Hey Kids! Comics! Volume 2: Prophets & Loss

[Mark Sullivan (Vertiginous Mod)]

Hey Kids! Comics! Volume 2: Prophets & Loss
Howard Chaykin, writer & artist; Yen Nitro, colorist; Ken Bruzenak: letterer
Image Comics, 2022

Chaykin continues his faux-history of the comic book industry in this second (and final?) installment. Like the first volume, the story jumps around from decade to decade. The story begins in 1970, with a young comic book fan (at a time when comics are not cool); then jumps back to 1951, where some of those beloved comics were created (despite all of the challenges, including a crusader named Martin Westgate who declares comics to represent "the corruption of today's youth"). That story concludes with the creation of the Comics Code Authority and the introduction of the black and white humor magazine Wak, a clear reference to Mad Magazine (rendered in black and white for dramatic effect). The timetable includes 1955 ("...and the blush is off the rose"); 1958 ("And the laughs just won't stop"); 1960 ("and the times they are a-changing"); 1962; 1964; 1965; 1971 ("...and you've come a long way, baby"); 1975 ("California dreaming"); and 2002 ("And a hometown boy makes good"). There are lots of comic convention scenes, and since Chaykin takes the narrative into his own lifetime the story is a bit more personal than the first installment (but in the back matter he muses about the universality of his experience). The back matter also includes several short comics. 

[Jeff of Earth-J]

I haven't heard anything about a third volume, but I would think Chaykin would find the '90s comics field fertile ground for satire. I enjoy the roman a clef nature of this series, trying to guess "who's who." 

[Rob Staeger (Grodd Mod)]

I really like this series, but fell behind on this volume about halfway through. I was still buying them on Comixology... now I just have to hope that that site gets its act together so I can continue reading them.

[Mark Sullivan (Vertiginous Mod)]

I have mixed feelings about guessing who's who; it can detract from the story. I'm also not as big a student of comics history as you are. Plus Chaykin has said that most of the characters are composites, drawn from more than one real person (of course he could just be saying that to avoid lawsuits!).

Jeff of Earth-J said:

I haven't heard anything about a third volume, but I would think Chaykin would find the '90s comics field fertile ground for satire. I enjoy the roman a clef nature of this series, trying to guess "who's who."