proud to offer the complete Great Mystery and Adventure Series and its successor, the Famous Short Story Series. Thrill then to ten tales by the world’s greatest authors, originally presented by comics innovator Wheeler-Nicholson and lovingly rendered by artist Nicholas Afonsky (Little Annie Rooney).
Included in this volume are essays providing in-depth historical context, written by comics historians Nicky Wheeler-Nicholson (granddaughter of Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson) and Jim Davidson.
Reviews
“JD Press has done a fine job, presenting these rare strips and designing a book that’s very accessible and readable. There’s so much here that I’ve never seen before-once again proving what a visionary Wheeler-Nicholson was. Here is the origins of the entire Classics Illustrated line, years before their first published comic. I’m so impressed with the breadth of work finally collected for the first time, as well as more about this enigmatic Wheeler-Nicholson and his place in the origins of the comic book.”
-Bud Plant of Bud’s Art Books, elder statesman of comic book retailing
“Jim Davidson and Nicky Wheeler-Nicholson have provided an invaluable resource for both fans and specialists in this scholarly, entertaining volume. Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson’s Great Adventure and Mystery Series is essential for anyone interested in the convergence of comics history, “classic” literature, adaptation theory, and artistic restoration.”
-William B. Jones, Jr., author of Classics Illustrated: A Cultural History, Third Edition
“Before Superman ever laced up his red boots, Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson was already hurling Ivanhoe, D’Artagnan, and Long John Silver onto the funny pages with pulp-rocket velocity.This resurrection of his Great Mystery and Adventure Series is pure time-machine fuel. Every panel pops like a lost nitrate reel, fusing N. C. Wyeth bravado with proto-DC comics cliff-hanger energy while showing the exact moment American comics learned to swing a literary broadsword. Crack it open and experience a Big Bang of graphic storytelling in your hands. History, hijinks, and high adventure, all in one gloriously restored book!”
-Alex Grand, author of Understanding Superhero Comic Books
“This is a terrific piece of work. Not only did Davidson do a superb — almost miraculous — job of restoring these very rare strips, but his historical essay was top-notch and pointed plenty of things out that I had missed in my own research on this arcane subject matter.”
-Allan Holtz, author of American Newspaper Comics: An Encyclopedic Reference Guide
$65.00 | 316 pages | Hardcover | Black & White, Color | 11 x 0.94 x 8.5 inches | ISBN: 979-8218680930
