Big Apple Comix
Encyclopedia
Big Apple Comix is an early independent comic book published by Flo Steinberg
in 1975. An historically important link between underground comix
and what would later be called alternative comics
, this 36-page, 6 3/4" x 9 3/4" hybrid with glossy color covers and black-and-white interiors contains 11 sometimes sexually frank stories by such mainstream creators as Neal Adams
, Archie Goodwin
, Denny O'Neil, Herb Trimpe
, Al Williamson
, and Wally Wood
. Most of its stories revolve around New York City
(colloquially known as "The Big Apple") during a particularly low ebb in the city's finances, crime situation, race relations, and infrastructure.
" comic-book stores. Other such early links between underground comix
and modern independents include Mike Friedrich
's Star*Reach
and Wood's own witzend
. Critic Ken Jones, in a 1986 retrospective review, suggested that Big Apple Comix and [Mark Evanier's] High Adventure may have been "the first true alternative comics".
The comic featured writer-editor Goodwin displaying his cartoonist
abilities; Adams and a fledgling Larry Hama
sharing vertically split pages to parallel a street prostitute with a corporate
secretary
using sex to further her career; and Wood's story "My Word", a bitter parody of the Al Feldstein
-scripted "My World" that Wood illustrated in EC Comics
' Weird Science
#22 (Dec. 1953).
Linda Fite
and John Verpoorten
handled production work for the comic, released with an indicia
date of September 1975 and sold primarily through mail-order by Steinberg's Big Apple Productions. Many of its contributors were connected with the Neal Adams-Dick Giordano
studio, Continuity Associates
.
Flo Steinberg
Florence "Flo" Steinberg is an American publisher of one of the first independent comic books, the underground/alternative comics hybrid Big Apple Comix, in 1975...
in 1975. An historically important link between underground comix
Underground comix
Underground comix are small press or self-published comic books which are often socially relevant or satirical in nature. They differ from mainstream comics in depicting content forbidden to mainstream publications by the Comics Code Authority, including explicit drug use, sexuality and violence...
and what would later be called alternative comics
Alternative comics
Alternative comics defines a range of American comics that have appeared since the 1980s, following the underground comix movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Alternative comics present an alternative to "mainstream" superhero comics which in the past have dominated the US comic book industry...
, this 36-page, 6 3/4" x 9 3/4" hybrid with glossy color covers and black-and-white interiors contains 11 sometimes sexually frank stories by such mainstream creators as Neal Adams
Neal Adams
Neal Adams is an American comic book and commercial artist known for helping to create some of the definitive modern imagery of the DC Comics characters Superman, Batman, and Green Arrow; as the co-founder of the graphic design studio Continuity Associates; and as a creators-rights advocate who...
, Archie Goodwin
Archie Goodwin (comics)
Archie Goodwin was an American comic book writer, editor, and artist. He worked on a number of comic strips in addition to comic books, and is best known for his Warren and Marvel Comics work...
, Denny O'Neil, Herb Trimpe
Herb Trimpe
Herbert W. "Herb" Trimpe Herbert W. "Herb" Trimpe Herbert W. "Herb" Trimpe (b. May 26, 1939, is an American comic book artist and occasional writer, best known for his work on The Incredible Hulk and as the first artist to draw for publication the character Wolverine, who later became a breakout...
, Al Williamson
Al Williamson
Alfonso "Al" Williamson was an American cartoonist, comic book artist and illustrator specializing in adventure, Western and science-fiction/fantasy...
, and Wally Wood
Wally Wood
Wallace Allan Wood was an American comic book writer, artist and independent publisher, best known for his work in EC Comics and Mad. He was one of Mads founding cartoonists in 1952. Although much of his early professional artwork is signed Wallace Wood, he became known as Wally Wood, a name he...
. Most of its stories revolve around New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
(colloquially known as "The Big Apple") during a particularly low ebb in the city's finances, crime situation, race relations, and infrastructure.
Publication history
The one-shot comic book was among a handful of 1960s-'70s precursors of the independently produced comics that first proliferated with the 1980s rise of "direct marketDirect market
The direct market is the dominant distribution and retail network for North American comic books. It consists of one dominant distributor and the majority of comics specialty stores, as well as other retailers of comic books and related merchandise...
" comic-book stores. Other such early links between underground comix
Underground comix
Underground comix are small press or self-published comic books which are often socially relevant or satirical in nature. They differ from mainstream comics in depicting content forbidden to mainstream publications by the Comics Code Authority, including explicit drug use, sexuality and violence...
and modern independents include Mike Friedrich
Mike Friedrich
Mike Friedrich is an American comic book writer and publisher best known for his work at Marvel and DC Comics, and for publishing the anthology series Star*Reach, one of the first independent comics...
's Star*Reach
Star Reach
Star Reach was an influential, American science fiction and fantasy comics anthology published from 1974 to 1979 by Mike Friedrich...
and Wood's own witzend
Witzend
witzend, published on an irregular schedule spanning decades, was an underground comic showcasing contributions by comic book professionals, leading illustrators and new artists. witzend was launched in 1966 by the writer-artist Wallace Wood, who handed the reins to Bill Pearson from 1968–1985...
. Critic Ken Jones, in a 1986 retrospective review, suggested that Big Apple Comix and [Mark Evanier's] High Adventure may have been "the first true alternative comics".
The comic featured writer-editor Goodwin displaying his cartoonist
Cartoonist
A cartoonist is a person who specializes in drawing cartoons. This work is usually humorous, mainly created for entertainment, political commentary or advertising...
abilities; Adams and a fledgling Larry Hama
Larry Hama
Larry Hama is an American comic book writer, artist, actor and musician who has worked in the fields of entertainment and publishing since the 1960s....
sharing vertically split pages to parallel a street prostitute with a corporate
Corporation
A corporation is created under the laws of a state as a separate legal entity that has privileges and liabilities that are distinct from those of its members. There are many different forms of corporations, most of which are used to conduct business. Early corporations were established by charter...
secretary
Secretary
A secretary, or administrative assistant, is a person whose work consists of supporting management, including executives, using a variety of project management, communication & organizational skills. These functions may be entirely carried out to assist one other employee or may be for the benefit...
using sex to further her career; and Wood's story "My Word", a bitter parody of the Al Feldstein
Al Feldstein
Albert B. Feldstein is an American writer, editor, and artist, best known for his work at EC Comics and, from 1956 to 1985, as the editor of the satirical magazine Mad. Since retiring from Mad, Feldstein has concentrated on American paintings of Western wildlife...
-scripted "My World" that Wood illustrated in EC Comics
EC Comics
Entertaining Comics, more commonly known as EC Comics, was an American publisher of comic books specializing in horror fiction, crime fiction, satire, military fiction and science fiction from the 1940s through the mid-1950s, notably the Tales from the Crypt series...
' Weird Science
Weird Science (comic)
Weird Science was a science fiction anthology comic book that was part of the EC Comics line in the early 1950s. Over a four-year span, the comic ran for 22 issues, ending with the November–December, 1953 issue...
#22 (Dec. 1953).
Linda Fite
Linda Fite
Linda Fite is an American writer and editor who created the Marvel Comics series The Cat, and who while serving as an assistant to Marvel editor-in-chief Stan Lee, helped bring fledgling artist Barry Windsor-Smith to the company by responding with an encouraging note to some art he had sent to the...
and John Verpoorten
John Verpoorten
John Verpoorten was a comic book artist and editorial worker best known as Marvel Comics' production manager during the latter part of the Silver Age of Comic Books and afterward, during a seminal period of Marvel's expansion from a small publishing concern to a multinational popular culture...
handled production work for the comic, released with an indicia
Indicia
In philately, indicia are markings on a mail piece showing that postage has been prepaid by the sender. Indicia is the plural of the latin word indicium, meaning distinguishing marks, signs or identifying marks...
date of September 1975 and sold primarily through mail-order by Steinberg's Big Apple Productions. Many of its contributors were connected with the Neal Adams-Dick Giordano
Dick Giordano
Richard Joseph "Dick" Giordano was an American comic book artist and editor best known for introducing Charlton Comics' "Action Heroes" stable of superheroes, and serving as executive editor of then–industry leader DC Comics...
studio, Continuity Associates
Continuity Associates
Continuity Studios is a New York City- and Los Angeles-based art and illustration studio formed by cartoonists Neal Adams and Dick Giordano...
.
Contents
Source:- Front cover by Wally WoodWally WoodWallace Allan Wood was an American comic book writer, artist and independent publisher, best known for his work in EC Comics and Mad. He was one of Mads founding cartoonists in 1952. Although much of his early professional artwork is signed Wallace Wood, he became known as Wally Wood, a name he...
- Foreword by Denny O'Neil
- "The Man Without A City" by Stu Schwartzberg (writer), Marie SeverinMarie SeverinMarie Severin is an American comic book artist and colorist best known for her work for Marvel Comics and the 1950s' EC Comics....
(artist), pp. 3-5 - "Peep Shows" by Archie GoodwinArchie Goodwin (comics)Archie Goodwin was an American comic book writer, editor, and artist. He worked on a number of comic strips in addition to comic books, and is best known for his Warren and Marvel Comics work...
(writer-artist), pp. 6-7 - "My Word" by Wally Wood (writer-artist), pp. 8-10
- "The Tube" by Wally Wood (writer), Al WilliamsonAl WilliamsonAlfonso "Al" Williamson was an American cartoonist, comic book artist and illustrator specializing in adventure, Western and science-fiction/fantasy...
(artist), pp. 12-14 - "A Nice Place To Visit, but..." by Linda FiteLinda FiteLinda Fite is an American writer and editor who created the Marvel Comics series The Cat, and who while serving as an assistant to Marvel editor-in-chief Stan Lee, helped bring fledgling artist Barry Windsor-Smith to the company by responding with an encouraging note to some art he had sent to the...
, p. 15 - "Over & Under" by Neal AdamsNeal AdamsNeal Adams is an American comic book and commercial artist known for helping to create some of the definitive modern imagery of the DC Comics characters Superman, Batman, and Green Arrow; as the co-founder of the graphic design studio Continuity Associates; and as a creators-rights advocate who...
(writer-artist, "Over"), Larry HamaLarry HamaLarry Hama is an American comic book writer, artist, actor and musician who has worked in the fields of entertainment and publishing since the 1960s....
(writer-artist, "Under"), pp. 16-20 - "New York City: The Future" by Paul KirchnerPaul KirchnerPaul Kirchner is an American writer and illustrator who has worked in diverse areas, from comic strips and toy design to advertising and editorial art....
, p. 21 - "The Battery's Down" by Alan WeissAlan Weiss (comics)Alan Weiss is an American comic book artist and writer known for his work on Warlock, Avengers, Captain America, Daredevil, Sub-Mariner and Spider-Man...
, Howard Weiss, pp. 22-26 - "Lotsa Yox" by Herb Trimpe (pencils) and Wally Wood (inker), pp. 27-28
- "The Silent Minority" by Mike PloogMike PloogMichael G. Ploog is an American storyboard and comic book artist, and a visual designer for movies....
, pp. 29-30 - "Token" by Herb Trimpe p. 31-34
- "Backword" by Flo SteinbergFlo SteinbergFlorence "Flo" Steinberg is an American publisher of one of the first independent comic books, the underground/alternative comics hybrid Big Apple Comix, in 1975...
- Back cover by Ralph ReeseRalph ReeseRalph Reese is an American artist who has illustrated for books, magazines, trading cards, comic books and comic strips, including a year drawing the Flash Gordon strip for King Features...