The Secret History of Marvel Comics: Jack Kirby and the Moonlighting Artists at Martin Goodman's Empire #[nn]

A handsome hardcover from Fantagraphics, this 2013 volume by Blake Bell and Dr. Michael J. Vassallo pulls back the curtain on the business dealings and behind-the-scenes stories of Marvel Comics under Martin Goodman, with a particular focus on Jack Kirby and the artists who moonlighted within his empire. The cover itself sets the tone beautifully — a bold, dynamic Captain America figure bursts through a torn surface, shield raised, against a deep crimson background crowded with shadowy figures, suggesting the rich layers of history waiting inside. It's a compelling package for anyone curious about the real machinery behind one of comics' most storied publishers.