Reviews (13)

Entertaining but...
I bought this book since I was interested in creating my own comic book for my amusement.

I found the format quite engaging and entertaining, pretty much like Scott McClouds Understanding Comics (whom the author's format is inspired by). The explanations are pretty straightforward and user-friendly, especially for the general introduction and one point perspective.

Personally, I wish that it had more examples for implementing three point perspective (which is heavily used in the more dramatic/dynamic shots and scenes).

Overall, it's a pretty good book, although I'm now purchasing other perspective manuals to clarify some of the more difficult aspects of this.

Not your average Take on Perspective
I found this book extremely helpful, in more ways the one. Instead of your usual text with diagram format, it has a refreshing comic book format. This means that examples are almost always right there, WITH the text that discusses it - so you can absorb what's being talked about with out having the "break concentration" and look for the relevant connection between explanation and example. Also, rather than discuss only the "terminology" and the like, I found the explanations were geared so that anyone who can read could understand them - without a dictionary being close to hand! I'd highly recommend picking up this book - to the beginners and pros alike! The gains from it's knowledge are definately worth the price.

waste of time
Buy "How to draw comics the Marvel Way" instead, as Stan Lee and John Buscema cover all the necessary points in a few pages, as opposed to wasting your money on a book like this. Although kudos to this guy for padding a book this size. He must be close with Scott McCloud.

Art teachers buy this book!
David Chelsea recognized a great book that was easy to learn from when he read "Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud". His talents and knowledge as an artist are demonstrated with the formost understanding of illustrating in perspective with this great technique. I'm a better artist because of this book. He demonstrates his technique step by step to make accurate illustrated perspective and gives you what you need to know to break the rules and get away with it.

A great book for beginners and pros alike.
A tome about comic perspective in comics form, this book helped me discover new principles in perspective and the REASON for these principle. Not just for your scenery, human bodies in perspective are also covered... but you had better know anatomy before hand. The reason for the missing star is because Chelsea uses two forms of curvilinear perspective, but suspiciously absent is the chapter ON curvilinear. Even with this oversight, Chelsea has written an engaging and fairly complete perspective guide. Look closely at the icecubes on page 131 and try to find the hidden pictures! ... Read more

Reviews (10)

This is a great book!
This is a great book! There are lots of things in this story I love like when Calvin becomes a tiger, when he ruins the bathroom trying to fix a faucet,getting lost at a zoo, and going to Mars just to get away from all the pollution on Earth. This was one of the best books I've read. If you love Calvin and Hobbes, BUY THIS BOOK!!

One crazy funny book
I'm an 8 year old Canadian living in Beijing, China, and I love to read. I really like to read funny books. One of my favourites of all time is Calvin & Hobbes, "Weirdos from Another Planet". I find this book really funny because Calvin's imagination in this one is the wildest ever! The illustrations are a perfect match for the hilarious stories. I enjoyed the main part of this book, the space adventures of Calvin & Hobbes the best. I found them so funny that I couldn't put the book down in bed, and stayed awake very late. This book made me a real fan of Calvin and Hobbes, and now I can't wait to get more! Elise Hoffmann 8 years old, Beijing, China

hilarious
truly and surely one of the best comic strips ever! were you to be sick in bed and need something to make you laugh, this is the best medicine!

Buy these "Weirdos"
The title of the book represents a truly classic series of strips in which Calvin first uses his cardboard box as a space ship to travel to Mars. What he finds is that the "Weirdos from Another Planet" are him and Hobbes! This is another first rate collection from the strip that was THE highlight of the comics page during its newspaper run. Bill Waterson's genius has been sorely missed ever since he decided to retire. This is another fine collection in an outstanding series of books.

Good, but hard to believe.
Calvin is basically obsessed to his stuffed tiger, Hobbes. He gets in a lot of trouble, which he blaims all on Hobbes. Fortunatly, Hobbes turns into a real tiger when nobody is looking. They have a club called G.R.O.S.S. which stands for Get Rid Of Slimy girlS. THE BOOK Mainly, Calvin and Hobbes decide to leave Earth because it's to polluted, so they want to go to Mars. Hobbes starts to push the wagon,and they are off to Mars! It takes a long time, but finally they get there. They see a Martian and get very scared. They make faces at Viking 1. They run out of supplies and go back to Earth.THE END ... Read more

Book Description

Dan Savage is irreverent, irrepressible, and opinionated. He's held his own on Politically Incorrect, told tales on This American Life, continues to write a beloved nationally syndicated column-and he's had it up to here (my hand is higher than my head) with the moral, conservative scolds who proclaim America is slouching towards Gomorrah (to use Robert Bork's phrase). Are we really that bad?

Yes, we are! And in Skipping Towards Gomorrah, Dan Savage eviscerates those cynics as he commits each of the Seven Deadly Sins himself (or tries to) and finds those everyday Americans who take particular delight in their sinful pursuits. Among them:

Greed: Gamblers reveal secrets behind outrageous fortune.
Lust: "We're swingers!"-you won't believe who's doing it.
Gluttony: Dan meets gluttons with attitude at a pro-fat conference.
Sloth: Leave it to Dan to find a way to celebrate this sin that will get him in trouble with his mother.
Anger: Texans shoot off some rounds and then listen to Dan fire off on his own about guns, control, and the Second Amendment.
Envy: Meet the rich-then be glad you're not one of them.
Pride: You'll never look at a gay pride parade the same way again.

Couple all this sinning with a unique history of the Seven Deadly Sins, a new interpretation of the biblical stories of Sodom and Gomorrah, and enough Bork, Bennett, Buchanan, et al, bashing to more than make up for their incessant carping, and you've got the most provocative book of the fall. ... Read more

Reviews (54)

Funny 'Gomorrah' States Case for Live and Let Live
"Skipping Towards Gomorrah: The Seven Deadly Sins and the Pursuit of Happiness in America" feels like one part travelogue and one part memoir, pieces stitched together with an attack on the "virtuecrats" of the American far right. William Bennett, Robert Bork, Pat Buchanan, Dr. Laura, Jerry Falwell and Bill O'Reilly all take their turn on the chopping block as author Dan Savage traverses the country in search of hot spots where he hopes to commit each of the seven deadly sins.

And he nearly succeeds.

In one of the book's funniest episodes, Savage calls a prayer line that he found advertised on a Christian cable network, only to be informed that as a gay man who cannot marry, he is doomed to a life of fornication and shall never rise to adulterer status (he is reassured that "fire is fire" and he's bound for hell right alongside the adulterers).

"Skipping Towards Gomorrah" is funny. Parts of it are laugh-out-loud funny, but as one would expect from Dan Savage - author of "The Kid," regular contributor to "This American Life," and editor and sex columnist for The Stranger - this book is not for the prudish. It's replete with four-letter words and anatomical descriptions that will make Mom blush, although Savage's forays uncover interesting and entirely unexpected snippets of American culture.

Hoping to indulge himself in a little "Falwell-style" gluttony, Savage attends a conference sponsored by the National Association for the Advancement of Fat Acceptance (NAAFA) in San Francisco. He soon realizes that the meeting is little more than a thinly-veiled meat market. BBWs (big, beautiful women) attend primarily to try and attract an FA (fat admirer).

In Las Vegas, Savage attends the annual Lifestyles Organization (LSO) convention which hosts a weekend of frolicking for more than 3,000, mostly suburban, "playcouples." He calculates that with many such groups across the country, there are more people involved in organized swinging than the entire gay male population, underlining the irony that while swinging is ignored by conservatives as a fossil from the '70s, gay marriage is blasted as an irreproachable threat to the American family.

Savage begins each chapter by detailing the historical legacy of one of the seven deadly sins - greed, lust, sloth, gluttony, envy, pride and anger - pulling references from the likes of Dante and Saint Jerome on gluttony and Peraldus, a 13th-century Dominican friar, on envy. He ends each chapter with ruminations on the appeal of the sin. We gamble not because we are greedy, but because our lives are too safe and predictable. We need sloth because of increasingly hectic schedules.

Savage does pull a few surprises. He points out that Osama bin Laden and Jerry Falwell harbor similar ideologies. They both hate liberated women, sexual freedom, secular culture and fundamental human rights. But then he goes on to unconditionally support the war on Afghanistan. In the chapter on pride, he offers a strong argument against gay pride, claiming that the gay community has moved far enough forward that simply being out is no longer challenging enough to merit full-fledged pride for most. In the chapter on anger, he begins with a long and eloquent gun rant, only to blow a hole the size of Texas in his argument by admitting that he intends to take up shooting, having discovered in the Lone Star State that, lo and behold, he's a natural shot.

"Skipping Towards Gomorrah" conveys the strong impression that it was not written for kindred spirits but for those it attacks. Savage seems to hope that his words will reach - and irritate - his nemeses. He admits to having devoured their books, and his title itself is a play on "Slouching Towards Gomorrah" by Robert Bork.

But ultimately, one has to wonder what all the fuss is about. If Bork, Bennett and Buchanan on one side, and Savage and his friends on the other, agreed to simply ignore each other, this country could be a far more quiet and peaceful place. At heart, "Skipping Towards Gomorrah" asks for just that: the freedom to live life as one see fits without having someone else's concept of morality get in the way.

POW! Take that virtuecrats! Smart, funny, and provocative
Dan Savage has written a very funny yet thought provoking book about America and American morality. Much of the book is a travelogue, where Dan goes out and meets people pursuing happiness (which some would call sin). The point is that these people are doing what they want to and in a way that doesn't involve anyone who doesn't want to participate. The virtuecrats of the world may take offense at all of this, but our man Dan is quick to point out (often using their own words) is the hypocrisy that often goes into the criticism of others' morals and behaviors.

As readers of Dan Savage's sex column know, he can be a very, very funny writer and there are definitely parts of the book (both the situations and choices of word) that will leave you howling. At the same time, it covers some various serious topics (which I guess a sex columnist does too) central to how we lead our individual lives and how our society (and in particular our government) affects our ability to lead our lives.

This is a book very well worth reading, in that it will not only make you laugh, but will also make you think a lot about issues of personal liberty, tolerance, and what we should expect of our government in establishing and and enforcing laws. The book is actually quite well researched, not only in terms of what today's virtuecrats (e.g., Bill Bennett, Jerry Falwell, Dr. Laura) have to say, but what Founding Fathers may have had in mind in defining personal liberty. Liberty doesn't mean you can do anything you want (like blow up a building) but that you can do what you want in your own life in a way that does not harm others.

In reading this book (along with "The Kid," his very touching book on adopting a child), I had the sense that Dan Savage is a very nice guy who would be a great neighbor, friend, or work colleague. You may not agree with some of his opinions or some ways in which he leads his own personal life, but the point of this book is who cares about other people's personal lives. The book presents a very compelling case that it is best to live and let live and to realize that we are a great an diverse country (not slouching toward Gomorrah) without pushing any one view of morality on others.

A great book!

the reviews are even funnier than the book
The negative reviews here are even funnier than the book! But then I'm not a homosexual so I can't really take offense at people recoiling in moral shock from Savage's politics. On the other hand I suppose if you are gay, the negative reviews on this site are a depressing reminder that people like Savage are judged for their sexuality and not for their ideas.

But still, the reviews make me laugh even more than the book.

It ain't no sin to be glad you're alive?
Who knew that the 7 Deadly Sins could be so much fun? Well, actually, they're NOT always so much fun, at least not the way Dan Savage describes them. And that's one of the things I really liked about this book: it's brutally honest about these "sins," the motivations behind them, and the people who pursue them in hopes of finding...fun? happiness? friendship? excitement? meaning in life? None or all of the above? Perhaps these "sins" are more complex and less, well, "sinful" than some might think. Perhaps it's not that eating or sex or gambling are good or bad in and of themselves, despite what the preachy moralists like Robert Bork (author of "Slouching Towards Gomorrah," which Savage's title plays off of) and William J. Bennett (he of the not-so-little gambling problem himself) would have us believe. Perhaps, Dan Savage suggests, it's more that any one of these activities has the potential to be good, bad, or indifferent. It all depends.

Take gluttony, for instance. What, you might ask, could possibly be wrong about eating a giant piece of chocolate cake? Sounds great to me, chocolate lover that I am! But as the culmination of a humongous meal at a chain restaurant called "Claim Jumper," the two huge hunks of greasy, gritty, cheap chocolate cake that Dan Savage and a friend each scarf down can only be described as surreal, bizarre, and worst of all, not much fun. Actually, I would say that there's something pathetic and sad about the whole experience -- giant onion rings, giant glasses of water, giant roast chicken, giant order of ribs, etc. Maybe this "sin" stuff ain't all it's cracked up to be?

A couple of chapters are truly memorable, including the one on "anger," which centers on guns. The title of the chapter, "My Piece, My Unit," alludes to the strange, semi-sexual appeal that guns apparently have for some (many?) people. Now THAT should be a sin! But the funniest thing about the chapter is that Dan Savage turns out to be quite a shot. Who knew that a liberal skinny gay guy from Seattle could be so good with guns, someone with a "gift" who could "learn to be a real marksman" with some practice (according to his instructor, Paul)? So much for stereotypes!

Personally, I found the chapter on Greed ("The Thrill of Losing Money") to be one of the most interesting and insightful. Are people who gamble sick, depraved sinners? Are they greedy? Or are they just out to have a good time? How about "none of the above" or "it depends?" In just one of the insights that Dan Savage arrives at in his explorations, in this case he comes to the conclusion that "it's not about money, it's about risk and danger...and feeling alive." And to quote Bruce Springsteen (a bit out of context, but what the hell?), "it ain't no sin to be glad you're alive!"

Besides gluttony, anger, and greed, Dan Savage's other chapters cover the rest of the deadly sins ("lust," "sloth," "envy," and "pride") more or less effectively and entertainingly. And all throughout the book, Savage manages to, well, SAVAGE the finger-wagging hypocritical ultra-moralists out there in a bitingly funny way. So funny, that you may commit the sin of Envy by the end of the book -- wishing you had Dan Savage's writing, journalistic and story-telling talents, that is. On the other hand, if you are a finger-wagging hypocritical ultra-moralist, you might want to avoid reading this book altogether, because it will probably just make you angry. And since we all know that anger's a sin, we certainly wouldn't want that! Personally, I enjoyed spending a nice weekend reading Savage's book and not doing many of the chores I was supposed to be doing. I believe that's called "sloth," and that it's a sin. Whoops!

all is well in gomorrah
As usual this book conveys that all is well amongst the hedonists.I would'nt blame Jefferson with todays descent into the maelstrom.Though he was a deist, he did recognize a Creator and a moral system based on the teachings of Jesus--Even O Rielly accepts that which he calls Judeo Christian Philosophy--This book negates a moral sense. It says that man should make his own rules and call right what he thinks is right. Christians call this Original Sin.No wonder this thing was remaindered.Being cute and call it humor says something about this author. ... Read more

Reviews (33)

They say it's the first book to buy on animation. I agree.
I have, for several years, been a member of various computer animation lists, and that's where I'm coming from with this review. This is the one book which has consistently come up on those lists when dealing with general issues (the Principles of Animation, etc), simply because it is the best. It is not the best tutorial book, since it is not written as a tutorial: it is a history of Disney. If you want a tutorial on computer animation, go elsewhere. But that will probably NOT be as much help to you as reading this book, because after reading this, you will be inspired. I think this is why people are so religeously fervent when speaking about it - not because they found it useful for the large number of techniques and tips which are slipped in throughout (though very many of them are out of date or not applicable in the computer animation world), but because the book inspires. I thought it was expensive, but after I bought it and read it the first time, I realised it was cheap at the price. It is gorgeously produced, and filled with colour pics and examples of what it talks about. Worth buying if you are into animation, or if you are interested in the history of Disney.

Wonderful insight into Disney animation
A very comprehensive book about the development of Disney animation. Hundreds of drawings that show how individual characters were developed, what makes characters appealing, what worked and what didn't, how the animators came up with ideas, how to draw sequences -- this book covers every aspect of animation. It's more than a history of the Disney company, it shows how the individual departments (animators, inkers, stylists, storymen, sound studio, etc) worked together to create a 80-minute film that is made up of 460,000 finished cels, 2.5 million total drawings (including sketches), and takes an average of 3 and a half years to make. Examples come from all Disney films, such as Cinderella, Peter Pan, Jungle Book, etc. and show drawings, sketches, paintings, the animators who created the characters and pretty much everything one wants to know about animation. It is a wonderful book.

One of a kind, truly *the* animation "bible"
poopypants is unbelievably clueless. I first read this book when I was in high school, and it was out of print. The temptation to steal the book was overwhelming! About 8 years ago, it came back into print and I immediately bought it.

If all you're looking for is some hold-my-hand-and-teach-me-how-to-draft-sequential-drawings-book , check out Tony White's book, or Preston Blair's excellent text, or one in the Juvenile section of the library, but if you want to know how to *breathe life into your animation*, this books is a MUST HAVE. Period.

Also check out Richard William's "The Animator's Survival Kit" for a good "sequel" (in a way), and some advanced nuts & bolts stuff.

This is still the single best animation book available, and will be the animation "bible" for years to come. I'm at a loss as to why someone wouldn't be able to glean an amazing amount of wisdom from this book - it confounds me.

This book is NOT an illusion,its the real McCoy.
I have yet to read(well...fully..properly..) or for that matter even buy it(this book),but I have seen it in a local bookstore and are dying to get it.It is hellishly expensive,but I have my beady eye on it.
I have flipped through it many times ,and even read a paragraph or two,and I have to say,it is the best book on Disney and/or animation I have ever seen,and it is what I have been looking for ,for a long time.
Strictly speaking it is not a animation handbook,it is not supposed to be,but there is more than enough info on the why's and wherefore's of animation technique and principles to wet the appetite of any animator or lay person,and provide precious insight into the magic of Disney animation.
There is hundreds of photos,diagrams,demos,and stills within the book that will leave any serious animation fan sallivating..and gasping in wonderment....and I haven't even got the book yet..I can't wait to get it..it IS THAT GOOD !!!
This is NOT a book to be overlooked anytime soon.It is a MUST HAVE BOOK!!
Get it soon,get it today,get it NOW!!

I must've missed the magic
I realize I'm alone on this one, so I don't think my voice will be heard very well against the crowds saying otherwise, but I didn't find this book to be very useful. I was so excited when I first got it because I've heard nothing but good things about it, but I was unfortunately dissappointed. It's really more of a history and recollection of "the good ol' days" told by two brilliant animators, but, in my honest opinion, it lacked very much the "how to" part of animation. I'm all for learning from the experiences of others, but after reading the book cover to cover I can't say I'll be a better animator for it. ... 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

Nick Twisp is back! America's most literate teen diarist returns with more riotous adventures through the land mines of 21st century adolescence. This sequel to C.D. Payne's acclaimed first novel "Youth in Revolt" finds love-struck Nick Twisp still on the lam from the law and his parents. Our 14-year-old hero (and his multiplying alter egos) now must battle blizzards, back-stabbing aliens, vengeful parents, and school officials determined to schedule him into girls' gym. He conspires to play cupid, journeys south of the border on a secret mission, takes some gunplay lessons from his distraught mom, and still finds time to confide all to his diary while inadvertently wreaking havoc in cyberspace. A must-read for Nick Twisp fans. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Revolt Again
Nick Twisp and CD Payne are back with a vengeance in the 2000 novel REVOLTING YOUTH, the continuation of Payne's classic YOUTH IN REVOLT. Shorter and breezier than its predecessor, REVOLTING YOUTH picks up almost exactly where YIR left off, with Nick hiding out in drag in Ukiah, enjoying his Wart Watch royalties and the affections of his ladylove, Sheeni. This peace is not to be long-lived, however, and Dickensian plot twists and turns soon overtake him. Over the course of the story, our protagonist will find himself in the Deep South during a blizzard, south of the border, living the shallow life in Los Angeles, assuming yet another new identity, along with actually undergoing a surprisingly touching process of maturity. One of the surprises of this book is the degree of changes that the characters go through. Unlike most sequels, in which established personalities remain unchanged (and therefore less interesting), Nick actually grows in REVOLTING YOUTH. He picks up newer, more mature character traits and ways of achieving his goals. True, his primary characteristic is still self-interest, but this new willingness to face danger head on and not rely solely on sneakiness points to a means of growth and development that could fill a whole series of Nick Twisp novels. Sheeni also goes through some interesting changes, showing a new depth and vulnerability. Payne commendably refuses to confine her to a simple "girlfriend" role. There is much talk of genes and genetics in REVOLTING YOUTH, and we realize bit by bit how much Nick rebels against his own genes, almost defying Nature itself, in his various quests. He impersonates various other people and sexes, becoming a female (Carlotta) and many other things while performing his scam operations. It is almost as if Nick's own genes are entirely changeable - he vigorously defies the roles that society attempts to assign him, rebelling against his parents and even himself at several points in order to achieve his goals. Nick reflects at several places how genes control us all, but it is clear that nothing controls him. He is entirely adaptable. The book ends on a good note, while one wishes for the story to continue, it could just as easily end at that point once and for all. Nevertheless, I find myself hoping for more stories of Nick Twisp, and I wish Payne the best of luck with this and all his other literary endeavors. Long live the revolt.

C. D. Payne is one of the funniest authors in existance...
This is a very good continuation of Youth in Revolt, which stands next to The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy as one of the funniest books in print today. It starts a little slow, as if it was difficult to get back into that groove of the first book, but a couple pages into it and it's like you never left. The sheer improbability of the events that occure in Nick's life are what make it so enjoyable, yet the emotions still run true to what everyone has felt in their teenage years. Everyone can identify. It's a simple story about True Love, and what life will throw in your way to prevent it. I highly suggest anyone with a sense of humor/irony read this book....right after Youth in Revolt!

Disappointing disaster
I can't believe after reading this 300 page book that I would come back to see only positive reviews for it! This sequel was so terrible and so ludicrous and overall a waste of my time. As a big, big fan of the first one (the first book I'd choose to read while in the bathroom) I didn't think a sequel was necessary nor possible. I was right.

The plot is so absurd and such a mess it seems to me that CD Payne was coerced into writing a sequel (or maybe he just wanted to profit some more) and never had an ending in sight so he found himself writing into plot holes that could never be resolved except with things too absurd even for Twispian universe standards. His prose is different in this one too. Whereas the first one starts you off with a clear and vivid description of Nick, his mom, Jerry, etc and the brilliant recaptures of his date with Sheeni with Jerry and his mom, to his spying on Lefty, to meeting Fuzzy and Apurva, this time it seems like the characters are forced to meet each other, and can't get out of their predicaments unless some Divine Intervention occurs. There is not a funny moment in this book; it just cycles into the absurd and introduces so many characters it becomes annoying. I know the pattern in the first book was the same too; Lefty is a major player in the first one then suddenly disappears as Fuzzy and Vijay take over the spotlight; in this one, you go from Connie (?!?!) to Dogo and back again.

But in this book, when CD Payne creates a new character, by what else, Plastic Surgery (What the F***??!), I couldn't believe it. Nick goes to Mexico to get plastic surgery? I mean, geez, dressing up as Carlotta is reasonable, but this is just retarded, even for the Twispian world. This book is just so unbelievabe, the characters don't even seem to believe what they are saying because Payne is lost and seems to have forgotten how these characters would talk; its just one absurdity after another--and not only is it absurd in general, it's contradictory that these old characters would do the same things (Paul is no longer as ominous and Vijay no longer as conniving. Could you imagine Sheeni from the first book saying the same things?). The first one is just flat out better--the dialogue and Tarantino-esque situations are genius yet believable at least.

Revolting Youth seems forced and that it was written by an aspiring 11th grader submitting something to his AP English teacher. Also, if you'll notice, the reviews on this book are FOR YOUTH IN REVOLT. Interesting that there's not a single praise for Revolting Youth on REVOLTING YOUTH ITSELF. The botton line is, the first one was pure classic, impossible to top, and this just proves it.

Great Follow-Up!!
One of the wittiest books you'll ever read, except for possibly the fist one Youth In Revolt (which I highly recommend you read before this as this is obviously the continuation). Overall I'd say the 1st book is funnier and the 2nd book is more exciting. I tend to laugh a little less when the air gets charged with operations, gun shots, and high speed get aways.

That said you simply must read both books in their correct order. I have never laughed so much in my life. Sure, there is plenty of budding male sexuality in here, you could certainly say its one of the major themes, but the book is filled with so many relavent social and political references along with a stunning vocabulary that you simply allow the author to use this crazed 14 year old male as a vehicle for his humorous commentary. I have also been pleasantly surprised that all the women I've talked to have recommended these books to me (a male). This reinforces the notion that though Nick is a sex starved young male, females are also able to relate to Nick and Sheeni's sexuality, validating the book on yet another level.

Bravo! Funniest Books ever written!!!!

Lives up to the last one
I was a little worried when I ordered this book. I really didn't see how he could carry on the story with how the ending of the first book went, but I figured that I'd check it out anyway.

I'm glad that I did.

The book starts off with the main character kind of in the same cozy situation he was left in at the end of the first book, but things quickly heat up, and he finds himself in even more bizarre situations than the first novel.

The plot is not forced as i feared. Contrary to what some other viewers have said, I feel that the characters have matured. Nick particularly...

If you read the first one and didn't read this one...you haven't read the whole story.

I highly reccomend this book. ... Read more

Book Description

"YES." Rarely has one word, one positive response, resonated so loudly from the world's comic pages. But when leading lady Cathy finally took the plunge-after nearly 30 interminable years!-and accepted boyfriend Irving's marriage proposal, the occasion certainly deserved notice among Cathy fans around the globe. The Wedding of Cathy and Irving captures all the fun, magic, and-yes-the nerve-racking overanalyzing that filled the Cathy strips leading up to the big decision and the big day itself. This collection features some of the couple's most memorable moments from throughout their long relationship, but the spotlight shines most on the year that included the unexpected "ring find," the proposal, the "YES," and the frenetic wedding plans that Cathy and Mom both endure and perpetuate. The longest courtship in cartoon page history will come to an end on February 5, 2005. But as The Wedding of Cathy and Irving shows, nothing is quite that simple in Cathy's world. Whether she's pondering pastor possibilities or worrying wedding dress selections to death, Cathy is unequalled in capturing the conundrums of modern women everywhere. It's all Cathy, through and through.

Book Description

When he was a child, Darby Conley used to wonder what his beloved pooch was thinking. That curiosity led to his creation of the hilarious strip Get Fuzzy in 1999, which has rapidly become one of the most popular cartoons in newspaper syndication. Showcasing the relationship between Bucky, a temperamental cat with an attitude; the sweet and sensitive dog Satchel; and their mild-mannered human companion, Rob Wilco, Get Fuzzy has cornered the market on anthropomorphic antics.Anyone who finds animals both amazing and amusing will find this new Get Fuzzy collection one of the most bitingly funny books ever printed. ... Read more

Reviews (22)

more funny antics of the "Get Fuzzy" crew
I love this cartoon strip, so everytime a new book of cartoons is released, I am overjoyed. This compilation continues the crazy antics of Roger, Bucky and Satchel. If you are an animal lover, you can't afford to miss these characters. If you aren't, you will still be entertained and amused at the interactions among cat, dog and human. Being a cat owner for many years, I tend to favor the Bucky character since he typifies the antics of my cat (Scully). Although my cat doesn't talk or use my credit card (yet) there are many similarities between Bucky and regular felines. The attitude, the physical demeanorare very real. Poor Satchel seems to be not so bright, but is a lovable character who seems provide stability to the household and keeps Bucky in check. Roger seems to have infinite patience and keeps his cool amid the chaos the two non-humans create, stoically playing whipping boy for Satchel and Bucky.

I highly recommend this comic strip and especially the compilations that have been released (I believe this is the fourth). Bucky and company will bring you many hours of smiles and chuckles that are gauranteed to relieve depression.

Get Fuzzy Rules
This book was wonderful. Get Fuzzy is fast becoming one of the best comics out there and my personal favorite (besides Garfield) Get Fuzzy and Garfield do have quite a bit in common-a single guy living with a less than bright dog and a cat who rules the house. But that is where the similarity ends. Garfield is cute and great for children and adults alike while Get Fuzzy is sarcastically funny and better suited for adults. Darby Conley continues to come up with fresh ideas and I found myself laughing out loud when I read this latest book. Bucky's facial expressions are hilarious and the one drawing of Bucky as a kitten was worth the price of the whole book.

Bucky is a cat not to be trifled with
This book continues the adventures of Satchel and Bucky and their "owner," Rob Wilco. This book begins the epic battle between Bucky Katt and Fungo Squiggly, the next-door ferret. Darby Conley is amazingly creative with coming up with new ways for the "pets" to mess with Rob's life or fight each other or just hang out at the house.

This set of strips covers the period around Sept. 11, which Conley handles very well and even manages to get a few giggles in as Rob goes to the Red Cross to donate blood. That's not easy to do.

The cover says it all...
I had to beg a friend of mine to loan me this hilarious new installment of the "Get Fuzzy" books, and from the minute i saw the cover-a spoof on an old Jimi Hendrix album cover, complete with a TU-NA belt buckle for Bucky and a doggie 'fro for Satchel-I knew it was going to be nothing short of hilarious. The book is also full of great illustrations, a definate added bonus to this witty publication. I love Bucky's looks of pure intrigue, and his fang, while Satchel serves up ignorance and sweetness with his gazes.

Now, I've read reviews of other "Get Fuzzy" books and the thing they seem to be lacking is at least a few of the side-splitting scenarios "the get fuzzy experience" has to offer. Here are some of my favorites:

-A trip to the video store, where Bucky accuses Rob of only wanting to rent "full-frontal nudity" films, and Satchel's subsequent disappointment that he can't rent "Benji" again.
-Satchel chasing a bike and hurting his paw. And then, after the agonizing stiches, he finds out he's lost his watch.
-And, of course, Satchel at a support group for dog's with fleas, as he proclaims, "Hi, my name is Satchel, and I have fleas."

"The Get Fuzzy Experience" is a real treat to anyone who's a fan of the comic stip, and even to newcomers of the droll trio.

Bootleged Get Fuzzy!
I think that I can explain the Vietnam reference. There is a fraternity at Texas A+M University that has created a bootleged version of Get Fuzzy. The drawings are very accurate to Conley's. The irony is that the bootleged version is way more funny than the actual Get Fuzzy. The reason behind the bootleg is that the boys of that fraternity could not stand the "cuteness" of Get Fuzzy, you know how it has a tendency to be so, "Oh how cute"? These frat boys felt that taking doses of Get Fuzzy is the same as having too much sugar. So one night on a drunken binge the bootleg Get Fuzzy was born. In my opinion the bootlegged version is way more funny, or even funny to begin with. So if you have a chance to read the bootleg read it, it is actually funny. ... Read more

Book Description

Debuting in 1999, Get Fuzzy has rocketed to the top of the charts. Now appearing in more than 200 newspapers, including the San Francisco Examiner, the Chicago Tribune, the L.A. Times, the Boston Globe, and the Detroit Free Press, Get Fuzzy has become a hit cartoon with its bitingly funny portrait of single life with pets.And why not' The laughs come fast and furious. Get Fuzzy features Rob Wilco, a single, mild-mannered advertising executive who's the so-called guardian of Bucky and Satchel, anthropomorphic scamps that still live by their animal instincts. Bucky, a temperamental cat who carries a boom box and goes on spending sprees, definitely calls the shots in this eclectic household, while Satchel is a kindly canine with a sensitive soul who tries to remain neutral, even though he bears the brunt of his feline companion's mischief.Between the three of them, the Wilco household faces a whole host of trials and tribulations that classify them as family. Satchel wants his boundaries respected. Bucky refuses to eat vegetables but insists on snarfing up Rob's plants. Rob tries to meet women, but his pets continually subvert his efforts. In every frame, Get Fuzzy depicts the hilarious war between the species, giving the animals an equal footing in hilarious one-upmanship.Get Fuzzy has become the comic strip for everyone who loves their pets with an attitude. That said, Groovitude is Get Fuzzy at its finest.

... Read more

Reviews (58)

Definitely not a Garfield clone - more like a good sit-com
Get Fuzzy is no more a Garfield clone than Dilbert (which also features a single guy, a dog and a cat) is. Garfield is fun but it's cartoonish, in both art and content, whereas Get Fuzzy is more of a caricature. The artwork and gags are far closer to reality - no one gets kicked into next week, or has a tongue that pulls out 30ft, and Satchel (the dog) in particular always looks so real you can feel the weight of him. The drawing of the faces is particularly expressive. The behaviour of the characters is far more lifelike - Rob, the human, has an actual job with an actual boss and actual overtime, a social life and friends, cats cough up furballs and space out on catnip, dogs raid dustbins and sniff each other - and while many of the things Bucky (the cat) and Satchel get up to are things which no real cat or dog could do (such as Bucky trying to start his own TV programme on how to distress furniture with your claws), their behaviour is the sort you might really see in a precocious child. The humour is cumulative and tells a story: with Garfield you generally get a series of single stand-alone gags, whereas with Get Fuzzy you need to read a whole sequence and get into the characters. It's the same difference as between watching a stand-up, slapstick comic or a good sit-com.. E.g., my favourite Garfield gag is where Garfield puts a peeled banana on top of the 'phone, in place of the handset, and then rings Jon so that when Jon answers he sticks a banana down his ear; my favourite Get Fuzzy strip goes: Rob - 'Jeez! Did you see the look that woman shot me?' Satchel - 'Are you sure "putt putt" golf is the place for you to meet women?' Rob - 'Why not?' Satchel - 'Well... I don't know how to, um, say... um... hmm...' Bucky - 'You got little "chicken legs," man.' (with drawing of Rob's scrawny, hairy legs sticky out of a pair of shorts) Rob - 'I do not! Satchel? Satchel?!' Satchel - 'Um... Oh look, a windmill...' 'Oh look, a windmill' has now become my family's stock response to any question we don't want to answer. [Having said which, I don't in fact recommend the Groovitude Treasury, as I gather it's just excerpts from the first two books. Get the books - The Dog is Not a Toy and Fuzzy Logic - instead.]

Get Fuzzy is DEFINITELY NOT A GARFIELD RIP-OFF!!
Anyone who thinks so is mad! Bucky is such a *KATT* (his last name, fyi), Satchel (last name "POOCH") is the *sweetest* mutt in the world and Robbo (Rob Wilco, their "person") is the kind of guy I'd like to meet :-) Everybody (fuzzy and non) in this strip is WAY superior and far more entertaining than the Garfield characters, and if you don't believe me, just go to the comics.com website and check out some of the archived strips. Very, VERY funny, even if you hate cats or dogs. These books are hoot! But get the first 2 rather than the treasury... that way you can follow the soap opera of the week (they're laid out in order) and it's more fun that way. BTW: My favorite line: "He's packin' Smacky." HA HA!! (guess you had to be there ;-)

Cat vs. Dog, in convenient bite-sized strips
Laughing outloud is gauranteed on every page of Groovitude (contrary to the thoughts of some Bloom County diehards), the first Get Fuzzy Treasury. It is a compilation of "House Rule #4- The Dog is not a Chew Toy" and "Get Fuzzy: Fuzzy Logic", with the Sunday comics in color. If you are not a serious collector who wants Every Single Book, then I recommend this treasury over buying the first two books.
This cat is much funnier than Garfield! The world is much more complex with numerous hidden pop culture references, instead of the typical Garfield "countertop" strip. My personal copies of all the treasures are dog-earred after numerous borowings from friends, and family. I HIGHLY recommend it as the best comic currently publishing!

His strips just make you go 'awwww...'
I stumbled upon this strip a few months back and instantly fell in love with the characters. (I am in love with Satchel!)

This is a wonderful gift item for those people have (have had) dogs and cats.

The Cover Alone is Enough Reason To Buy The Book
If you want something that involves sweat little animals like Marmaduke this is not it. These animals have personality and are highly disfunctional. If you like Garfield you will love Bucky Katt and Satchel. Satchel is the fun loving dog with a good heart and Bucky is the sadistic cat with all the attitude. But it's not like Garfield where Odie gets beat up all the time Satchel gets even with little witty comments. If you need more reasons just read the comic. ... Read more

Book Description

Ryuya was only trying to finish his University courses when he caught the eye of the wealthy and gorgeous Orito. As President of the prestigious Honors Society, Orito has the right to handpick his assistant...and he's chosen Ryuya! Campus politics aren't the only things on Orito's mind, and Ryuya is shocked to discover that his newfound suitor always gets what he wants... Will come shrink-wrapped and carries an 18+ age advisory. ... Read more

Book Description

The Essential Tomb of Dracula series continues featuring tales of Dracula through the ages - from when he first became a vampire and eventually Lord of the Undead to his resurfacing in modern times. Collects stories from Tomb of Dracula Magazine #2, 4-6, Dracula Lives! #1-13. ... Read more

Book Description

Roumieu, whose illustrations have appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Progressive, reveals the hairy hominids's brave struggles with eating disorders, casual cannibalism, and philosophical quandaries ("Me once believe in good. Now, no. World go shit, like Bigfoot screenwriting career.") In a full-color graphic novel, Roumieu offers a portrait of the artist as a young ape that will leave the reader howling with laughter. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Brings tears to my eyes - laughing so hard
Perhaps I have too much time on my hands but this book made me laugh over and over. Everytime I pick it up there is something different in Roumieu's illustrations that i'll notice that will just have me in stitches. This book is a crowd pleaser! Where can I get more? Damn hilarious

TOO FUNNY!!!
this book was absolutely hillarious, every page has you holding a new stitch in your side because it's so funny it hurt. granted the book has nothing to really do with bigfoot its the funnyest thing i ever read, a definite must read!!!

Funniest Book I've Ever Read
I keep this book on my nightstand for those particularily crueling days with a new 3 month old baby in the house. It always makes me laugh -- especially the Chewbacca page. Pure genius!!!!!

The humor is terrific
I bumped into this little gem while Christmas shopping. I was laughing so hard just flipping through it in the store, I was starting to cry. So I bought two copies for gifts, and now I'm going back for more. A true masterpiece! The blend of the graphics with the story is pure genius.

Hilarious, sick, wonderful!
My wife surprised me with this book for Christmas. As soon as I started reading, I remembered why I married her. In Me Own Words had me laughing out loud immediately and the laughs didn't let up until I finished the last page. A work of pure genius! ... Read more

Book Description

a modern
ballet
where
lovers are ground
to hamburger
wives are turned into chairs
TV sets eat people
flowers grow from
children's heads
God is uncovered -- and
re-covered
and men are hung
by the instrument
of their desire

Startling, irreverent and provocative, the incomparable creator of poems and fables for children turns his eye and pen upon the social calamities and absurdities of the adult world.

Reviews (8)

Fun and thought provoking
I came across this book on my honeymoon five years ago. Our dinner reservation was in an hour, so we decided to hang out in the little reading room in the bed & breakfast. At first, I just looked around and my eyes caught sight of a large Shel Silverstein book that I had never heard of. I spent the entire hour enjoying every page of it. It was then that I first learned that Uncle Shelby hadn't always been writing for children! Buy it if you can!

ONE MAN'S GARBAGE IS ANOTHER MAN'S TREASURE
My introduction to DIFFERENT DANCES was by way of a trash can. A good friend of mine had given his father a copy of DIFFERENT DANCES his immediate reaction upon opening it was "this is pornographic trash " He then put it into the garbage can . My friend ,being thrifty by nature and knowing that I appreciated both art and humor retrieved it from the trash and his father's trash became my most treasured Christmas gift of that Christmas and many more . Shel's mastery with a pen was unmatched whether he was commenting on "civilization"with words or pictures he ran the gamut from children's books ,Dr. Hook songs ,Playboy cartoons to Different Dances He was most definitley a MAN FOR ALL AGES. We'll miss you SHEL but we are richer due to your legacy,THANKS for showing us a little bit more of ourselves.

The best Coffee Table book
This book is geared for the Adult viewer. This books gets lots of attention when friends come over.

A Masterpiece
Rarely a single day goes by that I don't recall to mind one of the many incredible stories told in this amazing book through pictures. It has changed the way I look at the world over and over again. The last three years or so, I have been miserable without my copy as someone cold-heartedly stole the book from me. Not that I can blame them really, but I fail to believe someone could treasure this work as much as I ever did or will. If you are lucky enough to own a copy - hold it tight. Thank you Shel.

I miss you Shel!
I first found 'Different Dances' about 22 years ago when I was 15. I bought two copies and gave them as gifts because they said so much about humanity...and said it without words. My favorites are 'The Bridge' and the story of a woman chained and ignored by her mate hiding behind a newspaper. She manages to slip away from the one only to be attached again to a musician. I found that to be very eye opening for sure. I am in desparate need to find a copy for myself as the copies I bought long ago were given away as gifts. I have searched local and not-so-local book stores and have found none. Please readers, help me locate a copy. ... Read more

Book Description

Featuring the beginning of Ryu's journey around the world, Cammy's quest to discover her past, Chun-Li's investigation into the Shadaloo-controlled Hong Kong underworld, and the first appearance of fan-favorite characters like Adon and Fei Long, this is a story no Street Fighter fan should be without! ... Read more

Book Description

They were visionaries. Explorers. Imaginauts. They were Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. And like their creations - the Fantastic Four - they continually strove to overcome the impossible and achieve the extraordinary. Now, the first three years of their landmark run on Fantastic Four - issues #1-30 and Annual #1 - are collected in one oversized volume. ... Read more

Book Description

Indeed, Get Fuzzy has rocketed to the top of the list of syndicated newspaper strips. It now appears in 250 newspapers, including the Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Examiner, Chicago Tribune, Boston Globe, Detroit Free Press, Philadelphia Inquirer, and Seattle Times. Readers can't get enough of the goofy trio that populate this hilarious strip: Rob Wilco, the single, mild-mannered advertising executive, and his two rambunctious pets, Bucky, the sharp-fanged, self-absorbed cat, and Satchel, the easygoing mixed-breed dog who ends up on the receiving end of Bucky's mischief. The combination creates Get Fuzzy's astutely witty take on relationships between the species.Now, in a size and format that's perfect for die-hard fans and those looking for the perfect gift, I Would Have Bought You a Cat, But . . . will become the must-have little treasure for everyone who craves a bit more of the trademark Get Fuzzy foolishness, or just enjoys a good chuckle. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Hilarious, Adorable
This book is the best. Absolutely hilarious, reflective and adorable to lovers of our companion animals. Love it!

Editorial Review.
I was hoping to purchase an actually funny take on life and the crazy relationship between pets and their owners. All I bought was the comparability between terrible and horrible. Have we not seen this formula before in other strips? It tries to be cute, then it tries to be sarcastic, all to poor results. I have a cat but that does not make this lame strip likable. My cat has more personality than all the week characters portrade here. How about something original?

Good things come in small books
Yes this is a gift book, overpriced if you buy it new, HOWEVER, pick it up by purchasing it through Amazon.Com marketplace, and you won't be disappointed.

Inside you'll find some of the best "Get Fuzzy" moments with an appropiately funny reason that you were not bought a Cat. To a die hard Get Fuzzy fan, you will have seen these strips before, but in this book, they seem fresher, and the vivid color makes it all the worth while.

a bit disappointed
if i had known the nature of this book, i would have bought another of darby conley's books for myself. "i would have bought you a cat" makes a wonderful gift book, i guess, but not for personal reading. i've read other get fuzzy books and found them to be delightful, but this book is not a typical 'comic book'. somewhat dissapointed, but if you're thinking of a unique gift to give someone who has a cat (and you can't come up with any other ideas), this would make a great gift.

Wonderful gift and hilarious read!
We love Bucky and Satch, and, thus, loved this book! I would reccommend it for anyone to keep or to give to a friend who has a sarcastic sense of humor and has pets. They will understand every cartoon in this book! Five stars, plus! ... Read more

Book Description

It is a rare cartoonist who can introduce new characters into a successful strip without upsetting readers. But since Wiley introduced Lucy, the lovable Pygmy-Clydesdale-with-an-attitude as the companion to Danae, Non Sequitur's cynical anti-heroine, fans have been clamoring for more of the pair. Now readers can enjoy the adventures of Lucy and Danae in the first Non Sequitur collection dedicated to their exploits, Lucy and Danae: Something Silly This Way Comes. Lucy's lovable equine goofiness tempers Danae's overdeveloped cynicism as Danae struggles with school, her father, and her sunny little sister, Kate. World-weary beyond her years, Danae sports a skull-in-heart T-shirt and perpetual scowl, while Lucy embodies unbridled optimism with her horsey grin. From their first meeting at summer camp, to Danae's "sneaky yet noble" plot to train Lucy as a guide horse for the blind (they do exist!), to an unplanned expedition to Santa's Workshop (in Maine, not the North Pole), Danae and Lucy turn the clich� of a sentimental girl and her horse upside down and inside out. With Lucy and Danae, Wiley Miller has found a winning combination that readers can't resist.

Reviews (1)

"Death Before Conformity!"
Danae, the queen of attitude.

She's the one who wraps herself in an American flag, so that any offense against her whim of iron is an offense against all that America stands for. She's the one who feels that explosives, combustibles, and Ken dolls have a natural affinity for each other. She's the one who wants to preach the pleasures of the Taliban to the Jehovah's Witnesses, which she describes as "enlightening the deserving."

Then there's Lucy, the pygmy pony. I'm not sure what to say about Lucy, except that she's the best critter in comics since Calvin's Hobbes went off to that "Best Of" collection in the sky.

Wiley's cartoons always present a warped, cynical, and utterly accurate view of the world. He keeps Danae around as the voice of his most thoroughly warped accuracy. I gues that's part of what earns her a whole branch of her own in Santa's "naughty or nice" division - the branch that keeps putting in for overtime and hazard pay.

This collection brings over a hundred pages of dailies and Sunday color funnies. I could wish that the Sunday strips were a bit bigger - some are small enough to interfere with easy reading. And, as with every other Wiley collection I've seen, the back cover comes way too soon.

Still, this one is worthwhile for every comics fan and essential for Wiley fans. In fact, it might even turn youinto a Wiley fan - but then you'll have the book already and be way ahead of the game. Go ahead, enjoy Danae in all her dark-clad glory.

//wiredweird ... Read more