Comic Book Confidential

[Mark Mayerson]

Comic Book Confidential, a film by Ron Mann, takes the point of view that
comics are subversive of normal American values.  Mann is in favor of
these "subversive" attitudes and examines the luridness of golden
age super hero comics, the EC horror and war titles, the underground
comics of the '60's and the modern alternative comics scene.

Because Disney comics are not blatantly subversive, they don't fit
Mann's thesis and are ignored.

The best thing about the films are the interviews.  Mann's sense of
history and point of view are highly debatable.  Because mainstream
media are so ignorant of comics, Mann's film got lots of good reviews and
won several awards.  However, lots of informed comics fans and professionals
have problems with the film.

While there's no question that super-hero comics are the dominant form
of comic book entertainment in North America, I don't think Mann's attitude
can be taken as the majority of informed opinion.  A list of the best of 
American comic book creators would always include Carl Barks with people like 
Will Eisner, Harvey Kurtzman, etc.
___________________________________________________________________
Mark Mayerson				Side Effects Software Inc.,
Internet:  mayerson at sidefx.com          Toronto, Ontario, Canada
					(416) 366-4607