Revisit the comic book industry of the 1990s—the era of Vertigo, Image, Dark Horse, self-publishing, the flourishing direct market, and other seismic changes—through hundreds of candid photos of the people and events of that important decade.

Comic Book People 2 is a follow-up to last year’s Comic Book People: Photographs from the 1970s and 1980s, also funded through Kickstarter. The first book of photos was well received. Here are just a few of the comments from Amazon’s listing for the book:

“Having read Comic Book People and returned to it every couple days since because its images are so compelling, I can’t imagine this volume not being part of every serious comics fan and historian’s library. I give it my highest recommendation.”–Tony Isabella
“If you love comics, and the people who have created your favorite issues, then you will love this book!! This is a must have book for any serious student of comics and I mean all genres. Jackie Estrada, like no other person could, has brought everything together through her photographs and her insights.”–Robert W. Cox
“As soon as I heard about this book, I made sure I was going to get a copy. Not only is it an important document about the history of comic books and a time capsule of the times, it is a fun romp showing the more things change … the more things stay the same. This is a loving tribute. Thanks to Jackie Estrada. I will treasure this book and say a little prayer that you’ll get to do more.”–Dave Olbrich

The huge positive response to the first book made me realize I had to do a second book, focusing on the 1990s. As a companion book, it will have the same format (hardcover, 9 x 12, 176 pages, with a 16-page color insert).

The Contents

The photos to be included were taken mostly at the San Diego Comic-Con, but there are also images from such shows as the Chicago Comic-Con, WonderCon, the Alternative Press Expo, SPX, and various trade shows of the period. You can expect:

* Rare photos of such Golden/Silver Age creators as Will Eisner, Jack Kirby, Stan Lee, Vin Sullivan, Paul Norris, Martin Nodell, Chad Grothkopf, Al Williamson, Sheldon Moldoff, Bob Kane, Gene Colan, Marie Severin, Irwin Hasen, Harry Lampert, Ric Estrada, Bill Ward, Ramona Fradon, Bob Haney, Nick Cardy, Paul S. Newman, Dan Barry, Carmine Infantino, John Buscema, and Frank Frazetta.

* Pix of the big names in mainstream comics of the period, from Neil Gaiman, George Perez, Grant Morrison, Garth Ennis, Peter David, John Byrne, Chris Claremont, Kevin Eastman, Mark Waid, Alex Ross, Dave McKean, and Frank Miller to Todd McFarlane and Rob Liefeld.

* Lots of photos of writer/artists who were movers and shakers in the self-publishing/indie comics movement, including Dave Sim, Jeff Smith, Terry Moore, Linda Medley, Billy Tucci, Colleen Doran, David Lapham, Carla Speed McNeil, James Kochalka, Dan Clowes, Chris Ware, Dean Haspiel, Evan Dorkin, Sarah Dyer, Donna Barr, Shannon Wheeler, Scott McCloud, Paul Pope, Roberta Gregory, and lots more.

*Photos of key people in comics publishing and retailing, as well as shots from behind-the-scenes industry events, such as the very first organizing meeting for Friends of Lulu in San Diego in 1993.

*Photos of authors such as Clive Barker, Harlan Ellison, Ron Goulart, Raymond Feist, and Nancy Collins, as well as a smattering of celebrities such as Mr. T and Julie Newmar.

Along with all the usual favorites who were fixtures at Comic-Con year after year, including Sergio Aragonés, Stan Sakai, the Hernandez Brothers, Trina Robbins, Steve Leialoha, Bill Sienkiewicz, Bernie Wrightson, Steve Rude, Bob Burden, Bob Schreck, Diana Schutz, Mary Fleener, Michael Kaluta, Dave Stevens, Charles Vess, Jill Thompson, Denys Cowan, Eddie Campbell, Len Wein, Matt Wagner, Jimmy Palmiotti, Rick Geary, Art Adams, Karen Berger, Michael Davis, Neal Adams, Bil Stout, Howard Chaykin, Jim Valentino, Lea Hernandez, Larry Marder, Walt Simonson, Kyle Baker, Bill Mumy, Paul Levitz, Batton Lash, and lots more!

As in the first book, every photo will be accompanied by a caption with personal anecdotes about my experiences with these folks and events.

Why Kickstarter?

To make this book a reality, I will need to raise funds to cover the design, production, printing, distribution, shipping, and storage of a high-quality hardcover publication, as well as the cost of producing the “Extra” booklet, the postcards, and other perks. If the goal is surpassed, money will go toward increasing the number of pages (and photos!), upping the print run, and possibly going back to press on the first book.

Backer Rewards

In addition to the book, you have a choice of a number of backer rewards. They include:

• A set of 10 postcards of images from the book

• A pdf of the first book, Comic Book People: Photographs from the 1970s and 1980s

• A 2016 calendar with images from the book

• An exclusive wraparound dustjacket

• A signed copy of the first book, Comic Book People: Photographs from the 1970s and 1980s

• The exclusive Comic Book People 2 Extra, a 32-page 8 1/2″ x 11″ booklet filled with “out-take” photos from the 1990s—shots from parties, panels, the exhibit hall, the art auction, and other aspects of comic conventions of the era

• Postcards and the “Extra” booklet for the first book, Comic Book People: Photographs from the 1970s and 1980s

• A signed copy of Renegade Romance #2 (1983), which contains one of the only two stories I ever wrote for comics: “Daydreams,” with fabulous art by the late Barb Rausch. Also in the issue (with cover by Jaime Hernandez): stories by Colleen Doran, Trina Robbins, Steve Leialoha/Deni Loubert, and Bob Rozakis/Stephen DeStephano. A real collector’s item!

Just Added!

• Custom 11 x 14 frameable prints of your favorite images from either of the two Comic Book People books, color or black and white. I have arranged with Chrome Digital, San Diego’s premier photo lab, to make high-quality matte-finish prints from digital scans of the original negatives. If you pledge at the $250 level, you get five prints of your choice. You can also choose single prints as an Add-On to other levels—see $30 in “Add-Ons” below.

The plan is for backers who attend the San Diego Comic-Con in July to be able to pick up their book at the Exhibit A Press booth (#1909). That worked out well with the first book last year, as backers were able to take their book around and get it signed by folks whose photos appeared in the book.The official publication date for the book is September 10, so most backers will get their books well before it is available via bookstores and Amazon, for instance.

Add-Ons

If none of the levels quite fits your needs, you can also take advantage of add-ons. Just increase your backer amount to include any of the following items:

$10—Set of 10 postcards from CBP2

$12—Set of 10 postcards from CBP1 (limited to 35 sets: I will remove this item from the list if/when we reach that level)

$15—PDF of the first book: Comic Book People: Photographs from the 1970s and 1980s

$20—Exclusive wraparound dustjacket

$25—2016 CBP2 calendar

$30—The exclusive “Comic Book People 2 Extra”

$30—A custom 11 x 14 frameable matte print of your favorite image from either of the two Comic Book People books, color or black and white. Each additional print is $25, and you can add as many as you’d like.

$40—A signed copy of Comic Book People: Photographs from the 1970s and 1980s (additional shipping costs will be required for international backers)

You can mix and match items; just keep track of which add-ons you are paying for.

Note that just for fun, the backer levels are named after photographers from comic books and comic strips. Which one would you like to be?

I am open to suggestions for additional levels or perks—please let me know what would you like to see or get.

Here are a few more samples of photos you can expect to see in the book: