People were tired of the war and wanted to move on.
Comic book publishers noticed a decline in the sales of their superhero comics and decided to diversify.
Soon comic books of all genres started appearing on magazine racks. Romance, Westerns, Detective, Crime, Funny Animals, Horror, Science Fiction and Sports, plus others.
Martin Goodman, the owner/publisher of Atlas Publications/Comics based his comic book lines on trends. Whatever was selling best he would churn out large numbers of said genres hoping to cash in.
One of Atlas’s most popular titles was Sports Action and (you guessed it) it centered on sports of all sorts.
Fantagraphics deluxe hardbound book: Atlas Comics Library No. 10: Sports Action, contains reprints of the rare 14 issues of Atlas Comics Sports Action/Sports Stars issues.
Featuring Allen Anderson cover paintings, Sports Action spotlighted the high-power, dramatic stories of sports legends such as Knute Rockne, Sugar Ray Robinson, Jackie Robinson and others.
Look for early artwork by comic book legends Syd Shores, John Severin, Bob Brown, Bill Everett, Gene Colan, George Tuska and other pencillers many that went on to illustrate stories when Atlas Comics changed its name to Marvel Comics and premiered its ground-breaking new series of superhero comic books.
Not only does the book include the legendary sports stories but it begins with a look at Atlas’s pre-comic book sports titles and strips along with other non-Atlas titles.
It’s an insightful and informative look at the history of sports publications with lots of cover reproductions.
I got a real kick out of looking at the art and trying to identify the early artwork of the now legendary artists. Even back then their styles started to shine through.
Atlas Comics Library No. 10: Sports Action is a huge book over one-inch thick and beautifully bound. The book is a ‘must-have’ for any sports enthusiast.
Psalms 34:4I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
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