For comics historians and deep-diving fans, Marvel's (now defunct?) hardcover and softcover reprints of some of their earliest published comics was a godsend (as purchasing even beat up copies of the original comics is a bank-breaking proposal). The use of talent used on these books was uneven, though, with a lot of workmanlike (and just plain bad) publishing product.
The first four issues of USA Comics is a good example. A Jack Kirby cover and two Basil Wolverton stories stand out; the rest of the material, starring forgotten characters like Major Liberty, Jack Frost, The Defender and Corporal Dix, are simplistic patriotic tales of German saboteurs, slobbering despots and fifth columnists who barely try to hide their intentions. Expect little characterization or subtlety. Historian Michael J. Vassallo does a excellent job researching, identifying and making educated guesses at the mostly uncredited authors and artists, and reading the book from the perspective of seeing longstanding cartoonists' earliest work can be rewarding. I can only recommend the book, otherwise, for those, like me, who just want to read it all wholesale.
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