Comic Book Story of Baseball: The Heroes, Hustlers, and History-making Swings (and Misses) of America's National Pastime

Description

A graphic novel-style history of baseball--providing an illustrated chronological look at the major games, players, and rule changes that shaped the sport--presented in fun, easily understood chunks perfect for casual and diehard fans alike. Sequential art steps up to the plate and covers all the bases with this illustrated origin of America's national pastime. Writer Alex Irvine and illustrators Tomm Coker (Black Monday Murders) and C.P. Smith team up to present a complete look at the beginnings (both real and legendary), developments, triumphs, and tragedies of baseball. The Comic Book Story of Baseball spotlights the players, teams, games, and moments that have kept the game so popular for so long. Not only does the book define key terms and explain how the game is played, it also breaks down the cultural impact and significance of the sport in America and overseas (including Japan, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic). From the early days of America to the flying W outside Wrigley Field in 2016, the book features members of Baseball's Hall of Fame and modern day stand-outs, including Cy Young, Honus Wagner, Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson, Hank Aaron, the 1930s New York Yankees, the 2004 Boston Red Sox, the 2016 Chicago Cubs, and more.

ALEX IRVINE is the writer of the games Avengers Alliance, Marvel War of Heroes, and Marvel Puzzle Quest, which together have seen more than 50 million players. He has also written comics (Daredevil Noir, Iron Man- Rapture) and novels (The Ultimates- Against All Enemies, X-Men- Days of Future Past, Iron Man 2) for Marvel. He wrote the novelizations of The Adventures of Tintin, Pacific Rim, and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes; other tie-in novels include Transformers- Exodus and Supernatural- John Winchester's Journal. His award-winning original novels include Buyout,The Narrows, and A Scattering of Jades. TOMM COKER is a comic book artist and film director/writer. He has drawn comic books for Image Comics, Dark Horse, Marvel Comics, and DC Comics. C.P. SMITH is an illustrator and comic book artist who has worked for Marvel Comics and BioWare.

"Marvel comics veterans Coker and Smith deliver powerful graphics, tinted lightly with color for a marvelous vintage effect, while Irvine orchestrates a brief, masterly overview of this morale-boosting sport. Fans of any age will love." -- Library Journal ". . . a lively and accessible chronicle of America's pastime, with panels that crack and wallop with image and fact." -- Boston Globe "Heroes, villains, long odds, and tall-tales: baseball history should always be presented in comic book form. The Comic Book Story of Baseball is probably the most accessible history of the game I've ever held in my hands. I'd recommend this little gem to anyone who wants to learn the history of the game and its colorful characters." -- Dirk Hayhurst, New York Times best-selling author of The Bullpen Gospel, former Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays, and commentator for ESPN and TBS "Two great American art forms collide in The Comic Book Story of Baseball, and the result is a sprawling, comprehensive, tremendously fun look at the national pastime. It's all here, from the Babe to Buckner, billy goats to Barry Bonds. Writer Alex Irvine and artists Tomm Coker and C.P. Smith exalt baseball's triumphs while reckoning with its sins, and the result is a rich, thorough history that you'll return to again and again, just like the grand old game itself." -- Jay Busbee, lead writer for Yahoo Sports "An intriguing, often mesmerizing retrospective of the national pastime. Some may say that baseball only belongs to the older generation now, but Irvine and co.'s colorful compilation will turn anyone's head." -- Tim Wendel, author of High Heat and Summer of '68