Bazooka Joe and His Gang HCPublisher: Abrams ComicArts
Release Date: May 2013
Price: $19.95
Creator(s): Various material by Talley Morse, Nancy Morse, Kirk Taylor, Len Brown, Jay Lynch, R. Sikoryak and Bhob Stewart
Format: 224 pgs., Full Color & B&W, 5-1/2" x 7-1/8", HC
ISBN: 978-1-4197-0632-5
Age Rating: N/A
ICv2 Rating: 3 Stars out of 5
Bazooka Joe is an overlooked part of American pop culture. From the 1950s until quite recently, this comic strip was part of each pack of Bazooka bubble gum. With stale humor stolen from a host of sources, combined with "safe" comics art comparable to what was found in Archie comics, three generations of kids had their own comic strip to read, one not part of the daily newspapers.
What this book does, and very well, is give a background to the Bazooka Joe comics, from the history of its original artist to the varied versions printed for different countries. Until this book, I was unaware of Bazooka Joe’s artistic connections with everything from the Copacabana night club to 1940s porno comics.
The structure of the book, made up of multiple essays from different viewpoints, is a minor weakness. Information is missing or repeated in a few instances, and no one person strongly controlled the content. On the other hand, the essayists were knowledgeable and interesting, but they occasionally provided information "stubs" that were frustrating, such as describing candy products which might have been created due to wartime sugar rationing. Other candies and treats for kids get brief histories, of historical interest.
Adults who grew up on Bazooka gum will find enjoyment in this book.
--Nick Smith: Librarian Technician, Community Services, for the Pasadena Public Library in California.