Truth be told, with TwoMorrows Publishing being around for over thirty years and with all the magazines and trades they put out, I could run a podcast just on them, and I doubt I’d ever run out of shows. Okay, not too long, I DID tape a bunch of shows with the fantastic people over there, which you can watch on YouTube.
Instead of telling you what’s out now, let’s talk about the things coming from them soon, because they have something fantastic for every kind of fan! And, for this fan, I’m most excited for Roy Thomas: A Life In Four Colors 1940-1966, shipping 4/22. It covers up to 1966, the year after he joined Marvel Comics.
As a big, big Thomas fan—the best part of this trade is we can pretty much assume there will be another volume. When I did those TwoMorrow shows last year. I did try to get him on the show, but the logistics didn’t work out. Hey, I did try! I did get an e-mail from Roy, which, of course, I saved!
When you get Roy’s book, you can also pick up Comic Book Creator 43, which comes out the same day! While taping all those shows, one thing became crystal clear: John Morrow has top-rate people who know their comics. CBC’s editor Jon B. Cooke jams each issue with so much content, making it a must for fans.
From the cover, you know the focus is on John Buscema, but clocking in at 84 pages, there’s plenty of room! Without saying too much, I will say it includes a piece by Bill Mantlo, one of the Bronze Age’s stars, and the tragic fate of the legendary creator. And, as a fantastically nice surprise, something (find out for yourself!) on Fred Hembeck.
To make it easy for a fan, two more April releases are both available 4/15! First up, Alter Ego, 199, going on for over twenty-five years, its niche is the Silver Age. And, as a fan, surely you must have picked up an issue? Come on! Roy Thomas has been the editor since the beginning, and for newer fans, there is no better place to brush up on the Silver Age than Alter Ego.
And, you know what? I’m not telling you one thing that’s in it! Get the issue! In fact, while you’re at it, pick up some of the back issues. Seriously, it doesn’t get any better than this.
And, then there is Retro Fan 44, from editor Ed Catto, Tomorrow’s pop‑culture magazine celebrating the toys, TV shows, comics, collectibles, and nostalgia of the ’60s–’90s. Comic fans will enjoy it because it dives deep into the creators, characters, and cultural moments that shaped the eras that shaped them.
Of course, I had Ed on to talk about Retro Fan, but he is also one of the masterminds behind the Captain Action revival. From the Silver Age, Captain Action was the only action figure who could become dozens of heroes, from Superman to Spider‑Man—long before “shared universes” were a thing. Ed Catto has been a driving force behind the modern revival of the classic 1960s hero, helping reintroduce the brand through new comics, collectibles, and fan‑focused projects.
Back to that upcoming issue of Retro Fan! As always, it sprinkles all kinds of pop culture pieces, with a focus on “Golden Girls of James Bond,” profiling iconic Bond actresses from Shirley Eaton to Lois Maxwell. There’s something on Little Shop of Horrors, and speaking of horrors: something on the 60s Superman Broadway musical!
Next time you visit your comic shop, let some TwoMorrow on the last. After all, if you are a true, die-hard comic fan, you already do!
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