This 1971 history of comics, written by Les Daniels with graphics and graphic design by The Mad Peck, wore its counterculture sensibilities on its sleeve. It samples and juxtaposes mainstream and underground comics throughout the book in a jazzy, freewheeling way that did weird things to my eight-year-old brain when I checked this book out of my public library.

Well-illustrated, featuring a large number of full stories, including:

• Golden Age Sub-Mariner and Captain America stories
• A Carl Barks duck story with Donald, Gladstone and Scrooge
• "A Little Strange" a Graham Ingels EC horror story
• "The Success Story" by Goodwin and Williamson
• "The Squaw!" by Goodwin and Reed Crandall
• "Landscape!" by Goodwin and Orlando
• "The Curse" by Wally Wood
• "At the Stroke of Midnight" by Steranko
• "Meatball" by R. Crumb
• Fabulous Furry Freak Bothers by Gilbert Shelton
• And many others!

Covers the whole history of comic books in America - the major creations, the major creators, the major comic book lines, the major comic book enemies. With wide knowledge, affection and a good sense for the illuminating detail, the co-authors - Les Daniels and The Mad Peck - tell the story of how comic books captured the imagination of millions and became an American institution, and whether or not they deserved to. Adjoining the text, providing an illustrated history of their own, is a large selection of complete comic book stories. No selected snippets. Full stories.

This came from the collection of Steve Sherman, a writer, artist, puppet-maker, puppet-performer, and avid collector. Steve worked as Jack Kirby's assistant, at Filmation, and Sid and Marty Krofft, before forming his own company Puppet Studio in 1984 contributing to "Pee-Wee's Playhouse", "Men in Black 1 & 2", "Mighty Joe Young", "Muppets" and numerous other TV series and feature films.