Five Highlights from THE NEW NOSTALGIA JOURNAL 30

THE NEW NOSTALGIA JOURNAL #30 (NOVEMBER 1976)

Gary Groth's THE EDITOR'S BALLOON: Continuing his discussion of writing about comics from the last issue Groth nails the description of bad fan writing that still holds true in the social media age, "Writing about comics is an activity seductive to buffs, fanatics, apologists, and publicists, all of whom do not address themselves to the successes and failures of the medium. Rather, they deal with their personal cravings, idiosyncratic obsessions, and childhood memories. The questions of content, value, story, and weight are left unanswered, so the estheticians, theorists, and other squares who would elevate the medium to an artform with all the heavy questions, obligations, and standards that go with their point of view dry up because their voices are not heard." ( page 2)

Subscription page detail from The TCJ Archive

FAN ART: I think this Green Arrow/Black Canary drawing is by Joe Zabel, who went on to draw AMERICAN SPLENDOR in the 80s. (page 3)

TNJ MEMOS: Lambs Lead to Slaughter Department, Part two: Abel Mills joins Alan Friedman as Editorial Assistant on TNJ and SOUNDS FINE. (page 4)

View this comic on comicbookplus.com

JACK KIRBY INTERVIEW, PART ONE: Not the greatest Kirby interview, however his opinion on EC Comics is definitely worth reading. Also a Kirby sketch from Gary Groth's collection graces the cover. (page 21-22)

Undated recent photo of Artie Romero

Comixjoint gives us an array of REALM 6 covers

TNJ LISTINGS: Very early fanzines by Larry Blake, Jim Pack, and Tim Corrigan are included, they became prominent small press publishers in the 80s. On the underground spectrum of fanzines: Artie Romero's REALM #6. (page 31)