Amazing Heroes
Encyclopedia
Amazing Heroes was a magazine
about the comic book
medium published by Fantagraphics Books
from 1981
to 1992
. Unlike its companion title, The Comics Journal
, Amazing Heroes was a hobbyist magazine rather than an analytical journal.
, Fantagraphics' head of promotion and circulation. Upon his departure after issue #6, Comics Journal editor Kim Thompson
took over the reins.
The magazine was initially published under the Fantagraphics imprint Zam, Inc., through issue #6. Beginning with #7, the publishing imprint became Redbeard, Inc. It remained under Redbeard through at least issue #61, but by issue #68 was being published by Fantagraphics Books, Inc.
The magazine began as a monthly, then appeared twice a month for many years, and then went monthly again beginning in 1989. The magazine ran for 204 issues, folding with its July 1992 issue.
In February 1993, Fantagraphics announced that the publisher Personality Comics
had bought the rights to Amazing Heroes, and planned to revive the magazine. However, nothing came of it as Personality itself folded in 1993.
The regular content included industry news, comics creator interviews, histories of comic book characters and reviews. Features included Hero Histories of various characters/features, previews of upcoming series, and letters page. Other regular features were a column called "Doc's Bookshelf" by Dwight Decker (which ran from 1987–1989), and a question-and-answer feature called "Information Center," which ran from 1986–1989. Among humor features, Amazing Heroes hosted the comic strip "The Cartoonist" by Teri Sue Wood
.
There were regular special editions for previews of upcoming comics, and "swimsuit editions" in which various comics artists drew pin-ups of characters in bikini
s and similar beach apparel. The Amazing Heroes Preview Special appeared twice a year (beginning with the Summer 1985 issue), presenting previews of all comics slated to appear over the next six months. These were extra-sized issues, and were often square-bound. Many issues of the AHPS also contained joke entries. The editors fluctuated between publishing these as separately numbered specials and special issues of the regular series itself.
The Amazing Heroes Swimsuit Special debuted with a June 1990 edition, with five issues published.
Amazing Heroes #200 (April 1992) featured an extensive preview of Scott McCloud
's Understanding Comics
. The issue was given a 1992 Compuserve Comics and Animation Forum Award for Best Non-Fiction Work.
. In 1987, a dispute arose when Olbrich and Fantagraphics each claimed ownership of the awards. A compromise was reached, and starting in 1988, the Kirby Award was discontinued and two new awards were created: the Eisner Award
, managed by Olbrich, and the Fantagraphics-managed Harvey Award
.
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
about the comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
medium published by Fantagraphics Books
Fantagraphics Books
Fantagraphics Books is an American publisher of alternative comics, classic comic strip anthologies, magazines, graphic novels, and the adult-oriented Eros Comix imprint...
from 1981
1981 in comics
-January:* Capital Comics makes its entree into publishing with the release of Nexus #1.*Frank Miller takes over full writing duties on Daredevil with issue #168, and creates Elektra....
to 1992
1992 in comics
-Year overall:* Image Comics explodes onto the scene, releasing eight ongoing and limited series, starting with Youngblood in April; followed by Spawn in May; Savage Dragon in July; and Brigade, Shadowhawk, and WildC.A.T.S. in August....
. Unlike its companion title, The Comics Journal
The Comics Journal
The Comics Journal, often abbreviated TCJ, is an American magazine of news and criticism pertaining to comic books, comic strips and graphic novels...
, Amazing Heroes was a hobbyist magazine rather than an analytical journal.
Publication history
Amazing Heroes first editor was Michael CatronMichael Catron
Michael Catron is former publisher of Apple Comics and co-founder of Fantagraphics as well as a classically trained Shakespearian actor....
, Fantagraphics' head of promotion and circulation. Upon his departure after issue #6, Comics Journal editor Kim Thompson
Kim Thompson
Kim Thompson is an American comic book editor, translator, and publisher, best known as vice president and co-publisher of Seattle-based Fantagraphics Books. Along with co-publisher Gary Groth, Thompson has for almost thirty years used his position to further the cause of alternative comics in the...
took over the reins.
The magazine was initially published under the Fantagraphics imprint Zam, Inc., through issue #6. Beginning with #7, the publishing imprint became Redbeard, Inc. It remained under Redbeard through at least issue #61, but by issue #68 was being published by Fantagraphics Books, Inc.
The magazine began as a monthly, then appeared twice a month for many years, and then went monthly again beginning in 1989. The magazine ran for 204 issues, folding with its July 1992 issue.
In February 1993, Fantagraphics announced that the publisher Personality Comics
Personality Comics
Personality Comics was a short-lived American comic book publisher which specialized in unauthorized profiles of professional athletes and entertainers, as well as adult comics. A typical Personality Comics title featured a painted portrait of the subject on the cover, with black-and-white art inside...
had bought the rights to Amazing Heroes, and planned to revive the magazine. However, nothing came of it as Personality itself folded in 1993.
Format and content
Amazing Heroes first dozen issues were magazine-sized, while the rest were comic book-sized.The regular content included industry news, comics creator interviews, histories of comic book characters and reviews. Features included Hero Histories of various characters/features, previews of upcoming series, and letters page. Other regular features were a column called "Doc's Bookshelf" by Dwight Decker (which ran from 1987–1989), and a question-and-answer feature called "Information Center," which ran from 1986–1989. Among humor features, Amazing Heroes hosted the comic strip "The Cartoonist" by Teri Sue Wood
Teri Sue Wood
Teri Sue Wood, also known as Teresa Susan Challender is an American comic artist best known for her early-'90s Wandering Star series, which ran for 21 issues...
.
There were regular special editions for previews of upcoming comics, and "swimsuit editions" in which various comics artists drew pin-ups of characters in bikini
Bikini
The bikini is typically a women's two-piece swimsuit. One part of the attire covers the breasts and the other part covers the crotch and part of or the entire buttocks, leaving an uncovered area between the two. Merriam–Webster describes the bikini as "a woman's scanty two-piece bathing suit" or "a...
s and similar beach apparel. The Amazing Heroes Preview Special appeared twice a year (beginning with the Summer 1985 issue), presenting previews of all comics slated to appear over the next six months. These were extra-sized issues, and were often square-bound. Many issues of the AHPS also contained joke entries. The editors fluctuated between publishing these as separately numbered specials and special issues of the regular series itself.
The Amazing Heroes Swimsuit Special debuted with a June 1990 edition, with five issues published.
Amazing Heroes #200 (April 1992) featured an extensive preview of Scott McCloud
Scott McCloud
Scott McCloud is an American cartoonist and theorist on comics as a distinct literary and artistic medium...
's Understanding Comics
Understanding Comics
Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art is a 215-page non-fiction comic book, written and drawn by Scott McCloud and originally published in 1993. It explores the definition of comics, the historical development of the medium, its fundamental vocabulary, and various ways in which these elements...
. The issue was given a 1992 Compuserve Comics and Animation Forum Award for Best Non-Fiction Work.
The Jack Kirby Award
From 1985 to 1987, the magazine presented The Jack Kirby Award for achievement in comic books, voted on by comic-book professionals and managed by Dave Olbrich, a Fantagraphics employee and, later, publisher of Malibu ComicsMalibu Comics
Malibu Comics was an American comic book publisher active in the late 1980s and early 1990s, best known for its Ultraverse line of superhero titles. The company's headquarters was in Calabasas, California. Malibu imprints included Aircel Comics and Eternity Comics...
. In 1987, a dispute arose when Olbrich and Fantagraphics each claimed ownership of the awards. A compromise was reached, and starting in 1988, the Kirby Award was discontinued and two new awards were created: the Eisner Award
Eisner Award
The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, commonly shortened to the Eisner Awards, and sometimes referred to as the Oscar Awards of the Comics Industry, are prizes given for creative achievement in American comic books. The Eisner Awards were first conferred in 1988, created in response to the...
, managed by Olbrich, and the Fantagraphics-managed Harvey Award
Harvey Award
The Harvey Awards, named for writer-artist Harvey Kurtzman and founded by Gary Groth, President of the publisher Fantagraphics, are given for achievement in comic books. The Harveys were created as part of a successor to the Kirby Awards which were discontinued after 1987.The Harvey Awards are...
.
Awards won
- 19861986 in comics-Year overall:* Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, a four-issue limited series written and drawn by Frank Miller and published by DC Comics, debuts...
: Eagle Award — Favourite Specialist Comics Publication - 19871987 in comics- Year overall :* Independent publishers continue to enter the comics arena, including Amazing, CFW Enterprises, Imperial Comics, Matrix Graphic Series, New Comics Group, and Rebel Studios...
: Eagle Award — Favourite Specialist Comics Publication - 19881988 in comics-Events and publications:* Jack Binder, creator of the original Daredevil, dies at c. age 86.* Tarpé Mills, creator Miss Fury, dies at c. age 73....
: Eagle Award — Favourite Specialist Comics Publication - 19921992 in comics-Year overall:* Image Comics explodes onto the scene, releasing eight ongoing and limited series, starting with Youngblood in April; followed by Spawn in May; Savage Dragon in July; and Brigade, Shadowhawk, and WildC.A.T.S. in August....
: Compuserve Comics and Animation Forum Award — Best Non-Fiction Work