With the popularity of comic book properties at an all-time high, the time is right for a collection of essays and original interviews devoted to all things comic book. As well as essays on contemporary issues and trends associated with comic books and comic book culture, this diverse collection also features original interviews with top comic industry professionals. From visionary writers and artists, to award-winning editors and publishers, interviewees include: Joe Quesada, artist, writer, and Marvel Comics editor-in-chief; Victor Lucas, creator, producer, and co-host of the award-winning Electric Playground; Steve Englehart, acclaimed writer for Marvel Comics and DC Comics; John Romita Sr, legendary Amazing Spiderman artist and Marvel Comics art director; Steve Niles, writer of 30 Days of Night, Dark Days, and Wake the Dead; Eric Searleman, Viz Media editor; Chris Warner, Dark Horse Comics senior editor; Scott Allie, writer and Dark Horse Comics Conan editor; Norm Breyfogle, acclaimed Batman artist. Addressing the role comic books play in reflecting the mood of popular culture, essay topics include: comic book fan communities; comics in relation to cinema and video games; the issue of censorship, in particular, of horror comics; comic book content and social attitudes of the 1950s and 1960s; detective comics of the 1970s; and women collectors and the image of women in comic books, in general.