Book Description

Giant events, earth-shaking themes, complex issues . . . all of these can make for captivating cartoons. But it's the artist who can take the simple, keep it simple, and still tell a story who really stands apart from the crowd. Patrick McDonnell, creator of Mutt's Mooch the cat and Earl the dog, is such a cartoonist.The quickest way to absorb McDonnell's mastery of his art is to pick up this third Mutts treasury, in which frame after frame and strip after strip he consistently displays his wit, cleverness, and ability with a pen. Mutts is the perfect way to escape into what appears to be an easygoing, carefree world. But just beneath the character's banter and endearing mannerisms are the universal concerns of animals and people alike. The cartoonist's spare style and gentle humor invite readers to fill out the frames with their own imaginations.Mutts, syndicated by King Features since 1994, enjoys a circulation of more than 500 daily newspapers. Nationally McDonnell has received awards ranging from Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year to Newspaper Comic Strip of the Year, and worldwide he has received such praise as being named the Swedish Academy of Comic Art's Best International Comic Strip Artist. This strip's a winner the world around.

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Reviews (1)

One Word: YESH!
Again and again, Patrick McDonnell demonstrates that he's the most inspired cartoon artist on the planet. For 10 years we've been treated to the adventures of Mooch, Earl, and all the elements, mundane or complicated, animal-vegetable-mineral, of their world. "Sunday Afternoons" is yet another treasure. As writer and critic Glen David Gold wrote in the Los Angeles Times, McDonnell gives us a "daily dose of brilliance." A shameless plug: If you love "Mutts" then be sure to check out the official Mutts website, www.muttscomics.com. More brilliance awaits you there. ... Read more

Book Description

This book-length celebration and analysis of the Artistic Event of the Century includes an exclusive interview and introduction by League of Extraordinary Gentlemen co creator and author Alan Moore; commentary by co-creator a nd illustrator Kevin O'Neill: detailed, panel-by-panel annotations of the first League of Extraordinary Gentlemen series. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Jess acknowledged me!
No matter one's area of expertise - there is always someone better. I thought I was expert on Sherlock Holmes. Jess makes me look like a piker.

And later on in the Alan Moore Interview - Jess gets Alan Moore to demolish my Nemo theory.

Ouch!

The essays are also worth reading.

Buy this book for those who must own the DVD.

I got mine autographed
The great comic book The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen was packed with references to literature from the Victorian era. Some of these books are famous, some of them are obscure. Jess Nevins has done an excellent job of tracking down the books, so now you can know the history of these characters, many of which have been forgotten one hundred years later. For instance, I don't think too many people knew who "Rose Coote", the headmistress of the girl's school, was. Well, in this book, you can learn the history of that character, as well as every other character who is so much as mentioned in the comic. By the way, I met Jess at the San Diego Comic Con, and he said he is working on an Encyclopedia about the League. From what he said, it will be around a thousand pages long, so start saving your money now.

Excellent companion piece!
For any true fan of the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (the comics, not the film), this is the book to purchase. The League is not only a wonderful story, but is also filled to the brim with references and images from other Victorian fictions of the same era. Some references are quite obvious, many are obscure, but all test your intelligence and literary know-how. There is a certain satisfaction in identifying a character on a page from a book you read years ago. Jess Nevins has collected all the annotations of these reference points contained in the first volume of LOEG. Reading it is a great enhancement to the already considerable enjoyment to be found in the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen! ... Read more

Book Description

"Congratulations to Bradford W. Wright for penning one of the most comprehensive and readable accounts of the pervasive effect that comic books have had upon generations of readers throughout America, and indeed—the world."—Stan Lee

As American as jazz or rock and roll, comic books have been central in the nation's popular culture since Superman's 1938 debut in Action Comics #1. Selling in the millions each year for the past six decades, comic books have figured prominently in the childhoods of most Americans alive today. In Comic Book Nation, Bradford W. Wright offers an engaging, illuminating, and often provocative history of the comic book industry within the context of twentieth-century American society.

From Batman's Depression-era battles against corrupt local politicians and Captain America's one-man war against Nazi Germany to Iron Man's Cold War exploits in Vietnam and Spider-Man's confrontations with student protestors and drug use in the early 1970s, comic books have continually reflected the national mood, as Wright's imaginative reading of thousands of titles from the 1930s to the 1980s makes clear. In every genre—superhero, war, romance, crime, and horror comic books—Wright finds that writers and illustrators used the medium to address a variety of serious issues, including racism, economic injustice, fascism, the threat of nuclear war, drug abuse, and teenage alienation. At the same time, xenophobic wartime series proved that comic books could be as reactionary as any medium.

Wright's lively study also focuses on the role comic books played in transforming children and adolescents into consumers; the industry's ingenious efforts to market their products to legions of young but savvy fans; the efforts of parents, politicians, religious organizations, civic groups, and child psychologists like Dr. Fredric Wertham (whose 1954 book Seduction of the Innocent, a salacious exposé of the medium's violence and sexual content, led to U.S. Senate hearings) to link juvenile delinquency to comic books and impose censorship on the industry; and the changing economics of comic book publishing over the course of the century. For the paperback edition, Wright has written a new postscript that details industry developments in the late 1990s and the response of comic artists to the tragedy of 9/11. Comic Book Nation is at once a serious study of popular culture and an entertaining look at an enduring American art form. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Fascinating Look at the Culture Depicted in Comic Books
Bradford W. Wright in Comic Book Nation (The Transformation of Youth in Culture in America) looks at the history of comic books as reflected in the form of culture presented within the comic books themselves and the changing culture of youth, who were the largest market for these comic books. It is not a definitive look at comics but it is an interesting examination of culture that will take the reader on a tour through much of the changes in comic books and society since the thirties using the books themselves as a form of primary evidence. It brilliantly continues the work of William W. Savage, Jr. in his pioneering Comic Books and American, 1945 - 1954. This book will be loved by comic book fans, of course, but should also prove quite interesting to any reader interested in matters of popular culture. It is the right balance between scholarly and fun and is a joy to read.

Thorough survey of the business and culture of comic books
In jargon-free, exuberant prose, Bradford Wright has written what may well be the definitive history of comic books. As Wright notes in his introduction, however, since his investigation is also a survey of mass adolescent culture, he properly focuses on "popular" commercial magazines--especially on superhero-themed comics--to the exclusion of newspaper funnies (like Dick Tracy and Li'l Abner), underground comics and graphic novels (such as works by R. Crumb and Daniel Clowes), and cartoon series for children (Archie and the Disney characters).

Painstakingly researched, "Comic Book Nation" is really three books in one. Wright provides both plot outlines and summaries of trends in subject matter, from the launch of Superman to the sinister underworld of the Watchmen. He also places those themes and developments in the larger cultural context, from Depression-era longings and liberalism, through the patriotism induced by World War II and the Cold War, to the anti-crime vigilantism of the Reagan era. Finally, he charts the multiple peaks and valleys experienced by the business itself: its unpredictable sales patterns, the unhappiness of its work force, the rise and fall of the largest publishers, and the takeover of the industry by corporate and licensing interests. Along the way, he examines the 1940s and 1950s backlash against the violent and sexual nature of comic books (which resulted in the Comics Code Authority, an agency of censorship unparalleled in its broad sweep and its power); the heyday of EC Comics, purveyor of classics ranging from "Tales from the Crypt" to "Mad Magazine"; and the brilliant, original creation of "Spider-Man" and the succeeding generation of reluctant, misunderstood heroes.

Wright wisely avoids making aesthetic judgments, and it's a tribute to his objectivity that readers would have a difficult time figuring out which series rank among the author's own favorites. Likewise, although Wright's left-of-center political judgments are on display throughout (and I confess I often found myself in agreement with him), he is consistently even-handed and empathetic when discussing the advocates of censorship (like Fredric Wertham) and the creators of more "patriotic" and even propagandistic comic books (such as Charlton Publications).

Not having read a superhero-themed comic book in years, I admit I was drawn to buy and read this book by Michael Chabon's "Kavalier and Clay," and I can confirm that this is a great book for readers of that novel who want to learn more. Although I imagine that some comic book fans (especially young readers) might find Wright's study long on analysis and short on comics, "Comic Book Nation" is truly a seminal contribution to the field of culture studies.

Very easy to read
Since I am not a huge fan of comic books myself & was only required to read this book for a very interesting class, I was very pleased with how easy it was to read Dr. Wright's intriguing look at the comic book industry. I don't have a lengthy commentary to give, however, if you want to read a book which combines comic book history with a personal touch this is the book for you. It is very thoughtfully written. And it is the perfect book to give to readers who may be a bit ignorant when it comes to the ups and downs of the comic book industry.

It is especially important to read the introduction so you can see where Dr. Wright is coming from. He, along with his comic book collection, just may have been a contributing factor in the downfall of East Germany... One will never know.

The Transformation of Youth Culture in America!
Trained in historical studies, Wright has a decisive advantage in writing this survey. He beautifully ties together the development of comic books with political, economic, and sociocultural events (1930s-60s), showing impacts in both directions. The reader learns about comics promoting colonialism, the US side during WW II and the Korean War, postwar triumphalism, the Cold War, and 1960s movements. Wright's raw material is thousands of comic books and their stories, which he systematically links to the history of the times. However, Wright's lack of connection to the growing community of comics scholars results in some inaccuracies: specifically, that "virtually nothing scholarly had been written" about comic books and that not much attention has been paid to comics in a historical context (both assertions contradicted by a number of scholarly works he cites in extensive endnotes and a reference overview); and that no standard for the citation of comic books exists (such a guide, developed by a group of comics scholars in 1998, was published in International Journal of Comic Art and online). The book also contains some serious factual errors (e.g., Tony Isabella is not a black writer). Nevertheless, there is no denying this as an extremely significant link on the history of comics--professionally researched, systematically analyzed, and fascinating. All collections.

Wright Probes the Importance of Popular Culture
This book weaves together three important strands of American cultural and social history between 1933 and the early 1990's. First, Bradford W. Wright relates the history of the comic book industry, developing his account around a series of themes such as superheroes, social problems, race, the Cold War, militarism, and revolt. Second, this thematic material is used as the springboard for a thoughtful reflection on the social development of the US during the dates under consideration. Finally, Wright also studies the fascinating relationships between publishers, artists, and market forces within the comic book industry. This book emphasizes the importance of comics as a healthy genre that has often explored areas of life in the United States that were taboo to mainstream media and culture. Wright's account of the evolution of comics during the Vietnam War is especially valuable. Johns Hopkins has done a beautiful job of designing this book: the elegantly typeset pages are complemented by many excellently chosen replicas of comic book covers and interior pages. These replicas are well chosen and enhance the reading of the book. One can't say enough about this young scholar's prose and insightful analysis. This is a book that all students and professors of 20th century American culture should read-several times! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Based on the popular course Eisner taught for several years at New York's School of Visual Arts, this lovingly written book on visual storytelling contains an accumulation of his ideas, theories and advice on the practice of graphic story-telling and the uses to which the comic book art form can be applied. Whether you're a film student, literature student, artist or simply a fan of good storytelling, you'll love this book filled with Eisner's cartoons. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

INDESPENSIBLE EXAMINATION OF THE ART OF COMICS
INDISPENSIBLE HOW-TO BOOK THAT REALLY STUDIES THE MEDIUM Reviewer: Zorikh Lequidre from Brooklyn, NY Before this book came out, most "how to draw comics" books were mostly concentrated on big, muscular heroes and action poses. There was very little emphasis on comics as a storytelling medium. Will Eisner has been drawing comics since God invented dirt and has explored almost every way a story can be told. One of his biggest contributions is using every element of the medium to tell the story. This book expounds heavilly on this.

Written years before Scott McCloud's "Understanding Comics," Eisner expounds upon how comics are a visual, reading experience using both words and pictures. He instructs the reader in how words and pictures can be used together to tell a story. The author must lead the reader with visual clues to each sequential immage. Mood, emotion, even time can be expressed visually in a comic. Camera angles, panel borders, typefaces, all play a part in the effectiveness of a story.

Eisner gives plenty of examples of his work to illustrate his ideas. Most significant are his "Hamlet," "Life on Another Planet," and several "Spirit" works. Looking at this really helps the reader see how creatively a story can be told.

Also included in this book are examinations of the various types of work a comic illustrator can do, including storyboards and instruction manuals.

This book, and its sequel "Graphic Storytelling," are must reading for anyone who wants to create comics, and good reading for anyone who wants to understand them better. Don't settle for mediocrity, read the best!

The basic to the advanced can learn from Mr. Eisner
This book is one of the finest productions when it comes to the production of the comic book medium. There are several other books available that can tell someone how to draw, but none do what this one does, it focuses on teaching the reader how to tell a story, a virtually lost art in the modern comics arena. It breaks down into simple, yet not trivial components, the way a comic book artist should tell his story, as well as providing examples form Mr. Eisner's portfolio to help the reader understand what is being said. After all what is a book about telling a story with pictures, going to do without using pictures to tell it's story. The book also contains the basics of the drawing medium and some helpful tips for the rendering of comic art, but this is probably one of the best you'll ever see when it comes to learning what it is to tell the story.

Professor Eisner explains comic books as sequential art
"Comics & Sequential Art" is based on a course Will Eisner taught at New York's School of Visual Art although originally this work was written as a series of essays that appeared randomly in "The Spirit" magazine. Eisner provides a guide book to the "principles & practice of the world's most popular art form, and while it is of interest to those of us who read comic books it is clearly intended to be of use to aspiring comic book artists (and writers, albeit to a lesser degree). One way of measuring the book's success is to note that I have the 24th printing of a work that was first published in 1985 (and expanded in 1990 to include print and computer), but then the fact that the book was written by Eisner and uses dozens of examples of his own art work to evidence his points, as well as drawings down specifically for the book, is enough to tell you this is something special.

There are eight lessons in Professor Eisner's syllabus: (1) Comics as a Form of Reading looks at the interplay of word and image in comic books that has created a cross-breeding of illustration and prose, including the idea of how text can be read as image, which shows the sense of detail Eisner brings to his subject. (2) Imagery begins with the idea of letters as images and develops a notion of how the "pictograph" functions in the modern comic strip as a calligraphic style variation. The key subject here is that of images without words. (3) "Timing" considers the phenomenon of duration and its experience as an integral dimension of sequential art, with Eisner drawing (literally) a distinction between "time" and "timing." This chapter looks at framing speech and framing time, with Eisner making his points in the textual part of the chapter and then providing a series of comic book pages evidencing different features he wants to emphasize. (4) The Frame is a major chapter that examines in detail the sequences segments called panels or frames, with Eisner emphasizing the idea that these frames do not correspond exactly to cinematic frames because they are part of the creative process and not the result of the technology. Eisner examines encapsulation, the panel as a medium of control, creating the panel, the panel as container, the "language" of the panel border, the frame as a narrative device, the frame as a structural support, the panel outline, the emotional function of the frame, the "splash" page, the page as a meta panel, the super-panel as a page, panel composition, the function of perspective, and realism and perspective. This chapter is not half the book, but it is close, and it basically tells you everything you ever wanted to know about a panel in a comic book. When you are taking into account the meaning of the border of the panel, then you know this is a comprehensive examination of the subject under discussion.

The rest of the book deals with what you put in those panels: (5) Expressive Anatomy provides a micro-Dictionary of Gestures before covering your options in drawing the body, the face, and the body and the face. As an extended example Eisner provides his complete "Hamlet on a Rooftop," which does the "To be, or not to be" soliloquy. (6) Writing & Sequential Art talks about the relationship between the writer and the artist (whether they are two separate people or not), and various story telling elements. There are several choice examples on the application of words and the various ways then can add meaning to a series of panels, and practical examples of how writers and artists work together to create comic book stories. (7) Application (The Use of Sequential Art) makes a distinction between the functions of sequential art as instruction and as entertainment. This leads to a discussion of not only the graphic novel and technical instruction comics, but story boarding for commercials and films as well. (8) Teaching/Learning, Sequential Art for Comics in the Print and Computer Era lays out the range of diverse disciplines involved in comic books, laid out in a structured typology (categorized under psychology, physics, mechanics, design language and draftsmanship). Eisner also briefly shows what adding a computer to the process means for creating comic books.

There is an inevitable comparison to be drawn between Eisner's "Comics & Sequential Art" and Scott McCloud's "Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art," but I really see the two books as being complementary. Although you obviously can shift back and forth between perspectives, McCloud is looking at the medium from the reader's point of view and Eisner is more concerned with the creative process. Eisner has praised McCloud's book as "a landmark dissection and intellectual consideration of comics as a valid medium," which is a fundamental assumption of Eisner's work here. The primary value of "Comics & Sequential Art" is for professional and amateur artist, but students and teachers, and even mere comic book fans, can benefit from a serious and comprehensive examination of the art of funny books.

A Comics Pro Gives It A Thumbs UP!
As a veteran comic book illustrator (You can find my work here on Amazon.com; I am the CO-creator and artist of Transmetropolitan), I am often asked to recommend books to aspiring professionals in comic book illustration. In that case I always enthusiastically recommend any of Eisner's instructional books as essential reading for anyone serious about their craft and dreams of getting into the industry.

From the earliest work of his career, Will Eisner was an innovator in writing as well as illustration. Even in his twilight years the man is still a vigorous and creative artist producing work that pros as well as fans can't wait to get their hands on.

These books display his genius in an entertaining and easy to follow method, and if put to practice will inspire and reveal hidden keys to making your work truly professional grade. A great companion book to Eisner's "Graphic Storytelling".

- Darick Roberston

More for the professional than the lay person
This is something of Will Eisner's lifework, the non-fiction complement to his wonderful work from the 1950s onward with _The Spirit_ through _A Contract with God_. Herein, Eisner describes the means by which his stories work, what makes them flow and live. Before Scott McCloud's _Understanding Comics_, Eisner was the standard bearer for the explanation of how comics achieved their effect. But this book never got the acclaim that McCloud's did, for it is not necessarily directed at the public, but at the would-be comics professional. In fact, most of the book is a reworking of Eisner's lecture notes from his teaching time at New York's School of Visual Art. The general public can still glean some great information about the medium from this book, but McCloud has supplanted Eisner as the popular textbook for courses on comics. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Momentary Lapse Of Focus
It is difficult- if not impossible- for an artist to hide signs of burn-out. The evidence is there in black & white, on the paper for all to see. When that artist is Robert Crumb, normally accustomed to putting his soul into his work, the result is painful to observe. Crumb demands that we witness his anxieties, refusing to quit working even in the face of physical & mental exhaustion (1972 & 73 were pretty heavy years for R.C.!). The results, though damn good, are still not up to the snuff of his previous period. In this volume you'll find Crumb's work on 'XYZ Comics', 'ZAP #6', 'BLACK AND WHITE' (featuring the classic male fantasy response to feminist criticisms: 'R. Crumb Versus The Sisterhood'), 'EAT IT!' (a cookbook by Dana Crumb that Robert illustrated) and 'FUNNY AMINALS' (containing 'What A World!': one of the sickest pieces Crumb has ever undertaken!). So, after all the naysaying, why the four star rating? Because lesser Crumb is still a helluva lot better than most underground artists at their peak! 'Nuff said.

Crumb in Your Face
This book collects some of comic artist R. Crumb's most infamous work. His dark vision of sexual relations (which crosses, at times, the border of misogyny), is at its most extreme in this volume. Angered by feminist attacks on his work, the intent of these stories and drawings seems to be to bait his critics, embodying every object of their scorn. What shines through on every page is Crumb's fundemental honesty, and his brillance at depicting these raw emotions and frustrations.

Not for all tastes, to be sure, but essential for an understanding of Crumb's work. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

A Great Snoopy Book Review
"Being A Dog Is A Full-Time Job", strips from 1989, was very funny! Join the Peanuts characters on tons of new zany adventures! For, example we met another one of Snoopy's brothers Olaf!!! Lucy enters him in an "ugly dog" contest(Isn't that just like her?). Peppermint Patty goes to summer school!! She's so mad Marcie and Charlie Brown go to camp, she sneaks away to camp!!And plus, an "old friend" of Charlie Brown's calls and wants to meet him at the mall!! Could this girl have really been an "old friend"??!! To reveal more in this delightful book would be crazy!! It's funny, because I was born in 1989!! Have fun with this one!

Dogs are Worth It... Most of the Time
This comic strips from 1993 are in my opinion... really funny! For an example of some strips, Peppermint Patty always taunts Charlie Brown to ask him if he loves her! Another year of Peanuts!

its not 5 stars!!!!!! its 50000000000000000000000 stars!!!
this book is the best book simply because charles shultz wrote it

Dog-gone funny! This reviewer gives it Five Bones!
Being a dog is a full-time job, indeed...as Snoopy's wacky antics will certainly convince you. Snoopy pulls various pranks on the adorable Peanuts children that will have you laughing until your eyes bleed! Laugh as Schroeder repels Lucy's wanton advances, and Peppermint Patty plays both sides of the ball! Fun for the entire family, even distant cousins!

SUPER!!!!!
It was exellecent. I loved it. A great all time favorite ... Read more

Reviews (3)

You'llbe pleased....I think.
I read the first couple reviews and was mixed as to whether I would like this compilation.Part of me wishes the quality of the artwork was spritzed up a bit but the other half of me appreciates the fact that they used original comics on their downloads.
My hunch is that Marvel wanted that authentic "reading a beat up comic" feel to sort of illustrate the fact that it's the characters and not the quality of the "product" that matters.I guess you could compare it to someone who has to buy a three thousand dollar stereo to hear the "production" of the music as opposed to someone who hears the music off a crappy transistor radio.....the essence of the music (the songwriting and music) is what makes it vital, not necessarily how it was recorded and what the production sounds like.
If you approach it wanting a crisp, clean product, then you'll be disappointed.I LIKE the compilation as it gives us honesty in it's smeared colors and sloppy page quality....because that's what Marvel WAS in the very beginning.It wasn't as huge an industry as it is today!In the early 60's it was just another business trying to stay afloat and trying to dodge bankruptcy.
If you can see this collection from this standpoint, I think you'll be happy with it.Hey, it hasn't stopped me from reading it!

501 issues of Spidey
This CD-Rom Set is Amazing.All the comics have the ads and such.The scans are well done.The older issues are aged, but I think that is a good thing.This set is a must have for any Spider-Man fan.

Oh the Shame!!!
I have to admit that I was really disappointed in the quality of this collection.I can understand that some of the comics from the 60's to the early 80s might not be in great condition.I understand that they likely would not look good scanned.What I cannot understand is why the quality of the scans themselves are so horrible!!The format (2 pages showing) is fine, however, many of the pages are crooked or worse blurred in some cases.

I really am ashamed of Marvel allowing something like this to make it to the market.They obviously did not do any kind of quality control on this one.

I love the idea of someone doing this, though.I've been collecting comics for over 30 years now and I would really like to start gettting digital versions.I'm running out of room in my house for the printed ones.I hope the major publishers look at the possibility of digital comics.It could be the wave of the future.

In all, if you don't care about the quality and just want to have the collection to wander down memory lane I would not pay the retail price.Try to find it cheaper (preferably used). ... Read more

Book Description

The 2004 presidential election was the climax of a year filled with accusations, revelations, hope, terror, and finally, triumph for the incumbent administration.In this thirty-third annual volume, leading editorial cartoonists capture this energized year, one in which even the apolitically bent found themselves unusually motivated and engaged.

Over four hundred editorial cartoons by more than 180 editorial cartoonists present a variety of viewpoints on the ever-expansive global war on terrorism, the dramatically contested presidential campaign, the goals, successes, and failures of the Bush administration, and other domestic and international crises and achievements. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A book that puts the laugh in laughter!
The title says it all. This is the most hilarious book I`ve read so far! If there wasn`t a maximum of 5 stars I`d rate this comic more than that! One of my favorites is when Odie types. Then, the computer says, "Your order has been processed. Thank you." Then, Jon walks over and says, "www.dingleball.com?" This is DEFINITELY one of your better Garfield books! The sooner you get it, the sooner you`ll have the laughter of your life!

Date Coverage
Contains all the daily and Sunday strips April 9, 2000 through November 4, 2000.

The Best I've Read
I have loved Garfield since I started reading about him, and I'm always after the next one. If I was to say my favorite comic in this book, it would probably be the one where Jon says, "YAH" and Garfield says, "Paper cut", then Jon says, "YAAH", and Garfield says, "Envelope Cut", then Jon says, "YAAAAAAAAAAAH", or something, (I can't remember how many "A"'s in that "YAH"). Then Garfield says, "And that would be the stamp cut", and smiles. However, another favorite of mine in this book is when Jon gets a paper cut on his tongue and Garfield offers a potato chip. You know what happens then, Jon says, "NYAH GAH NYAH NYAH GAAAAH GAH GAH NYAH" (or something like that) because Garfield remembers how to make "Fun with salt". This is definitely a must-own for any Garfield lover.

20 years and still going strong!
This book is awesome, as usual. Jim Davis has come through with another excellent collection of Garfield comics, and the new, larger, color format is much more fun to read! Garfield and Odie's antics will keep you laughing from cover to cover. This book is a must read for any Garfield fanatic.

Garfield can never disappoint me
I have finally gotten used to this new format that Jim Davis started using with the previous Garfield book. As usual, Jim doesn't disappoint me with Garfield's antics. Poor Jon and Odie are Garfield's usual targets, and spiders too. I love the moments in the book when Garfield is busy squishing spiders. Those have become some of the funniest moments for Garfield. And I was laughing pretty hard when Jon hits his thumb with the hammer and he yells out "mommy!" and tries to retract that statement by saying "ouch!" but Garfield replies with "too late". Another favorite moment is when Garfield and Jon tries to outdo each other by eating the hottest peppers there are. Classic Garfield. And as usual, Jon has trouble getting a date or one that can fit through the doorway of his house. I may be 27 years old but I will never outgrow Garfield. This is one cool cat that should never change. ... Read more

Book Description

Mother Goose is a single mom who has to endure all of her pets' capers. No matter what, she loves Grimmy, the irrepressible bull terrier she thinks of as her baby. Grimmy is a dog lover's dog. Happy-go-lucky, he's a bon vivant with a hefty appetite for fun, mischief, and yesterday's trash. He loves overindulging, chasing cars, and hanging out with his buddy, Attila. Attila is the high-strung cat who lives with Mother Goose and Grimmy. Hardly living up to his namesake, Attila is an endearing mix of neurotic apprehension and clueless gullibility. Despite his vulnerabilities, Attila craves understanding and a playmate, and Grimmy is always ready to oblige his feline friend with some lively antics. Mother Goose's eccentric household has entertained readers for 20 years. Distributed daily and on Sundays, Mother Goose and Grimm appears in more than 650 newspapers nationwide, boasts a readership of 100 million fans, and consistently ranks as a favorite strip in newspaper surveys.

Reviews (2)

Welcome to the very conserative world of nuclear families.
This is the world where all men are dorky, guilt-driven daddies with soft, jelly-like bellies. This is the world where all women are milk-gushing baby machines. And this is the world where all spoiled, smart-mouthed rugrats rule. And of course, this world is filled with playgrounds, mini-vans, and slobbering dogs that no one can ever get out.

Once again, Wanda has popped out still another baby (to keep the baby strip going, of course) and this one baby probably would remain a baby for all eternity to come, unless Wanda is willing enough to birth 20 more babies to support the cartoonists for the rest of their natural lives. However, I still love the rather cynical bite added to such a harried, closed-in family life of endless cleaning up, changing filthy diapers, soothing colicky demands, pumping dairy products from private parts, enduring catty competition with a next-door bimbo who bragged about spawning a double order of male heirs (and remaining svelte to boot), and finally dropping off womb fruits at a place called "kindergarten" for the first time. Family fun for the conserative readers who all live by the same old traditions as their ancient baby-boomer ancestors.

And neither Zoe, nor Hamface are wiggly little infants anymore - they are now big-headed little midgets to add more cute, cute, cute than ever to the whole mess!;)

Two Plus One Equals Lots of Laughs
The McPhersons are in a period of adjustment. Baby Wren has arrived, and Zoe and Hammie haven't quite figured out where they fit in the family any more. Plus, they want everything to be fair for all three of them, even though they are growing and facing different things. For example, Hammie is going to his first sleep over. And if that isn't enough, Bunny is naming her identical twins identically. Fortunately, Wanda and Darryl are facing life with a quip and sarcasm as always.

I've always loved this strip of its real if slightly exaggerated look at every day life in a loving family. This set continues the grand tradition with more fun and laughter with this ever growing family. Every page held a smile and chuckle, with many having laugh out loud moments. Sometimes, they hit a little too close to home, but with some funny lines I appreciated.

If you need a humorous look at family life the way it really is, read this strip. And if you already know and love the McPhersons, this book is exactly what you're looking for to get the next chapter in the life of this funny family. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Simply The Best
Great comic book. Easily one of the best strips in the paper today. Its kind of like looking at what happened to all of those characters in Bambi after they grew up and reality hit 'em! This is up there with Get Fuzzy, Far Side, and even Peanuts. Over The Hedge is hilarious and will be around for a long long time...LONG LIVE TWINKIE FISHING!

Welcome to an animal world beyond Pogo!
This is the very beginning of a very amusing saga involving funny animals - a welcome combination of "Calvin and Hobbes", "The Bloom County", and "Pogo", which are all now gone forever from the funny pages. In this zany comic strip, the follies of human nature are slyly observed through the bright eyes of a know-it-all turtle and an arrogant raccoon with his unquenchable thirst for chocolate, chocolate, and more chocolate! Though this book may not be recommanded for anyone who don't have time for so many words, there are still fans out there who would love to read such witty dialouge from this silly pair of surburban slinkers!

Good fun
"Over the Hedge" is an appealing enough strip, revelling in the consumer culture of which we are all victims, "guzzling Mrs. Butterworth's." America is a sick place, and the joke's on us, not on the critters that arise from our senseless lifestyles.

Genesis of a Classic
Some of you out there, like me, may not have been blessed to watch the birth of Over the Hedge and see the early development of RJ and Verne. That's what makes this collection so wonderful...see the early, scrawny RJ and his graceful transformation into the loveable glutton we know today. Check out the size of Verne's head in the early strips. Yet throughout, RJ and Verne have always served as a source of biting (though never rabid) social commentary. ... Read more

Book Description

“My daily panel is like a gag, but the Sunday strip is like a little adventure. . . . And with Marmaduke, anything can become an adventure.”
–Brad Anderson

America’s most playful pooch has been delighting fans since 1954. The lovably rambunctious Great Dane currently appears in more than 660 newspapers, in 20 different countries worldwide. Now, in honor of this top dog’s 50th anniversary, Brad Anderson has hand picked his favorite cartoon strips from the last five decades for this beautifully designed volume that will have everyone drooling.

Marmaduke epitomizes the overgrown lap dog, with an irascible streak and a penchant for mischief that is tempered with a deep sense of love and responsibility for his family. In stature and in character, this horse-sized hound stands head and shoulders above the rest. Marmaduke strikes a chord because, quite simply, he is a real dog. Creator Brad Anderson modeled Marmaduke on his parents’ boxer, Bruno. Originally just a big dog, Marmaduke immediately appealed to newspaper readers in part because the emotions he expressed were so very human. The cartoon canine’s antics and mishaps are both hilarious and remarkably familiar to anyone with a dog.

Marmaduke is also instilled with Anderson’s own deep commitment to community and family. Marmaduke and Anderson have long been supporters–and Marmaduke, their “spokesdog”–of the Delta Society’s Pet Partners Program, in which volunteers and their pets visit sick and elderly in hospitals and care centers. The comic strip is not only a welcome respite, it’s also a helping hand, connecting people in hospitals and care facilities with animals, both real and drawn.

This wonderful collection proves that whether Marmaduke is rescuing a stray kitten, seeing the kids off to school, or visiting senior citizens in the park, he always does it in a way that makes millions of fans smile. Nothing’s bigger than Marmaduke’s heart, including those giant paws. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A great collection of Marmaduke cartoons!!
I have enjoyed Marmaduke cartoons for almost 30 years. His antics such as his taking up the sofa, being the life of the party and going to the neighborhood school, made my family and I laugh. Indeed when we had a huge collie dog, we could not resist comparing his antics to Marmaduke's.

I'm glad that Anderson celebrated the 50th anniversary of Marmaduke's debut with this book. It notes how Marmaduke has changed over the decades--from one about a huge dog to one where the dog is a member of the family with some human traits.

I had one big problem with this book--not enough cartoons. I wanted to see more of them! I did not think of collecting the previous books with Marmaduke cartoons, and I wish I had. There are just not enough enough of them--especially the Sunday ones. Otherwise this collection is fantastic. Four stars. ... Read more

Book Description

It's the swinging 80's period of Crumb's career now featured in the multiple award-winning Complete Crumb Comics series.The mid-1980s period of Crumb's career is compiled in this 15th volume of the series, a period that many critics consider to be the richest of Crumb's career.Anchored by Crumb's contributions to the seminal anthology Weirdo, created and edited by Crumb, this volume includes the first several appearances of classic Crumb character Mode-O-Day, the networking fashion plate that serves as a foil for some of Crumb's most biting satire about America's cultural elite.Also included are Crumb's first collaborations with the late writer Charles Bukowski, as well as several collaborations with Harvey Pekar from his autobiographical series American Splendor. The book is rounded out with a color section that includes rare album art for various jazz and blues greats, as well reproductions of his various comic book covers from this period. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Social commentary and raunchy behavior
Fans of Crumb's biting comics of social commentary and raunchy behavior will find this set of comics continues the chronological series covering his complete work. Here Mode O'Day and Her Pals are the feature, covering his cartoons from 1983-85. A centerfold of fine color images provides lively full-page panels; most of the presentation is in classic black and white. ... Read more

Book Description

"Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus, Lucy . . .how can I ever forget them. . . ." -- CHARLES SCHULZ

How could any of us ever forget them? For fifty years, Charles Schulz and the whole Peanuts gang have delighted millions of readers around the world.Now, in celebration of the artist who quickly became a national treasure, this special anniversary volume brings together for the first time in book form the last year of the Peanuts comic strip. With Peanuts 2000, there's no need to say goodbye to old friends. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

A Must for any 'Peanuts' Fan and a True Work of Art
I have loved Peanuts since childhood, and have an almost complete collection of Peanuts books. Charles Schultz has always been an inspiration to me in my work as an occasional professional cartoonist. Not only is Schultz unsurpassed as an artist, he is also one of the great philosophers of twentieth century life in America.
This book is, first and foremost, a celebration of the comic strip. It is a work of art in its own right. All the cartoons in the book are photographed from either their original drawings, or directly from the newspapers. The reader can see the artistic details that Schultz has used in creating each frame in photos of the originals. And the use of the original strips, with their rough paper and newsprint lines, brings back the joy of reading the comics for the first time in the funnies. The Sunday comics are complete with the little color dots that created the color images. There are literally hundreds of comic strips, both daily and Sunday, in this book, and they give a good overview of Schultz's long career.
There are many photos of Schultz's doodles and rough sketches, of his desk and his artist's tools, early cartoons 'Sparky' sold to the Saturday Evening Post, early drawings of certain characters, some of which pre-date 'Peanuts' itself. One can actually see the characters develop, artistically and as human beings. Interspersed with the cartoons are textual explanations and stories about Schultz and his characters, including many insightful comments by Charles Schultz himself about the evolution and personalities of his characters. Also included are photos of early Peanuts toys and dolls, and even these are photographed lovingly and with attention to detail and shadow.
This is a magical book, and any Peanuts fan would love it and treasure it. It is a book one can return to over and over to enjoy. Leave it lying around the living room where everybody can enjoy it and relive the joy Charles Schultz and the Peanuts gang gave us for over fifty years. Better yet, introduce a new generation of kids to the strip. The Peanuts gang is a microcosm of us, and reading it reveals much about ourselves and helps us to look on life with tenderness and humor.
Buy this book, read it, and share it. It would make a wonderful present as well. It is the best Peanuts book to date.

"How can I ever forget them?"
These were the final words in Peanuts comics delivered by the late Charles Schulz. To answer the question, you can never forget Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus and Snoopy.

I remember the last "new" comic strip came out 13 February, the day after he died. Thanks, Sparky, for all the memories and the inspiration (I work on my own cartoon strip).

These cartoons were originally published early 1999 through February, 2000 in the newspapers. Charlie Brown has a date for a dance (something that rarely happened). Rerun holds the football for Charlie Brown (he got more and more parts in the cartoon strip in the final years). Charlie Brown pays tribute to the ever scowling Joe Torre! Cartoonist Day is remembered (5 May). Snoopy writes more novels and plays golf with the musical notes from Schroder's piano. "Wolves are making a comeback," as Sally philosophises. There's also a tribute to painter Andrew Wyeth and Valley Forge, as acted out by Snoopy. Snoopy Claws can be seen downtown around Christmas.

Also, Charlie Brown hits a grand slam, Linus kicks the habit once and for all and gives his blanket to Snoopy, Peppermint Patty gets straight A's, the Great Pumpkin comes as promised and Schroeder finally admits he's got a crush on Lucy! Don't hold your breath on the last 5, folks! I was just seeing if you were paying attention!

However, this book is poignant since these were the final strips of Peanuts. Charles Schulz must have known the days of the Peanuts cartoon were numbered when he let Rerun hold the football! If you're a Peanuts fan, you'll enjoy this book!

A great tribute to one of my favorite comic strips
Since I can remember, I was always fascinated by the Peanuts comic strip. I would watch and tape all the TV sepcials I could find, and check out all the books from the elementary school library (the shelving code was 741.5 Sch), even decorate my bedroon door with drawings of Good Ol' Charlie Brown. Sadly, Charles Schulz passed away a week after I turned 20, and it was sad that morning to read the final Sunday strip and find that their creator had died just hours before. In this chronicle, from 1-1-99 up to 2-13-00, we see the escapades of all the characters. Most notable was the direction that Schulz was taking with Linus and Lucy's little brother Rerun. If you read these strips, you can see the potential for development of Rerun that would have come. And like many, there was the question if Charlie Brown would ever kick the football, and much more. However, the fact that Schulz never revealed this, gives our imagination a chance to speculate. Some notable articles include Charlie Brown attending a dance class with a little girl named Emily, that Schulz introduced about 2-4 years ago. There is even a funny little weekday strip where Sally tries to write to Harry Potter. There are plenty of other intersting topics the gang covers, but I won't go into detail here. Believe me, this is a great way to relax: kick back and read Peanuts 2000.

Yet another classic by Schultz
Charles Schultz knew how to entertain his audience. No matter how many times I read this book I always get many laughs.

-You're a good man, Charles Schultz!

Peanuts 2000
Make sure you get the edition that has the final farewell Peanuts comic strip dated 2-13-2000.
This book is a gem...my copy still say First Edition Sept.2000.
My edition has 9 blank pages at the end, but more importantly, it has ALL the daily and Sunday comics for 1999. The daily comics ended on 1/1/00;
The Sunday comics continued for 1/2/00, 1/9/00, 1/16/00, 1/23/00, 1/30/00, 2/6/00, and finally 2/13/00.
All the comics are in COLOR INCLUDING the daily strips. ... Read more

Book Description

Cartoonist Ruben Bolling's oddball strip, Tom the Dancing Bug, makes waves on a weekly basis. Recognized the past two years by the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies (AAN) as Best Cartoon, Tom the Dancing Bug is "consistently funny, pointed without being dogmatic, and takes on subjects that no one else does . . . an oasis of keen intelligence in the comics page," according to the 2003 AAN judges. Here are just a couple headlines from the quirky strip's "News of the Times":¨ Computer Loses to Human Candy Land Champion: Despite progress made in developing a computer program that can defeat a human chess champion, computer scientists confess that they have been unable to launch a significant challenge to human supremacy in the game of Candy Land.¨ Scientists Discover Media Has Quantum Effect on Reality: A team of physicists discovers that an electron is in an uncertain state until the media report on it. For example, once an electron was measured and reported upon by Mary Hart on the "Celebrity Corner" segment of Entertainment Tonight, it instantly assumed its nature as a particle.Tom the Dancing Bug's client list is diverse, representing the breadth of contemporary journalism: alternative newspapers, such as Dallas Observer and the Village Voice; prestigious daily newspapers, including the Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times; Salon.com, an acclaimed online magazine; and the New Yorker magazine. ... Read more

Amazon.com

What's funnier, a dead monkey or a dead clown? How many corpses do you have to tie together to make a raft? Are pigeons recyclable? These, and many other questions we're too afraid to include here, are answered in the latest installment from cult cartoonist Max Cannon, More Red Meat. Cannon's oeuvre can be found in countless weekly papers, on Web sites, and on the sides of buildings; it has infiltrated like a particularly unpleasant strain of the Ebola virus. Plumbing the depths of ickiness--and finding it funny--Cannon has gained a fanatical following for his rubber-coated look at suburban life. This latest collection includes Cannon's classic characters like the sadistic Milkman Dan, the mentally unstable Earl, and perverted, often-naked middle-class dad Ted Johnson, as well as introducing new characters such as the sadistic marine biologist Jacques Oiseux, the mentally unstable barber Walker, and deformed, middle-class outcast Johnny Lemonhead. If you haven't picked up the first Red Meat book, do so now, then return here, buy this one, and run to the most psychedelic shag-carpeted crash pad you can find to begin a trip into illustrated delight. --James diGiovanna ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Milkman Dan makes Hannibal Lector look like a girl scout!
Without a doubt "Red Meat" is the funniest comic strips ever. Like a multipanel "Far Side" for adults this comic is the ultimate in day light humor with a dark, twisted center. Milkman Dan is more innocent then Mr. Rogers but a scant millimeter under the surface is a hollow evil core that is comparable to "American Psycho" Never has the inherently comic side of surrealism been so well said. My only real complipant is that the books are so short. Come on Max how about larger editions?

Even I Love Red Meat and I'm A Vegetarian
Max Cannon's first volume is superior, but More Red Meat is often more brutal. When I laugh out loud at the antics of a burn victim I know I'm in the presence of genius. Milkman Dan is singularly the most evil comic strip character since the guy who created The Family Circus. The more familiar the archetype, the more uncomfortable the humor--from the classic pipe-smoking Father Figure to the Condescending Priest to the "Outsider" Johnny Lemonhead ("So...which part of 'get out of town, freak' weren't you clear on, John?") Max Cannon feeds the gamut of Americana through the Meat grinder. I wish comedian Bill Hicks could have read this, and I wish they'd come out with a volume three. While I'm at it, I wish for some more of that official Red Meat non-prescription cough syrup--it's easily the strongest stuff on the market.

More of the same
As the title implies, this is just more red meat comics. That is all I was asking for. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you might even throw up, but that's what it's for. Hopefully there will be an "Even More Read Meat" followed by a "An Obscene Quantity of Red Meat", and so on. I'd buy Red Meat books until I'm blue in the face. This isn't Family Circus, if your looking for that, then your in the wrong place.

the classic conclusions of coulrophobia
red meat is simply all it states in its title-raw, fresh, juicy, gory, addictive and taboo, yet satisfiyingly delicious. Max Cannon invites you into his world along with a sado-masochistic suburban family man (ted johnson), a groveling lacky priest and his constant battle for acceptance from god, a lemon-headed man (johnny lemonhead) who is as dense as his citrus-filled skull, a brillantly deranged drunken milkman (milkman dan), a bug-eyed paranoid creepy individual (earl), a sick jolly bearded business man (mister wally), a psychotic mailman, burn victims, and a number of unfortunate children who are surrounded by these twisted indivduals in a sickly suburb. Despite the ludicrousness of the characters, they parody a deep dark black humor of the human species in hilarious, not-so-far from reality situations. Each strip is a sweet, satisfing dose of bloody-meaty redness that will leave you sore for days. to all artists, punks, and geeks-buy this book.

Hilarious and disturbing
Red Meat is probably one of the funniest damn comic strips in recent memory. This book shows a great range of the series, from the macabre ("Don't get too close to the killer whales!" "AUGH! MY ARM!" "..Yeah, ya got too close.") to the sadistic Milkman Dan and his little girl protege ("I hate you, Milkman Dan.")

Many stories excuse their simplistic drawings with the saying that the intelligent dialogue makes it OK. Most of the time they're just excusing their own laziness. But in this strip, with the same drawings often used for every panel, it really is the dialogue that makes you laugh until you cry.

I highly recommend this book. My only quibble is that it isn't longer! ... Read more

Book Description

In this timeless classic, the Peanuts gang faces the serious sickness of a good friend with all the sensitivity, caring, and warmth that is the trademark of Charles Schultz’s work. Why, Charlie Brown, Why? is a heartwarming story of a child dealing with great challenges and profound questions.

When young Janice is diagnosed with leukemia, Charlie Brown looks for answers, Linus becomes her protector, Lucy doesn’t understand, Snoopy dons his '”World’s Greatest Surgeon” togs, and the whole gang does some soul searching. In his own inimitable style, Charles Schulz brings this touching tale to life. With charm and compassion, he tells of the effect of Janice’s illness on her family, her classmates, and, of course, her friends.

For more than a decade, Why, Charlie Brown, Why? has helped children to understand what happens when someone they love is sick. Now this wonderful book is available once again to serve as a guide for future generations. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Why, Indeed.
My sons, ages 9 and 11, were recently exposed to this book and video as part of the grade school curriculum. They were both really freaked out by it and it created a lot of anxiety in our household. My eldest cried, convinced that he had cancer, and my youngest said "Why would they show such a terrible movie to kids -- it had Charlie Brown, but it was NOT funny at all." I guess he's always associated the lovable Peanuts gang with Christmas, the Great Pumpkin, and Snoopy, not hospitals and cancer.

So my criticism is directed not so much with the material itself, but with the decision to present it to children. With things like terrorism, war, divorce, AIDs, school shootings, and everything else kids have to worry about, why dial up the anxiety even higher? When it comes to children, a lot of adults would do well by learning how to BACK OFF.

For families coping with cancer, I'm sure this book is probably helpful. For the rest, I think cancer is a topic better left to the "cross that bridge when we come to it" category. Educators, please keep this in mind.

An Exceptional Peanuts Book
This book, or the video by the same title, is excellent for elementary school aged children confronting cancer in themselves or their families. I have donated multiple copies of the book and video to Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago for their use with young cancer patients and their families. The story is especially good for siblings of children with cancer, since it shows how they sometimes feel that they are being ignored, and their sister or brother is getting all of the attention. It also teaches a child how to defend a classmate against bullying, when the girl with cancer is made fun of for having lost her hair. My only reservation would be not to use this book with a child who has extremely advanced cancer, since of course the story has a happy ending, and it might cause the child to wonder why they don't seem to be recovering. Overall: well done, Charles Schulz!

Such a wonderful book.
This is such a wonderful book. Compassionate and educational, a must have book for every child. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

WARNING: USE CARE WHEN HANDLING FROZEN TURKEYS!
"The Last Straw" is the fifth For Better or For Worse collection, and features strips from 1984 and 1985. In the FBOFW timeline, Michael is eight going on nine, Elizabeth is four going on five and bratty April (sorry, but she IS a brat!) won't be born for another six years.

In addition to a very funny and memorable storyline in which the father, John, drops a 25 lb. frozen turkey on his foot (OUCH!), this collection also features a funeral for a caterpillar, Michael and Elizabeth getting into mischief while Elly and John sleep off their New Years' Day hangovers (they're awakened by the smoke alarm!), Elizabeth's misadventure in an airport and Elly's brother Phil (remember him?) trying to quit smoking. A young Deanna even makes an appearance here.

As I write this, this book is currently out of print, but used copies turn up on occasion. I recommend this book highly! ... Read more