Comic Books Incorporated tells the story of the US comic book business, reframing the history of the medium through an industrial and transmedial lens. Comic books wielded their influence from the margins and in-between spaces of the entertainment business for half a century before moving to the center of mainstream film and television production. This extraordinary history begins at the medium’s origin in the 1930s, when comics were a reviled, disorganized, and lowbrow mass medium, and surveys critical moments along the way—market crashes, corporate takeovers, upheavals in distribution, and financial transformations. Shawna Kidman concludes this revisionist history in the early 2000s, when Hollywood had fully incorporated comic book properties and strategies into its business models and transformed the medium into the heavily exploited, exceedingly corporate, and yet highly esteemed niche art form we know so well today.

The recognized authority in this field and an established bestseller, this eagerly awaited 17th edition features a 40-page color section.

Since 1970, only one comic book price guide has been dubbed "the Bible" for casual and die-hard collectors alike. While others have come and gone, The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide has maintained its stature as the premiere reference source for the hobby, covering more than a century of comic book history. The essential tool for collectors and investors, the Guide is highly regarded for its well-researched pricing, in-depth historical information, and incomparable insights into the marketplace. If you have a comic book collection or are thinking about starting one, you simply can't do without this book! This 30th Anniversary Edition Includes: The most complete record of existing comic books from the 1800s to the present Redesigned feature sections for greater clarity and easy reference Market reports by Robert M. overstreet and the Overstreet advisors network Exclusive feature articles on the origin and history of EC Comics, now celebrating the 50th anniversary of the "New Trend" titles, including interviews with Overstreet cover artists Al Feldstein and Al Williamson! Exclusive 30th anniversary feature looking back at the birth of a comic book fan, the first-ever article written for the Guide by Robert M. Overstreet himself! Up-to-date directory of comic book fan wbsites Tips about collecting, grading and caring for your comics All-new additions to Overstreet Hall of Fame, key sales lists, and exhaustive indices And much, much more!

Creators include; Scott McCloud, Larry Marder, Richard Corben, Jack Jackson, Lee Mars, Howard Cruse, Denis Kitchen, Kevin Eastman & Peter Laird, Dave Sim, Harvey Pekar & Joyce Brabner, Alan Moore, Jean "Moebius" Giraud, Addie Campbell, Neil Gaiman, Dave McKean, Frank Miller, Colleen Doran, Rick Veitch, Todd McFarlane, Will Eisner. Also included is McCloud's bill of rights for comic creators.