Frank Johnson, Secret Pioneer of American Comics #1

A handsome hardcover collection shining a long-overdue light on Frank Johnson, whose warm, lively linework fills this volume with the energy of a bygone era. The cover itself sets the tone beautifully — a streamlined locomotive barreling forward while cheerful cartoon characters lean out excitedly, a propeller plane soaring overhead, and a speech bubble promising a big bottle of wine once they hit Chicago. Edited by Keith Mayerson and Chris Byrne, this 2023 Fantagraphics release collects Johnson's Wot Life Gang early years alongside The Bowser Boys, making it an essential introduction to a genuinely original voice in American comics history.