Tuesday, August 11, 2020
Sunday, August 9, 2020
Friday, August 7, 2020
Recently Read: The Crackpot, by John E. Stockman
Written in the '60s and '70s for obscure, self-published fanzines, these satirical tall tales by John E. Stockman were chosen and edited by author Dwight R. Decker, with some historical background provided for each story.
Those, like me, who live in the intersection of a Venn diagram consisting of old comic books, pulp magazines, fanzines and Edgar Rice Burroughs, will find these tales especially entertaining. Put simply, this is one of the funniest, craziest books I've read, consisting of (with the exception of one short and sweetly told aside) tales of obsessed, self-absorbed, untrustworthy, easily provoked fans downright desperate to print their next fanzine, grasp ERB first editions and own old copies of Tip Top Comics.
One particular story, about the near-ownership of a back-issue comic book shop almost enters the realm of pathos. Stockman, who probably wouldn't have guessed his stories would still be read in the year 2020, has created a world of fascinating greed and infantile avarice. If the figure of a desperate, chased thief trying to make his way home in the dead of night through back yards and alleys, while grasping onto a stack of old Argosy magazines, sounds intriguing, you must purchase this book. There are more Stockman short stories which haven't been collected; if they are, I'll buy them.
Those, like me, who live in the intersection of a Venn diagram consisting of old comic books, pulp magazines, fanzines and Edgar Rice Burroughs, will find these tales especially entertaining. Put simply, this is one of the funniest, craziest books I've read, consisting of (with the exception of one short and sweetly told aside) tales of obsessed, self-absorbed, untrustworthy, easily provoked fans downright desperate to print their next fanzine, grasp ERB first editions and own old copies of Tip Top Comics.
One particular story, about the near-ownership of a back-issue comic book shop almost enters the realm of pathos. Stockman, who probably wouldn't have guessed his stories would still be read in the year 2020, has created a world of fascinating greed and infantile avarice. If the figure of a desperate, chased thief trying to make his way home in the dead of night through back yards and alleys, while grasping onto a stack of old Argosy magazines, sounds intriguing, you must purchase this book. There are more Stockman short stories which haven't been collected; if they are, I'll buy them.
Monday, August 3, 2020
Saturday, August 1, 2020
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