Book Description

Enter Stone Soup Land, Where Uproar Rules

The extended, blended Stone family lives in a household where only the agile survive. The cast includes working-mom sisters Val and Joan, 13-year-old Holly, 9-year-old Alix and 2-year-old Max; Gramma, who lives upstairs; nice-guy neighbor Wally; a Zen motorcycle cop and more. This collection features some reader-favorite Stone Soup storylines: Val and Officer Jackson—The romance continues. Andy comes to visit and stays—Wally’s nephew Andy comes for the summer, but ends up as a permanent resident in his Uncle’s life. Joan and Wally’s wedding— After years of over the fence romance and disappointment, the big day finally arrives. Biscuit falls in love with a bunny slipper— Need we say more? ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Carrying On (And Carryings On) With the Stone Family...
This is the fourth collection of "Stone Soup" strips to come my way since I discovered them last May. This one takes it almost up to where I joined in with the daily releases. I'm happy to have a lot of laughs, and to learn something more about the goings on among them.

There's something for everybody in "Stone Soup." There's Val, who's the glue of the whole strip. She struggles with an awful job while raising her devil children Holly and Alix, dealing with her live-in sister Joan and her two-year-old Max, and her mother as well. All this barely leaves her time to pursue a relationship with handsome motorcycle cop Phil Jackson.

There's Joan, a single mom struggling to raise her two-year-old, while her own financial shortcomings force her to live with Val and the rest of her family. She's engaged to Wally, the next-door neighbor, but has a serious case of cold feet, largely because of her disastrous first marriage to Leon.

Wally, meanwhile, wants badly to be a husband to Joan and a father to Max. But he's had his fifteen-year-old nephew Andy come to stay with him, more-or-less permanently, and Wally has to deal with all the strains of raising an adolescent male. This while trying to persuade Joan to "set the date" for their wedding.

All of them spend their time cracking wise, usually at each other's expense. In this collection, it all comes to a happy ending...but half the fun of comic strips is getting there. There's plenty for anybody to laugh at along the way. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Better masterpieces here than in that museum in Paris
With a cow Mona Lisa painting on the front cover how can you go wrong? The cartoons in here are from Hound of the Far Side, The Far Side Observer and Night of the Crash Test Dummies. It may be cheaper to buy these books individually instead of this gallery so compare prices before purchasing.

The advantage of owning the galleries is that some cartoons are full page size which is three times the size of the original books. Not all cartoons are full size though just some.

The classic cartoon set in an exam with the bonus question (50 points) "What's the name of that thing that hangs down the back of our throats?" The caption underneath states "Final Page of the Medical Boards," is in this edition.

Another has Noah saying "Now Listen Up. We're Going to do This Alphabetically," the Zebras are thinking "Damn!"

The Classic "Drive George! Drive! This One's Got a Coathanger!" with a lion trying to unlock the car door to eat the woman.

Should you buy it? Of course you should.

Humor and Biology--A Good Mix
Gary Larson has teamed up with Stephen Jay Gould, paleontologist and taxonomist --Harvard University, to create a biologically funny book. Humor has a purpose in this book. It is used in an attempt to cause the reader to think biologically on a macrocosmic level. Social interaction of all animals on the smallest level effects the bigger picture. I enjoyed this book very much; however, a few cartoons were biologically "over my head." With some critical thinking, all readers may be able to get the message of all the cartoons.

He has a amazing mind to be able to think up such comedy!
I loved it!! It was soooooo funny! I hope he keeps writing these books

I laughed till I cried !
Gary Larson's homour is unique and incredibly funny - and this is true for all his books that I've read so far! I already start laughing when looking at the cartoon characters - they are wonderfully drawn! If cows or chickens are your favourite animals and you like grotesque situations, or you simply want to laugh, then Gary Larson should be your first choice. He's the best!!!!!

So much FUN!!!!!
I loved it!!! I have it in my bathroom, and everytime I have to go....I look at it, and Istart laughing!!!!!! Every drawing is great, it just to much!!! If you do not know this author, you have to buy it, and start having laughs!!!! Gary, you are great!!!Thanks!! the best sense of humor!!!! So much immagination!!!! If anyone out there want to share the jokes, you can write me... Bye, Beatriz ... Read more

Book Description

Every once in a great while the glimmer of something different will twinkle from the stack of comic cordwood piled in the daily newspaper. In I Have Tampered with the Divine Plan, the second Agnes collection, that glimmer continues to shine brightly. Agnes, the round-nosed, elegantly footed little girl in the cute black shift, and her best friend, Trout, continue their mad scramble through youth's treacherous minefield. High adventure and mayhem are afoot as they share the odd conversations that cobble together all amazing relationships. And when all that imagination no longer fits in their heads, it spills out into some very messy puddles. And messy puddles are funny. Fans have been eagerly awaiting a second book of Agnes's wisdom and adventure. Agnes appears in many papers across the country, including the San Francisco Examiner, the Chicago Tribune, and the New York Daily News.

Reviews (1)

Charming
Agnes is everywoman, or at least the crazy little voice in us that we try to keep under wraps.With Agnes, though, it just spills out, and we are the lucky recipients of her insecurities, her ego, and her warped view of life.I don't know how Tony Cochran has managed to climb inside the head of a quirky young girl, but he's brilliant.Don't let the women in your life tell you that they've outgrown this awkward age - we've just learned how to hide it, sadly.This collection is delightful. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Two paws up!
I really am Garfield's biggest fan. Ask me ANY question about him - I'll know the answer. I absolutely loved this book - Garfield has done it again! I don't understand how you can't love a fat cat! Is it his sarcasm? Is it his love for food? Maybe it's his , well , I don't know what it is! Just read the book =)

As someone who owns all of the Garfield books
This was truly a let down. I know after so many years it's hard to keep a strip fresh. But Jim Davis shouldn't let Garfield get so watered down. I've loved Garfield since I was a kid, and own all the books (Number 14 being my favorite), and all the other books Davis has released. I could pick up this book, and go through it without finding a joke that was new, or funny, which of course is a huge let down. Garfield is not Snoopy, where Charles Schultz made the Peanuts Gang interesting and funny as long as he wrote it. After reading this, you get the feeling that Jim Davis was out of new material 10 years ago, and he's just trying to milk the series for all it's worth. Cats don't usually live well into their 30's, so I believe it's time for Davis to start thinking of how to let Garfield ride into the sunset with a scred of dignity left. If you must purchase this book, stop in your local bookstore and leaf through it, to see if you still like it. I love Garfield as much as the next person, but not this way.

If You're Hungry For Garfield, This Is A Satisfying Treat
I can never get enough of Garfield's sarcastic humor, so I love to sit down with a book like this and read six months of strips in one single sitting.

This, his 40th book, covers the strips from June-December of 2001 with a few outrageous outtakes in which you won't recognize Garfield before he took on his present form.

My favorites are always the ones with Nermal, but his neighbor Mrs. Feeny also gets her share of torture from the tubby tabby and his antics with Jon and Odie take center stage. When it comes to cats, fat is where it's at and nobody does fat better than Garfield in a smorgasboord of full-color strips to make you laugh the day away.

the best way to read Garfield..
Is by reading about a year and a half of strips in these little books that they keep releasing . I buy like 10 of these every time that I know I'm about to go on a trip. I'm pretty sure that I own everyone of them. I love Garfield and I hope that he stays around forever. :)

Fat Cat's Rule
I really enjoy Garfield's humor. This book is great. ... Read more

Book Description

Mischief's on the menu and trouble's brewin' in this brand new concoction of comics.Share in the shenanigans, as GARFIELD, the furry prankster, engages in a little "tomcatfoolery" that's sure to elicit some catty laughter. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Garfield in his 39th Book
Being a big Garfield fan, I enjoyed this book. It is a wonderful, entertaining book (although you should first read Garfield Beefs Up, #37, and Garfield Gets Cookin', #38, before you read this book.) But I recommend this book to anybody, Garfield fan or not. Great art, and heartwarming fat cat, Garfield, is back again!

if you ask me, this is better than some reviews say
The title here should have been the first sentence! I was amazed by how much the first strip was like an opening joke. If Garfield keeps on going like this, it could get more popular than "Peanuts" was.

Okay
This book is, in comparison to the other Garfield comics, not as great as I hoped it would be. The puns and jokes throughout the entire book seemed a bit too stressed. The jokes weren't surprising, and could also be called "predictable". However, Garfield has always been a favorite of mine, so I'm sure that there will later be a coming book filled with great strips.

Date coverage
Contains all the daily and Sunday strips November 5, 2002 through June 2, 2001.

It's Garfield...
At his best. WIth three sets of Spider Weeks (for those who love Spider jokes), more Jon/Date jokes and tons of comedy. Just check it out ... Read more

Book Description

Fifteen-year-old Jeremy Duncan is the heart and soul of puberty. A typical teen, Jeremy is shy, self-absorbed, and bored. He loves hanging out and playing the guitar, and is constantly befuddled at his parents' uncoolness. He lives in the shadow of his older brother's perfect 4.0 grade-point-average, star athlete, flawless complexion image. Jeremy's girlfriend, Sara, loves that she can get him to do anything for her. His best friends are Hector and Pierce, whom he's known for-almost-ever. His parents? Uncool baby boomers. (Unless you're a parent. Then they are two suburban professionals trying to do the best they can with a teenager going through that "awkward" phase.)The enormously popular comic strip Zits depicts teenage and parental angst like no other. Teenage Tales is a cornucopia of recent Zits for die-hard fans everywhere.Zits can be seen in more than 1,100 newspapers, which is almost unheard of. Only 18 other comic strips have achieved that extraordinary milestone. Zits has won the National Cartoonists Society's Best Comic Strip of the Year for two years in a row. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Teenagers relate to Zits
It is funny and the most well dramatized version of a teenage life. ... Read more

Book Description

Fans can follow the exploits of Darryl and Wanda as they confront the daily dilemmas--and miracles--of being first-time parents in this most recent Baby Blues collection.

Reviews (2)

Very funny!
"Baby Blues" is the funniest comic strip! I missed the early ones, so I'm glad I found "She started it!: a Baby blues cartoon collection." The situations this family gets into is priceless! When you're feeling 'blue,' grab this book and your spirits will be lifted! I recommend.

Non-stop Laughter!!
Baby Blues have always hit home. This one is no exception. The way Zoe acts is what usual kids do, except now it's all recorded down. All the moments you wished you had a camera? If you have kids or planning to have kids, this is the one and only book I would recommend. It doesn't have alot of tips on parenting, BUT it shows what you're in for and the situation is not always as bad as you think. OR if you don't have kids and not even planning to have any, this book will make you laugh, PROMISE!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

'Dilbert' is the most quoted, photocopied, and faxed comic strip of the nineties, with more than 30 million readers in nine countries and many more throughout cyberspace.But in case you've been living in a mayonnaisecontainer for the past five years, Dilbert is a luckless, cubicle-dwelling engineer.His canine companion, Dogbert, plans to conquer the planet andmake all the people his slaves.Together, they navigate a world filled withclueless and annoying people.'Dilbert' is the comic for anyone who thinks they're surrounded by idiots. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

A great Dilbert book
One of the main reasons I like this book so much is that it focuses mainly on Dilbert and Dogbert. I have two Dilbert books with just them in it and 9 ones with Dilbert at the office and this one gives a nice change to the whole office aspect. Bob the dinosaur's son Rex is born is this book which is great because in one of my other books they introduce him. Dilbert and Dogbert have a great time together and Dilbert is great and this book is no exception.

Dilbert DIES!
Yes, in this book, the character of Dilbert dies. But never fear, he is cloned back to life from his garbage! This book covers strips from mid-1990 to May 1991. The dinosaurs Bob and Dawn have an egg which hatches into the short-lived character of Rex. Also returning for a series is Dilber't Ego. Scott Adams continues to improve his trade in this book. Great for when you need some laughs or light reading.

5 Stars All the Way
Bring me the Head of Willy the Mailboy! is just as funny as all the other Dilbert books. This one like all of them is a must read for any Dilbert Fan. Look at the average rating for it, A perfect five stars so you know it must be great

Magnificent Book!
Bring Me the Head of Willy the Mailboy is a very wonderful Dilbert book. It exposes the many insane issues of life. It has not fully developed into a workplace comic strip yet, but it is evolving into a semi-workplace comic strip. It is a wonderful book with some darker sides also-like Dilbert dying (But coming back, of course).

Worth a couple read-throughs
A fairly witty book, but you lose something when you re-read it a couple of times. Fairly funny book. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Bloom County 4.... or 5.... depends on....
Okay - Bloom County Babylon, the 4th Bloom County book was really a compilation of material contained in the first 3 books. So.... depending on if you want a chronological collection of the BC Strips, or to complete ALL of the BC Books, this is either the 4th or 5th volume of Bloom County, and Berkeley Breathed is still in high-gear producing the funniest 'toon strip I've ever read. And by "funny" I mean laugh-out-loud, roll on the floor, tears streaming down my face, people coming into the room to see "WHAT are you laughing at?!!!?" kind of laugh.

In "Billy and the Boingers" Steve Dallas, the sleazy womanizing ambulance-chasing lawyer, finally decides that even HE has had it with defending murderers and child abusers. Bill the cat inspires him to hold auditions for a "New high-profit heavy-metal rock band". Requirements are only "Need to know 3 chords and be able to grimace musically".

Along the way Opus the Penguin gets engaged to sweetie Lola Granola, and the new Heavy Metal Group "Death-Tongue" makes their pitch in Los Angeles to recording companies, ending with a memorable visit backstage at an Ozzy Osbourne concert - back when Ozzy was the "Elvis of Heavy Metal". Back in Bloom County Steve discovers that he must give up cigarette smoking or his life expectancy is 6 months. He has Opus tie him to a chair where he is the model of self-control for 38 whole minutes before he breaks down and tells Opus "Get me a (...) cigarette before I stick you in a blender". Things get worse from there.

As in the previous volumes Breathed does a fantastic job of creating a surreal universe full of people and critters that we care about, but who are most importantly..... funny.

B.B. just kept getting better
Bloom County was without a doubt the most insightful, funny, and beloved comic strips of all time. It's rabid following has never gotten over the disappearance of Opus and the Gang from the funny papers. That's because nothing has ever been able to take it's place. Could you imagine Opus, Bill, Steve, and Milo tackling today's issues? What besides G.W. Bush and Saddam would be in the anxiety closet. Alas, we can only remember the good times.

This is one of my favorite Bloom County books. It mostly took on an issue that has always been important to me, rock n roll. The gang takes on the PMRC by forming their own metal band Deathtongue. After battling Washington though, Steve Dallas caves in and Billy and the Boingers is born.

Long live live Opus. He is sorely missed.

Basselopes and penguins and rabbits, oh my.
I've always had a slight preference for the early "Bloom County", before things got quite this surreal. Which is not to say that I don't enjoy this one; there are a great many very funny bits in here, such as Steve Dallas facing the government commission led by Tipper Gore in defense of the lyrics of the rock band "Deathtongue", which featured Opus the penguin on tuba (very appropriate for a heavy-metal band, wouldn't you say?) Hodge-Podge the rabbit on drums, Bill the Cat on electric tongue, and Steve Dallas a lead singer and songwriter. All of which is certainly pretty surreal. But sometimes it got even weirder than that, if you can believe it.

Not the best of the "Bloom County" books, and certainly not the one to start with if you aren't familiar with them, but funny and worth owning if you enjoy the series and don't have it.

Another great job from bloom county
Bloom county is by far one of the funniest comic strips ever made. The characters are funny the dialag almost every thing.
Billy and the Boingers Bootleg has to be the funniest bloom county book I can remmber.
Opus shows his emotions as the ways the others cant. When something is wrong it aways happens to opus. Bill the cat is very funny! And the rest of the charcters.
The best parts of this book is the one were opus has to keep steve from not smoking or he'll die. That one was very funny.
The other one is when Bill and opus become in a heavy metal band called death tunges. That was really funny. I highly recommend you get this book you wont be dissapointed.

If any one here has some of the books can you tell me what happens with opus and his wife? Do they get a divorce? Just wandering.

Boing!
This book is probably the best Bloom County book published, and not just because of the Burger Chef value meal-type "record" that was part of the book.

Breathed was, quite bluntly, a comic genius and social satirist. Those who characterize Bloom County as a comic strip miss the point. The strip was a satire and commentary on the go-go economy and society of the 80s, human relationships, and economics.

This book contains some of the best, funniest, most powerful stuff in Bloom County's history. Just writing about it makes me want to go into the basement and play with my Opus phone.

You can't go wrong with this book. Again, it appears to be out of print (most of the best comic works are out of print, unfortunately). ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Finally, a good cartooning book!
Most cartooning books are, quite frankly, crap. There are a very few exceptions, This book is one of them! Hart covers many aspects of cartooning, from coming up with jokes, to character design, to design tips. If you are learning to cartoon, or just want a few pointers from an expert, this is the book to read! Another excellent one is How To Draw Comics the Marvel Way. These two books should be on every cartoonist's shelf

A great nuts-and-bolts book about cartooning
If you're confident in your drawing abilities, but have little knowledge about the specifics of putting together a comic strip, this is the best book I've seen. When I decided to dabble in comic strips, I didn't care about how to draw them; I was more curious about character views, composition, what makes a scene funny, ballon placement, and timing. This book covers all that and more.

If your interested in the mechanics of what makes a comic funny, this book is a must-get. Those who know how to draw will get great advice on what makes a character look funny. If you don't know how to draw comics then get a different book that covers that topic...then buy this book.

Excellent book!
Very helpful book on the basics of creating comics. I needed a book that would take me from square one and show me the ropes. This did all that and more. I would definitely recommend this book!

Bleh
I wanted this book to be good. I really did. It had what I was looking for, info on the most important aspect of cartooning: the writing.But, unless you intend to create cliche, unoriginal cartoons, this book is not for you. Because that's all it does. It explains in detail the most common cartoon character stereotypes and how you should use them. it tells you what is normally done and tells you to do the same. cartooning is not about following paths that have already been followed. i enjoyed The Naked Cartoonist by Robert Mankoff, cartoon editor for the New Yorker. It explains the creative process in general.
Here's my advice: don't listen to advice from cartoonists who aren't even successful themselves. they clearly don't know what they're talking about.

Great book but not what I was looking for.
Well this book has it all. How to draw and come up with characters, how to layout out for comic panals. What and What not to do writing strips and doing the comic layout, etc. I'de say you have it all here. I was just hoping it would give more on writing scripts, but I guess there realy is no help guid it's just skill. ... Read more

Book Description

Maxine is a bona fide phenomenon. Her likeness graces mugs, calendars, T-shirts, collectibles, and even a 2.5-foot doll. She's been hailed by the press as the "Mother Lode of laughs" (- People magazine) and "The queen of outrageous" (- McCall's). Maxine is fresh, funny, odd, and ever-so-deliciously twisted. Maxine's creator, artist John Wagner, based part of his character's tell-it-like-it-is persona on his grandmother, mother, and maiden aunts. "She's been a voice for a silent group of women that are glad that this cranky old woman is finally saying what she wants."

The voice of Maxine comes out as: "My soul's had enough chicken soup. It wants some chocolate." "My idea of feng shui is to have them arrange the pepperoni in a circle on my pizza." "I may be old, but people who look like me always win the lottery." MAXINE: YELLING IT LIKE IT IS includes all-new, never-before-published material, all in full-color. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Maxine Yelling It Like It Is
I picked this book up off of the grocery store shelf and started reading it. I was laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes. I looked up to see I was entertaining other shoppers. I am buying this book for my cousin who has just started chemo therapy. I believe laughter is the Best Medicine and Maxine sure Yells out the laughs.

Maxine has the right answers
My review is that this book is funny and so truthful you laugh your socks off when reading it. This is one book that can instantly get you from a down mood to one happy person. The pictures in the book add just the right touch to the wording stated. A must book for someone with a great sense of humor. ... Read more

Book Description

Scott Adams still has the corporate world guffawing about the adventures of nerdy Dilbert and his power-hungry companion, Dogbert, plus Ratbert and the pointy-haired boss, as they make their way through the travails of modern work life.Only a cartoonist with been-there-endured-that experience could make us laugh so hard.Over 150 million fans across 65 countries cannot get enough of Adams' glib office humor.When Did Ignorance Become A Point Of View? captures it all, even those Sunday strips that make it into the office each Monday morning. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Good Book
Title says it all, another hilarious book by Scott Adams.

Fun Cartoons, But Linited To The Office Workplace
I enjoy the Dilbert cartoons as much as most fans and have found many office truths in the skillful cartoons. Yet, a typical company workplace does not only consist of office life. In most companies there are also extensive research and develoment departments and an array of managers from technical to the self-important CEOs, which are rarely mentioned and dealt with in these cartoons. In this way I find the Dilbert cartoons to be limited and one-sided in their portrayal of real company worklife. I worked in a major company for many years, so I felt much has been left out. If you'd like to get a better feel for the kind of true-to-life examples of workplace "vices" and managerial traits that can eventually lead to ENRON, Worldcom etc., then I would like to suggest the real sharp satire, "MANAGEMENT BY VICE" by C.B. Don. It does have a sprinkling of hilarious pen&ink drawings, but it is the fast flowing text that is really worth reading and thinking about. Well, Dilbert has his famous place in the office and many cheers for that, but I believe that "Management By Vice" complements the Dilbert cartoons with a whole new, company-wide perspective...after all, you don't see the inside scoop on a grievance procedure or the meaning of the "Doughnut Deal" in the Dilbert series...and even the flippant Company CEO and his self-serving management staff are deservedly exposed!

128 pages of non-stop laughs!!
This is the 18th spectacular collection of stupidity, laughs, and weirdness. In this book, an amobia gets hired, and GASP, Dilbert gets fired (don't worry folks, it's only temporary)!! The motivation fairy visits Wally, who has made not working in the office a perfect art. In this book, Adams also introduces a new regular, Ming (female) the web designer.Dilbert still gets dates, though. These strips are the funniest.

Scott Adams creates the perfect comics for people who have an office job, and people who don't (like me ,BWAHAHA!!!!). I strongly suggest that you buy this book.

Laughter Plaster
Get it, why?, plaster your office with it, the walls look better and you'll laugh your bum off everytime you get up for coffee.
A good book for office conversation that both brings the comical and semi serious is SB 1 or God By Karl Mark Maddox.

More of the collected genius of Scott Adams
This is almost a pointless review because if you like Scott Adams you will buy this and if you don't get the Dilbert humour then you are not even going to read this review!
This is more of the collected strips, nothing new but a copy to cherish of all the strips people stick over the office wall. As always the focus is on the office and the impact of mis-managment and all the hoops through which office workers have to jump. If you work in an office you will see so much of your 9-5 life within this book, you will think Scott Adams sits next to you, rather then that overweight guy who steals your mints.
I do know of the odd person who does not work in an office who has read some of my Dilbert books and can't get the jokes and the shame is that they are missing out on something very special. ... Read more

Book Description

The first and only comic book to receive the World Fantasy Award, The Sandman continues to break new ground in the comic book medium and beyond. Author Alisa Kwitney explores its beginnings and chronicles the comic's emergence as a unique and undeniable force in the literary world. Richly illustrated, this history shows how Gaiman and The Sandman's gifted artists, such as Dave McKean and Yoshitaka Amano, create a haunting (and haunted) main character who wields immense power. With illustrations never before published, behind-the-scenes stories, handwritten notes, and interviews with Gaiman himself, this volume is a true testament to the dream king and his creator. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Beautiful and Informative
Sandman: the King of Dreams is a wonderful coffetable-eque art book. However, it also contains many insights into the world of the Sandman and the creative process. Alisa Kwitney was a one time editor of the comic series and brings wonderful anecdotes about the writers, artists and characters that I have not heard anywhere else. This bok is clearly written with love for the world of The Sandman.
The art is also gorgeuos. images from the comics are replicated here in a wonderful format. also there are many images taken from other comics and trading cards and several that have been hiding in the editorial vault.
though this book is not as detailed as Hy Bender's wonderful ode to the series, and the two do cover the same ground on occasion, this is an excellent addition to anyones'sSandman library.

Great Art, but not enough meat to go with it
"The Sandman: King of Dreams" is a coffee-table sized tribute to the 10 story arcs that comprise Neil Gaiman's beloved Sandman series. A chapter is devoted to each story arc (or corresponding graphic novel, if you will) filled with full-page reproductions directly from the stores themselves. There are also a smattering of new artwork, behind-the-scenes tidbits, quotes and such.

I adore the Sandman series, and even find repeated enjoyment in "The Sandman Companion", but I was disappointed by this book. Why?

1st, there was not enough new art to keep me from getting bored. Yes, the pages look damn good reproduced here, but still pretty much look the same here as in the graphic novels.
2nd, there is too little text to go with the visuals, and what there is seems lacking ("The Sandman Companion", though visually less appealing than "King of Dreams", has about a 100x more info in it). For example, in the chapter covering the 2nd Sandman graphic novel - Doll's House, it alludes to original artist Mike Dringenberg not being able to keep up with the monthly pace. He apparently is replaced. Sounds interesting. So what happened? Was he fired? Did he step down honorably? Is this type of thing normal in a comic series? You won't find the answer here. Getting under the skin of the story - a forte of Mr. Gaiman, is frustratingly lacking here. It comes across as a superficial glossing over of the greatest comic book series ever.

What's left is great art you've mostly seen before, some interesting tidbits and insights, and a summary of stories you already know by heart. I'd recommend this for Sandman completists who especially love the artwork. For everyone else, try the "Sandman Companion" (its cheaper and better) or just pull out your reading copies one more time for another run through. ... Read more

Book Description

With deadpan humor that combines sneaky social satire with clever wordplay, New Yorker cartoonist Jack Ziegler has inspired paroxysms of laughter for the last three decades. And now this "genius with a touch of madness" serves up his most delicious and satisfying comic fare: 125 tasty morsels about food culture and consumption.

The cartoons in this hilarious book-some of them never published before-include a conversation about the market at a local tavern ("I took one look at the price of coffee futures this morning and decided to reinvest in the stability of beer"), a fish psychiatrist offering sage counsel to a fish patient ("Has it ever occurred to you just to say, 'Hey, I quit. I don't want to be part of the food chain anymore'?"), and a culinary face-off between René Magritte and Betty Crocker. These cartoons, the author promises, will make readers so sick with laughter that they won't be able to eat for a week. AUTHOR BIO: Jack Ziegler has published more than 1,000 cartoons in The New Yorker since his first work appeared there in 1974. His work also appears regularly in Playboy and other periodicals, and he has illustrated a number of humor and children's books. Ziegler lives in Las Vegas. ... Read more

Book Description

A hilarious hole in one! Golfers are, to say the least, dedicated (some would argue certifiable) and these cartoons bring out the best of the humor of the game—from its triumphs to its frustrations. The New Yorker 's cartoon editor Bob Mankoff has selected the very best golf cartoons for this book from the magazine's amazing artists. And the best of The New Yorker means cartoonists like Charles Addams, Peter Arno, George Booth, Roz Chast, Edward Koren, and William Steig. George Plimpton has theorized on sports books that "the smaller the ball, the better the book." He was commenting on prose, but this fabulous collection proves his theory true for cartoons as well. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Excellent Humor about "Course" and "Off-Course" Moments
This book only lacks a knowledgeable introduction by a humorist, top golfer or pro, or cartoonist to make it a five-star offering.

To me, the best humor is one that captures the reality of how the viewer perceives life. In the case of The New Yorker Book of Golf Cartoons, every golfer will recognize her- or himself . . . and members of past foursomes.

Unlike most sports cartoons, these wonderful offerings provide both female and male perspectives as players. There's still the battle of the sexes around the missing male golfer, but not all cartoons are sex stereotyped . . . which I liked.

Here are a few of my favorites:

One guru with a long beard to another in front of cave overlooking a canyon as the second guru tees off: "If you're so enlightened, how come you can't lick that slice?" This reminded me of the section about Deepak Chopra in Who's Your Caddy?

With a tree lying between the ball and the pin, the caddy hands a saw to the golfer.

"The Male Biological Clock" shows a golfer thinking: "If I don't learn how to play golf by the time I'm forty-three, I'll never learn."

A golfer is thrashing behind a bush and birds and animals run pell-mell away from him.

"I am the Lady of the Lake, and because thou hast defiled my crystal waters I must hence smite thee. That or penalize thee a stroke. Your call." As you can imagine, most golfers would avoid the one stroke penalty.

Man races out the door carrying clubs says to wife, "Gotta run, sweetheart. By the way, that was one fabulous job you did raising the children."

A woman stands on a widow's walk atop her roof looking through a telescope towards a golf course.

One golfer to another as the second one takes his ball out of the cup, "Bankruptcy doesn't seem to have hurt your putting eye a bit, Pete."

One golfer to another as the second one wrestles with an alligator in a swamp, "Oh, for goodness' sake, forget it, Beasley. Play another one."

A man holds clubs next to a woman who's just finished her swing. The ball drops into the cup after two bounces. She asks, "Like so?" This reminded me of the time I took my mother to play golf for the first time, and she beat me on almost every hole after the first four. She quit the game in disgust that day, complaining that it was just too easy to be interesting.
Two golfers are thrashing through the high grass beyond the green looking for a lost ball. One turns to the other and says, "You know something, Jeff. There is one place we haven't looked." That's exactly what happened to me when I hit my hole-in-one to a blind green.

I could go on, but won't so that you'll have something to look forward to (other than your next round of golf). You can see that the cartoonists have a great sense of the game . . . that can only come from having struggled out on the links themselves.

This book will be a great gift for a parent who is a golfer for either Mother's Day or Father's Day.

Fore!!

Amusing Perspectives on Both Golfing and Flogging
At least to me, reviewing an anthology of cartoons resembles reviewing a performance by Marcel Marceau. Just as you really had to be there to see the performance to appreciate his talent, you really have to see the cartoons to appreciate their creators' talent. So, what to say now? First, that I am avid golfer and thus have a special interest in this volume, one of several in a series. Also, I am a long-time subscriber to The New Yorker and had already seen most of Robert Mankoff's selections as editor. I just wish I had aged as well as they have. Finally, if you love both golf (which is "flog" spelled backwards) and a good laugh, and no one else has as yet purchased The New Yorker Book of Golf Cartoons for you, don't begin dropping hints resembling anvils and then eagerly await the next birthday, anniversary, or holiday. Treat yourself to a copy TODAY. Amazon enables you to check out several of Robert Mankoff's selections as editor. Meanwhile, here's an excerpt from the dust jacket: "Mark Twain called it 'a good walk spoiled.' Lee Trevino said it was the most fun he ever had with his clothes on. For duffers and pros alike, golf can be both a delight and a torment -- often on the same day, sometimes on the same hole." Been there, done that. And, alas, will no doubt do so again...and again...and again. Fellow duffers, however badly you may play, you can count on this volume to entertain you later...and thereby help you to have the right perspective when you golf and/or flog your way through the next round.

The perfect, brainy "no-brainer" gift for golfers.
Golfers are, almost without exception, fanatical and this book hilariously captures all the elements of the game - the joys and frustrations, the golfers and the golf widows, the pros and the duffers. ... Read more

Book Description

Based on the author's popular website, Alex Boese's The Museum of Hoaxes takes readers on a tour of hundreds of documented hoaxes, many published here for the first time. You'll read about the curiosities and cons of the most notorious hornswogglers and flimflam men of the nineteenth century; you'll be astounded at the impostors, pretenders, carnies, and tricksters of the twentieth.

Learn how Edgar Allan Poe got away with an astonishing literary deception. Or how P. T. Barnum turned hoaxing the public into big business. It's all here, from the origin of April Fools' Day to the Taco Liberty Bell, from Bigfoot to the War of the Worlds to recent Internet hoaxes. There's also a Gullibility Test that challenges readers to answer the question: "Would these hoaxes have fooled YOU?"

Written with both humor and historical insight, and complete with photographs and illustrations, The Museum of Hoaxes will be the gift book of choice for anyone who has ever been duped, deceived, tricked, or trumped . . . or just likes watching the pros in action. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Cursory Curiosities
I have to admit to being simultaneously disappointed and entertained by Alex Boese's The Museum of Hoaxes. While Boese certainly has researched many pranks, stunts and deceptions and writes in a breezy style, I kept wishing for more information about the hoaxes he reports (not more hoaxes, of which there are plenty). Had I come across this book in a brick-and-mortar store, I probably would not have bought it; and I have to admit that the Amazon reviewer does comment about the lack of detail. For example, the section on The Great Chess Automaton is only two rather small pages long, with no pictures. Look on James Randi's (the Amazing Randi) website for the James Randi Educational Fountation, dedicated to debunking hoaxes, physics, and the like, and you'll find two commentaries dedicated to the same topic, with several drawings which make the hoax perfectly clear. Randi's account is much more engaging, as its detail brings the story to life. Boese discusses the Loch Ness Monster and the "surgeon's photo"--but doesn't include the photo itself. The book makes good light reading, and perhaps it's greatest good is as a testiment to the fact that the media is less in the news and education business than in the entertainment business, a case which Randi also makes repeatedly. You'll probably encounter a few stories you've heard before and not realised were hoaxes or outright frauds, such as the sightings of sea monsters by the passenger ship Mauretania--a report first published in the New York Times and repeated ad infinitum in books on Cryptozoology and Fortean Phenomena, but which has entirely no basis in fact. You'll surely discover things of which you've not heard--my favorite is "The Great Monkey Hoax" hailing from my home state of Georgia, wherein a dead Capuchin monkey was doused in depiliatory cream and left in the road by two boys who claimed they'd struck it while two other "aliens" escaped in a glowing UFO. Boese has a gullibilty test in his book, which I, a confirmed skeptic, didn't do well on. And a number of famous or otherwise interesting hoaxes didn't make it into his book--including Mother Shipton, the psychic more accurate than Nostradamus but who unfortunately didn't exist, or the mermaid story which took place here in Hong Kong less than 10 years ago--a report was widely circulated in the media that a fisherman had caught a mermaid and his boat was bringing her into port. People flocked to the docks, but the boat was delayed and wouldn't be in until the next day. Still people came, but of course, no mermaid ever showed up--I don't remember what the excuse was--I think perhaps he freed the mermaid because she'd threatened him with a curse. Or the monkey man that was running around rooftops in India, supposedly assulting people, also within the last decade. Boese maintains a website where at least some of these hoaxes are written up; but like the book that site lacks detail and seems somewhat flat.

Marvelous and astounding!
I've been waiting for this book, and now I'm delighted to have "The Museum of Hoaxes" to take with me everywhere. This is a wonderful collection of hoax stories from the Middle Ages to the Internet era, each an illustration of clever prankstering -- or astonishing gullibility. Well-written and easy to read at a page or two each, these hoaxes sometimes crack me up, sometimes make me feel smugly superior, and sometimes leave me afraid that I will soon get hoaxed myself. When I'm reading, I often find myself wanting to tell somebody about one of the incredible stories I've just found. Because the Museum is so comprehensive and thorough, there's almost a feeling of something useful about the knowledge I've acquired, all this trivia about centuries of hoaxes. It's just enough to make the pleasure entirely guiltless. This book is fabulous -- and that's no hoax!

Fun for what it is
This book is basically a well-organized laundry list of hoaxes. The author arranges hoaxes in logical categories based on the type of deception involved. Some, especially those from further in the past, sound preposterous, but one must always account for the differences in knowledge and thought processes between times past and now. What was most disturbing to me is the fact that some of the hoaxes sounded plausible; it makes you wonder how many pieces of knowledge we take for granted might be well-contrived hoaxes. Conspiracy theorists take THAT attitude to the extreme, seeing hoaxes everywhere. But hoaxes are most prevalent when it is hard to get independent supporting data about a topic, which this book points out. For instance, if a white fellow turned up in Europe and claimed to be a Taiwanese native, we would laugh at him. But a white fellow did turn up in Europe several centuries ago, claiming to be a native of Formosa (Taiwan's former name). Without additional information (that Taiwanese are Asians), the people of Europe were unable to quickly discount the story.

You'll be surprised by what you don't know
So are you one of those many people, like I was, who believed the old rumor about subliminal advertising? You know, the one where a group of researchers added a few clever lines like "Hungry? Candy and Popcorn at the Concession" to be flashed during a movie so quickly the conscious mind missed it but the subconscious caught it and the concession stand sold 50% more candy and popcorn. I believed it quite completely for many years, until Alex Boese, our esteemed curator for this Museum of Hoaxes, informed me it was complete hooey. Turns out a researcher did indeed claim to do this and it caused quite a stir 40 years ago, but when scientific colleagues pressed him to reproduce this effect in a more controlled setting, he could not. And, to this day, the receipt of subliminal messages remains unproven.

Interesting stuff, isn't it? You'll be surprised at all the things you thought you knew. Its well written and a page turner, in fact, I tore through this book in less than a day, I simply could not put it down, much to the annoyance of my pretty wife.

Really interesting and fun book.
This book is an interesting read. I tells enough about each hoax so that you enjoy readin about the story, but it does not get "clinical" and boring. I like the fact you read just a few pages at a time if you like, and come back to it later. If you are interested in practical jokes and hoaxes, check this out, it is a fun read. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The best of the Bat
Amazing.

This is one VERY rare comic in that the quality of the writing - not just the story, but the prose could stand alone in any other medium. A better story than even the beloved (by Batfans) 'The Dark Knight Returns', BLIND JUSTICE will change the way you think about this character.

I guess I haven't seen this book in well over ten years and I can still remember its message and its closing words.

Well, Wouldn't You Know It?
Interestingly enough, Sam Hamm is the same person who penned the original "Batman" movie, directed by Tim Burton. On the eve of the Bat's 600th anniversary issue, DC Comics brought in Mr. Hamm to penn 'Blind Justice' ... and, sadly, this work of art would never be filmed for reasons I won't disclose here in the event that you rush out to read it. However, if the thought of truly exploring the possibly demented psyche of Bruce Wayne interests you, then BLIND JUSTICE is right up your alley. In this tale, you'll be shocked to find out just how far Bruce Wayne will go to not only preserve his secret identity but also how far he will go to preserve the justice that is the Batman. An incredible work of fiction that deserved more praise than it received. ... Read more

Book Description

It's the 10th Anniversary Edition of Love Is Hell! A book that's been in the making for a solid decade! This medium-sized guide is now available to the public with extra bonus fun-pages never-before-included in previous volumes of the same name! Slightly less scrawny than the original Love Is Hell, this behemoth-style handbook is jam-packed with all the info YOU need to keep your love-fight burnin'! Frankly written and profusely illustrated by famed cartoonist and merchandising monarch Matt Groening, Love Is Hell is the answer to all your Quandaries de l'Amour, or, as we say in American, Love Quandaries. Inside, you'll find handy tips on everything from Getting the Love You Deserve to Getting Your Heart Broken into Millions of Tiny Pieces. Plus so very much more. Why, we've even included a brand-spankin'-new intro by the author himself, written especially for this incredible 10th Anniversary Edition! And as if that wasn't enough, because you've waited so patiently for this special edition to come out, you get a special gold-colored anniversary seal right on the front cover, just because we care. Here's hoping you find a love as lasting and meaningful as this paperback. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Matt Groening, creator of the Simpsons, all in perspective
This book is from the brilliant mind of Matt Groening, the creator of the Nationally Renowned "THE SIMPSONS" television show. Before he founded the Simpsons, Matt was doing a weekly comic strip here in Santa Cruz for our local paper which developed a huge following. His cult-like status soon followed when his comic strip based "unusual" animated characters began to reach out to everyone with a heart. "Love is Hell" is a book that anyone who has ever been in love can appreciate and laugh at, but anyone who's gone through that harsh, bitter, "kill me now" time after rejection, needs to understand the humor behind the pain. And it's here, in Matt's book. It will make you laugh and be grateful you're not one of his characters. I LOVE THIS BOOK! The comics are from the 80's and gives you that perspective as well. priceless as far as I'm concerned. I'll NEVER part with my book!

What's hell got to do with it?
Love is hell is a laugh out loud book. If you've ever been in love, lust had a crush or anything in between you'll be able to relate. Matt Groening shows us all the pitfalls of love. With cartoons such as The 9 types of boyfriends,Getting the Love You Deserve, etc you realize that people really are the same all over.

Love is hell is the book you pull out when you think love isn't going to happen because after reading it and thinking a while you realize...maybe love is hell. By the creator of the Simpsons before he hit it big this is a one of a kind book that will have a place of honor in your home. Just don't lend it out because you'll never het it back! Do you want to laugh really laugh than buy this book unless your in love....than well wait awhile eventually you'll need to buy it.

How much do I love this?
Love is Hell--sounds redundant doesn't it?

I love the subtitle to this: A CARTOON BOOK, as if Matt Groening were downplaying the truth behind almost every page in his book. This is hardly "cartoon" material: every page takes a very mature look at pitfalls of relationships and turns them into hilarious results! And Groening is an equal-opportunity skewerer: men, women, straight, gay, everyone gets it. And the great thing is to see a little of yourself in here, and have a good laugh at that too.

To quote Homer Simpson: It's funny becasue it's true!
It is not that the idea that "Love Is Hell" is news to anybody; after all, there is a sense in which the phrase is redundant and repetitive. What matters here is that Matt Groening gets us to laugh at the most painful aspect of human existence, namely having your heart and other body parts ripped to shreds by someone you love (e.g., "The 22 Stages of Heartbreak"). The 13-chapter miniseries "Love is Hell," which begins the collection of "Life is Hell" strips circa 1982-1986, is not so much a "self help" treatise as it is a "self defense manual." Whether you are a girl who needs to be aware of the difference between having "Joe Sensitive" and "The Sneak," or a boy who should recognize "Ms. Vaguely Dissatisfied" as being different from the "Woman From Mars." As the brutally honest back cover blurb tells the potential reader, "Many men and women have reconciled themselves to their hellish doom" after reading this "frankly illustrated" and "profusely written" volume.

However, there is the proverbial much, much more besides the "Love is Hell" cartoon mini-series. Some also deal with love, as in "What Not to Say During Moments of Intimacy," but others deal with the opposite, as in "Kids' Questions About Death." I shared "How to Be a Clever Film Critic" with my Pop Culture students so that would know how to impress me in their film papers, and the collection's final single panel cartoon provides the words that every young kid needs to know to get through life (but do not tell anybody that I said this). "The Simpsons" is wickedly funny, but it seems like a cartoon show compared to these comic strips.

A must read
If you are a fan of the Simpsons and Matt Groening, you will love this book. From his take on the types of girlfriends to the stages of a breakup, Groening approaches each subject with sarcastic precision that will have you rolling on the floor. If you like the Life in Hell series, this is a must for you. Buy this book! You will love it. ... Read more

Book Description

Here is the incomparable cast of the DC Comics universe: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, Aquaman, the Green Lantern, and the rest of the Justice League as you’ve never seen them before. Mythology brings together the best-loved comic characters in the world, brought to life by one of the most astonishing young artists working in the medium today, Alex Ross. The award-winning designer/writer Chip Kidd and photographer Geoff Spear have teamed up to create a book like no other, with an introduction by M. Night Shyamalan, the acclaimed director of Signs and The Sixth Sense.

Ross has often been called “the Norman Rockwell of comics,” and this book reveals not only his lifelong love of these classic super heroes but also his vision: Mythology takes you into the studio for a behind-the-scenes look at his fascinating creative process. The combination of Ross’s dynamic art and Kidd’s kinetic design make images from his most memorable stories–including Kingdom Come, Superman: Peace on Earth, Batman: War on Crime, and Uncle Sam–soar off the more than 280 pages. There are also hundreds of never-before-seen sketches, limited edition prints, and prototype sculptures. Vintage DC comic panels are interspersed throughout, as reference points from which Ross launches his extraordinary interpretations.

And most exciting for Ross fans, inside is a DC Comics first: an exclusive, original Superman-Batman story, written by Kidd and painted by Ross. Also included is an all-new origin of Robin, written by Paul Dini. Mythology is a book in which every page explodes with the power of the icons it celebrates. ... Read more

Reviews (31)

Mythology: The DC Comics Art of Alex Ross
I had forgotten I ordered this until it came in the mail today. It's a pretty amazing piece of work. If you are an artist (like me) it's almost a text book on how to do it correctly. I found the highlight to be the last few pages of the book where Mr. Ross explains exactly how he created the cover from initial concept sketches to photography through finished art. The book also contains several things I'd never seen before or had just seen poorly printed or web versions of. Just amazing. Well worth the asking price.

No real DC fan should go without
Here is what I wrote in my column on the website comicbookbin.com (11/22/03):

"I finally got my copy of Mythology: The DC Comics Art of Alex Ross this week. If you are any kind of fan of the work Alex Ross has done for DC you need this book. A plus for me was the design contributions of Chip Kidd. For size, beauty, vividness, and sheer comprehension, this is it. If Ross put down his pencils and brush tomorrow and say he was moving on to other pursuits, I'd thank him for doing it all in superhero art. I would always encourage more, but he has said all he needs to on the amazing array of heroes and villains of the DC Universe. Alex Ross has always done his best work for DC, so I'm glad the folks at Pantheon Books were able to assemble this in time for the holidays."

Packs in color full-page shots of his dynamic art
The colorful DC comic art of Alex Ross is profiled by Chip Kidd and Geoff Spear in their striking Mythology, bringing together the best comics of the Justice League members represented by Alex Ross, one of the foremost DC comics illustrators of modern times. Ross has often been called the 'Norman Rockwell of comics' and Mythology packs in color full-page shots of his dynamic art, blending with Kidd's design talents to bring to life highlights from some of Ross' most memorable stories. Add an exclusive, original Batman-Superman story written by Kidd and painted by Ross and you have a keepsake not to be missed.

Art Appreciation
I have often thought that, as popular as comic books and superheroes are with some folks, the medium still gets a raw deal from the "establishment". In other words, for every fan that exists, there's still at least one person who says, "Oh, comic books are just for kids". Any time you see an adult comic book fan, portrayed in the movies or on television,more often than not, they come across as a "Nerd" "Geek", or as someone who has trouble getting a date. If only thse who keep those stereotypes alive would take a look at Mythology: The DC Comics Art of Alex Ross, I think they would gain a new perspective

Mr Ross is real asset for the medium.His artwork is nothing short of stunning. The drawings featured in the 288 page coffee table book are so well crafted and detailed, that if I didn't know any better I would swear that they were three demensional. These aren't just your average line drawlings of folks in funny looking pajamas. The depth of expression is astounding Ross takes you back in time to another era, while maintaining a very modern flair I would call him a mdern day Picaso or Rembrandt in his field. Film director M. Night Shyamalan, who made the super hero film Unbrakeable, provides the book's introduction. Collaborating with Ross for the book, designer/writer Chip Kidd and photographer Geoff Spearto further expand on Ross's work. There's also a n exclusive Batman and Superman tale, written by Paul Dini in the book as well.

This is recommended for anyone who follows comics. I also hope that a few non-fans, will give it a chance, as well.

A must for any Alex Ross Fan
Mythology is a complete rundown of the works of Alex Ross. Even since he hit the seen with Marvels, I have been blown away with his incredible attention to detail. No one has brought the characters to life on the pages of a comic book like Alex Ross.

The book does more then reprint some of his best paintings. There