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.

Book Description

Bart Simpson is back with another big book dedicated exclusively to that rabble-rousing, misbehaving menace – Springfield’s favourite son, Homer’s only son, and TV’s favourite son – Bart Simpson!

Following the great success of Big Book of Bart Simpson, Big Bratty Book of Bart Simpson – the third comic book compilation in a series dedicated exclusively to Bart Simpson. Join Bart Simpson and the Springfield kids in the newest collection of comics and stories filled with mistaken identities, alien abduction recipes, cereal package prizes, unrequited love, lima beans, facial hair, karaoke, cafeteria shenanigans, talk shows, mail-order brides, sidekicks gone mad, hideous monsters, balloon animals, girl scout cookies, circus popcorn, martial arts, and history gone very, very wrong. It’s all here in one ‘bratty’ book – all the chaos, commotion, and confusion that can only be caused by one uncontrollable force: Bart Simpson.

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

One of America's most treasured comic strips is releasing its eighth treasury, FoxTrot: Assembled with Care.And eight most assuredly will not be enough for fans of the funny pages.Bill Amend's FoxTrot debuted April 10, 1988, and 14 years later it's undisputedly among the most popular strips in newspapers.This colorful compilation of cartoons from FoxTrot's last two years again demonstrates that few entertainers in any medium are better at finding humor in everyday family life than Amend.At the core of much of the strip's wild humor is 10-year-old Jason.He tortures his parents and two teenage siblings Peter and Paige out of their minds with his computer and his pet iguana, Quincy.In this latest treasury, parents Roger and Andrea again have their hands full.In one strip, Jason boldly bursts into their bedroom in the middle of the night to announce that it's "2 a.m. and the lights still work." In another, Jason surprises his mom with a new beep for her computer known simply as "Defcon One." Jason also holds his own with his older siblings, spelling "My Sister Is Ugly" with the carved faces of 14 pumpkins.As FoxTrot surpasses the two million mark in book sales, it continues to demonstrate its timelessness with its always fresh, irreverent, and zany brand of family humor.Like other successful FoxTrot books before it, FoxTrot: Assembled with Care captures the humorous side of the trials and tribulations that come with daily family life like no other strip today. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

More Foxtrot Fun!
I like to read Foxtrot because of it's fresh appeal and it is continually funny. Bill Ammend's latest compilation, FoxTrot: Assembled with Care, is no exception.First of all, note that this is a Foxtrot Anthology collection. So, in other words, all the comic strips in this book have appeared in their own separate books. The books that this collection is made up of are: Death by Field Trip, Encyclopedias Brown and White, and His Code Name Was The Fox.This book is the first of the Foxtrot Anthologies to follow a new format. Instead of the standard 3 strips on a page and full-page Sunday strips, all the strips in this book have been crammed in together to fit four on a page. This doesn't bother me too much, except for the fact that each line is slightly smaller.At 191 pages, this book is shorter than previous Foxtrot Anthologies; however, because of the new format, it actually has more strips included for the same cover price. It is the first Foxtrot Anthology to be made up of 3 books instead of the usual 2.All these reasons make this an excellent book and an absolutely necesary purchase for any Foxtrot fan!

"This rope should be made of Elven Hithlain, by the way."
FoxTrot anthologies never cease to amaze me. I have a lot of the books separately, but these big collections are the best for when you want to read a lot without having to bring so many books with you. And plus, some of the strips are in color as well! "FoxTrot: Assemble with Care" is a great collection that is bound to get laughs from just about anyone.

This anthology includes strips from the books "Death by Field Trip," "Encyclopedias Brown and White," and "His Code Name was The Fox." All three are hilarious and make this collection worth every penny. You will follow the crazy chaos that visits the Fox Family. Just when you think Bill Amend can't do any better, he does every single time. This collection is 191 pages of non-stop hilarity.

You will see extremely funny strips, such as:
*Jason's field trip*
*Andy's mother visits*
*Jason's new Grinch cartoon*
*Moron of the Rings*
*Peter's cell phone*
*E-Team Football*
*Roger's novel*
*Jason's new playmate*
*Roger and Peter go grocery shopping*
and much, MUCH more!

"FoxTrot: Assemble with Care" is an outstanding anthology collection that will keep you entertained for hours. If you've been feeling down and are due for a few laughs, think about picking up this bad boy and let the pages fly. You will not be disappointed.

The Best Comic Strip Since Calvin and Hobbes.
First Bill Watterson retired and there was no more new Calvin and Hobbes. Then Charles Scultz retired and unexpectedly passed away, so many newspapers stopped running Peantus. At first it would seem there isn't anything all that funny left in the funny papers. Ah, but one grand gem remains: Fox Trot. Appearing about half a decade before the funnies started to become unfunny, Fox Trot remains as about the only witty and upbeat comic that can be seen in papers. ASSEMBLED WITH CARE is a collection of two-year's worth of Fox Trot comics. I'm not for sure of the exact dates, but the strips ran around 1999-2000. The stories make grand observations on life, but are also constantly ribbing pop culture and (then) current events. Two of my favorite story lines are the one where Jason and Marcus imagine themselves acting in the just announced production of THE LORD OF THE RINGS (the director looks like a hybrid between Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson) and the series that ran the week that Y2K could have happened (the comic strip finds itself back in 1900). A great collection of one of the best comic strips still being written.

A great read
It's a funny book and all but there is just one thing - not just about this foxtrot series but all of them - it's that fox family always stay the same, no one ever grows up. Paige is always starting her first year in high school, peter is always staying a junior and taking a physics and trig class and jason is being jason as usual. Although maybe I'm wrong, maybe if they did grow up the show wouldnt be funny anymore...I dont know but it's still funny though. BUY THIS BOOK!!! IT'S FUNNY reaaaaaaly funny.

Great Book!
Worth every penny! This book had be laughing all day. I especially loved the one at the end where they go on vacation. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

a long exhibition
I've said before how much I love Gary Larson's work. You won't find much in here that you won't find in the galleries. What does make this book worthwhile is the Wiener Dog Art Gallery in the center. You won't find it in the galleries (at least not like this). Each pieces is in color and a full page, with a hilarious caption beside it. The gallery alone makes this book worth the price.

Weiner dogs on the brain
The idea behind Weiner Dog Art is absolutely hilarious. Along with the typically great Larson cartoons, he does a slightly disturbed section where he parodies famous artwork...by using weiner dogs as subjects. He ponders the mysterious appeal of the weiner dog through art history and speculates at these failed attempts legendary painters made to incorporate the dogs in their paintings.

Larson is sick. But in a wonderful way.

Dachshund lovers! GET THIS!!!
Yes, I love dachshunds. Is there a therapy group for people like me?? At least I've noticed, that dachshund lovers are a strange breed. A good one, of course, full of intelligence and personality like the dachshunds, too...

Anyway: Gary Larson seems to belong to us. Who else could have made Wiener art? On the cover there is some of it and inside the real treat: eight masterpieces of world class wiener dog art in styles of Rubens, Picasso, Dali, Munch... and with comments that make you laugh when you think you've already laughed your heart out at the pictures. The paintings are really good, Larson sure can do more than 'just' comics. I think I have to get more copies to rip out the pictures and frame them on my walls... And of course to give fellow dachshund lovers!

Dachshund lovers - and anyone with a sense of humour - should get this!! It's fun, it's art and it's even cheap!

Right up there with Renoir and Magritte
I liked this book and its goofy cartoons. Sam the Dachshund loved the book so much he was inspired to eat part of the title page and roll in paint. He may be a Jackson Pollack in the making, and we owe it all to this book and the hilariously warped genius of Gary Larson.

Another work of genius from the mind of Mr. Larson.
This is a typically hilarious and strange offering of comics from Gary Larson and features eight full-color spoofs of famous artwork, including "The Scream" and "The Persistence of Time" involving those strange little animals known as "wiener dogs." These comics can appeal to anyone and are a fine addition to anyone's collection. Very highly recommended for anyone that loves to laugh!

P.S. It's spelled "dachshund," not "dochson" as a previous review puts it, but nobody says that anymore anyway. At least that's what Gary Larson says. ... Read more

Amazon.com

If you're already well versed in Bat-trivia, you probably won't find The Ultimate Guide to the Dark Knight anywhere near ultimate enough. But as a broad history of Batman's friends, foes, and high-tech hardware and hideouts, this oversized, illustration-filled DK guide just can't be beat.

Just as DK did with the people and paraphernalia of Star Wars in Star Wars: Episode I: Incredible Cross-Sections and Star Wars: Episode I: Visual Dictionary, this guide pulls apart and pokes at the many gadgets and backdrops found in the Dark Knight's world. Exploded diagrams reveal the innards of the new and old Batcaves, and stat-packed tags and captions spell out everything from how the Bat-Signal works to where Catwoman stashes her bullwhip. Batman scholar Scott Beatty has compiled hundreds of excellent panels and covers from the original comic, and he displays commanding knowledge cataloging Gotham's most colorful characters in big, splashy spreads. (And no doubt future historians will appreciate his capsulized, 1939-on Batman timeline as an uncanny window into American pop consciousness.)

Die-hard fans will find much lacking here, though, like the near-omission of Frank Miller's genius Dark Knight Returns series and not even a passing reference to Batman's poignant love-hate relationship with the Man of Steel. But what DK's Ultimate Guide does, it does well--examining neat Bat-minutiae and providing a primer on the post-no-man's-land comic continuity. --Paul Hughes ... Read more

Reviews (19)

A Celebration of the Modern-Day Caped Crusader
This book is a blast to read. I wished this book had come out sooner when I was just finding my way around the modern Batman comics. Nevertheless, better late than never.

A word of caution. If you are looking for the DEFINITIVE guide to everything Batman, I wouldn't recommend this book to you. Les Daniels' book on Batman is by far the most comprehensive treatment on the whole history of the Batman from his pre-conception in the 1930s up till the recent stuff (including his incarnations outside the comicbook - TV, toys, cinema, etc.). Also, if you're interested in analyzing Batman as a pop-culture icon, you should check out Will Brookner's "Batman Unmasked" book. Finally, if you're interested in reading a one-volume collection of the definitive Batman - I'd recommend Frank Miller's "Dark Knight Returns" and/or "Year One" along with the "The Greatest Batman Stories Ever Told".

What then is this book by Scott Beatty about? It's about the modern day Batman. THIS Batman is as different from the classic Bob Kane/Bill Finger creation as the Tim Burton movies are from the Adam West TV show. For your information, THIS Batman is the one from Frank Miller's "Year One" (1986) and it includes the later revisions by Dennis O'Neil and Chuck Dixon up to today. In other words, this is the Batman of "Knightfall", "Contagion", "Cataclysm" and "No Man's Land". And in my opinion, this is the most exciting and rich version of the Batman since his conception in 1939. This book is not so much a guide but more a celebration of this modern-day Dark Knight of the comicbooks.

The book is neatly divided into sections. The first section is about Batman/Bruce Wayne and Gotham City. The second section covers his allies and loves (Alfred, Gordon, Nightwing, Oracle, Robin II, Robin III, etc.). The third section focuses on the many colorful villains in the Bat-mythos. Finally, there's also a foreword by Chuck Dixon, the man who, under the editorial-eye of Dennis O'Neil, pretty much shaped the direction of the Bat-books throughout the 1990s. Note: Dixon also teamed up with the author Scott Beatty on some other great works like the recent "Robin: Year One" and "Batgirl: Year One".

Great, but could have been better
When I heard that DK was doing a book on Batman, I was excited. The James Bond and Star Wars books that DK put out were some of the best visual dictionaries I had ever seen.

However, when I paged through the text, I found I would have preferred a more "inclusive" coverage of Batman in other mediums. I would have loved to have seen a few pages of the Adam West incarnation, the Superfriends, the movies, the current animated series, the filmation cartoons, and other appearances of the caped crusader.

(I would have loved to have seen a list of every Bat device that was used on the Adam West version, that would have been hilarious).

Perhaps a few episode guide would be in order from the varous series.

The graphics done on the Batmobile, utility belt and the Bat cave were tremendous. I just wish they would have included more pre-eighties art on the previous Batcaves and such.

For the "elseworlds" stories, a few less dark stories could have been mentioned. And I confess I'm being "nitpicky" here, but they forgot about Batman's alias of "Matches Malone."

But overall, it's a great text focusing on the past fifteen years of Batman in DC Comics.

I'm still looking forward to their texts on Superman, Star Trek, and hopefully the Justice League. If they could include the various versions of Superman as well.

Maybe DK Publishing would do a second Batman volume as well.

Sincerely,

JSmith

Answered a lot of my questions
I bought this book because I am new to the Batman world and I wanted to know about the people around him and his most famous adversaries. The graphics in the book are great. If you are looking for a primer on the major players in the Batman world (friends and foes), then this book is for you.

Why do it if you're not going to do it right?
128 friggin' pages. What an insult to Batman and Batman fans. There are too many omissions to begin to count. Actually, if you read the Batman timeline at the end you'll see how many characters and events were left out. The Dark Knight Returns is completely ignored, other stories such as The Cult and Batman: Year Two also go unmentioned. Nearly all of Batman's DC allies are left out, including Superman. Personally, I'm not a fan of The Man of Steel, I don't think he fits in well with the Batman mythos, but to leave him out of "The Ultimate Batman Guide" (yeah, right) is an outrage. What we get instead is tons of garbage about "No Man's Land". What is that anyway? People that grew up with Batman don't care about DC's latest trend. We'd rather not see the Dark Knight we love trashed and revised to fit the current (stupid) DC story-lines. A whole section is devoted to No Man's Land and some other city called Bludhaven. It infuriates me that they devote so much space in this painfully slim volume to that and blow off The Dark Knight Returns. It's as if they went out of their way to screw it up.
I gave this book 2 stars because when it is good, (Batcave, Bat-Vehicle, Wayne Manor specs) it is really excellent. But every time I see the pamphlet-sized length and think about the dozens of omissions, it dampens any enthusiasm I might have had. Try again, DC, and this time do it right.

Not just for kids!!!!
This is the sort of guide I would like to see for all DC and Marvel characters. At first glimpse I thought it was a kid's book but it proved to be an invaluable aid for me to catch up on some of the plotlines I had missed. ... Read more

Book Description

Gemma is the bored, pretty second wife of Charlie Bovery, the reluctant stepmother of his children and the béte-noire of his ex-wife. Gemma's sudden windfall and distaste for London take them across the Channel to Normandy, where the charms of French country living soon wear off. Is it a coincidence that Gemma Bovery has a name rather like Flaubert's notorious heroine? Is it by chance that, like Madame Bovary, Gemma is bored, adulterous and a bad credit risk?

Reviews (2)

New take on an old classic
This graphic novel begins in Bailleville, Normandy with the death of 31-year-old Gemma Bovery.Narrated alternately by the French baker Raymond Joubert and through excerpts from Gemma's diary, Gemma's story slowly unfolds. The beautiful British decorator marries Charlie Bovery, becomes caught up in a dead-end career, and is reluctantly involved in Charlie's domestic conflicts with his ex-wife and children. She decides to flee her dreary London life, and she talks Charlie into buying a home in the rural French countryside. Small town life seems no better for her, however, as her charming country cottage develops water leaks and is infested with pests. She tries to escape her boredom through adulterous love affairs and a spending spree that causes financial problems. Joubert, her next-door neighbor, becomes obsessed with Gemma, spies on her, and becomes jealous of her lovers.

If you have any familiarity with French literature, the title "Gemma Bovery" shouldimmediately remind you of the Flaubert novel "Madame Bovary."And if that's not enough, the parallels in the two story lines should make it obvious that this is not mere coincidence.But this story is more than a retelling of the classic novel, and there are as many differences from as there are similarities to the original. It is a witty modernization of a timeless tale that satirizes the aspirations and foibles of the yuppie middle class as well as thecultural differences between the French and British. In no way are the similarities between Emma Bovary and Gemma Bovery subtly presented. Author Posy Simmonds revels in them through the observations and machinations of Joubert, who warns others of parallels between the two and tries to prevent Gemma from coming to the same tragic end as Emma did.

For a graphic novel, there is a lot of text. But the cartoon panels are interspersed with the text, diary entries, and snippets of partially translated French dialog in a wonderfully layered fashion and are rich in detail. There are twists in the story as the details about Gemma's death are revealed. Whether you have read the original French classic or not, and whether you are a graphic novel fan or not, this is a creative and entertaining story you will enjoy.

Eileen Rieback

Interesting Marriage of Art and Text
This may be best described as a novella illustrated with cartoon sequences that are more-or-less integral to following the story.For a graphic novel it is extremely text heavy and there is a good deal of redundancy between the "narration" text blocks, the diary text blocks, and the cartoon sequences.

The story is a comedy of manners of the "Bridget Jones" school rather than social criticism.Gemma, a frustrated young designer, marries furniture restorer "Charlie" Bovary on the rebound and moves from London to a French village.There her life begins to parallel that of the heroine of Flaubert's "Madame Bovary."However the similarity is really being played for laughs and the twist ending is almost literally a whimper rather than a bang, consistent with Simmond's easygoing cynicism.

Simmond's art is reminiscent of the late Will Eisner's, and there is a nice sense of observation in the depiction of place and character.An altogether entertaining read. ... Read more

Book Description

Dog and cat owners alike will love this humorous little book. On page after page, they will see their own experiences with shedding loved ones brought to life in Hilary Price's captivating and clever cartoons.Reigning Cats and Dogs is a collection of the most popular dog and cat strips from Price's wonderfully funny syndicated comic, Rhymes with Orange. These fan favorites offer an insider's view of pet ownership-from the tumbleweeds of hair they deposit in every corner to their ability to take up so much room on the bed that you end up with your head on the nightstand.Readers also get a dog and cat's-eye view of the world-where canines cram for the obedience school final and felines explain their compulsion to sit on your newspaper. Plus there are plenty of quips on the lengths we people will go to satisfy our most beloved family members.Reigning Cats and Dogs is guaranteed to leave pet owners-and everyone else who treasures the best in contemporary cartooning-howling for more. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Perhaps a Tad Too Many Cats...
Just kidding. Cats are fine. I had a cat once. He was great. (Thought he was a dog, you know.) Anyway, this little book is full of witty -- and true! -- observations about our most common animal companions. Price's humor is so accurate, it's scary. She really captures the personalities of cats and dogs. Buy this book and learn what guide dogs do on their down time and what greeting cards would be like if cats wrote them. This book also makes a great gift for fellow dog (and cat) lovers.

Life with Cats and Dogs Captured!
I can't wait to share this book, a gift, with my friends, but I'm afraid I might never get it back. My strategy is to get another copy to circulate ...

Reigning Cats and Dogs: A Rhymes With Orange Tribute..
This is a MUST HAVE for anyone who loves cats and dogs! Hillary Price is unsurpassed in her depictions of the thoughts and actions of our four-legged friends. Her ability to express her witty observations can lift even the most dour of spirits. I received this book as a birthday present and have read it daily since. If you enjoy laughing aloud and the love of a sweet pet, this book is for you. ... Read more

Book Description

Baby Boomer Comics delves into the wide variety of comics from the 1960s, comics' "Silver Age." With humorous and informative essays, Craig Shutt covers key events affecting the four-color lives of Spider Man, The Hulk, The X-Men, Superman, Batman, and Green Lantern. He also revels in some of the sillier stories from the flower-power era.

Written in a delectably funny but affectionate style, this new comics reference entertains and informs while conveying the excitement enthusiasts experienced when they first read these comics. Hundreds of full-color illustrations feature both covers and individual panels showing some of the fun and exciting moments that readers remember best from this comic age. Includes current market prices for the issues described. Plus, readers can test their comics knowledge with the featured trivia quizzes.

* Humorous and informative essays cover key events affecting the lives of comics superheroes * Current market prices and hundreds of color illustrations for comics from the 1960s ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Best Book About the Silver Age -- Ever!
This book is about the most fun you can have with 1960s comic books without actually sitting down and reading them. Mr. Silver Age has a sly-but-respectful style of relating the silliness and fun of some of our favorite superheroes from that time. It's a style that works even if you aren't familiar with the origial stories themselves.

The book is lavishly produced with color reproductions of funnybook covers and appropriate comics panels on every page so you know exactly what the commentary is referring to. My only complaint with the book is that some of the reproductions are too tiny for this silver ager's eyes to see, but that just leaves more room for the copy!

Lots of trivia spread throughout, fun quizzes, and wry observations from Mr. Silver Age Craig Shutt make this the most funnest book about the beloved comics of my youth I've read.

Thanks to Krause and the Comics Buyers Guide for publishing this. When's Vol. 2 coming out?

--your pal, Hoy ... Read more

Book Description

THE LORD OF LASAGNA REIGNS SUPREME!

There's a lot of action in GARFIELD's life. It just happens to revolve around the refrigerator! So whether he's reviewing the list of things he's not going to do today, testing the first law of physics--"Bodies at rest tend to stay at rest"--or challenging Odie to a do-nothing contest, you can be sure that when mealtime comes, GARFIELD will have all the energy he needs!
... Read more

Reviews (8)

garfield jokes
This book had lots of jokes that were funny. HAHAHAHAHA-HEHEHEHE. I love reading this at night because when I get a good laugh it helps me sleep.

The best Fat cat 3 pack!
This is the best Garfield book ever!I love this book so much I read the book in two days and it has like 300 pages!It has Garfield in the fat line Garfield tons of fun and Garfield bigger and better! If you want these 3 books just get this fat cat 3 pack!

Fantastic
This book is really just one more of Jim Davis's hilarious Garfield books. Of course, the added advantage is that it is 3 books in 1. Funny, witty, satirical, all of the stuff that makes Garfield great!

My Best Friend-Garfield
I'm a Chinese girl. I'm eleven years old. I like Garfield because it is a very humorous and likes to eat. When I read this book I always laughing. I hope a lot of Garfield's books will be bought in the China.

A Not -so Colorful Comic Book
When I read all three Books from cover to cover. At First I was expecting a lot from Jim's work. But Alas- the least I expected. Well Anyway, As Garfield would say " Life's Like a Lasagna "-- Happy Reading Folks. ... 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

You couldn't find a more likable person than Sherman . . . except that he's a shark. Make that a great white shark and the star of Jim Toomey's Sherman's Lagoon, one of the funniest takes on life to be found above or below the water. So sit back and watch this shark hit his mark in The Shark Diaries: The Seventh Sherman's Lagoon Collection.Once again, the big-hearted but thick-skulled Sherman is joined in the deep by his Louis Vuitton'packing girlfriend, Megan, Fillmore the sea turtle, and a hermit crab named Hawthorne, among others. This salty crew swims through a world of witty observations, sharp rejoinders, and crystal clear views of everything from 'hairless beach apes' to bulk shopping at the local Price Club store. The result is a humor soaked in fun yet just a shade drier than the Sahara.The Shark Diaries includes the most recently published Sherman's Lagoon cartoons, picking up where last year's Another Day in Paradise left off. The daily and Sunday strips are here. The silly yet sophisticated setups are front and center. Sherman and his buddies' numerous neuroses can't be missed. The fun returns with a splash, and this one promises to be a whale'um, shark'of a winner.

... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great White Sharks and Sea Turtles and Fish, Oh My!
The seventh collection of a truly original comic strip. Imagine a Great White shark and his mate paling around with an erudite sea turtle, a cranky hermit crab, various fish and even a tropical polar bear. All this takes place in a small lagoon on a tropical island. An unusual cast and setting, but it works (I am convinced that it helped to inspire Disney's Finding Nemo).

In this new volume we encounter such story arcs as:

Sherman becomes a cartoonist
The Lagoon Tribune
An underwater Renaissance fair
Hawthorne's Coffee Shop
Fillmore Reads every book in existence
A NYC sewer alligator visits the lagoon
Megan's cable cooking show

Lots of laughs from this wonderful cast of characters. Check out the earlier volumes as well. ... 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

Book Description

From the first eye contact to the therapist's couch, from the throes of ecstasy to the nitty-gritty of safer sex, from the world's sexiest animal to the dating jungle, The Cartoon Guide to Sex covers everything you've always wanted to know about sex. Frank, informative, and written with Larry Gonick's characteristic comic verve and scientific accuracy, this book gives a comprehensive discussion of the spectrum of human sexuality, including sexual structures and functions, gender roles and sexual identity, sexual arousal and response, sexual communication, love, marriage and other arrangements, contraception, and sexual health -- without the fig leaves.

Reviews (12)

A very humorous comic-strip version of our sex education!
Already an acclaimed cartoonist who did the world's thickest comic books on the great history of our universe (in two volumes the size of phone books), Larry Gonick goes on to create a very informative book all about sex - with lots of really funny cartoons thrown in, of course! In fact, this nifty book really covers just about everything you would ever want to (or not) know about - ranging from mating behavior amongst the critters to women's self-defense to all types of contraceptives and how they actually work (or don't work!) Even the most "repugnant" subjects are included here, like gynecological exams and the "fetishes" of breastfeeding. Once again, we are warned here that we need to be careful about the great riskes of unwanted pregnancies and STDS whenever we "make love" (oh, yes! Even the most baffling term, "love" is discussed here!) Serving as illustrations are all those really cute and (sometimes very frank) line drawings so typical of good ol' Dr. Gonick you can even expect to see a funny dinosaur or two! Those cartoons are really bursting with such good-natured humor it would certainly put even the most squirmish reader at ease. Nevertheless, such a wealth of sexual and biological facts (as well as such zany comic art to go with it) seem to be printed on rather flimsy, low-grade paper so typical of any illegal porno pulp. Too bad, but it looks like those newprint-like pages would quickly turn yellow and become quite brittle and dog-eared the moment you brought it home from the bookstore!

The Fun Textbook on Human Sexuality
Larry Gonick is famous for his cartoon approaches to education, especially his books on history and science topics. In this book he teams up with sex educator Christine DeVault. The combination produces a good introductory text on sexuality that is lots of fun to read.

Narrated by a cartoon Mother Nature and a cartoon fairy called The Etiquette Elf, the book covers reproductive biology, sexual anatomy, developmental biology, gender roles, gender identity, interpersonal communication about sex, romantic love, the sexual act, birth control, health issues, STDs, non-consensual sex, and sexual function problems. All of this is done in delightful cartoons that are clear yet not overly explicit. Although the book is cartoon in format, the information provided is professional at an introductory level. The end of the book contains two pages of further readings, a list of journals devoted to sexuality, and eight resource organizations. An index allows you to find just what you need when you need it.

This is a valuable addition to the library of anyone who is sexually active or has plans to become so. Readers who expect Gonick's humor to dominate this book may be disappointed, but people who are looking for a good introductory sex manual will be overjoyed.

Kind of boring
Sex makes people crazy. Some people try to control it by becoming puritans. Others just let themselves go crazy. Besides the psychobabble and the Safe Sex sermons there's not really much to distinguish this comic from hundreds of other sex comics like Cherry or Omaha the Cat Dancer. The only reason why someone would read this would be to read up on Larry GOnick's current work. Sadly Larry Gonick has yet to do another Cartoon History of the Universe which were funny and informative.

Maybe if I hadn't read Cartoon History of the Universe expecting great things from this book, I wouldn't be so disappointed.

One disappointing page
As with the other "Cartoon Guides," the illustrations and humor with which the facts are portrayed are enjoyable and effective. I was very disappointed, though, in page 45 on the breast. So many positive things could be said of this marvelous organ's capacity for sustaining life, but DeVault made the misleading emphasis that breastfeeding is "erotic" and "...nursing in public is illegal in some states." Ugh.

facts and funnies all in one
The humor in this book should not make you believe that there is no educational value inside its covers. I already knew the birds and the bees but I am finding that I am learning more things about human sexulaity than I knew before. It is a wonderufl book. It contains some strange and little known facts with some plain spoken philosophy that seems to be a genuine interpertation of human sexulaity. Gonick ... 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

Reviews (4)

All the others are friggin' bastiches!
If you're just going to get one book about the Main Man, be sure to get this one -- the Last Czarnian. It contains mind-blowing art by the quintessential Lobo artist, Simon Bisley and laugh-out loud words from Batman scribe Alan Grant. The situations are off-the-scale riot. Lobo, feared intergalactic bounty hunter must bring in his school teacher to Vril Dox, along the way they meet all sorts of crazy characters. In the end, we'll know why the book is titled the Last Czarnian.

Lobo was originally meant as a send-up/spoof to all those Marvel/Image grim and gritty characters like Cable, Wolverine and Punisher, but he the joke was lost to the fanboys back in the '90s and they (including me) lapped up his murderous, over-the-top antics. Just like the Main Man himself, this book kicks ass!

The Main Man at his Fraggin¿ Best!
No other Lobo story produced holds a candle to Lobo: The Last Czarnian. Keith Giffen and Alan Grant's dialog is inspired as well as laugh out loud hilarious. Simon Bisley's artwork is amazing. It's truly his best art, and some of the best art ever published by DC.

The story is deceptively simple. Lobo must transport Mz. Tribb- his 4th grade teacher and author of his scathing unauthorized biography- to Vril Dox. Lobo has promised to deliver Mz. Tribb alive, and Logo never breaks a promise. The worst news is Lobo would like nothing more than to kill his former schoolteacher. He vents his homicidal rage in a series of hilarious adventures. Four comic books are reprinted in this volume and by the end of book 2, Lobo is being hunted by

The Legion of Decency- psychotic, tea-sipping grannies out for blood
A convoy of space truckers -their leader is an Elvis impersonator
The Sons of Lobo- biker Lobo wannabes
Oneida Police Swat Team- who want to kill Lobo after he kills their police chief
Storm Troupers of the Pan-Galactic Demolition Dance Company- desperate to pay Lobo back for upstaging them during their chainsaw ballet.

During his adventures Lobo also runs afoul of the Orthography Commandos, a group of hooded literacy loonies that hold lethal spelling bees.

This story was far ahead of it's time. Originally published back in 1990, it's every bit as relevant, irreverent, and hilarious today as the day it was published.

---Also, a must have for Garth Ennis fans!---

The Main Man at his Fraggin' Best!
No other Lobo story produced holds a candle to Lobo: The Last Czarnian. Keith Giffen and Alan Grant's dialog is inspired as well as laugh out loud hilarious. Simon Bisley's artwork is amazing. It's truly his best art, and some of the best art ever published by DC.

The story is deceptively simple. Lobo must transport Mz. Tribb- his 4th grade teacher and author of his scathing unauthorized biography- to Vril Dox. Lobo has promised to deliver Mz. Tribb alive, and Logo never breaks a promise. The worst news is Lobo would like nothing more than to kill his former schoolteacher. He vents his homicidal rage in a series of hilarious adventures. Four comic books are reprinted in this volume and by the end of book 2, Lobo is being hunted by

The Legion of Decency- psychotic, tea-sipping grannies out for blood
A convoy of space truckers -their leader is an Elvis impersonator
The Sons of Lobo- biker Lobo wannabes
Oneida Police Swat Team- who want to kill Lobo after he kills their police chief
Storm Troupers of the Pan-Galactic Demolition Dance Company- desperate to pay Lobo back for upstaging them during their chainsaw ballet.

During his adventures Lobo also runs afoul of the Orthography Commandos, a group of hooded literacy loonies that hold lethal spelling bees.

This story was far ahead of it's time. Originally published back in 1990, it's every bit as relevant, irreverent, and hilarious today as the day it was published.

---Also, a must have for Garth Ennis fans!---

How do you spell "Mutilation"?
With dialogue by Alan Grant (Batman:Anarky, No Mans Land, etc) and art by Simon Bisley (Slaine), this comic is bound to be a success.

Lobo is a lunatic bountyhunter (more like bountyslayer) who has killed everyone on his birthplanet, just to be unique! The problem is that his old schoolteacher has survived and he has to protect her. The story is set in the DC Universe paralell to the Legion of Superheroes. Parts of the plot includes chainsaw ballet and a murderous spelling contest.

This is a good comic book and is recommendet to those who have read "Hitman" and such comics. Try this one instead, the original. ... Read more

Book Description

ANOTHER YEAR, ANOTHER 10 POUNDS!

Once again, Garfield spreads his mirth--and his girth--to cartoon lovers everywhere.Whether he's poking fun at Jon's latest dating disaster, punting Odie off the kitchen table, or pigging out on pork skins, this well-rounded cat is always hungry for fun. < ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Another laugh riot from Garfield
I was so used to the old format in the Garfield series, black & white and the book being vertical. Nevertheless I enjoyed Garfield and his constant abusings of Jon and Odie. Reading Garfield in this new format of color and in a taller book form was a pleasant surprise. I can never tire of Garfield and all his antics, especially when he is swatting spiders. I may be inching towards 30 but I will never stop buying Garfield books. As long as he keeps me laughing I'll keep buying.

Garfield, not just another fat cat
I still can't believe after all these years he's still going strong! The first book i ever remember reading was "Garfield Takes The Cake" i learned to read on these things! However, i must admit that Jim Davis is starting to run out of ideas. Lately all of his books are about how mentally challenged Jon is, or redo the same lines over and over. The spark is stll there, but its somewhat dimished. This book is still great, but if you look back at the earlier ones you see Garfield coming up w/ better ideas to pass the time (like "Ameoba Man" and "The Sludge Monster" or who could pass up all of Garfields vacations?). Also some of the ideas have changed. In the beginning Jon was a cartoonist, Lyman lived with Jon, Odie was Lyman's pet, and Nermal also used to belong to Jon's parents, those are just a few differences. The book itself has changed too,i like the new color format and all but i kind of miss the black & white version. All in All Garfield is STILL the greatest comic strip ever created, its a must read and he keeps you laughing.

Good old Garfield
Other than now being in full color instead of black and white, Garfield hasn't changed much over the years. He still picks on Jon and Odie, sleeps all the time, loves food, and can't help being nasty, incorrigible, and hopelessly loveable. This book is a thick, beautiful, and easily readable tome to everybody's favorite cat.

Highly recommended.

PERFECT stocking stuffer.
Okay, there's not many days left until Xmas but let me assure you that this Garfield book makes an excellent last-minute gift. Everyone I know loves Garfield and would be thrilled at getting a book like this.

It's rather thick and taller than usual. Plus it's in full color. As long as I can remember I've loved reading Garfield, even when I was a little kid reading the black and white pocket books. So kids will appreciate this too. Trust me.

It opens with 'Garfield's code of Nevers', such as 'Never Eat the Mystery Meat. And ends with 'Garfield's Top Ten Suggestions for New Athletic Events, such as 'The Fridge Lift' and 'Eat till you Explode'. Crammed inbetween are hundreds of hilarious comic strips. Plus there is information on the last page on how to join the Garfield fan club. And why not?

Garfield is back in a brand new look!
I have been reading Garfield books for a long time now, and I have wathched him evolve in his animation and personality. He is truly still just as funny as he was when he first started. He has made us laugh through all these years, and is still making books. The book was truly classic Garfield. I hope Jim Davis makes a 50th. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The only TRULY good comic strip still being printed
With "The Great One" Charles Schultz's passing (RIP Mr. Schultz and thank you!), this leaves Garfield as the only current comic strip that remains consistantly funny. This review is a pretty universal review for all of the books. If you're a Garfield fan and you don't have them: Get them!!!

Yet another grest Garfield masterpiece!
This fat cat 3-pack (like the others) is not only entertaining to read (like the others), but it is also a great reference book of Garfield comics (like the others), because from the point the book starts to the point it ends it has every daily comic in the order they were in the newspaper without skipping any days.

Funny! A great book in all Circumstances!
Great book! It was a great buy and if you're thinking of buying it, don't hesitate! Garfield makes me laugh a lot from his attidude and his interest in all the tings that people love to do.

This book is sooooooo funny. :)
Garfield is Hilarious in this fat cat set. His jokes are NEW and better than any before. Just to ruin the story Odie gets a brain and Jon marries a bieutiful woman(AS IF). Any way I think you should definitely buy this book. ... Read more

Book Description

If you've read the first two User Friendly books from O'Reilly, youdon't need an introduction to Greg, Jeff, Miranda, the Dust Puppy, andthe others. But if you haven't, welcome to Columbia Internet, "thefriendliest, hardest-working, and most neurotic little Internet ServiceProvider in the world," for our third installment from the hit onlinecomic, User Friendly. The cast: Quake-obsessed techies, self- absorbed sales staff, well-meaning execs, and assorted almost-humans.The background: too little office space, warring operating systems, andeternally clueless customers. Enter the special world of the hard-core geek, where humor--especiallyat one's own foibles--can be a survival skill. Since this is true ofmost work environments, chances are you won't have to know much Unix toget the joke. In fact, Illiad's one million readers include all kinds ofpeople--from 8-year-old girls to 81-year-old women--a large, diverse,and very loyal community. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

You must "rm -R /" from the shelves by buying it!
Great book for the geek! I start my day at work with my fix of the "Daily Static" otherwise know as the User Friendly comic strip. ...

It touches on many of the issues facing the technical geek today from the point of view of the geek. Issues range from the AOL, Time-Warner merger to the geek and dating (yes, it is an oxymoron).

The cast of characters are all well developed, even if they do only have four fingers. It is an enjoyable read and re-read. Get this for yourself or for your favorite geek. They will enjoy it!

A little dated now, but funny nonetheless...
Although a bit dated, containing strips related to the Y2K craze here and there, this little book is still otherwise as funny and timely as any commentary on the computer industry could be. The X-Men and Borg references are absolutely hysterical. If you work in a tech job, you should be reading User Friendly.

Very funny stuff
If you don't find at least some of the strips very funny, you should have your geek status removed. :)

Amusing, but not for everyone (not even all geeks :-)
It's a good book, but I think previous books have been funnier.

Side-splitting funny!
Iliad's The Root Of All Evil is the third and latest compilation of the online mega hit comic strip, "User Friendly". The "User Friendly" comic strip holds no sacred cows, but pokes particular humor at the world of online techies, harried customer support service staff, Internet computer game addicts, narcissistic sales staff, and computer programmers who secretly plot world domination. There is a reason why one million readers in more than a hundred nations (including Israel, Brazil, Iceland, New Zealand, and Greece) have logged into Userfriendly.org to follow "User Friendly" comics. The reason is that "User Friendly" is side-splitting funny, even - or especially - for those of us who have lagged behind a bit in the wake of the technical revolution. The Root Of All Evil is a fresh breath of originality, guaranteed hilarious, and absolutely, positively, not to be missed. Highly, wholeheartedly, enthusiastically recommended! ... Read more