Reviews (38)

Will the most precocious child please step foward?
"Indespensable" is rendered rhetorical when it comes to Calvin and Hobbes, but a collection such as this should be required reading for, well, everyone. Calvin is the child we all were and continues to be the child we wish could still be. Of course any child who regularly uses words like "malpractice insurance" and "besmirching" asks you to suspend disbelief, but these phrases come from the same young boy possessing an unbelievably hyperactive imagination and a penchant for walking around the house in his birthday suit. And Hobbes, Calvin's best friend (who just happens to be a stuffed tiger - or is he alive?) represents everything we so crave and desire. Someone who will listen to you and give you unconditional love (not to mention a furry belly to lie on). Calvin's musings on life, school, and parents are nothing short of sophisticated philosophy. Take this book with your family and read it aloud for all to hear. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll imagine you're a tyrannosaurus rex. Indispensable.

Another great Calvin and Hobbes treasury...
It's another great Calvin and Hobbes treasury which includes cartoons from "The revenge of the baby-sat" and "Scientific progress goes boink".

You'll love this book of cartoons which includes some of Bill Watterson's best voted strips like the comic strips "tiger food" and "Eenie Meenie..."!

The things I love most of Watterson's comics are the jokes, sarcasm, character expressions, colourful drawings, and great backgrounds.

In this book you'll be able to read lots of club strips, Rosalyn stories, and family trips to places like the museam! You'll also be able to read lots of Spaceman Spiff and dinosaur strips.

This book would appeal to people of all ages from perhaps the age of eight to adult.

------------------Ahmed Mashhood age 12-----------

An anthology of laughter
Whether the collection is the "Indispensible" or "Essential" or "Quintessential" Calvin and Hobbes, it doesn't really matter. Watching this hyperactive, hyperimaginative child and his willing though wise accomplice, Hobbes, take on evil babysitters, Susie Derkins, the class bully and all creatures (real or imaginary), is a pleasure and laughter without stop. "The Indispensible Calvin and Hobbes" is another in a long list of the great comic work of Bill Watterson. This is an indispensible/essential/quintessential collection for all Calvin and Hobbes and humor fans!

Calvin and Hobbes Ranking System---#1
This treasury is far and away the best of the entire Calvin and Hobbes Collection. I own every book, and have recently reread them all, and without a doubt this is the very best. For one thing, it was written right in the middle of Watterson's C&H career, which means that the writing and ideas are still fresh, while super-improved drawings and Sunday strips have just begun. Second of all, Watterson must have been on a powerful creative streak, because there is an amazing number of stories within the "Indispensible" collection. There are three Rosalyn babysitter tales, the bug collection story, the bat project, two camping trips, G.R.O.S.S. adventures, the burglar break in, the car down the hill, multiple Stupendous Mans, multiple Spaceman Spiff getaways, the duplicator going "boink" and creating more Calvin's, a rare, great Tracer Bullet story, Calvin defying gravity and size, Calvin on the baseball team, and a time machine adventure to the dinosaur age. The sheer amount of stories here is unheard of for a C&H collection, and the best part is that almost every one is fantastic. Thirdly, the Sunday strips are in color, which is a huge plus. Fourthly, Calvin's parents have finally been rendered as three dimensional and sympathetic individuals, a characteristic that had been lacking in the earlier books. Last of all, as always, these comics are frequently hilarious, sometimes touching, and always entertaining. This collection personifies those characteristics to the nth degree, and is without a doubt the best Calvin and Hobbes for anyone to buy. If you're looking for other good C&H books, I would also recommend the Essential Collection (first two books, funny yet lacking in drawing), Snow Goons, Psycho Jungle Cat, Treasure Everwhere, and the 10th Anniversary. I hope this was helpful both for prospective buyers, and old fans looking back.

Indispensible : My favorite
I started reading C&H from this one and now have the complete collection. I rank this one at the top, (alongside the tenth ann collection). Another reason is that it contains some of the poetry work by Watterson. I am a fan of his poetry too. Sounds similar to my own... ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (2)

it's ok
overall an entertaining book.but i have a dilemma on where and when exactly to "read" it.it's too small to be a coffee book table; it's not something you'd read in bed. but it's a nice addition to a non-conforming books collection.

Great conversation starter
Hilarious actions diagrammed with simple but technical precision, such as how to curtsy and how to do the queen's wave - from the carriage, no less! It's a great conversation starter in my living room and everytime I pick it up I notice something new. ... Read more

Amazon.com

One of the beautiful things about comics is that it is possibly the best medium for combining education and entertainment. No one knows this better than Larry Gonick, whose Cartoon History series spans many subjects.Whether you are a fan of history, comics, or Gonick's books, The Cartoon History of the Universe I is a great place to start. Part I contains volumes 1 to 7, from the Big Bang to Alexander the Great. ... Read more

Reviews (39)

Fun and Educational
This volume of world history in comic book form is priceless! The artwork is not the greatest, but it is certainly competent and accomplishes its job. But what makes this book worthwhile is its alternative take on history. Instead of focusing on stories about famous conquerors (although they are not ignored), it is about what history must have been like for the average person, all with a rather biting, cynical sense of humour. For example, it shows WHY Socrates was hated so much (because, like such 1960s gurus as Timothy Leary he helped turn young people into rebellious thinkers who questioned the sacredly held opinions of their parents, whether or not Socrates did so intentionally). Gonick turns historic figures into living, breathing people instead of mere acts or ideas.

The Cartoon History doesn't quite reach the level of social criticism of A People's History of the United States, nor will it tear down your current understanding of historic events, but it still manages to be very iconoclastic merely by pointing out the silliness of humans throughout history (illustrating how little we've changed!) and through its more 'common person's' perspective.

A must for any home library!
Want to read about history without reading about history? Buy this book! Not only does is serve up science in a way to keep you awake but it slices up history into easy to swallow portions too. If you find chapters or subjects that pique your interest beyond that provided by the witty cartoon panels, the book has the most extensive bibliography (with reviews!) you could ask for. I bought my copy many years ago and it drove me to reread all those Greek Classics that I slept through while I was in school! It is apparent that portions of the Ancient Greece section was drawn earlier when Mr. Gonick was developing his style. His wit is trenchant in all the chapters in a way to make the reader think. Summary: I wish I had this book when I was in school...

Entertainment first, history a distant second
While you can learn a lot of history from this book of cartoons, it takes some time before you understand how they are structured. The explanatory text is generally historically accurate, but the dialog in the character bubbles is for humorous effect. There are times when the explanatory text is not meant to be taken seriously, and it is generally clear when that is the case.
It starts with the big bang, which is the beginning of the universe. From that, it describes the creation of the planets, the origin of life and how it evolved to make humans. Once humans are present, it largely becomes a tale of the development of civilizations and the wars over the products of those civilizations. The civilizations described are those of Egypt, Mesopotamia, Turkey, Greece, Persia and Palestine.
I enjoyed this book immensely, it is occasionally very funny, and it does teach you some history. However, it should be considered as a piece of entertainment first and a history book a distant second.

Wonderful
A seminal work. Simply a fun great account of the history of man. This book does a great job telling the story of civilization from the dawn of man to Moses and the Greeks. A very accurate and funny story that illuminates the essentials of western civilization in many pages of hilarious cartoons. A great gift.

The BEST introduction to history possible...
Some of the big, thick and juicy history books can make the average reader's eyes bulge with terror. "The History of the Whole World!" or "World History Second by Second!" will probably disencourage the general interested reader by the threat of massive papercuts alone.

There's something about the word "cartoon" that adds appeal to any subject. "The History of the Universe!" by itself may make knees tremble, but "The CARTOON History of the Universe!" now my hands are a-grabbin' at the bookshelf. And grab we should; we should grope, fondle, and possess this great volume that will likely turn any historaphobe into a walking timeline.

History? Entertaining? NEVER! Yes, awake from your dogmatic slumbers, the dream can be realized. This book is funny, genuinely funny. And it's not a parody along the lines of "1066 and All That" - it's real history presented in an amazingly underrated educational genre.

The first book is chopped up into seven volumes which can be read more or less like serial comic books. Dramatic teasers provide segueways between the volumes, and keep the story flowing. Like it's subtitle says: "From the Big Bang to Alexander the Great", and since subtitles never lie, that's what you get.

THE BIG BANG starts off this book, and the book follows an evolutionary line - at one point outright stating "Darwin was right" (pg. 52). So, be warned all of you whose cars are adorned with fishes labeled "Truth" eating smaller fishes labeled "Darwin" - this tome may not be for you.

There is a long discussion about the evolution of sex, some "naughty" cartoons - which are usually hilarious - which leads into the evolution of species from the cambrian to the quaternary period. Humanity enters the scene, and the evolution of humans is covered through homo habilis to the "Cro-Magnon Conquest of the World". From then on some of the major early peoples and their societies are covered: Sumeria, the Semites, the Egyptians, the Acheans, the Hittites, the Assyrians, the peoples of the Old Testament, the Philistines, the Acheans, the Spartans, the Athenians... I'm sure I left a lot out, but you get the idea.

There is a great chapter on the war between Persia and Greece, including the events that lead up to it. The final chapter of the book is aptly titled "All About Athens" and covers such historical stars as Pericles, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, etc. The book ends, as the aforementioned subtitle promises, with Alexander the Great's entry into India. Volume 7's teaser suggests that book II will linger in India for a bit.

The book also includes great footnotes, great drawings (a sidenote: why does the style of the artwork change so drastically in Volume 7?), a great bibliography with short reviews of works Gonick used in researching this cartoon cathedral, and a stubborn refusal to consider anything out of the scope of inquiry. Gonick brings up historical issues that would never be taught in schools (I leave the reader to discover these). Even the issues surrounding the status of women and the rich and the poor are put in for good measure.

I can't imagine a better way to be introduced to history, especially for the curious adult, since to say that the book is NOT G-Rated would be an egregious understatement (since the book contains many adult themes, graphic cartoon violence, and descriptions of many disturbing things that make up human history, it's hard to say if the book is for kids or not, notwithstanding the "cartoon" in the title - I guess this is best left as a personal decision). Still, even those knowledgable in history will enjoy it, because, dang it, it's a comic book after all! Of course, and this is obvious, hopefully this book will serve as a springboard for an interest in history. By itself it's a great outline filled with general knowledge, but supplemented with more reading it becomes a road to unfathomable historical knowledge with which can come a better understanding of our place in the universe. ... Read more

Reviews (37)

Intelligent, Well-Drawn, and Funny
Watterson's "Calvin and Hobbes" comic strip is a true rarity. It is technically well-drawn, unlike so many other comics. It is intelligent, insightful, and has characters one can really relate to - but does not take itself too seriously and is above all funny and fun to read. It is the story of the world as seen through the eyes of a six-year-old, Calvin, and his best friend, a Tiger named Hobbes - which only Calvin sees as real, and the rest of the world sees as a stuffed doll...

Most of all, the creator of the strip, Watterson, is a true rarity: he refused to commericalize the characters - the only product he sells are book collections of the original strip, like this one - and retired in 1995 when he felt he was beginning to become repetitive. Watterson literally walked away from millions of dollars to save the integrity of his creations, Calvin and Hobbes.

For once, both the characters in the strip and their creator in real life teach us something about what is really important in life - and that it is not REALLY all about money and climbing the corporate ladder after all.

Just compare the well-drawn, love-of-life, intelligent and uncommercialized Calvin&Hobbes to the poorly-drawn, cynical, shallow and commercialized-to-the-wazoo contraption named "Dilbert", for example. Compare the talent and integrity of Watterson to the talentless "sell out to whoever pays more" character of "Dilbert"'s creator.

This will give you a REAL insight on what is wrong with the world.

Great collection and a great bargain
Calvin & Hobbes was so popular during its run that people never needed to explain what the strip was about to anyone; it's been a couple of years and with the exception of little kids, people seem to remember the strip for the most part. So, all I'll say about this collection is that it is the preferable purchase over the first two books, the self-titled "Calvin & Hobbes" and "Something Under The Bed Is Drooling." Why? "The Essential Calvin and Hobbes" actually collects every single strip from those two books (it's NOT a best of, as some people would say), and most importantly, the Sunday strips are in color. Hands down, Watterson painted the most beautiful looking Sunday strips since Walt Kelly, and it would be a shame if you only knew them through the black and white reproductions of the smaller collections. It's also cheaper to buy this book instead of the first two, as well. As a special bonus, Watterson included a nice, water-colored poem at the beginning, which isn't available anywhere else.

A fantastic collection of early Calvin and Hobbes comics
The Essential Calvin and Hobbes, first published in 1988, is chock full of early Calvin and Hobbes comic strips. No cartoonist, not even Charles Schultz, has captured the magical essence of childhood the way Bill Watterson did in this strip, and it should come as no surprise (although it did to Watterson) that Calvin and Hobbes quickly developed an incredibly loyal following. This strip went way beyond mere popularity. While I was in college, the campus newspaper decided to stop running Calvin and Hobbes (I think this was during one of Watterson's sabbaticals) - this resulted in nothing less than a furor on campus, as countless students immediately demanded the return of C&H. In a matter of days, Calvin and Hobbes were right back where they belonged.

How does a comic strip featuring a mischievous six-year-old boy and his stuffed tiger attract a fiercely loyal following of adults? Most adults would love to be children again, to know the freedom and sense of wonder that somehow withers inside the human soul after the onset of puberty. Calvin and Hobbes vividly recreates the feelings and emotions of the very essence of childhood. It brings back memories of things we forgot far too long ago, and it thus reawakens the deepest parts of our ever-hardening souls. Reading this comic strip is the next best thing to being a child yourself. Calvin does everything you used to do: he takes time to stomp in mud puddles, he lets his imagination run wild to make thrilling adventures out of even the most mundane tasks, he ponders the same deep questions you are now, as an adult, afraid to ask, he goes for the gusto no matter what sort of risk is involved, he is in every way a perfect specimen of childhood. Who, as a child, didn't pretend to be a dinosaur, walk around with a hideous expression in hopes of your facing freezing that way, tease the girls (or boys) you claimed to hate, journey to distant worlds unseen by human eyes, etc.?

Of course, Hobbes is just as important to the comic strip as Calvin. Hobbes is a tiger, Calvin's best and constant friend, a fellow partaker in the joys of childish innocence. To Calvin, Hobbes really is all that, and that is how we see him as well - until, that is, someone else comes into the frame, when he suddenly becomes nothing more than a stuffed animal. Watterson is a fantastic comic artist, and there is just something captivating about the way he draws Hobbes in his stuffed animal form. Everything about Watterson's art is fantastic, though, particularly the way it captures the emotions of its two principal characters.

Sadly, we have only ten years of comic memories in the form of Calvin and Hobbes, as the inscrutable Bill Watterson retired (around the age of 37) in 1995 and quite obviously has no plans of returning to the public arena. Watterson is actually frighteningly private and seems to be living a life of unmatched solitude. I find this extraordinarily sad: here is a man who captured the essence of childhood so vividly in the form of Calvin and Hobbes, a world bursting with life and possibilities, yet now he seems to have withdrawn from life itself. We must be thankful we do have as much Calvin and Hobbes material as we do, and The Essential Calvin and Hobbes, with 255 pages of black and white daily strips and color Sunday strips, features much more than just a chunk of it in and of itself.

Another anthology of laughter
Whether the collection is the "Indispensible" or "Essential" or "Authoritative" Calvin and Hobbes, it doesn't really matter. Watching this hyperactive, hyperimaginative child and his willing though wise accomplice, Hobbes, take on evil babysitters, Susie Derkins, the class bully and all creatures (real or imaginary), is a pleasure and laughter without stop. "The Essential Calvin and Hobbes" is another in a long list of the great comic work of Bill Watterson. This is an indispensible/essential/authoritative collection for all Calvin and Hobbes and humor fans!

It's a good book
The essential C&H starts out with the early comics (I think) so those are a little weird.

The poem at the begining is very funny. In one of the first stories Calvin and Susie get in trouble for passing notes ("I WISH WE WERE DEAD!!") And in another one Hobbes cuts Calvin's hair which Calvin says looks like it was cut with a weed-eater.

What I thought was irritating was when it went from early comics to finished comics, which was kind of annoying because I like the early comics.

I conclude this reveiw by saying this is deffinatly worth your money and you'll enjoy it very much.

post script, you might also like getting the indespensible C&H and The Authoritive C&H with this one, they kind of go together. ... Read more

Book Description

For 50 years, Playboy magazine has showcased the world's best and brightest cartoonists. Their spectacular stable of artists includes luminaries such as Buck Brown, Jack Cole, Eldon Dedini, Jules Feiffer, Shel Silverstein, Doug Sneyd, Gahan Wilson, and hundreds of others. Hip subversives and sly revolutionaries all, Playboy's artists have continually proffered a sophisticated brand of humor sorely missing in other men’s magazines. Now, Playboy celebrates its golden anniversary with this glorious collection of the finest and funniest cartoons. Handpicked by Hugh M. Hefner himself, the pages are filled with the distillation of the entire cartoon archive, offering insightful commentary on topics from the sexual revolution to relationships, money, and politics. More than 450 cartoons feature sweet young things, terrible tarts, winsome wives, suitors, and studs -- a riotous chronicle of five decades of Playboy cartoons. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Fifty years of fun.
It's nice to see a book of coffee-table proportions just devoted to cartoons, well why not? Previous Playboy books have covered the history of the magazine, the delightful Playmates and now the cartoons. The 450 plus illustrations are the work of 107 cartoonists and if you are a regular reader of the magazine you'll see your favorites. Gahan Wilson has the most (thirty-two) followed by regulars like Eldon Dedini, John Demsey, Alden Erikson, Kiraz, Roy Raymonde, Doug Sneyd (he of the flamboyant signature, which I was never able to decipher until now) Erich Sokol and between these, dozens of great artists who have maybe one or two works each. The humor might not be the wonderful ironic style of the New Yorker but it is amazing how many fresh takes can be created with the bachelor lifestyle.

This is a handsomely produced book, printed on thick glossy paper which, nicely, allows you to really appreciate just how good some of these artists are. My favorite, Jack Davis, unfortunately only has four shown, Richard Taylor has a super picture on page ten, an art gallery where he has created several Picasso type paintings, Doug Sneyd, Phil Interlandi and Dedini are all brilliant draughtsmen and Shel Silverstein can create so much with so little line and color.

However I was a bit disappointed with this book, as another reviewer has commented, there is no indication of when the cartoons appeared and I wish the publishers had gone the extra mile and perhaps devoted some space throughout the pages for a photo and biography of the regulars, some of these guys have been with Playboy for years. Someone though, at least, did have the foresight to compile an Artists index and a useful Order of appearance list, both of which are in the back pages.

Clearly a wonderful book for the bedside table if your date didn't turn up, try laughing yourself to sleep.

Not enough Yeagle !!!!
I enjoyed seeing the work of some of my favorite cartoon
artist...together in one book. Some I had forgotten about.
It cetainly must have been difficult to narrow down the
selection with so many great cartoons over the years.
However, I was disappointed not to see more of one of my
very favorites.....Dean Yeagle. There is one cartoon of his
in the book...and it is also on the cover...the showgirls
and earrings cartoon.
Mr.Yeagle does excellent work....just check out his website..
www.bellefree.com.....His Mandy pinup girl is adorable!
I would love to see an all Dean Yeagle book published !!!!!!

nice book, but...
First of all this book is printed on excellent paper & is well done except for one thing. there is no way to tell what year the cartoons are from. They should have had chapters. 1950`s 1960`s ect so you know what era they are from ... Read more

Book Description

Hundreds of years in the future, Manhattan has become a deadly slum, run by mutant crime-lords and disinterested cops. Stuck in the middle is a young girl who thought she had no future, but learns she has a great destiny. In a world so poisoned that it doesn't notice the monsters on its streets, how can a street kid like Fray unite a fallen city against a demonic plot to consume mankind? Joss Whedon, the celebrated creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, brings his vision to the future in this unique tale. As inventive in the comics medium as in that of television of film, Whedon spins a complex tale of a skilled thief coming of age without the help of friends or family, guided only by a demonic Watcher. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Joss Whedon can do everything!
I loved this book! It is really good. The characters are interesting, although I don't like some of them, such as the villain (I won't name as I don't want to spoil). He didn't look scary at all. I know it was supposed to be a big shocker but they should have made him look scary now. Also, the end seemed kind of rushed. (Spoiler) The big demon whose stomach would open all demensions was a little out there. If you are a fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel this is a good book, and I have a feeling a 2nd is on the way.

Brilliant
Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon wrote this eight issue mini-series for Dark Horse Comics. Taking place in the 23rd century in a Blade Runner-esque world; young "grabber" (pretty much a thief) Melaka Fray finds her world turned upside down when a mysterious demon named Urkonn tells her that she is the Slayer. Faced with a newfound destiny, a tragic past, and plot twists and turns galore; Joss Whedon's Fray is pure brilliance from beginning to end. Whedon's interpretation of future dialogue is amusing to say the least, and his quirky humor which has always been apparent throughout his various television shows is here as well. The art by Karl Moline and Andy Owens is amazing stuff indeed; bringing a surreal look to the dark and gritty future world while showing Mel mature more and more as each chapter passes. The only problem with Fray is in it's pacing. From the time that Mel accepts her destiny to the end of the book, the war against the vampires happens too quickly. If you can get past that though, you'll find some pure comic genius here, Joss Whedon style. Hopefully, Joss will do a much requested follow up to Fray after his current run on Marvel's Astonishing X-Men (also highly recommended).

Great artwork, interesting take on the Slayer storyline
I bought this book in part because Joss Whedon is the writer of this and is the creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The storyline is set centuries after Buffy and is the story of a young slayer who is more like the Faith we know than Buffy.
I found the setting to be depressing, if that is the future it's sure going to be miserable, but the artwork is great- and the story isn't too bad either.

A brilliant alternate take on the Slayer mythology
I was really impressed by this superb graphic novel written by Buffy creator Joss Whedon. While I was expecting a fun and interesting addition to the Slayerverse mythology, I wasn't expecting such a surprisingly nifty take on the mythology that Whedon had established in Buffy and Angel.

The story takes place at some indeterminate place in the future a couple of hundreds years in the future. No Slayer had been called in ages because magic had moved out of earth's dimension. But the vampires have returned, and for the first time in generations a new slayer has been called. The trouble is, apart from being a thief, she doesn't have many of the marks of a slayer--no dreams, no instincts, only the raw physical fighting ability. She is a slayer, but a flawed one.

FRAY is filled with great graphic designs, a fine central storyline, a remarkably complex set of character relations, and some quite stunning plot reversals. I love the conceit of a not-quite-complete-slayer. The fighting skills are clearly the most important part of being a slayer, but Fray has no sense of her heritage, of her destiny, of her vocation. If Buffy at least struggled against her fate, Fray hasn't a hint of what her fate is. When tells the demon who would train her that she really hasn't had the dreams or visions of previous slayers, she is telling the truth. This makes her even more isolated than other slayers, more a loner.

I think anyone who enjoys either graphic novels or any of the work of Joss Whedon is going to love this. Hopefully there will be a follow up. The story ends with things definitely open to future development. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Not Just For Buffy Fans...
I must be ernest, I am not a fan of buffy..Yet the story of fray isn't so mutch a new instalment of slayor mythose.
even if you know nothing of joss whedons former work, know the man can write a comic book to make it both engaguing and accessable.
the plot is standerd fare, "cool, kinda bad chick is hauled reluctantly into saving the post modern world".
that is where the simmilarities to other silicone heroines stop and whedons tallent as an author and the other artists that created fray shines. the story brings you to the razor edge of the make or break point of any good comic "is it cliche?" but what we learn about frey from the hip neo-english slang to the sometimes gutwrenching fight sceens is the fact that it takes the tough chick storyline and reinvents it to both be familliar ground and yet something fresh and new.
I want to save the fun for the readers but lets just say when you finish it you will be yurning for a sequel... ... Read more

Book Description

Rabbits.We'll never quite know why, but sometimes they decide they've just had enough of this world- and that's when they start getting inventive.The Book of Bunny Suicides follows over one hundred bunnies as they find ever more outlandish ways to do themselves in.From an encounter with the business end of Darth Vader's lightsaber, to supergluing themselves to a diving submarine, to hanging around underneath a loose stalactite, these bunnies are serious about suicide.

Illustrated in a stark and simple style, The Book of Bunny Suicides is a collection of hilarious and outrageous cartoons that will appeal to anyone in touch with their evil side. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Funny bunnycide
Andy Riley, a British cartoonist and creator of a weekly comic strip in the Observer, tackles the off-the-wall subject of bunnies who simply can't go on living any more. These cartoons explore the outrageous and creative ways a bunny might dispatch itself to that great hutch in the sky. These include such methods as sunning on the beach while Noah loads the Ark, becoming ballast for a hot air balloon, and catapulting through venetian blinds. This book is morbidly funny and tragically silly. If you like humor that's a cross between The Addams Family and The Far Side, this book is for you.

somebunny is a very sick puppy
Very sick and twisted book. A few toons fall flat, and some take too long to play out (taking several panels to accomplish what could be said in two or three), but some are very funny, indeed. Could've been a bit longer, too (only 80-90 pages). For all those who loved 101 USES FOR A DEAD CAT and HAPPY TREE FRIENDS.

Hippity Hop
Totally sick book and great fun for anyone looking for a five minute distraction from the day!

hilarious, if you're sick like me
Okay, maybe I'm sick, but I found this book really amusing. Basically, it's a bunch of comics in which bunnies commit suicide in some really strange ways. I'm sure everyone who's read this and liked it has their favorite few. There seems to be a suicide theme for just about everyone - Star Trek, Star Wars, football, aliens, farming, and the Olympics, just to name a few. One of the things that makes these comics so funny, I think, is the absolutely blank expression on the bunnies faces - every weird act of suicide just happens to be an everyday thing in their lives. I can definitely see the price being a problem, for some, since this whole book can be read ("looked through" would actually be more accurate, since there are hardly any words to read - these comics mostly don't have captions, or any speaking) in a few minutes, although some of the suicides may take more time to decipher than others. The really squeemish may also have problems with this book, since some of the comics show the "after" of the suicide attempt. The comics aren't drawn realistically, so I wouldn't think that the "afters" would be too much of a problem with most people, especially the kind of people who would pick up a book with the words "bunny" and "suicides" in the title. The title and covers should be warning enough, for those who might be offended by this kind of humor. Anyway, if you don't mind the price and the length, you should get this book. It's really very funny, and you can gross out your friends and family with it!

hilarious!
This book caught the eye of one of my coworkers while he was waiting in line at the Starbucks/Barnes & Noble. His humour is slightly...off...so he had to buy it. Not much work got done after the book was brought into the office. This book is twisted and kind of sad, but VERY funny. ... Read more

Book Description

You have to wonder what kind of pets cartoonist Darby Conley had as a child. If they were anything like Bucky Katt and Satchel Pooch ... well, life in the Conley house must have been interesting to say to the least. The wacky triumvirate of Bucky, Satchel, and Rob are back in the fourth Get Fuzzy collection, Blueprint for Disaster, and "interesting" doesn't begin to describe their antics. Rob Wilco is the mild-mannered ad executive caretaker of Bucky and Satchel. Satchel is a sweet and naive shar-pei-yellow-Lab cross, while Bucky is a Siamese with "cat-titude" to spare. Bucky and Satchel get along like, well, like cats and dogs. Like a beleaguered parent, Rob constantly must thwart Bucky's schemes and protect the unsuspecting Satchel. His pets' mischief continually disrupts his attempts to meet women. You try explaining to your date why you cat thinks he's a gangsta rapper and your dog is filming his "crib" for MTV. Would anyone live with humans who behaved like this? Bitingly funny with a wry sense of the absurdity of life with pets, Get Fuzzy appeals to everyone who has ever lived in a mixed-species household. Blueprint for Disaster is sure to be yet another Get Fuzzy best-seller. ... Read more

Reviews (27)

Did the Corinth, CA. reviewer read a different book?
I am a lifelong (well, since college) devotee to The Far Side (though the least of my favorites among enjoyable comics), Bloom County, and Calvin and Hobbes. I become very depressed when people have never experienced Bloom County. However, it astounds me that anyone who would profess to be a fan of these 3 comics is unable to recognize the clear and common tone to all--including Get Fuzzy. To call Darby Conley no more original than a designer imposter is ridiculous. Do you not notice the ingenious attention to detail (e.g., electrical sockets with plugs, T-shirts from real establishments). My favorite was the reference to the Knoxville 1982 World's Fair on the counter of a travel agency the trio visited (Conley is originally from Knoxville, TN). The characters are so real to anyone who shares his/her life with animals. Bucky, like all cats, is a very complex personality. Satchel, like most dogs, is a good hearted, naive, loving innocent. Rob, like most of us animal companions, is harried. The responsibility of food, water, Vets., messed up work, hairballs, accidents on the floor, ripped upholstery, etc. can be overwhelming. However, he wouldn't trade the two for anything, because, above all, he loves them dearly. By the way, they BOTH love him, too. That comes through in each strip--some more obviously than others.

With Gary Patterson, Berkley Breathed and Bill Waterson retired, Darby Conley has ascended to the throne they left vacant. As one who owns every Far Side book, every Bloom Co. original comic, and every Calvin and Hobbes book and original comic, I consider myself well versed. Trust me, chances are better than not that you will LOVE this trio!

I am a grammar gremlin, by the way. Poor grammar is a big pet peeve of mine. So, Corinth, for future reference "Darby don't...." is incorrect. It should read "Darby DOESN'T." Bad grammar mars the quality of your argument.

It's Bucky Time!!!
There are very few comic strips that I like anymore. In fact, I now only go out of my way to read two strips, and this is one of them.

Darby Conley is great!!! I love his work. I was really excited to pick this book up and read of some of the mischief that Bucky and Satchel find themselves in. This even has Bucky going so far as taking the Ferret next door to Judge Judy.

The humor is fantastic. The contrast between Bucky and Satchel makes for great comedy. There were many parts where I was giggling and a few parts where I was laughing out loud.

I'm looking forward to picking up more of "Get Fuzzy".

Hi-freakin-larious
Much like the oft-touted Big Three (Calvin and Hobbes, Bloom County, The Far Side), it is impossible to read Get Fuzzy without experiencing true belly laughs. I feel like there's been a dearth of funny comics for a while, and when my local paper started running Get Fuzzy, I knew that void was filled. Read this and all other Get Fuzzy books, they're all awesome.

And I hate to continue with this whole grammar thing, but the Doctor was right to correct the Corinth reviewer, just for the wrong reason. The review should read "Darby, don't...," not "Darby don't..." or "Darby doesn't..."

What is this????
First off, let me say that "Get Fuzzy" is hilarious brilliance! Darby Conley obviously knows animals. His depictions of Satchel Pooch and Bucky Katt, as well as the poor, beleaguered Rob, who lives with the aforementioned animals,of the 3 is spot-on.

Unfortunately, however, I thought this section was for readers to offer feedback on a particular book. I was apparently mistaken. One reviewer, Down South, is particularly puzzling. S/he has written 3 "reviews." One makes no sense whatsoever, what is this craziness about Satchel? and prostitutes? Please. Is that a pathetic attempt at humor? If so, thank goodness it is not Down South (DS) who is attempting to produce a comic.

Why does it take DS three attempts to offer a legtimate opinion about BLUEPRINT? All are rather odd and senseless. The last of the 3 is particularly ugly.

Why does DS question another reviewer's credentials? She does not appear to be trying to use her status as a doctor as a means of elevating her opinion. It is merely part of her name. Why is DS so bothered? The good doctor is not even writing about his review. Yet, he is obviously offended.

Possibly, DS deplores "Get Bucky" so much that s/he feels compelled to attack the doctor (note: not the comic strip) b/c she gives the strip a glowing review. If so, that falls into the "get a life" file--we all have opinions. We shouldn't be viciously attacked, personally, for offering them.

Maybe DS has a problem with the doctor, herself. Since I doubt DS knows Dr. Hayes personally, perhaps he is bothered that a woman is a doctor, and writes a coherent, and all-around better review, in one attempt, than DS does in 3 tries.

Another possibility is that perhaps a cat beat him/her up, in childhood, and stole his/her lunch money. If so, and DS is still harbouring a grudge, please, for goodness sakes, GET HELP!

Perhaps DS has problems with women, esp. women who are smarter, better educated and more talented (at least if the 3 reviews are any indication of DS the person) than s/he. Should the good doctor have not gone to school, DS? Should she "know her place?" Did a WOMAN beat you up on the playground and take your money? Whatever. Get help, DS.

Then, there is another "reviewer" who rather likes the comic strip, but takes on the grammar issue raised by Dr. Hayes. By the way, the doctor is correct. If Corinth had meant the sentence as instructive, it was unclear. Why is grammar so important to this "reviewer?" And what does that title "please type your password again" mean??? Very odd. Very odd, indeed.

Dr. Hayes, I'm sorry for the unwarranted personal attacks. Too bad that it takes all kinds to make up our world. The emperor who had no clothes paraded proudly down the street, until one person spoke up and said, "you have no clothes." Then, he was embarrassed and angry. Could that be the problem with these 2 reviewers? Ignorance is bliss, until someone points out your ignorance? Who knows?

All I can say is that the sort of irrelevant ugliness offered up by these two "reviewers" does not serve the purpose of this section. Plus, it harms the integrity of the process. I know I, now, am less inclined to read reviews, or write one. In fact, I'm less likely to visit the Amazon.com website. This behavior leaves a bad taste in the mouth.

Fabulous!
Get Fuzzy is one of the best comic strips out today, and I loved the collection! Darby Conley is terrific, and I highly recommend this book!

By the way, for those of you arguing that "Darby don't..." is correct grammer because a double negative is appropriate? You're missing the point. It's got nothing to do with double negatives, it's simple conjegation. "I DO", "You DO", "He DOES". The Dr. was totally right - it should be "Darby DOES not", not "Darby DO not". ... Read more

Book Description

Jargon-spewing corporate zombies. The sociopath who checks voice mail on his speaker phone. The fascist information systems guy. The sadistic human resources director. The technophobic vice president. The power-mad executive assistant. The pursed-lip sycophant. The big stubborn dumb guy. They're Dilbert's coworkers, and chances are they're yours, too. If you know them, work with them, or dialogue with them about leveraging synergies to maximize shareholder value, then you'll recognize this comic strip as a day at the office, only funnier. Since 1989 Dilbert has lampooned not only the people but also the accepted conventions and practices of the business world. Office politics, management trends, business travel, personnel policies, corporate bureaucracy, irrational strategies, unfathomable accounting practices, unproductive meetings, dysfunctional organizations, oppressive work spaces, silly protocols, and inscrutable jargon are all targets of Adams's darkly goofy satirical pen. Dilbert strikes a deeply resonant chord with fans because it casts such a dead-on reflection of the realities of the white-collar workplace, even with its off-the-wall delivery. Today, Dilbert runs in 2,000 newspapers in 19 languages, reaching 150 million readers in 65 countries. The 24th Dilbert collection, Author's Cut, features Adams's personal all-time favorite selections, along with his own handwritten commentary about the strips. ... Read more

Book Description

Why is Dilbert such a phenomenon? People see their own dreary, monotonous lives brought to comedic life in the ubiquitous strip. In the 23rd collection of Scott Adams¨ tremendously popular series, Don¨t Stand Where the Comet Is Assumed to Strike Oil, suppressed and repressed workers everywhere can follow the latest developments in the so-called careers of Dilbert, power-hungry Dogbert, Catbert, Ratbert, the pointy-haired boss, and other supporting¨but don¨t you dare call them supportive¨characters. Each ¨funny because it¨s true¨ scenario bears an uncanny, hysterical, sometimes uncomfortable similarity to cubicle-filled corporate America.But the United States clearly hasn¨t cornered the market when it comes to drone-filled offices: Dilbert appears in 65 countries in 25 languages and in 2,000 newspapers. The strip has 150 million fans worldwide. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Great Addition to the Series
Scott Adams' 23rd addition to the Dilbert series is one of the best so far. The characters never cease to amaze me in every way. Wally's laziness and Alice's temper along with Dogbert's cheap but smart ideas to rip people off are what make this comic strip great. We are able to see ourselves in all of the character mainly because they all represent something. Wally represents the person who is too lazy to do anything but does well in his life anyway. Dilbert is the person who no matter how hard he tries he can never get anywhere in his life. Alice is the person who can't control her temper because she is so overworked. Asok is the person who is still learning from others but he is becoming a independent person. Dogbert is the person who can make money by scamming people and never working too hard. The Boss is the person who knows nothing yet gets so far in his life.

I think this Dilbert book is a great buy and it is worth the money. As always Dilber tgives us clean and enjoyable entertainment that we can always enjoy.

A good collection of Dilbert Cartoons
Though the theme of the book appears somewhere after the center page cartoon, this is a compilation of cartoons from last year to the beginning of the first quarter of this year. Some of the all time favorites like the Outsourcing joke, Ashok's Talk about IIT's form the core of this book. A typical dilbert humor with some of the best joke books. ... Read more

Book Description

Nobody ever had friends like Bucky Katt or Satchel Pooch, the cat and dog from the immensely popular comic strip Get Fuzzy. And in their new gift book, A Friend Is . . ., they help to redefine-maybe even ruin-the very concept of friendship itself.Together, this duo-two of the most popular characters in comic strips today-plumb the depths of their relationship. By giving us this no-paws-barred peek into their lives, they offer us the opportunity to see what's right (and wrong) in our own lives. The result is a smart and spirited book that reminds us that while friendship sometimes isn't pretty, it's always funny.

... Read more

Book Description

Rat, Pig, Zebra, and Goat, the central characters of Pearls Before Swine, are back in their new book, Sgt. Piggy's Lonely Hearts Club Comic, the first Pearls Before Swine treasury-supersized for your enjoyment. But this is no ordinary cartoon treasury. Like the influential Beatles album that inspired the book's title, Sgt. Piggy is full of surprises. In addition to collecting in one volume all of the Pearls cartoons that appeared in BLTs Taste So Darn Good and This Little Piggy Stayed Home, cartoonist Stephan Pastis takes readers on a VIP backstage tour of one of the most successful new comic strips in newspapers today. In Sgt. Piggy, Pastis explains the genesis of Pearls (hint: it didn't begin at an artist's easel), why he was initially reluctant to show it to newspaper syndicates (and the surprising reason he changed his mind), the unexpected responses from readers to his work (oh, the letters), which Pearls strips worked and which ones didn't (and how he would have corrected the ones that didn't). The result is a rare and revealing glimpse into the world of Rat and Pig, Goat and Zebra. Full of humor and insight, sardonic asides and unexpected truths, Sgt. Piggy's Lonely Hearts Club Comic is a book that comics fans everywhere can enjoy anytime-even when they're 64. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Robert Crumb,world-famous illustrator and definite pervert, got his start in the underground comics scene of the late 1960s and early 1970s. The R. Crumb Coffee Table ArtBook is a collection of his best work from the last 50 years (it's got kids stuff, too, which is pretty fascinating).The volume is a welcome reminder that, screwed up as Crumb may be, he's also a tremendously talented, utterly original artist. He artistically embodies a certain segment of the '60s, and as that fades even further into history, Crumb's material becomes more important. Is The R. Crumb Coffee Table Art Book funny? Yes, certainly, in a coarse, Rabelaisian way; you'll either find it a hoot, or horribly racist and sexist. And it's not for the kiddies, obviously. But R. Crumb is so well known by now, that you probably know which group you fall into, the lovers or the haters. The lovers will find this book awonderful treat. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

If you're an idiot, don't buy this book!!!
Don't blame R. Crumb for ruining your pitiful childhood. If you must watch Clint Eastwood movies to prove to your friends that you're a "real man" then, I think you need some help.
You're supposed to laugh at Crumb and at Crumb's work and Crumb knows it! Don't "real men" (read idiots) like to laugh at other people? Not all humor is apreciated by everyone, especially if you're and nit-wit and don't get it.
Crumb is a premier artist who's drawings are the best in the genre. His stories are fables to learn from - or laugh at depending on you're perception and experience.
Most people who buy Crumb's books already know what they're getting into. If you're a first time Crumb buyer, go to a comic book store and check out what you're getting into before you buy.
Anyone who buys online either enjoys taking chances or has researched the product before they buy.... or you may just be an idiot!!!
A great book for any Crumb fan!!!

An Entertaing Autobiography
I first became a Robert Crumb fan in the sixties. I remember buying Zap#1 at the Free Press Book Store in Los Angeles. It was to art as Jimi Hendrix's "Are You Experienced?" was to music at the time. Both pretty much blew my mind as a young impressionable teenager. (Sold to "Adults Only"? hah!)

Its Nothing Sacred attitude and straight-up uncensored dialogue and art got me. The artist himself remained sort of a mystery man. How could someone be so brilliant in one series,

and then disappoint me so much in another? He seemed so afraid of "selling out" he occasionally just went for shock value or put out some junk calculated to alienate. (News Flash: Crumb disdains most of his fans...yeah- you too, fan-boy.)

This book is an autobiography told in art and text that reveals a lot about Crumb's character and influences. Do not buy this book if you are not into biographies, you won't like it. However, if you are a Crumb fan, it gives an entertaining insight into his struggles and regrets as an artist trying to maintain his own code of artistic integrity. I see his influences every day in commercial and popular art and get enjoyment from knowing who the "real deal" is that they've been influenced by or are out and out ripping off. Buy this book.

- - - FEELIN' LUCKY ?
You don't need the lamer bosh of escapist nerd Bob Crumb. You need the integrity and courage of Clint Eastwood.

Take the money you were going to blow on this book, and go rent some good Dirty Harry films and Clint's 'Man with no Name' westerns.

Of course, if you are unconsciously oppressed and alienated, and looking to become even more lost in your own little cowardly world, Bob 'articial culture' Crumb is the place to go. But it wont get you anywhere. And it will separate you even further from your own potential, and what it means to be a Real Human Being with Real Courage and Integrity. Unreal 'Sleazy Bob,' ultimately, has none.

Go ahead. Take risks with your sanity and isolatory tendencies. Maybe a cheap therapy operation will take you in. But it will take you years to recover.

The Amazing Id Of Robert Crumb
There's an illustration on the back cover of The R. Crumb Coffee Table Art Book that perfectly encapsulates the artist's work - it depicts the top of Robert's head exploding, with several of his creations, famous, infamous, and otherwise, leaping out.

That, to me, sums up Crumb's work - this incredibly inventive artist with, to paraphrase Bob Dylan, a head full of ideas that are drivin' him insane.

There are frequent complaints about Crumb's work being too dark, racist, sexist, and/or misogynistic. While I can see where these criticisms come from, I really don't think Crumb is any darker, more racist, sexist, or misogynistic than any of us - he simply is unafraid to - COMPELLED to, almost - lay his cards on the table. Some people find this offensive. Would it be absurd of me to suggest that some of those who are offended by his work have their own issues with sexism, racism, and/or misogyny that they are unwilling to confront?

What I'm trying to get at here, I guess, is that this IS NOT a book for little kids. There's a sticker on the front of my copy of the book that says "FOR ADULT INTELLECTUALS ONLY!", and while I'm not so sure about the "intellectuals" part, this is probably not a book you want your grade-school age child to get ahold of, unless you're okay with said child seeing depictions of graphic (and I do mean GRAPHIC) sex, hard-core drug use, and extreme (albiet cartoonish) violence.

I realize all I've spent all this space talking about Crumb without ever really discussing what I like about his work. I think there's two main things: (1) his unflinching honesty (as I touched upon earlier), and (2) the incredible beauty of his draftsmanship. I think my favotite chapter in the whole book is the one that features his pen-and-ink still-lifes and landscapes. Just beautiful stuff - worth studying for his use of cross-hatching alone.

In conclusion, if you're at all interested in checking out the work of one of the finest artists to ever work in the comics medium, I highly recommend you get this book. It's easily worth the 25 bucks.

Oh, yeah - and it DOES make a wonderful coffee table book. :)

The Conventionalization of Crumb
(revised and corrected, 8/27/02)
Thirty years ago, as a teen-ager, I was touting Crumb all over the place, in the form of those little floppy "underground" comic books, not really realising their relatively dubious intellectual and artistic value.

Amusing they were. They also appeared to come from the "We'll save you" left wing, who were going to rescue us from the evil-doings of the Establishment, and Vietnam, and Nixon and conservatism and complacency and bourgeois America and pollution and what-not. . .

Some of my friends simply said, "where did you get these?" Needless to say, it did not increase my stature in their eyes. They were rather shocked. Some found them disgusting.
One needs a sturdy income behind one to endure earhquakes to one's reputation. If you are going to alienate Mrs. Grundy, be prepared to have something to hide behind.

. . .however, "What were once vices are now virtues. . . " Now, thirty years later, R. Crumb is a household word. People think of MR.NATURAL like they would PEANUTS or DOONESBURY. A dimension of the new form of liberalism "permits" this access, although some decry Crumb's alleged "political incorrectness" and dubious "sexual politics." Yet, what good has Crumbianity, any of it, good or bad, done anyone?

Everyone thinks Bob Crumb and Mr. Natural and Fritz the Cat are all something very special. Yet, just how special are they? Crumb's strips remain curiously under-analyzed. People seem simply to either embrace him as a fashionable "alternative," or despise him for his grotesques.

I wonder if my classmates can recall when I let them in on what seemed an obscure, unfashionable, and even reprehensible "secret" thirty years ago.

Yet I no longer think Bob is really worth it. Better to spend your time and money on good film and literature. Please grow up, if at all possible: you will be doing the rest of us a favor. And for good "picture" books, get Edward Gorey("The GashleyCrumb Tinies", "Amphigorey,1,2,3")and William Steig's "The Lonely Ones", and any Charles Adams cartoon books. . . You will at least then have a healthy perspective from which to regard R. CRUMB from, and make tolerant, educated, and useful judgments on him with more discretion than otherwise.

Let old Bob Crumb languish on the Riviera. He never really made me any smarter or any more sophisticated. I had to go elsewehere for that. (Hours in the art libraries, paging through art books and folios... hours reading the classics...)

Rather than indulge oneself with the semi-sophistication of Bob Crumb, why not go the rest of the way and read real literature ?
Do the job right. What's the point of getting part-smart and semi-sophisticated with Bob Crumb ?

Ultimately, all Bob helped me to do was waste my young life and energies...I wish I had returned to me the precious time I lavished/wasted on his silly cartoons. I would have done something useful with it.

I hope I have saved others some trouble.

. . .and I hope my revised and corrected review proves more useful than the previously posted.
-moosbrugger ... Read more

Book Description

Jason Fox rules . . . his computer code, at calc and trig, and in whatever fantasy he happens to be headlining at the moment. Just because the rest of the Fox family-from older brother Peter and sister Paige to parents Roger and Andy-haven't quite accepted his Dominion Over All isn't cause for concern. Math geeks, Jason is convinced, will govern the earth, and he will lead the way. FoxTrotius Maximus: A FoxTrot Treasury, picks up on Jason's megalomania and runs with it . . . and it doesn't stop until readers are out of breath from laughing so hard.FoxTrotius Maximus combines the works Your Momma Thinks Square Roots Are Vegetables, Who's Up for Some Bonding, and Am I a Mutant or What? That means longtime FoxTrot readers and new fans alike are treated to Jason and his friend Marcus's never-ending antics, Andy's ongoing allergy fun, Peter's latest hot haircut, and a host of pop-culture trends and topics including music piracy, video games, and The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Timely, topical, and terribly funny!This latest FoxTrot treasury represents the ninth anthology of Amend's wildly successful comic strip, based upon the cartoonist's 17 previous books and his daily and Sunday syndicated appearances in more than 1,000 newspapers worldwide. FoxTrot truly is one of America's all-time favorite comics, and combined sales of nearly three million copies show that Amend knows how to capture and keep his audience's humor-loving attention. All hail, FoxTrotius Maximus! ... Read more

Reviews (39)

Calling Spaceman Spiff
There is little you can say about a Calvin and Hobbes book. As with the other books in this series, it is very funny, insightful of people and children, and something that I seem to be able to read over and over. Bill Waterson brings a perspective on humans that is as unique as Gary Larson's perspectives, only his viewpoint surrounds our "hero," Calvin. The long-suffering Hobbes (a tiger, don't you know) is often a voice of doubt and sanity that Calvin rarely, if ever, heeds. When Calvin realizes that Hobbes is being critical, a fight generally ensues. Given that Hobbes is a "ferocious" tiger, Calvin rarely gains the upper hand.

This book is excellent and relatively benign humor, good for any occasion when you need a break from the world. More amazing, this book can be read over and over, and each time you'll still find it funny. I strongly recommend this book.

One of the Best
The Days Are Just Packed is one of my favorite Calvin & Hobbes books. It is the first collection to have the undivided Sunday format, and the full-format Sunday strips are real works of art. Even after you've read it a million times, and have all the punchlines memorized, this is still a great book, and worth reading again. If you haven't been exposed to Calvin and Hobbes, this would be a great place to start.

Calvin The Great
Another great slab paperback filled with the very best of this over active duo. Themed for the holidays, Calvin and Hobbes get up to their usual mischief at the detriment of Mom, Dad, Susie and others. Read it over and over again just to get a little laughter in a boring day. Highly recommended.

Don't you wish everyday was summer?
Fans of Calvin & Hobbes who used to read the newspaper strip in the 80s and 90s will find great pleasure in reading this collection of C&H comics. These witty comics about the 6-year old Calvin and his stuffed tiger Hobbes, named after the famous philosophers, will amuse people of all ages. The perceptiveness and humor of Watterson deserve the highest of cartoon awards, while his artistic creations exude hilarity. This cartoon is perhaps one of the most piercing yet funny critiques of modern society.

Summer is the time when Calvin and Hobbes can hang out in the treehouse and plot their next attacks on Susie, if they're not busy fighting with each other, that is. This book also contains some of Calvin's best snowman art. Procrastinators will love Calvin's newest invention - the Time Machine, or perhaps not? This is definitely one of the best C&H books around.

Note that there are two series of C&H collections: individual wide-format albums, each covering an entire year of strips (will call it "regular"), and the vertical aspect ratio "treasury series" which covers selected comics from two regular C&H books. Note that C&H ran for a year in newspapers, so there's 10 regular books and 5 treasury books. Though the cartoons are slightly smaller in the treasury collection, each treasury book is far thicker and contains more strips than a regular book, and is furthermore less expensive, so treasury books are a real bargain. "The Days Are Just Packed" belongs to the regular series and was published in 1993.

This Book is Not Bad...
I actually am fond of comics and I even made up my own. My favorite kind is the kind that are funny, like Calvin and Hobbes, and at first, when I saw a Calvin and Hobbes book, I loved them. Then when I kept reading, I got bored and didn't read anymore ever since. Now I read it again and I love it. Every thing about it is good, and I surely will recommend it. ... Read more

Book Description

McSweeney's Quarterly Concern #13 is all comics. It is edited by Chris Ware (author of Jimmy Corrigan: Smartest Kid on Earth), and features so many artists to know and love: R. Crumb, Art Spiegelman, Daniel Clowes, Lynda Barry, Los Bros Hernandez, Adrian Tomine, Julie Doucet, and on and on. The issue also includes essays from Michael Chabon, Ira Glass, John Updike, Chip Kidd, and others. A hardcover, clothbound edition, this quarterly comes with an enormous dust jacket that does much more than guard against dust. This one makes our throats go tight. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Brilliant in pieces...but leaves lacking as a whole
The book is a selection of modern comics and graphic storytelling. The look of the book is so unlike anything in modern literature today...it is beautifully constructed. I read mine straight through, and I was floored by the individual intelligence and originality of its contributors. The editor, Chris Ware, has a beautiful set piece about a young handicapped woman. Works by Charles Burns, Ivan Brunetti, Kim Deitch, and Richard McGuire were also strong. Some historical pieces regarding the history of comics and its early masters (Schulz and George Herriman) are fascinating. However, by taking the entire book as a whole, I became underwhelmed by consistent themes: suicide, alienation, stagnation, sexual frustration, even abortion. Does every young comic artist only deal with these issues? I missed the triumph and majesty of the comics of my youth, and wished just a few of the stories and vignettes dealt with some hint of a happy ending. The book left me feeling sorry for the authors of modern graphic novels of today.

Astounding
An incredible feat of editing and printing. Which might not sound like much until you hold this thing in your hands. Chris Ware continues to be one of the finest craftspeople working in contemporary visual culture. His own drawn and written contributions here are at least as good as his work on his own projects, but it's the sheer quality of the overall packaging, design, and fine detail that makes McSweeney's 13 so good. If this thing doesn't win some major book awards, there's no justice.

This is...
...quite possibly the finest piece of literature I have ever held in my hands. It's an issue devoted entirely to comics, and aesthetically, I have never seen anything like it. First is the dust jacket - made to look like a daily sheet, it's intricately covered with different designs and characters, and then folded up very nicely around the book. Tucked in pockets on both the front and back are smaller, booklet type comics.

Inside, the issue is guest edited by Chris Ware and is positively stunning. Lots and lots of full color pages with comics by Daniel Clowes, Chris Ware, R. Crumb, Lynda Barry, Mark Newgarden (The Little Nun), and a newly discovered favorite, Richard McGuire. Also, some history of the comics from the editor.

If you like comics (especially the more conceptually adventurous ones) you'll love this book. If you don't like comics, or don't know if you like comics, go and look at it anyway. You might be surprised.

The Norton Anthology of Graphic Storytelling
Chris Ware, (ACME Novelty Library, Jimmy Corrigan) guest edits this edition of McSweeney's a spotlight on graphic image narrative. Ware designs in his inimitable, meticulous style what is McSweeney's most handsome volume yet and provides a sturdy editorial structure (including fascinating historical reference and essays as well as his own history of comics). Most of the contributers are artists you'll recognise from independent or self-produced comics, zines, and strips, as well as from low-art magazines like Juxtapoz. These are interspersed with essays by word people (like John Updke) about images. Like every issue of McSweeney's, the grab bag quality is what makes it most successful, you'll see names you know next to names you don't; you'll be surprised by what you find yourself liking and moreover you'll find yourself appreciating the keen vision behind the scenes that pushes each piece of the kaliedescope in front of your eyes. Kudos to McSweeny's for recognising that this insurgent medium that deserves it's own place on Barnes and Noble's shelf, but a larger and more heartfelt amount of recognition should go to Mr. Ware for producing what could really be the Norton Anthology of Graphic Storytelling. The book is thoughtfuilly designed and masterfully put together, benefitting from the attention to detail that makes Ware's artwork so distinctive as well as the sheer quality of the work presented. None of the stories rest on the novelty of being 'comics in a straight book', at their best they are profoundly moving studies that showcase an artist struglling and succe