From Aargh! to Zap!

From Aargh! to Zap!: Harvey Kurtzman's Visual History of the Comics is one of the many books that I happened to chance by because of the wonderful Scarborough Public Library (now the Toronto Public Library, it seems), back when I was around 8 or 9.

In those days, the library used to clear out all their old books and they would sell them to the public for peanuts. And since both of my parents were (at the time) unbiased and voracious readers, they bought almost anything and everything.

That's when I first saw From Aargh! to Zap! - a gigantisized tattered old book about the history of comics.

I suppose I didn't realize it then, bu when I look back now, I realize that it was probably one of the biggest influences early on in my life. Later every time I heard someone talking about any of the comics/comix mentioned in the book, I was able to relate and sometimes show off with a bit of trivia about it (even if I had never read the book myself).

Now, when I'm finally able to read the books I read about then, things come full circle and it all feels predestined in a weird sort of way.

Thank you, Harvey Kurtzman!