Watching Comics: For the Love of Comics on Classics Illustrated

 For the Love of Comics has an astonishing 15,000 subscribers on YouTube. Astonishing, because he doesn't talk CGC, hype the latest gossip, or repeat endless platitudes for the usual comics suspects. What he DOES in stark contrast is simply talk about the comics he loves, albeit in a considered, analytical, in-depth approach fairly unique to "Comics YouTube". His recent exhaustive video on the various incarnations of CLASSICS ILLUSTRATED is a favorite of mine:

He first mentions some local India published reprints of vintage CLASSICS ILLUSTRATED issues. These are licensed through UK-based CCS Books, who "are the worldwide exclusive publishers of the Classics Illustrated comic book series in English" (quoted from their website). 

Bud's Art Books imports these editions to the US, they still have a few in stock.

Next FTLOC reminisces about the Pendulum Press editions he read when he was young. I have a half dozen of these editions from the 70s, rescued from the trash many years ago. These are actually put together by Vince Fago, former Timely (Marvel) editor and artist, beautifully illustrated by the same Philippines artists who worked for DC in the 70s, as well.

Alex Nino

Frank Redondo 

Alfredo Alcala

Alex Nino

Fred Carrillo

Nestor Redondo 

One of the commenters during the live stream mentioned the Acclaim late 90s version, which were named CLASSICS ILLUSTRATED STUDY GUIDES. Lasting for 62 issues, these feature new (mostly) painted covers and reprinted the original series with extensive notes in the back of the book. Towards the end of the run there were a few original adaptations by Pat Broderick and the one below with interiors by Jamal Igle:

Next up he discusses the highest quality CLASSICS ILLUSTRATED (imho) from 1990-91, the 27 all original volumes from First Comics. These features great art, sometimes fully painted, from a very diverse group of cartoonists. From Gahan Wilson to Peter Kuper, with Rick Geary, John K. Snyder III, Eric Vincent, Kyle Baker, and many others in between.

Gahan Wilson

Peter Kuper

After these FTLOC finds the 2008-14 NBM/Papercutz reprintings of 19 of the First CLASSICS ILLUSTRATED! There is also a second series called CLASSICS ILLUSTRATED DELUXE which translates ten all original Delcourt albums from France!

Compare/Contrast

Papercutz version

Marion Mousse

A very few of these NBM/Papercutz editions are still available on Amazon.

(cover images from GCD)

(Pendulum Press covers from my personal collection)

That's my reader's guide to FOR THE LOVE OF COMICS love letter to CLASSICS ILLUSTRATED through the decades. Now to go buy some classics...