Spy Vibers interested in comics, comic strips, pulps, science fiction, pop culture, and art books probably count Hermes Press projects among their most treasured books. Readers may recall the announcement of the upcoming re-prints of some cult classic Gold Key comics. The Hermes catalog reads a bit like a Yankees roster from the late 50s/early 60s- the bench is filled with heavy hitters and legends: Buck Rogers, James Bond, Thunderbirds, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Time Tunnel, Star Trek, and the list goes on. Spy Vibe will host review weeks to spotlight a number of Irwin Allen and Gerry/Sylvia Anderson books from Hermes. In the meantime, below are some highlights from their catalog.
ComiCon Events
Hermes Press will be at booth #609 at ComiCon this year. Make sure to stop by and check out their collection- especially the hot-off-the-press Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea Vol 1. Hermes is also throwing a very special 80th birthday celebration panel for BUCK ROGERS on Friday with Gil Gerard and Erin Grey (stars of the TV series). Fans of the classic Sci Fi strip are already raving about the volume one edition of Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, which reprints dailies from 1929-1930. Volume Two (1930-1932) comes out tomorrow (July 14th)!
BUCK ROGERS IS BACK! Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, the first, best, and original science-fiction newspaper strip is back for fall, 2008! Starting in September 2008, Hermes Press will begin a complete reprint of the ground-breaking newspaper strip that got America hooked on Science-Fiction. Buck Rogers in the 25th Century has it all: space ships, anti-gravity belts, space pirates, invaders from other worlds, nefarious villains, and, of course, heroes. Comic strip historian Maurice Horn notes that Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, "Introduced most of the staples of science-fiction plotting to the American public as well as to everyone else in the world who read it." Spy Vibe adds a plug for the Buck Rogers cliffhanger serial as well. Along with Flash Gordon, these serials established many conventions that would show up later in Star Wars.
Now for the first time, the complete history of the illustrated James Bond is chronicled by pop culture historian Alan J. Porter in James Bond: The History of the Illustrated 007. Porter's new book examines James Bond's adventures in newspaper strips and comic books. Before Bond became world famous with his movie series, the character was the subject of successful English newspaper strips and later in comic books. With the explosion of Bond on the screen the character and his exploits become even more popular in comic strip and comic book versions all over the world. James Bond: The History of the Illustrated 007 examines it all, and covers Bond's newspaper strip and comic book appearances from the 1950s to the present. The release of this all-new history is timed to coincide with James Bond's newest movie appearance and is sure to be a must for all Bond fans. The cover of the book presents a never-before- seen painting by noted artist Bob Peak who made a significant contribution to the Bond canon's movie poster art.
It's Back, the comic book adaptation of one of the most famous and popular sci-fi television series of the 1960s: Irwin Allen's Voyage to the Bottom of Sea. The first of two hardcover volumes featuring reprints of the entire series of Gold Key comic books featuring Admiral Nelson, Captain Crane, and the Seaview. Included is documentary material about the series, its designs, and special effects. The first volume reprints eight issues of the series, digitally remastered to look better than when these books first hit the stands. Featuring painted cover art by George Wilson with interior artwork by such Silver Age greats as Mike Sekowsky, Don Heck, George Tuska, and Alberto Giolitti. 
If you loved Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's Thunderbirds, Thunderbirds are Go, Thunderbirds Size, Captain Scarlet, Journey to the Far Side of the Sun, UFO, and other 1960s-1970s English sci-fi television shows and movies, then you've seen the art of Mike Trim. Trim, who started out building models for Thunderbirds, quickly turned his talents as a painter and designer to creating the fantastic sets and machines that populated the worlds of Andersons' science fiction offerings of the 1960s and 1970s. In addition to highly detailed paintings and concepts, Trim is an accomplished artist and this new book showcases Trim's concept drawings and paintings together with his famous record album artwork for War of the Worlds.
Now for the first time the complete history of the Star Trek universe in comic books and newspaper strips all over the world. Written by pop-culture historian Alan J. Porter, author of the bestselling James Bond The History of the Illustrated 007, this book will be the definitive history on the subject. Nine information-packed chapters detailing the history of Star Trek in comic books and newspaper strips from the first Gold Key comic books, to the English newspaper strip, to Marvel and DC's titles, to the present day. Exhaustively covers all publications of the entire Star Trek universe. Includes creator interviews, unpublished artwork, and a detailed checklist. Published to coincide with the release of the new Star Trek movie. Available in March/2009. Boldly goes where no book has gone before!
