10. Paradox Press’ Big Books Series

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15.  Big Book of Vice

The last of my three favourites, it covered some of the best things in life. Sex, drugs and other illicit things. You learn about the histories of some famous sin cities, prostitution, drugs and even comic books. (They’re are certainly my vice.) Artists in this one included Seth Fisher, Rina Piccolo, Glen Hanson and Stephen Sadowski.

16.  Big Book of Grimm

The true Grimm’s fairytales, complete with a bloodstained cover. The chapter headings were hilarious. Family Hell included Cinderella and the Twelve Brothers. Prisoners of Childhood were Tom Thumb and Sleeping Beauty. Magical Strangers had Puss in Boots and Rumplestiltskin. Completely engrossing the artists contributing were Charles Vess, Jason Little, Dame Darcy and Steve Weissman.

17.  Big Book of the 70’s

This was the last book of the series to come out. I found it a strange subject matter. But the comics were well illustrated and informative. There were stories about 70’s style, 70’s lingo, Studio 54, mood rings, Jane Fonda, womens lib, Son of Sam, Saturday Night Live and Punk. Personally I was a 70’s baby so I wasn’t really paying attention to a lot of this stuff at the time. An informative read it included Craig Thompson, Dave Cooper, Sean Phillips and Cliff Chiang.

POSTSCRIPT

I was going to tell you all about the final book planned but never published. They even had most of the art for it. Unfortunately my notes about it were at the beginning of my research and once I passed that page, I promptly forgot it existed. It was to be The Big Book of Wild Women. Edited by Suzie the Floozie it was to come out in 2001. The aim was to profile women who made an impact on culture while pushing the envelope of unconventionality. Among the women that were to be profiled; B-movie queen Tura Satana, presidential candidate Victoria Woodhall, Cleopatra, erotic writer Anais Nin and Betty Page. Ms. Suzie specifically chose no noble women. Paradox/DC, (the publisher) never gave a reason for putting the kibosh on the book. When they were questioned by The Comics Journal they said that the book was still on the back burner to be released. Since that time some of the artists have bought back their work and we’ve been waiting for the release for 8 years. It’s a major shame because I was REALLY looking forward to this book. Some of the artists that contributed were Mary Fleener, Pia Guerra, Philip Bond and Amanda Conner. You can’t see it, but I’m pouting just thinking about the book that never was.  Go here to see Gregory Benton’s contribution.  www.gregorybenton.com/anais.html

PLAYLIST

• Happy Tree Friends Theme

• Mike Patton & Kid 606 – Secrets for Sale

• Flight of the Conchords – Boom

• Flight of the Conchords – Faux Fa Fa

• Flight of the Conchords – Hiphopotomus & Rhymenocerous

• Ben Folds Five – Summer

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