Monday, September 3, 2018

INDEX to NEMO: The Classic Comics Library



Compiled by JOHN ADCOCK

INTRODUCTION. Over its 32-issue run (1983-1992) the original NEMO: The Classic Comics Library, “an education in the history and aesthetics of cartooning in the 20th century,” was published at a point in time when the student of the comic strip had very few published examples of historical source material to examine. The complete contents of NEMO were a major impetus to future research into the origins and biographies of seminal comic strips, newspaper publishers, and the artists and writers who filled the comic pages with humor, fantasy, and adventure.

Soon the fondly remembered NEMO will return to bookshops in a large-size, high-resolution, full color annual (perhaps semi-annual) magazine of approximately 200 pages published by Fantagraphics. Rick Marschall has described the proposed contents as “Scholarly but not academic.” He writes 



To my mind, — or my "mind,” many articles and abstracts in Academic journals these days; yes, including those devoted to comics, are properly sociological studies, or based on statistical abstracts about politics, race, gender, etc., and usually treatments in those categories of tendentious viewpoints. They ALL deserve their place in the sun. But many of them should be categorized as (say) critiques of intellectual neo-colonialism; or aspects of responses to repression of gender identity, 1923-1928. Or some such places in the sun.
BUT, my interest — and Nemo's focus — is not with such content. To me, with these sorts of abstracts... comics are a SUBSET. Topics, issues, debates on wholly different agendas, using comics as reference-points. Or pawns. Sublimated. They have their place, but not (always; never say never) in Nemo, or my books.
I want NEMO to be an unsurpassed reference library of comics history (and analysis; and background; and context; and related forms of popular culture; and cetera) — exhaustive as each article can be. I am assigning writers the task of providing more context and analysis than others have done, mostly; of considering the influences and impacts of everything we address; and, to repeat, to place everything in Popular-culture, or even fine-art, contexts). To put it another way — I want the new Nemo ultimately to become a PRIME RESOURCE for academicians and thesis candidates.

So: scholarly but not academic, much like its predecessor. Already academic articles and criticism about comic strips and popular culture have their own multiple outlets in print and online  "scholarly but not academic" deserves the same privilege. On to the Table of Contents 

NEMO: The Classic Comics Library No. 1, June 1983


Editorial by Rick Marschall, 5


Waiting for a Boat to Civilization – classic Terry and the Pirates episode from 1940, 7


The Comic Genius of Cliff Sterrett, introduction by Gary Groth, 21


Browne the Magnificent, Dik Browne Interview by Rick Marschall, 28


Happy 10th Anniversary, Hagar! 42


Graphic Delights Along Gasoline Alley, 44


A Carl Barks Discovery, Tom Andrea, 49


The Forgotten Years of George Herriman, Bill Blackbeard, 50


Andriola and the Commandos, classic strips introduced by Ron Goulart, 62


Penmen of the Past: T.S. Sullivant, Rick Marschall, 70


NEMO: The Classic Comics Library No. 2, August 1983


Editorial by Rick Marschall, 5


Of Supermen and Kids with Dreams, Interview with Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster by Tom Andrae, Geoffrey Blum and Gary Coddington, 6


The Reign of the Superman, Seigel and Shuster’s 1933 Superman fanzine thriller reproduced, 20


Leaping Tall Buildings, Falling on Faces, A History of Superhero Strips in Newspapers, Ron Goulart, 30


Waiting for a Boat to Civilization, Caniff’s Great Pirate Episode Concludes, Introduction, REM, 36


Max, Maurice and Willie, the Saga of a Little Yellow Book, Another Origin: The Comic Strip, William Randolph Hearst, Bill Blackbeard, 48


Western Art in the Funnies: On the Range, The Western Art of Fred Harmon (1934-1938), 53


Penmen of the Pat: Art Young, 60


NEMO: The Classic Comics Library No. 3, October 1983


Editorial by Rick Marschall, 5


The Segar Nobody Knows: E.C. Segar’s Knockouts of 1925 (and low blows before and after): The Unknown Thimble Theatre Period, Bill Blackbeard, 6


Popeye and the Depression, 14


Segar, Student and Teacher, 17


Thimble Theater: Cartoonists Center Stage! : Through an Ink Bottle Darkly… Oof! Zam! Plop! Segar pokes fun at his own profession of cartooning, Introduction REM, 20


Popeye the Editor-Man, 22


Les Aventures d’Hergé: Hergé: Genius and Friend, A personal recollection of Tintin’s creator and his remarkable comic series, Mike Greg, 26


Lifting the Veil on Slumberland: In His Own Words: Winsor McCay on Life, Art, Animation…and the Danger of Greasy Foods, Winsor McCay, Introduced by Rick Marschall, 34


A Paean to the Every Day: The Panel Art of J.R. Williams, Reveries of a Rumpled Age, Donald Phelps, 41


“Youse is a Viper”: The Life and Hard Times of Bunker Bill, Jr., Billy DeBeck, Ron Goulart, 46


Penmen of the Past, Gluyas Williams Interview with Rick Marschall, 60


NEMO: The Classic Comics Library No. 4, December 1983


Hard Choices and Soft Answers, Editorial by Rick Marschall, 4


A Flash in the Pan: A Surprising Collaboration: Kurtzman and Frazetta’s Contribution To Dan Barry’s Flash Gordon, Introduction by Rick Norwood, 7


Playwright for Paper Actors, The Autobiography of Allen Saunders Chapter 1 and 2, 27


Penman of the Past: Harrison Cady, 34

A Forgotten Western Classic, Warren Tufts’ Lance Sundays, Introduction by Alex Toth, 44


George Storm, Pioneer of the Adventure Strip, Ron Goulart, 57


NEMO: The Classic Comics Library No. 5, February 1984


Guest Editorial by Harold Gray, 5


Fantasy in the Comics: The Explorigator: Dreamship of the Universe, RM Introduction, 7


Mort Walker Talks Candidly About His Career, Comics’ Future, History And Funny Stuff, Interview with RM, 22


The Dreary Apartment on Angst Street: Chronicles of George and Josie: The Bungle Family’s Little Glories of Inanity, Harry Tuthill, Donald Phelps, 39


Playwright for Paper Actors Chapter 3,  the Twenties: Mornings at the Blackboard, Afternoons and Evenings at the Drawing Board, Allen Saunders, 52


Penman of the Past: Franklin Booth, 58


NEMO: The Classic Comics Library No. 6, April 1984


Editorial: Raping Paper, Rick Marschall, 5


Floyd Gottfredson’s 45 Years With Mickey, The Mouse’s Other Master, Floyd Gottfredson Interview with Tom Andrae, 6


The Complete Mickey Checklist, Plot Synopses of Every Mickey Mouse Strip Adventure, 15


Writers, Artists, Inkers, The Mickey Mouse Daily Strip Personnel: 1930s-Present, 21


Mickey Mouse Sunday Page Chronology: Continuities (1932-1938), 23


Before the Dawn of Perelmankind, Forgotten Cartoons of a Master Humorist, S. J. Perelman, Rick Marschall, 24


Fantasy in the Comics: The Teenie Weenies by Wm. Donahey,  31


Hamlin’s Pied Piper, Alley Oop: King of the Jungle Jive, V.T. Hamlin Created – or Recreated – a Wondrous Comics World of Action, Humor and Scenery, Introduced by Rick Norwood, 39


Playwright for Paper Actors Chapter 4 and 5: A Story Mill Starts to Grind, Allen Saunders, 52


Penman of the Past: J.H. Donahey, 58


NEMO: The Classic Comics Library No. 7, June 1984


Editorial by Rick Marschall, Notes and Comments, Meet Our Contributors, 4


Wild Blue Yonder, Smilin’ Jack? Forget the Story and Art…Here Was a Man Who Loved Drawing Comics! Donald Phelps, 5

A NEMO Exclusive: The Carl Barks tribute, 11

Two Disney Legends Share Their Memories, a conversation between Barks and Gottfredson, 12

Bah! Humbug? The Joyous Season, Geoff Blum, 16

Notes from the Duck Front: A Letter From the Duck Man, Selection of Barks Correspondence, 20

Adaptation and Refinement: Animation Vs. Comic Book Creation in Barks’ Work, Fine-Tuning A Cartoonist’s Genius, Tom Andrae, 22

The Past, Present, and Future of the Disney Appreciation Movement: The Year of the Duck,  Bruce Hamilton Interview with Carl Barks, 27

Everyday Life and Faraway Daydreams: The Two Worlds of Danny Dreamer, Clare Briggs, Mark Johnson, 40

Playwright for Paper Actors Chapter 6 and 7, The Scoop That Saved the Scooper’s Job, Allen Saunders, 47

Morality and Comic Malice, Wilhelm Busch Book Review, M. Thomas Inge, 54

Penmen of the Past: ZIM, 58

NEMO: The Classic Comics Library No. 8, August 1984


Editorial, The Master Harold Gray, Rick Marschall, 5


Satire on the Comics Page: The Life and Love, Friends and Foes, Trials and Triumphs of Little Orphan Annie, Kenneth Barker, 8

Those Eyes: Little Icon Annie, ‘Who’s That Little Chatterbox?’ Little Orphan Annie, Donald Phelps, 33

The Master Storyteller: Harold Gray, Cartoonist and Mythologist, Annie’s Real Daddy, Harry McCracken, 40

Little Orphan Annie Bucking the World, Complete Reprint of A Rare LOA Book From the Classic Years, 49

NEMO: The Classic Comics Library No. 9, October 1984


Editorial, Rick Marschall, 5


The Hal Foster Interview: The Master, HAL FOSTER, On Comics and Illustrating, Raymond and Hogarth, History and Fandom, Fred Schreiber, 7

George McManus’s Pioneer Work of Fantasy, Nibsy the Newsboy, 21

Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow in Animation by the Man Who Defines it’s State, The Joseph Barbera Interview, Randy and Jean-Marc Lofficier, 39

Playwright for Paper Actors Chapter 8 and 9, the ‘30s, Hilarity in the Newsroom, Allen Saunders, 46

A Ghost Remembers, Life in the King Features Bullpen of the '30s, Martin Sheridan, 52

The Election Decided by Cartoons: One Century Ago: The Dirtiest Presidential Campaign Ever, Rick Marschall, 56

NEMO: The Classic Comics Library No. 10, December 1984


Editorial, Rick Marschall, Meet Our Contributors: Sensibilities and Sensitivities, Donald Phelps, 4


When the Cartoonists Shine, ‘Tis the Season: Cartoonist’s Christmas Cards, 5

The Mell Lazarus Interview, “Getting an Idea and Making It Work,” Shel Dorf, 13

Fantasy in the Comics: The Forgotten Genius, Gustave Verbeek, Upside-Down Visions, Rightside-Up Delights, 21

The Great European Comic Heroes, R. and J.M. Lofficier and Fred Patten, 40

Bill of Fare: Mutton Jeff, Mutt and Jeff’s Family Album, Bill Blackbeard, 46

Playwright for Paper Actors, Chapter 10, The Craft of Strip Writing, Allen Saunders, 54

Penman of the Past, Raymond Crawford Ewer, 59

NEMO: The Classic Comics Library No. 11, May 1985


Editorial, Rick Marschall, 4


Sam’s Strip Returns! Mort Walker and Jerry Dumas, 5

Dwig, A Pen-and-Ink Poet, Clare Victor Dwiggins, Jay Rath, 10

The Comic Obsessions of James Montgomery Flagg, Rick Marschall, 16

Penman of the Past: Charles Dana Gibson, 27

The Force Was with Him, the Escapades and Escapes of Slim Jim, Rick Marschall, 48

SCREWBALL COMICS 

NEMO: The Classic Comics Library Annual No. 1, 1985

Editorial, Rick Marschall, 3


Disorderly Conduct: The Screwball Tradition of Comics, Donald Phelps, 4

Smoky Stover, 9

Rube Goldberg, 18

Grossly Exaggerated: The Manic Worlds of Milt Gross, Ron Goulart, 26

Salesman Sam, Rick Marschall introduction, 34

The Forgotten Seuss, Rick Marschall, 39

The Nut Brothers, Rick Marschall, 45

NEMO: The Classic Comics Library No. 12, June 1985


The World War II Cartoonist Corps, They Beat Swords into Pen-Nibs, Rick Marschall, 5


King Features Characters Go to War, 20

Fantasy in the Comics: Frank King’s Make-Believe World, Mark Johnson, 25

Beyond Mars, A Forgotten SF Strip Classic, Ron Goulart, 34

Sam’s Strip Returns! Mort Walker and Jerry Dumas, 54

Penmen of the Past: Rose O’Neill, 56

NEMO: The Classic Comics Library No. 13, July 1985


Editorial, Rick Marschall, 5


The 1930s Comics Noir World of Red Barry, Undercover Man, Introduced by Rick Marschall, 7

The Incomparable [TAD] Dorgan, 37

TAD: The Balladeer of Broadway, W.O. McGeehan, 38

The World His Stage, The Studio His Prison, W.O. McGeehan, 40

Sam’s Strip Returns! Mort Walker and Jerry Dumas, 56

Boarding House Days and Arabian Nights, The Life and Imaginary Times of Major Hoople, Donald Phelps, 60

NEMO: The Classic Comics Library No. 14, August 1985


The Tenants of Moonshine, Donald Phelps, 5


The Decorative Art of Geo. McManus, 19

Playwright for Paper Actors, Chapter 11-13, The Art of Plotting, Allen Saunders, 31

R.I.P. VIP, Bhob Stewart, 39

Sam’s Strip Returns! Mort Walker and Jerry Dumas, 49

Our Heroes’ Hairbreadth Adventures: From Desperate Deeds to Wup-Wups, Mark Johnson, 51

NEMO: The Classic Comics Library No. 15, October 1985


Of Stout Fellahs and Real Thrills: Dickie Dare, Rick Marschall, 5


The Costumes of Tim Tyler, The Disguises of Lyman Young, Javier Coma, Translated by Rick Marschall, 27

Again…Curses, Foiled Again! Hairbreadth Harry, Mark Johnson, 35

The Great European Comic Heroes, R. and J.M. Lofficier and Fred Patten, 50

Book Reviews, 58

Letters, 64

NEMO: The Classic Comics Library No. 16, December 1985


Editorial, Rick Marshall, 5


The Diary of a Deluded Dandy: Baron Bean, 7

Huck Finn’s 100th Birthday, Rick Marschall, 15

Illustrating Huckleberry Finn, E.W. Kemble, 16

An American Classic and a Classic Comic Strip, Rick Marschall, 19

Penmen of the Past, Joseph Clement Coll, 35

The Great European Comic Heroes, R. and J.M. Lofficier and Fred Patten, 46

Sam’s Strip Returns! Mort Walker and Jerry Dumas, 55

Hairbreadth Harry Returns to Earth, Rick Marschall, 61

NEMO: The Classic Comics Library No. 17, February 1986


Editorial, Rick Marschall, 5


“Bringing in the Reward,” the Chester Gould Interview, Max Allan Collins and Matt Masterson, 7

“Boss” Herrod and Big Boy, Dick Tracy episode, 25

Flat Foot Floogie, Donald Phelps, 33

Bud, Which Way to the Noble Hotel? Tom DeHaven, 42

The Brow: “My Greatest Villain”, 46

NEMO: The Classic Comics Library No. 18, April 1986


Editorial, Rick Marschall, 5

Al Capp Interview by Rick Marschall, 7

“The Comic Page is the Last Refuge of Classic Art” Al Capp, 16

Li’l Abner Meets the Bald Iggle, Rick Marschall Introduction, 18

Penmen of the Past, Winsor McCay, 33

When Comics Wore Toppers, Jim Ivey, 44

Playwright for Paper Actors, Chapter 14-15, From a Slum Child’s Philosophy to America’s Favorite Fiction, Allen Saunders, 57

Sam’s Strip Returns! Mort Walker and Jerry Dumas, 64

Letters, 66

NEMO: The Classic Comics Library No. 19, June 1986


From the Secret Saunders File: Kerry Drake and the Mystery of the Disappearing Inker, 5


Penmen of the Past, Russell Patterson, 26

The Biting Political Cartoons of Frank King, Rick Marschall, 43

Playwright for Paper Actors, Chapter 15-16, The Social Impact of Comics, Allen Saunders, 51

Allen Saunders Remembered, Rick Marschall, 54

Big Chief Wahoo Hits Hollywood, 55

NEMO: The Classic Comics Library No. 20, July 1986


When Knights Were Bold: Oaky Doaks, introduction by Rick Marschall, 5


When Newspapers Respected Their Features, Jim Ivey, 21

Fantasy in the Comics: The Terrors of the Tiny Tads, 43

Sam’s Strip Returns! Mort Walker and Jerry Dumas, 63

Letters, 65

NEMO: The Classic Comics Library No. 21, August 1986


God Save the King! King Aroo, The Inspired Nonsense of Jack Kent in the Land of Myopia, Rick Marschall, 5


Harold Gray’s Other Orphan: Little Joe, Rick Marschall, 35

Mixing With the Best of Them, Gunboat Hudson, 56

The Slum Kids of Percy Crosby, Rick Marschall, 58

NEMO: The Classic Comics Library No. 22, October 1986


Editorial, Rick Marschall, 5


John Held’s Flapper Strips, Rick Marschall Introduction, 6

Joe Palooka Retains the Title, Rick Marschall, 15

The Labor Pains of 1886, Rick Marschall, 25

Jimmy and Company, Jimmy Swinnerton, Donald Phelps, 36

Book Reviews, 59

Letters, 65

NEMO: The Classic Comics Library No. 23, December 1986


The Ageless Golden Age of Little Orphan Annie, Rick Marschall, 5


A Family Album of Hi and Lois, Brian Walker, 33

The World’s Longest Trolley Ride, Fontaine Fox, Arthur “Ted” Clark, 46

Sam’s Strip Returns! Mort Walker and Jerry Dumas, 64

Letters, 66

NEMO: The Classic Comics Library No. 24, February 1987


The Many Comic Inventions of Rube Goldberg, Jim Ivey, 5


The Works of Rube Goldberg, 19

Rube Goldberg Prisoner of War, Rube Goldberg, 22

This Cartoon Business, Rube Goldberg, 28

Boob McNutt Sequence, Rube Goldberg, 34

The Masses, Twelve Angry Men, Rick Marschall, 46

Guest Editorial, Frank King, 64

Letters, 66

NEMO: The Classic Comics Library No. 25, April 1987


Edwina at 93, Kids and Dogs and an America That we Have Lost, Interview by Rick Marschall and Bill Janocha, 5


“Cap” Stubbs and Tippie Sequence, 24

Snappy Art, Sappy Copy, The Comic Strip Ads of Milton Caniff and Noel Sickles, Rick Marschall, 36

Eyewitness to Comics History, the Reminiscences of John Wheeler: Newspaperman, Rick Marschall Introduction, 47

Squirrel Food, Gene Ahern, Mark Johnson, 61

NEMO: The Classic Comics Library No. 26, September 1987


Editorial, Rick Marschall, 5

Those Early Cartoon Contests…Humble Beginnings for Today’s Greats, Edward J. Hohman, 8

The Comic Zoo of T.S. Sullivant, Nancy Belman, 12

Silent, Please! The Unspeakable Greatness of Carl Anderson’s Henry, Jay Rath, 42

Henry Today, Dick Hodgins Jr. artist of the Henry daily strip, 44

Grilling the Prime Beefs: The Outbursts of Everett True, Mark Johnson, 54

NEMO: The Classic Comics Library No. 27, November 1987


A Forgotten Facet: The Cartoon Paintings of Norman Rockwell, Rick Marschall, 5


Fantasy in the Comics: Wells and Kaber’s Lovely Lilly, 22

The Chalk-Plate Cartoon and its Production, Thomas G. Shonkweiler, 29

What a Differnce a Century Makes, Rick Marschall, 34

William Faulkner Reads the Comics, The Comic References of an Amateur Cartoonist, M. Thomas Inge, 36

The Haunting Beauty of White Boy, Garrett Price, Michael Barson, 45

NEMO: The Classic Comics Library No. 28, Dec 1987


Editorial: Images of Others…Images of Ourselves, Rick Marschall, 5


A Brief History of Ethnicity in the Comics, Charles Hardy, 6

From Subhuman to Superhuman: Ethnic Characters in the Comics, Pamela B. Nelson, 9

Abie the Agent, Gimpl the Matchmaker, Berl Schliemazel, Et Al., John J. Appel, 12

Corncob and Cornpone a Black Abe Martin, Sara Beaumont Kennedy, 15

From “Under Cork” to Overcoming: Black Images in the Comics, Steven L. Jones, 16

An Extinct Species of Graphic Humor, Rick Marschall, 22

Grossly Exaggerate: Oy! Giffs de Comic Woild of Milt Gross! Rick Marschall Introduction, Nize Baby Sequence, 45

Torchy Brown: A Landmark Black Comic Strip, Rick Marschall Introduction, 56

NEMO: The Classic Comics Library No. 29, February 1989


Editorial, Rick Marschall, 2


Fantasy in the Comics: Gasoline Alley’s Flights of Fancy, Rick Marschall Introduction, 5

Good Moon Rising: An interview with Ferd Johnson, Rick Marschall, Gary Groth, 18

Ming Foo: Threats and Thrills, Fantasy and Fortune Cookies, Introduction by Rick Marschall, 45

NEMO: The Classic Comics Library No. 30, April 1989


Editorial, Meet Our Contributors: Richard Samuel West, Rick Marschall, 2


A Landmark publishing Event: Waking Up in Slumberland, 5

“Dumb It Down,” The Comic-Strip Craftsmanship and Common Denominators of Ernie Bushmiller, Brian Walker, Introduction by Rick Marschall, 30

Joseph Keppler Riding the Crest: The Master of the Colored Political Cartoon, Richard Samuel West, 44

Sam’s Strip Returns! Mort Walker and Jerry Dumas, 60

NEMO: The Classic Comics Library No. 31-32, back to back double issue, January/Winter 1992


Guest Editor: Gary Groth


NEMO 31


Editorial: A Farewell from The Publishers, 4


Charles Schulz Interview, Rick Marschall and Gary Groth, 5

The Schulz System: Why Peanuts Works, Thierry Groensteen, 26

A Panel Disappears, Harry Morgan, 41

NEMO 32


Caniff’s Private War to Save Steve Canyon, R.C. Harvey, 4


“Krazy Kat” a love story, Edward Sorel, 22

Cliff Starrett’s Polly & Her Pals: The Best From ’43, Gary Groth Introduction, 27


1 comment:

  1. Those original "Nemo" issues were a TREASURE! Looking forward to the new incarnation(s). Any info on publishing dates?

    ReplyDelete