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''Rock 'N' Roll Comics'' was a comic book series published by Revolutionary Comics from 1989 to 1993. Revolutionary's flagship title, the series was notable for its unauthorized and unlicensed biographies of rock stars, told in comic book form but well-researched and geared to adults, often with very adult situations (nudity, drug use, violence, etc.).〔Peisneraug, David. ("Part Ramones Biography, Part Dreamscape," ) ''New York Times'' (Aug. 8, 2013).〕 Some musicians featured in the comics, like Frank Zappa〔Herrmann, Brenda. ("Rockin' Comics: Super Heroes Of Music Play An Exciting New Venue — the World Of Cartoons," ) ''Chicago Tribune'' (October 20, 1991).〕 and KISS, were supportive; while others, like the New Kids on the Block, considered the comic akin to a bootleg recording and sued the publisher. Publisher Todd Loren's legal victory in the U.S. District Court established that comic book biographies were entitled to the same protections as other unauthorized biographies. ''Rock 'N' Roll Comics'' originally contained straight biographies in comics form and ''Mad'' magazine-style parodies (all written by Loren). The parodies were dropped after about 18 issues. Early issues also featured the Loren/Larry Nadolsky character Stan Back in a series of humorous one-page strips. Loren wrote many of the early lead stories; Jay Allen Sanford took over as lead writer with issue #22.〔 The series sported a cover logo reading "Unauthorized and Proud of It,"〔 possibly in hopes of staving off lawsuits. ''Rock 'N' Roll Comics'' was published in a typical 6½" × 9¾" comic book format. Issues were typically 32 pages in length, printed mostly in black-and-white with a color cover. Many covers were painted by Scott Jackson. The letters page — which often featured spirited editorials by Loren — was known as "Revolutionary Comments." A total of 63 issues were released. == Publication history == Revolutionary Comics publisher Todd Loren was inspired to launch ''Rock 'N' Roll Comics'' in part by the success of an unauthorized Bruce Springsteen parody one-shot comic called ''Hey Boss'' (Visionary Graphics, 1986). ''Hey Boss'' artist Larry Nadolsky was hired to draw the first issue of ''Rock 'N' Roll Comics'', profiling Guns N' Roses. Upon the comic's release, cover-dated June 1989, Guns N' Roses lawyer Peter Paterno sent Revolutionary a cease and desist order. This was reported in a ''Rolling Stone'' story〔"New Kids vs. Revolutionary," ''Rolling Stone'' (Apr. 1992).〕 that directly resulted in the entire 10,000-copy print run selling out in two weeks, thanks to buyers who thought Guns N' Roses would sue the company out of existence. No lawsuits were actually filed, and the comic went into multiple new printings, eventually totaling over 150,000 copies.〔 ''Rock 'N' Roll Comics'' #3 and #4, on Bon Jovi and Mötley Crüe, respectively (cover-dated Sept. 1989 and Oct. 1989), did result in legal challenges. The bands had exclusive merchandising deals with Great Southern Productions/Winterland Productions, which threatened comics distributors over carrying the issues and got a court injunction prohibiting Revolutionary from distributing them.〔"Rock 'N Roll Comics Distribution Interrupted," ''Comics Buyer's Guide'', #829 (Oct. 6, 1989), p. 1, 28.〕 This forced Revolutionary to build its own distribution network outside traditional comic shops, eventually getting them into music and gift retail outlets which had never carried comics before. This independence from the comic book marketplace served the company well, as sales continued to rise from issue to issue, with their Metallica comic going into multiple print runs totaling over 75,000 copies.〔''Fogel's Underground Comix Price Guide'', 2006.〕 Issue #8 (cover-dated Feb. 1990), featuring Skid Row, was never published, due to an injunction prompted by Great Southern.〔 It was skipped in number sequencing; issue #9 (Kiss) was cover-dated Mar. 1990. Issue #12 (cover-dated June 1990), featuring New Kids on the Block, resulted in a number of legal battles. (see: Litigation, below) Ironically, this and the other lawsuits garnered Revolutionary worldwide press, eventually resulting in record-breaking sales for an indie comic publisher.〔Sanford, Jay Allen. ("New Kids on the Block versus Revolutionary Comics," ) ''San Diego Reader'' blog (Sept. 13, 2007).〕 Beginning with issue #19 (Public Enemy / 2 Live Crew), ''Rock 'N' Roll Comics'' was released on a biweekly basis〔Loren, Todd. "Rock 'n' Roll Comics to Go Twice Monthly," "Revolutionary Comments" (letters page), ''Rock 'N' Roll Comics'' #17 (Nov. 1990).〕 from Jan. 1991–Mar. 1992, comprising 25 total issues. Issue #61 (cover-dated July 1993), scheduled to be about the band Yes, was never published, and ultimately was skipped in number sequencing. The series' final issue, #65, on "Sci-Fi Space Rockers" (Pink Floyd, Genesis, Marillion, Hawkwind, and others) was cover-dated Nov. 1993. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア(Wikipedia)』 ■ウィキペディアで「Rock 'N' Roll Comics」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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