Reviews (16)

So orginal it's hilarious!
"Why not write a cartoon book that doesn't bother with a main character and where each joke is totally different from the next?!" That must have been similar to what Gary asked himself when starting to write his hilarious comic books. Every joke is truly different from the next one! And every joke is refreshingly original! Each joke comes from a thoughtful, clever and of course playful mind.

A Great Book
If you like Gary Larson but don't know which book to buy, this is the one. It is hilarious, has cow stuff. I asure you you'll laugh your brains out. Well, at least it happened to me

A Successful Quirky Comic Series!
This is a great book! Gary Larson's Farside comic strip was quirky and fun and it's a shame that he retired from writing his sydicated comic strips in the paper because it was so original and unlike any thing else on the newspaper comic pages. There are newer comic strips that try to copy Gary Larson's Farside but they aren't as good. It's great to have this book and look at Farside when I feel I need to look at some funny quirky comics and I recommend this book!

Keeps Getting Better
I don't know how the guy does it. They keep getting funnier and there are always ones I've never seen before, as well as the ones I've always loved. You won't be disappointed if you are a Far Side fan. If you're not a Far Side fan, well, then I can't help you.

A New Office Ritual
When I started work at my present job almost two years ago, I found that the place needed a little 'lightening up'. It was casual already, to some extent, so on my next 'office supply' shopping 'trip' I picked up this calendar for my desk. Well, it began a new office ritual; everyone wants to know the "Far-Side-of-the-day"! Sometimes, it's the only funny thing to happen all day. Larson needs to come out of retirement! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

the conclusion of the story....
after months of waiting, i finally got my hands on this volume. even though i don't recommend readers to pick up this volume without checking up the first, it's still easy enough to follow the story.

in this manga, we're finally able to see the resolution of the turbulent relationship between orito and ryuya. ryuya's past concerning orito are also explored, and we get to see the real person behind the smirking facade of orito. although not exactly original plot-wise, the characters are lovable, and that includes the supporting cast. koujima's art is nice and sharp as usual and even if the translation sometimes feel a bit stiff, it's not bad. there are bits of violence and non-con scenes in this installment though, and it's noticeably darker than the first volume. the story moves slowly at first, and kinda have a rushed feeling towards the end, but still very much enjoyable. what can you expect from this installment? well... there's gowns, swords, feuds, rivalry and jealousy... i leave the rest to your imagination.

book 2 contains the remaining chapters of selfish love with no extra or side stories, unlike volume 1. also, there's cameo appearances of some of koujima's characters from another of her work. which is fun for readers who had read some of her other mangas... took me quite a while to figure out which manga the characters were from... ha ha ha.

all in all, this installment is entertaining and provides a solid ending to all the angst and madness that is selfish love. the art is topnotch as usual (see my review of the first volume), and i greatly recommend this volume for those who loved the first book. enjoy! ... Read more

Book Description

Jamie Madrox, stabbed, staggering off a bus. Jamie Madrox, setting up a detective agency in the heart of Mutant Town. Jamie Madrox, a peaceful Shaolin priest. Which is the real Jamie Madrox? In this noir-esque thriller of a limited series, it's possible that even Madrox doesn't know anymore. Peter David, acclaimed for his run on X-Factor, reunites several of that title's most popular and whimsical characters - Jamie Madrox, Wolfsbane, and the aptly named Strong Guy - and sends them on an adventure of light and darkness. Featuring the incredibly moody pencils of Pablo Raimondi. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Terribly underrated noir-ish comic with the Multiple Man
The great Peter David may have made a name for himself with his unheralded run on the Incredible Hulk, but his all too brief run on X-Factor showcased some of his best work.The character he wrote the best in that series, Jamie "Multiple Man" Madrox, gets his own mini-series here, and David manages to greatly utilize all the promising aspects of the character for the most part.Madrox is a private investigator these days, who after witnessing the death of one of his "dupes", investigates to find out just what happened and why.What he uncovers is a little conspiracy filled with mayhem and mutants, and the noir-ish presentation will pull the reader in.While some of it is a bit predictable, Madrox is a surprisingly great read with some witty storytelling by David, and great supporting roles from Jamie's former X-Factor teammates Strong Guy and Wolfsbane.The moody art by Pablo Raimondi is reason enough to check this TPB out alone, and the conclusion leaves the door open for David to work some more Madrox magic.All in all, older X-Men readers who dug the character of Madrox (and you all know who you are) would do well to give this a look. ... Read more

Book Description

Drow have long been one of the most popular, and feared, races of d20 fantasy settings. Mysterious and reviled, their habitats are often a focus for both terror and interest. This hardback details an entire drow city in full, offering Games Masters a fully realized setting for their games, or a focus for players to assault. With new rules, intricate politics, visually stunning maps and more, this book is sure to attract attention. An exhaustive guide to a Drow city in Dungeons & Dragons. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A nasty place to visit,and I wouldn't want to live there!
This is a good campaign city for those who like a city that's not just an excuse to go shopping or training.This city is nasty enough that a dungeon will seem relaxing afterwards.The noble,preists and merchant factions are all at each others throats and somebody as honest as a paladin wouldn't last long before being sent to the sacrificial altar-low level nobodies should stay home!The vault of the drow and drow of the underdark would help you to expand on this setting because it's a little heavy on politics and a little light on new magic.A fold out campaign map would have been nice as well,though the smaller maps do make it easier to fit this product into an ongoing campaign. ... Read more

Book Description

Stan Lee, the Mighty Man from Marvel, and John Buscema, active and adventuresome artist behind the Silver Surfer, Conan the Barbarian, the Mighty Thor and Spider-Man, have collaborated on this comics compendium: an encyclopedia of information for creating your own superhero comic strips. Using artwork from Marvel comics as primary examples, Buscema graphically illustrates the hitherto mysterious methods of comic art. Stan Lee's pithy prose gives able assistance and advice to the apprentice artist. Bursting with Buscema's magnificent illustrations and Lee's laudable word-magic, How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way belongs in the library of every kid who has ever wanted to illustrate his or her own comic strip. ... Read more

Reviews (45)

Great book for any "wanna-be" comic artist!!!
Have you ever wanted to learn to draw comics? If you have, this book is the place to start. How to Draw Comics: the Marvel Way teaches A-Z on comic-book drawing, using the Marvel comics style.
The book is written by one of the founders of Marvel comics, Stan Lee, and is illustrated by veteran Marvel artist John Bucema. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone who wants to draw comics.
The writer uses many pictures with excellent analysis of each. He writes as if he's talking to you, using a humorous tone. This book would be comprehensible for teens through adults.
The book includes many excellent pictures which make it very comprehensible, and fun to read.
How to Draw Comics: the Marvel Way is an great starting point for any "wanna-be" comic-book artist.

SORRY, STAN
When I was a teenager, this book was the bible for any kid wanting to get into comics. In retrospect, I wonder why--I mean, it's not really informative and it doesn't give anything away--i.e., give you any details on the finer point of comic book storytelling and drawing. In short, it's as instructional as a Lee Ames book, and that's not saying much. Besides, in light of the new direction that comic books are going these days, it's a bit dated. If you really want to get into comics, here are four great books to get you started: The Encyclopedia of Cartooning Techniques (an overview of cartooning, from technical stuff to business aspects), The Encyclopedia of Fantasy and Science Art Techniques, Chris Hart's How To Draw Animation (because animation helps a lot, kids!), and let's not forget Wil Eisner's great book that started it all! Sorry, Stan. My verdict--2 stars; but add an extra star if you're a 12 year old aspiring comic book artist just for it's inspirational benefits.

Good Book.
For anyone wanting to just start drawing, then this is a pretty good book to start with. It starts out with basics like figure drawing and perspective and moves on to subjects such as composition and panel creations. However, don't expect to come out an expert artists after reading this book. It merely is a stepping stone to get you started on drawing really cool comics. The exercises are presented really simply and almost systematically so that it's easier on a novice drawer. What the book lacks is any information on technique. You'll notice that the artist's drawings are much better than your's, but don't feel bad, that's because he's probably holding the pencil differently or is using a technique other than just holding the pencil like he's writing an essay (which is how all us beginners start out). Bottom line is, it gets you aquainted with drawing and the step by step exercises makes sure that you have reference to work off of so that you can compare your work and progress with the illustrations in the book.

It's to bad I don't own it..................
It's a good book for getting started. It was one of the first How-to-Draw books, and even if it's a little dated it's still better then some modern How-to-Draw books. It gives you some proportion guidlines, faces, dynamic angles, inking and the comic book cover. It's not very stylized, which is good because the book isn't commanding you to copy their drawing style. One of the reasons that I think it's good is becouse it makes you want to draw. A lot of modern books are kind of blah in the sense that you just like looking at the pictures. This book is for begginers without having a baby drawning style which makes you feel like a fool. This book is very well made, and one of the only weaknesses I can think of is it dosn't show you how to draw everyday clothes (folds etc.). I really like this book becouse it's a firm starting point.

More a basis than the only tome you will need
Overcoming Stan's hyperbolic style, the earlier chapters of the book are the most useful and where any aspirant artist should make sure they have everything covered. Particularly good are the perspective chapters.

Later on the book tends to gloss over things, partially (one suspects) because they are harder to explain. Having been through various copies over the years I can assuredly say I have yet to actually glean anything from the composition chapter and there is precious little of any use in the inking section.

A good foundation, but nothing particularly more. ... Read more

Book Description

This first book from Chicago author Chris Ware is a pleasantly-decorated view at a lonely and emotionally-impaired "everyman" (Jimmy Corrigan, the Smartest Kid on Earth), who is provided, at age 36, the opportunity to meet his father for the first time. An improvisatory romance which gingerly deports itself between 1890's Chicago and 1980's small town Michigan, the reader is helped along by thousands of colored illustrations and diagrams, which, when read rapidly in sequence, provide a convincing illusion of life and movement. The bulk of the work is supported by fold-out instructions, an index, paper cut-outs, and a brief apology, all of which concrete to form a rich portrait of a man stunted by a paralyzing fear of being disliked. ... Read more

Reviews (76)

The Greatest Show on Earth
I picked this up on a whim at the college bookstore; apparently a lit class is studying it.

As someone formerly somewhat wary of 'graphic novels,' Chris Ware has finally won me over. This book makes full use of the medium's benefits: It brings the bits and pieces of mental images and wanderings that any of us are apt to follow during the course of a day, wanderings that bring the past all too present.

Interwoven through the lives of the Corrigan men, the story itself is one that would stand up to any other medium: the story's great, the art work is fantastic.

This book is definitely a force in the movement to legitimize graphic novels. Like any great work of any medium, Jimmy Corrigan invites second, third, billionth glances, and has mysteries that are rewarding, not confusing.

The Melancholy Tale of Jimmy Corrigan
Wow, Chris Ware did a great job with this book. Let me start out by stating how deceptively simple the art is. At first, you start out thinking this'll be a cute and fun read, but as you read further into it, things get much darker and more depressing.

The story revolves around 37 year-old James Corrigan who we find out is a lonely, emotionally-impaired, human castaway. All the sudden his father, whom he's never met, decides he wants to spend time with Jimmy. Throughout the entire book, we go through not so seamless transitions into his fantasies and daydreams. At times, it can get confusing as to where they begin or end, but that's the whole point sometimes. We also go through other generations of Jimmy's family to take a look at their tribulations.

The story can get really depressing at times. Throughout the book, you're hoping for something good to happen to the protaginist. But just because of the overall depressing elements in the book doesn't mean there isn't any humor in it. There are some funny moments, but they tend to be subtle.

If you're into graphic novels, or even if you're not, I urge anyone who's in for a decent story to read this. Just don't expect the feel-good story of the year.

the loneliest man on earth
quite simply put: buy this book. This is one of the most beautiful and heart breaking books i have ever read. This book will change your life if you open up and listen.

A Landmark Achievement
Years from now, people won't remember that the graphic novel was once a marginal format, consigned to hobby shops and newsstands. Literary historians, however, will point to Chris Ware's Jimmy Corrigan as the book that brought graphic novels out of the dark and into the cultural spotlight.

Amazing, lifting, and magnificent
Ware does an amazing job of creating one of the most moving graphic novels I have ever read. The painstakingly detailed drawings add an unparalleled scope to this novel following the meek Jimmy Corrigan, as well as the 1893 story arc following his equally downtrodden grandfather of the same name. The dream tangents are vivid and beautiful, and only occasionally introduced before hand ("I allowed myself to luxoriate in one of my favorite semi-conscious conceits"). Do yourselves a favor and READ THIS NOVEL RIGHT NOW! ... Read more

Book Description

Pearls Before Swine is an impressive comic strip success story. In syndication for less than two years, it currently appears in more than 150 newspapers worldwide, was nominated as Best Newspaper Comic Strip by the National Cartoonists Society in it debut year - an unprecendented achievement - and its first book collection, Pearls Before Swine, has sold through four printings. This Little Piggy Stayed Home continues the adventures of Rat and Pig, who couldn't be more different - or more surprising. Rat is your typical Everrodent: scheming, self-centered, and more than occasionally manipulative. By contrast, Pig is sensitive , kindly, and - even on his best days - just plain stupid. Together with Zebra and Goat, they confront the strange and wonderful world around them, a place that looks suspiciously like our own. By turns thoughtful and subversive, silly and sophisticated, This Little Piggy Stayed Home is one of the funniest comic collections of the year. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Funny stuff from a weird (in a good way) mind
Pastis will go to ANY length to set up what would normally be a semi-lame word play; it ends up being great. He also is the master of writing conversations where each participant consistently misunderstands the other to humorous effect.

Rat is funniest at his most threatening. He tells the neighbor to get rid of the kumquats on his lawn--or face Rat's secondhand Soviet missile. Pig is funny just being Pig--only dimly aware of the reality around him. And Zebra's interactions with various potential predators is hilarious. Great book; buy it!

Good stuff.
This is an enjoyable read. PBS is quickly becoming the second-best new strip in the newspaper -- behind the sublime "Pooch Cafe."

Even Better Than His First!
It's hard to improve on excellent work, but Stephan Pastis did exactly that. His writing and drawing improved noticeably in "This Little Piggy." Truly funny and highly recommended!

Hillarious!!!
My local paper (N.Y. Daily News) has just started running this comic (Although not in the comic section, it is shuffled around in the classifieds...go figure when stuff like Cathy and Rose is Rose and other non-funny comics stay in the comic section). The first day I stummbled across it, I new it was different. Most comics have the LAMEST jokes around, most arent funny at all. But Pearls Before Swine is so different. It has this attitude that just jumps off the pages and makes you laugh out loud. I havent laughed outr loud to a comic since the Far Side was popular. Stephan Pastis writes the best jokes today. Example...

Pig is dating a golfer, who shows him her golf tee she got while playing in a tournament in Virginia. As the date goes on, she looses her tee, and they spend the night looking for it. When the date is over, the dates father asks pig why they are late, and he responds..."We would have been on time, but your daughter lost her Virginia Tee". The next frame has pig all beat up as he says "Geez, You'd think I took it". Classic stuff!!!

I look forward to getting his other book, and I look forward to searching my Daily News for this great strip.

Outstanding book - great follow-up to his first book!
Pastis is witty as ever, and his dry humor really hits home on many fronts. His jokes on married life and silly people really made me laugh. He has a great section where Rat tries to leave the strip, and joins other comic strips. His humor and tie-ins to other strips are really creative and funny. This is a must buy for Pearls fans. ... Read more

Book Description

When Keitaro Urashima fails his entrance exams to get into Tokyo University for the second time, he’s officially an unemployed and uneducated slacker. To make things worse, his parents have kicked him out of his house.Fortunately, his grandmother owns the fabulous Hinata Lodge and has agreed to take Keitaro in as caretaker.What he doesn’t know is that the lodge is actually a girl’s dorm and he’s the only guy around!Most guys would kill to live with five sexy ladies, but if Keitaro’s not careful, this job will kill him. ... Read more

Reviews (36)

Hilarious.
I found this manga with a friend, who only had vol. 2 and 3, he lend them to me, inmediatly I started looking wherever to find more about the series and finally got the chance to buy the 14 mangas. I have read all the 3 major series of Ken Akamatsu and can only complain about A.I. Love you, otherwise, Love Hina and Negima are completly another story.
I never expected the creator to take you to another level, you kinda start liking the characters... and thats a big point.
The story is original, like the rest of the world, you would never expect to see a Loooser on a comic book, but to find that we can all be that losers and know we can work hard and get our dreams come true, that was the most important thing I learned after reading this manga...
And I believe there is a way for everyone and for everybody. I dont have any more concerns, but if you are looking for a good laugh, you can enjoy the series one, two times, the many times you want to read cause you will never get bored... I can assure you of that!

Get ready for the manga experiance of your life!
Keitaro Urashima has been a Ronin (someone who has failed his university exams) for two years. Looking at his life he relizes he has nothing. He has no job, little intelligence, no athletic abilities, and no girlfriend, ever. His only memory he still holds close is a promise he made 15 years prior, that he and young girl would go to Tokyo University together and fall in love.
When Keitaro thinks he can't sink any lower he scores a manager job at his Grandma's dorm for girls, Hinata House. Then the antics of Love Hina begin.
Love Hina's story is truely extrordinary. The comedy-romance combo is delivered perfectly. Never does the comedy outway the romance and make it too silly or does the romance get too drawn out. This is great. But where the heart of Love Hina lies is in the lovable characters. Their development throughout the series creates a depth that isn't commonly found. You'll be quickly choosing your favorite character and hoping the best for their progression in the story or be terribly upset when a possibly great momment turns sour.
Love Hina is the deepest most involving story in manga. If you can read a manga without needing thousands of magic spells or exploding mechs, your sure to love it. And trust me, buying the first volume will secure your buying the rest of the series.

Intreging
This is a 100% manga so it reads from right to left. It's rated young adult for a reason. The story goes like this. A loser (Keitaro) becomes a second year ronin someone who failed the tokyo university entrance exam twice) spends all his money to get to his grandmothers hotel. Unfortune for him, the hotel a is now a girls dorm. He doesn't have any money so he ask to stay. Being a dorm for girls the girls refused (physical). Later on, he becomes a landlord in training (won't explain how). Now I bet you're asking why this loser want to get into a big college, riht? Well, Keitaro know things about promises. 15 years ago he promised a girl that they would get into tokyo university and get married when older. Keitaro forgot who the girl was. Only the promised they made to each. (How nice!) In much later books they tell who the girl is. Collect them all to find out all of the mysterious in the comedy/romance manga.

Excellent!
For any otaku (extreme anime/manga fan) out there, this is a MUST READ. This is one of my favorite manga series, and for good reason. Along with it's excellent romantic storyline, it is also VERY funny! If you can handle minor frequent ecchi (Perversion), like comedy, and romance then this is the series for you! I give it five stars! Take it from me, this is a GREAT manga series!

Wonderfully funny!
Since I liked the Love Hina anime, I decided to give the manga a try. Boy, was I amazed!! I truly love the manga and hope one day I can complete it.
Here's the main story-
Keitaro Urashima is a poor loser who keeps failing his entrance exams for the most prestigious university in Tokyo. One day, his life changes for good...he is given the job of being the new manager of the Hinata Apartments. But what he doesn't know is, that it's an all-girls dorm.
Join Keitaro, as well as residents, Naru, Kitsune, Motoko, Shinobu, and Su on a hilarious adventure!
Terrific and top-notch artwork.
Check this out if you liked Tenchi or the Love Hina anime. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

"Something" is making me laugh
This was the book that first hooked my on "Calvin and Hobbes" back when I was in college and the strip did not yet appear in our local paper. The artistry of the drawing and the quality of the comic writing is immediately apparent. Bill Watterson is a comic genius whose presence has been sorely missed on the funny pages since his retirement. What is really remarkable is the consistency of his work. Any Calvin and Hobbes collection is a treasure, and this one is no exception.

Excellent second book.
Sweet and funny, with Something Under The Bed is Drooling is an excellent follow-up to the debut of Calvin and Hobbes, Calvin and Hobbes. These comics might not be quite as good as the ones in Calvin and Hobbes, but they are still amazing. The first comic is a hilarious venture into Calvin and Hobbes's world of monsters under the bed. Then there are funny football follies where Calvin and Hobbes are playing football together and they are on the same team, but fight over who gets to make the touchdown. There are other hilarious Calvin and Hobbes comics in here, but the funniest are the three long stories in a row, the special Calvin and Hobbes Halloween special, the comic where the mother gets sick and Calvin and Hobbes try to help, and the funniest one of them all, the one where they introduce the great transmogrifier, which is one of the best Calvin and Hobbes stories yet. I loved all of he comics except for the one where Hobbes cuts Calvin's hair. I didn't care for that one although it did introduce Tracer Bullett. The Rosalyn episode in here is really funny. I would recommend this magical book to anyone who likes Calvin and Hobbes. Even if you don't like Calvin and Hobbes, it is a treasure to add to anyone's book collection.

Lots to Like Here
Although I've not read this "Calvin and Hobbes" book in quite awhile I still remember loving it when I first read it. Some of Calvin's exploits, whether he's imagining himself to be Space Man Spiff or doing something outrageous with Hobbes, are just superb.

Calvin the epitome of a bratty kid; he talks smart to his parents, is always trying to do something really naughty, is not good at school, and, in short, always acts like a little dork. I really can't pick out a "favorite moment" in the book but some of the highlights for me include the following: the skit when Calvin and Hobbes hide from dad in the car (the dads reaction is priceless) and Calvin's tanturm when he loses the board game to Hobbes. All the other staples of the book series are here: the Space Man Spiff adventures, Calvin's little love-hate realtionship with Susie, and Calvin's adventures as Stupendous Man.

If you haven't read this collection and have loved the other books in the series, then be sure to get a copy and get ready for the waves of laughter that will follow.

and everything in this book makes you laugh
Calvin is in alliance with Hobbes to combat the monsters that lurk in his imagination. The victims of this battle? Usually, Calvin's hapless parents. This collection is among the funniest as it centers on the darker side of Calvin's runaway train of imagination: monsters, space creatures, icky girls, and nefarious snowmen. Pick it up, or the monsters in the closet will come out as well.

Calvin and Hobbes at their best
Well, I must admit I have had this book since I was in 8th grade when my best friend at the time gave it to me. I still crack up when I'm going through the pages upon pages of strange situations that Calvin and his stuffed friend find themselves in. Definately a must for any C&H fan and really funny. Buy it. ... Read more

Book Description

Return of the Bunny Suicides follows over one hundred bunnies as they find ever morebizarre ways to end their fuzzy little existences.From swimming with nibbly fishes, to hidingunder an elephant’s footstool, to getting on the sharp end of a Venetian gondola—no stone goesunturned (or undropped, or uncatapulted) in the twisted little creatures’ next installment.

Illustrated in a spare and simple style, Return of the Bunny Suicides is a collection ofhilarious and outrageous cartoons that will appeal to anyone in touch with their evil side. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

On the Road to Oblivion... one more time
I loved "Return of the Bunny Suicides". If you liked the first book, "The Book of Bunny Suicides," you will most likely enjoy the sequel. The bunnies find even more creative ways to end their lives. It is funny and amusing, if you don't mind seeing cartoon bunnies execute both simple and complex plans to end their lives. Although the reader does not know why the bunnies are so willing to die, (s)he can certainly appreciate the bunnies' formulated deaths. The drawings are relatively simple, not too gory (yes, some decapitated heads but nothing graphic), and allows the reader to anticipate what happens instead of always giving the end picture.

Obviously this book isn't for everyone. But if you think you can appreciate the humor in suicidal cartoon bunnies, it's certainly worth flipping through.

By the way, I love bunnies and am against animal cruelty, but have enough of a sense of humor to laugh at silly things such as this.

Not funny at all
What does Mr. Riley have against bunnies?I read this book in the bookstore and found it disturbing. The truth is bunnies don't contemplate suicide but sick people contemplate killing helpless animals. Perhaps thats where the ideas stem in this book. I'm asking the bookstore to remove this book from its shelves. It is a sick and cruel attempt at humor. It belongs in the same wastebasket as the "roadkill" candy.

Not quite as good as it's Big Brother...
Worth a look nonetheless, for it is the genre of these books which is so amusing and intelligent. I get so tired of this notion that by acknowledging the purile, wicked and taboo we somehow become all of those things ourselves and worse still, evil. These books encourage us to see the natural and lighter side of wicked and intrusive humour. Far healthier to do so than claim not have such thought or feeling because it's inhuman, it is very much so human! What better way to develop greater understanding of your own mind than through humour?
Incidently, to any detractors of this theory, no actual little fluffy bunnies were hurt in the making of these books!

Goodbye Cruel World!
I love the Bunny Suicide books!Mr. Riley makes them so funny, and we should all be ashamed for enjoying them so much.I enjoy the way he works in current pop culture and events to some of the suicides, making them that much more hysterical.

My favorite in this one has to be the bunny who ate all the beans!A laugh riot.

Like the first one
Like the first one, it is sometimes funny, many times sick. The drawings are sort of crude, but I can see this is the kind of material that has its fans. ... Read more

Book Description

85 Cartoons ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Amusing New York cartoons regarding those pesky lawyers
My father had a giant book of cartoons from "The New Yorker" that I never got tired of reading as a kid. Some of the cartoonists that I learned to love way back when, such as Chas. Addams, Sidney Hoff, and Wm. Steig, are present and accounted for in this 1994 collection of cartoons devoted to the practice of the law (by those who have yet to get it right). However, most of these 85 cartoons are by some of the newer kids on the block, such as Michael Maslin and Danny Shanahan, who just do strike my funny bone with as much regularity as the old masters. The looks on the faces of the lawyer and his two clients in the Steig cartoon is not equaled throughout this book and their is not a better caption than Chon Day's lawyer sadly informing his client, "I've just about resigned myself to your getting twenty years." These are amusing enough, but really not up to the quality I expect from "The New Yorker." On the other hand, if you were to give this book as a present to a lawyer acquaintance, they are not going to be terribly offended (which may well be the problem in a nutshell). Still, "The New York Book of Lawyer Cartoons" is worth a look through, just like an issue of the magazine. I always read all the cartoons whenever I see a copy lying around. Oh, and the listing of what movies are playing in the revival houses. The thought of going to a theater to see a Chaplin, Bogart or Hepburn movie still sounds like high culture to me.

No Holds Barred: Lawyer Humor Requires Visuals
I first discovered The New Yorker when I was a teenager. When I saw how many people subscribed to the magazine, I started asking people why they did. Inevitably, the answer was, "For the cartoons." Since then, I have come to realize that The New Yorker is like the hall of fame for cartoonists.

I recently read The New Yorker Book of Money Cartoons, which encouraged me to read this book. Unfortunately, that book made this one seem a bit inadquate (hence the four star rating). First, there is no witty essay in this one to introduce the subject, unlike Christopher Buckley's outstanding one in the money book. Second, the lawyer humor seems a bit forced to me, compared to the money humor in that book.

While I think this book will appeal to many lawyers and their families, I think that few defendants and plaintiffs will be amused because the humor is often about how lawyers prosper at the client's expense.

It's hard to convey a sense of these cartoons without showing one. Unlike the money cartoons that usually work as quips, these cartoons almost always need visuals to work. Many of them involve lawyers circling like sharks surrounding a potential client, or invoke other old chestnuts of lawyer humor.

The privileged position of the lawyer compared to the client comes through clearly. "I've just about resigned myself to your getting twenty years."

Lawyers are expensive, as is the legal system. "You have a pretty good case Mr. Pitkin. How much justice can you afford?"

The humor works best when it is fresh. My favorite was "May I ask you, Miss Howre, what made you select a homeopathic attorney?"

As you can see, this book would make a wonderful present to the attorney who lost your case and you just sued for malpractice.

Seriously, the humor is pretty savage. I'm not sure that someone who is proud of being a lawyer would appreciate it. The market is limited to those lawyers with humility and a sense of humor.

The lesson for nonlawyers is to resolve your conflicts without the legal system, whenever possible. That can be a great stallbuster!

Retain your sense of humor in the meantime!

A very funny book.
No one can resist picking up this very funny book of cartoons. Short enough to read in one sitting, the New Yorker Book of Lawyer Cartoons also looks great in the home or office. The humor is urbane, the art work fresh and eye-catching. Every lawyer should have this book. ... Read more

Book Description

Cats have long been a favorite subject of cartoonists.From Jim Davis's Garfield to Patrick McDonnell's Mooch, cartoon cats make us laugh.Now in the form of Solange the Siamese, Brooke McEldowney has successfully captured the endearing qualities that makea cat, well, a cat:the way they cannot resist dark fabric, their unflinching indifference to squalid humanity (unless, of course, said humanity comes bearing treats), and their advanced heat-seeking technology that leads them to the warmest laps and the coziest corners.Readers will grin with recognition at each of these humorously illustrated hallmarks.The result is a delightful field guide to a cat's moods, motivations, and behaviors.Ever since it appeared as a recurring theme in the comic strip 9 Chickweed Lane,Hallmarks Of Felinity has attracted a large and devoted readership of its own.Longtime fans and newcomers alike will enjoy this charming gift book. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Great strips, OK book
9 Chickweed Lane has been a favorite comic strip for some time. Brooke McEldowney uses heavy lines and negative spaces to capture a unique atmosphere. These strips about the family cat, Solange, and her feline quirks are some of the best.

Unfortunately, the book's addition of pink to the otherwise black and white comics detracts greatly from his artwork. A book in the same format as Mutts or Calvin & Hobbes would have been much preferred over this "special" book. And I hope that 9 Chickweed eventually gets such a collection.

Covers the silly and serious nature of the feline
This book does well in capturing the essence of the cat. Any cat lover would appreciate this book as a gift.

Brooke McEldowney (who is a man, by the way) has great talent- and I can only hope to see a comprehensive 9 Chickweed Lane book in the future.

Other fan of McEldowney's work should be sure to look for his other comic strip: Pibgorn

A must have for cat lovers
Not only has Brooke McEldowney captured the pure essence of 'cat' but Solange is without a doubt one of the most expressive cartoon cats I have ever seen. What a wonderful little book.

Love this strip!
I love the parent strip, 9 CHICKWEED LANE. However, this
particular book restricts itself to the cat (Solange). I would
have enjoyed it more if it included the other characters.

Even if you don't like cats...
You will probably enjoy this book.

Cats are easy to understand. The ancient Egyptians worshipped them as gods and they have never forgotten this fact. And Brooke must be not only owned by a cat but love them as well to show off their endearing traits as well as they are presented in this book.

Kipling may have had it right when he quoted the cat as saying "I am the Cat that walks by himself, and all places are alike to me." but Brooke show us the hilarity that ensues when a cat takes that expression to heart and settles down for a nap while you're trying to do taxes or yoga or, well, anything that's not involving the cat.

I said this book would be coming from the first Hallmark of Felinity and I'm glad to see it in print. Now if only we could get more of these strips in print... ... Read more

Book Description

Top Shelf is proud to announce the complete, 608-page (!!!) BOX OFFICE POISON graphic novel. This perennial fan favorite is so wonderfully written that the series screams for an all-up collection. As big fans of the comic book series know, this epic story of Sherman, Dorothy, Ed, Stephen, Jane, and Mr. Flavor is not to be missed. Alex Robinson's completely natural and inspiring knack for dialogue has made his story of dreary jobs, comic books, love, sex, messy apartments, girlfriends (and the lack thereof), undisclosed pasts, and crusty old professionals one of the most delightful and whimsical books to hit the stands in years. This definitive edition will be for keeps! ... Read more

Reviews (25)

A graphic novel.
I mean that in every sense of the words - Box Office Poison is a novel told in sequential art form, a 600 page roman fleuve of modern life in geekish subculture. Alex Robinson's art is somewhere between cartoonish and naturalistic, and just seems natural for the characters and situations he creates.

Robinson's story - again naturalistic, straightforward, lifelike - captivates, and the characters are all flawed in different and interesting ways. The subplots add up to something addictive, and keep you wondering throughout the length of the book.

Box Office Poison is a great way to get into independent comics, and the quality of storyline is sufficient to win over most skeptics of the form to hope for what comics can do.

Didn't want it to end
The real-life-like story of Sherman, Ed, Dorothy, Jane, et al, is an incredibly gripping journey that I didn't want to end. Despite it's length of over 600 pages, the compiled Box Office Poison was a joy to read, and, due to becoming immersed in the story, very quick to finish. The characters and situations in BOP should be familiar to nearly anyone, and provide more lifelike scenarios that any book or movie out there.

If you're the least bit interested in "alternative" comics without superheros or far-fetched storylines, this is your chance to pick up something amazing. Highest recommendation!

hate sherman
strange the old cliche that says we hate those characteristics in others that are most like ourselves. i've never found this so true as i did in this brilliant graphic novel. every character in this story is a pathetic & sympathetic one. you can only sympathise with one when you "walk a mile in their shoes"; if you read this story you will walk many a mile carrying many characters in your arms.
the more complex robinson becomes,the more vague become humans & our ability to cast moral judgements on them.
i cried openly for some reason during stephen's santa experience, was shocked that the mystery door in sherman's room never became a cheap revelation & thrilled that the world will never know the truth about dorothy's accusation about stephen.
this book is genius & this review couldn't pray to give it justice. justice comes by night!

outstanding job! lots of fun...
I am relatively new to the world of comics/graphic novels, but Box Office Poison is a lot of fun. This reads just like a great novel, with plot twists and turns, and terrific characters that you're not sure how much you like, but you know you want to read more. Well worth the money and as I write this I am definately looking forward to alex robinson's next effort.

Decisions, Decisions ...
A lot of people who are browsing past this graphic novel might think its just another Gen-X treatise on bad relationships.

It's not.

Alex Robinson has crafted a cast of characters with depth, using "comic" approaches to draw out each of their inner fears, desires and concerns. Some 600+ pages later, you're moved by each of the stories, and thinking about how you've become what you've become since you left home. There are key moments in our lives, very small and quick, that define who we are for years to come. "Box Office Poison" is a stark reminder that, as with the case of poor Sherman Davies, sometimes we make mistakes, and sometimes our mistakes make us. ... Read more

Book Description

The master of comic book writing shares his thoughts on how to deliver a top-notch script! The main essay was originally written in 1985 and appeared in an obscure British fanzine, right as Moore was reshaping the landscape of modern comics, and has been tragically lost ever since. Now Avatar brings it back in print, collected for the first time as one graphic novel, and heavily illustrated by Jacen Burrows. Moore also provides a brand new essay on how his thoughts on writing have changed in the two decades since he first wrote it. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

This is going to be a schizophrenic review
I have to split how I am going to review Alan Moore's Writing for Comics.

First, we'll focus on the content. Then we'll focus on style. This is nothing new. For comics, there are some I've bought for art, some for the content and a few (very few) for the mixture. I loved Gaiman's Sandman for it thoughts but the art was merely passable. Likewise for Invisibles and even Morrison admits that by the last volume, the art and editting had rendered his work nearly unreadably incoherant. On the other hand, there are the art books like anything by Alex Ross, Linzer and Monk's Angel series and almost anything by Perez or Zulli. There are more, I've left out lots but my list isn't why I'm posting this review.

As usual, Alan Moore has a lot on his mind and is electric in the way he tells it. In this case, its a post-Stephen-King-On-Writing done Moore-style with lots of cross references to his own work. That is both legitimate (Moore is a true innovator) and appreciated (I've like his stuff forever). There's a lot to tell and Alan does it well and succinctly.

As to the style, this book is awful. The type is set as block-justified which means that some paragraphs are s t r e t c h e d which is difficult to read. The pictures seem to have little relation to the material and the book itself was poorly constructed.

I have a primary complaint in that sometimes the publishers don't take their comic material seriously. I found a series of Moore's Swamp Thing series that was published in England that was, inexplicably, completed in black and white. Similarly, I found Neil Gaiman's Alice Cooper graphic novel (which is one of those rare style AND content providers) but it was published in BROWN...completely in brown. The picture, the words, everything. Hmm, are misprintings in comics worth anything? I know in coins they are...

Combine the two and you have here a 4, which tells you how much I like Moore's ideas on how to write for comics. What's more, the same advice applies, I believe, to any writing is invaluable.

So, if you're thinking of buying because you have an interest in writing...do so, but focus on the material and not how it is presented which is just fair.

Short but very good
This is a collection of essays Alan Moore wrote in 1985 about writing comic books (with a follow-up essay from 2003 at the end). Actually, it's more about being a creative storyteller, not so much about comics. As you read the text, you realize that the nuts and bolts of panels, pages, and word balloons mean very little in comparison to honesty, inventiveness, intent, and understanding of your own talent. Alan Moore makes this clear as he writes, advising the aspiring writer to consider what he's doing long before he gets to the point of wondering how he can stack ten panels into a page.

Moore uses his own experience as a guide. Although he had not yet written (or completed) some of his greatest comics, by 1985 he had been working in British comics for years. He was also working on Swamp Thing and Miracle Man at the time. He uses Swamp Thing examples more than any other, which is good. That was the first great period of Moore's work, when he turned comic book writers into superstars along with illustrators. He describes one of his more daring stories of the 1980s --- a Swamp Thing issue in which menstruation is tied to a werewolf story --- from the ground up. First he had the social idea, then he came up with a framework for it, then he wrote the pages and panels.

Reading this short volume is a real inspiration for anyone who wants to tell stories. The advice here can liberate a writer from distractions and lead him (or her) toward the creative decisions that matter most. The final chapter adds a wonderful twist. Moore recommends that you avoid a personal style and focus instead of personal growth as an artist. Success should lead to experimenting, not a rut in which you tell the same lucrative story over and over. Alan Moore lives his life this way, so his advice has some well-earned authority behind it.

Fascinating
Dear other Writer, i forgive you. I forgive you for comparing Alan Moore to Millar, Ditko and Stan Lee! Argh. The other three dorks are not even in the same league.

Nonetheless, it`s true what you said about Alan Moore`s Writing for COmics: It's a very facinating view into the mind of one of the best writers in the western hemisphere. It`s baffling what he writes, because it's very simple, reminds you of your own doubts about your writing and pushes you to constantly change your views and perspective. I find his remarks about the damn neurosis very helpful, in which he acknoledwges that sometimes he finds his own works very distateful and can't even bring himself to admit that the one who wrote this has even an ounce of talent.

It's very familiar, isn`t it? Writers have a difficult time seeing their works objectively. We tend to exaggerate the quality or diminish it. It's very reassuring that one of the great writers has the same troubles and problems. It's very comforting, because you know it doesnt mean youre crazy or a bad writer when you find your own stories sometimes unreadable.

So this "book" is not a how do to in the common sense, but two masterful essays for the more experienced writer who has mastered basis storytelling and writing processes. Very helpful, indeed...

How to Write Like Yourself
Alan Moore provides some wonderful insight into the creative process. He recommends several outside texts such as The Act of Creation which is a great read in of itself. While no one can tell you exactly how to be creative, Moore does offer insights into what makes him tick as a writer. He gives you suggestions and insights as to how to express yourself and where to look for inspiration in your own life. Moore does not want people to be Alan Moore clones, he wants to encourage a new generation of writers to write what they know and dream about. To write for themselves first, that way a person avoids being a poseur or a wannabe. Moore is truly one of the top writers in the history of comic books. Others that walk the pantheons of greatness are Will Eisner, Steve Ditko, Mark Millar, Warren Ellis, Stan Lee and Neil Gaiman. Read this book, then look inside you where the stories and creativity lay. Write from the heart and the subconcious first, and the readers will recognize the sincerity and hopefully come back for more. ... Read more

Book Description

Millions of readers share a daily relationship with Lynn Johnston and her cartoon family, the Pattersons. Suddenly Silver: Celebrating 25 Years of For Better or For Worse now allows these faithful friends-and new readers, too-to honor that long association through a one-of-a-kind collection of strips and Johnston's musings and comments about her real life and how it's reflected in one of the cartooning world's most loved and followed families.Suddenly Silver is divided into three sections using cartoons from the strip's early, middle, and recent years. This insightful structure enables readers to revisit favorite earlier strips and to watch the development of storylines and the growth of characters over the years. Throughout it all, readers will find the same focus on everyday family life humorously portrayed through the good and the not-so-good days. All the cherished characters are present, including parents Elly and John; their children and grandchild; Grandpa Jim; and the dogs, Farley, Edgar, and Dixie.Johnston's thoughts about them, their individual development, and their familial evolution makes Suddenly Silver particularly captivating. As Lynn describes her work, readers get to share in the Pattersons' rendition of real life, through the heartwarming and the humorous, the tragic and the triumphant. This book, like the cartoon it honors, will make readers smile while emphasizing what's important in life. For Better or For Worse: What a run! What a celebration! What a future to look forward to! ... Read more

Book Description

The creator of Dilbert, the fastest-growing comic strip in the nation (syndicated in nearly 1000 newspapers), takes a look at corporate America in all its glorious lunacy. Lavishly illustrated with Dilbert strips, these hilarious essays on incompetent bosses, management fads, bewildering technological changes and so much more, will make anyone who has ever worked in an office laugh out loud in recognition.

The Dilbert Principle: The most ineffective workers will be systematically moved to the place where they can do the least damage — management.

Since 1989, Scott Adams has been illustrating this principle each day, lampooning the corporate world through Dilbert, his enormously popular comic strip. In Dilbert, the potato-shaped, abuse-absorbing hero of the strip, Adams has given voice to the millions of Americans buffeted by the many adversities of the workplace.

Now he takes the next step, attacking corporate culture head-on in this lighthearted series of essays. Packed with more than 100 hilarious cartoons, these 25 chapters explore the zeitgeist of ever-changing management trends, overbearing egos, management incompetence, bottomless bureaucracies, petrifying performance reviews, three-hour meetings, the confusion of the information superhighway and more. With sharp eyes, and an even sharper wit, Adams exposes -- and skewers -- the bizarre absurdities of everyday corporate life. Readers will be convinced that he must be spying on their bosses, The Dilbert Principle rings so true!

Reviews (82)

A much needed parody with some decent advice hidden inside
If there's a mascot for Internet users, it's the nerdy engineer Dilbert from Scott Adams' comic strip of the same name. No other character in the mass media combines the feelings of technological superiority and wage-slave hopelessness present in the lives of most computer users. But the play of computer users versus management is only part of Adams' comic ouevre; his hilarious take on everyday blue-collar workers touches not only on computer use in companies, but the combined forces of Total Quality Management, endless meetings, doughnuts, cubicles, business plans, and all the other aspects of working in a modern office. Although most of Adams' strips play on the plight of the nameless cubicle worker against an uncaring and oblivious management, he also covers the flip side of work where managers are unable to motivate employees beyond using the office LAN for Doom and the fine art of making sleep look like work. Given all of this familiarity with business, and the increasing popularity of business books, it makes sense that Adams' most recent book, The Dilbert Principle isn't a collection of Dilbert strips but a incisive look at the frailty and foibles of self-help management books under the guise of being one itself.

Business books were overdue to move from the bestseller list to the parody shelf. What was once simply just a few "feel-good"self-help psychology books for managers like Stephen R.Covey's 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and Kenneth Blanchard's The One Minute Manager is now a plague, including books like The Management Secrets of Attila the Hun and The Star Trek Guide to Management. What these books spend so many words doing that Adams deconstructs so brilliantly is to take what is common sense to anybody else and grafting the buzz words of business schools and management training on it. Take, for example, this wonderful bit of normal business communication that might have come straight from Management 101:

"Perform world-class product development, financial analysis, and feet services using empowered team dynamics in a Total Quality paradigm until we become the industry leader.

Take out the double-speak, and what you have is a mission statement that says:

"Do the best work to provide the best product with the best people until we become the best in our field."

Unfortunately, the first statement probably took ten people who get paid in the high five figures (if not more) at least three days at an exclusive resort in Florida to write. Even more than mission statements such as this, business double-speak of the nineties has centered around terms such as "downsizing" and "re-engineering". By putting a different spin on the timeless tradition of firing and re-organization, today's companies act more like politicians than producers.

Ninety-five percent of Adams book is examples such as this, cartoons illustrating the examples, and email from Dilbert readers telling how their companies have fallen into the Dilbert Zone. All of this is great reading, although sometimes disconcerting when you see your own company being portrayed. The last five percent of The Dilbert Principle is Scott Adams' own philosophy for managers. He says, in the introduction to unveiling his company model OA5 (standing for "Out at Five O'Clock"), that:

"In this chapter you will find a variety of untested suggestions from an author who has never successfully managed anything but his cats. (And now that I think of it, I haven't seen the grey one for two days.) ... I doubt that anything you read here will improve your life, but I'm fairly confident that it won't hurt you either, and that's better than a lot of things you're doing now."

Although humble, his suggestions have much merit because they return the business of work to common sense. When a company remembers, as Adams suggests, that it has three main reasons for being (its customers, its employees, and its stockholders), and treats all three fairly, then the rest will fall into place. If all the management consultants and business book authors condensed their theories into brief summaries such as this, it would be tough to charge [amt]an hour and [amt] per book for it. Which means that there will always be consultants and treatises for the clueless, and an endless supply of material for Adams' cartoon.

Dilbert 101
The reason for the remarkable success of Scott Adams' Dilbert cartoon strip is obvious; he has captured the flavor of modern business and held it up to the light of truth, revealing all of its quirks, crazy strategies, and downright insanity for all to see. Dilbert is the working man's hero; while we toil away in our little cubicles, waiting for quitting time and weekends, Dilbert and his pals are fighting back - well, not fighting, but they are doing all kinds of complaining, the same complaining most office workers do, albeit not so forthrightly. The Dilbert Principle is the book that made a cult comic strip a treasury of American humor; taken outside the frames of his heralded daily comic strip, Scott Adams is even funnier and more insightful than even many a Dilbert fan would have thought possible. He's been there, and he knows what he is talking about.

In this bestselling book, Adams basically defines corporate culture; telling us many things we already know yet doing so in a fashion that is brilliantly funny. His explanation for the craziness of business today is a simple one: People are idiots, which is something I've been saying that for years. Adams includes himself among the idiot population. We all do stupid things from time to time, and those who do more stupid things than others wind up in corner offices with windows and a secretary while the majority of folks toil away in their sensory deprivation chambers (or cubicles). Adams explains the nature of this beast we call the workplace, illustrating his points with the help of over 400 Dilbert cartoons and reinforcing even the most seemingly inane assumptions he makes with actual case reports of real people who have written to him of their own experiences.

The Dilbert Principle covers almost every aspect of the workplace: management, performance reviews, marketing, business plans, budgets, sales, those awful meetings, projects, etc. He shows you how to get ahead at the expense of your co-workers, delineates the lies of management so that you can be on the lookout for them when they come, defines modern terms such as downsizing in the simple, more direct meanings of days gone by. He describes the process by which one becomes a leader, exposes team-building exercises and group projects as the useless vehicles they almost always are, and provides advice on keeping afloat in the business world by means of hoarding information, avoiding doomed projects, and surviving those you can't avoid; from there, he goes on to offer his knowledge on topics such as: how to participate in a meeting based on the things you want to get out of it, and (as if most of us even need a refresher on this) how to avoid actually working while at work.

The whole book is just brilliant, hysterical satire built on things millions of us know all too well, and one finds oneself nodding or agreeing with far too many of the silliest notions and business practices Adams rakes over the coals. The book is a fountain of knowledge, with each page containing terrific quotes along the lines of three of my favorites: 1) The best thing about the future is that it isn't here yet, 2) The great thing about the truth is that there are so many ways to avoid it without being a "liar," and 3) The only constructive criticism is the kind you do behind people's backs. If you are a Dilbert-type worker (and odds are pretty good that you are), you will find comedy and a sense of comradeship with Dilbert and his cohorts. If you really want to get ahead and assume the increased lack of intelligence needed to become a manager, though, you should pick this book up for one chapter alone: Machiavellian Methods penned by Dogbert himself.

Another good Dilbert book
For sheer humor, the Dilbert books and strips are great. The way Scott Adams is able to illustrate the insanity of many common business practices in a few scenes or sentances is incredible. On the bright side, because there are so many stupid things being done commonly, almost everyone can relate to Dilbert. On the down side, there are so many stupid things being done commonly.

Relative to other Dilbert works, The Dilbert Principle is almost as good as Dogbert's Top Secret Management Handbook and considerably better than Dilbert and the Way of the Weasel.

Sad & True, Dilbert embodies life of todays' office techie!
I've worked as an engineer or technician, both for big companies and small. Before Dilbert, in all but the most restrictive environments, a small office underground poked the same kind of fun at management. Some offices even have their own cartoonists. A mega-sized company in Texas had a talented, cartoon artist, who did satirical office cartoons, with great caricature likenesses. He signed his work "The Phantom", and because I think even management knew who he was, he stayed restrained enough to keep it funny, but not too insulting. One possible exception, was a cartoon that mimicked the classic road gang movie, "Cool Hand Luke". He depicted an office corridor which as management walked by each office, they would say "Still shaking that work order there, boss". It did not go over too well with management.

The Dilbert Principle is loosely based on the long discussed phenomena, called the "Peter Principle". Which I always thought means the biggest "prick" rises the highest. Usually it's the most unqualified as well. In this age we pay CEO's millions in salary, and then give them massive stock options. In return, they bankrupt the company with shady accounting practices, and sometimes, outright theft. You have to wonder if the term "business ethics" is an oxymoron. It's good that most offices have people like Dilbert, and we all have artists like Scott Adams. The humor allows many of us to survive the droll, office existence day after day. The unrewarding existence, of working in a system where incompetents profit, often on our good works.

Prior to Dilbert, I may have considered myself unique, or just unlucky to be employed by some of these bozo's in suit and tie. I've been through the improvement meetings, sensitivity, and those focus groups. The "one on one" carpet sessions with my boss, which accomplished nothing, except to try my patience, and then waste my time. Still, management needs to feel they do something, and if it can't make a new report to show their own boss this week, it may be time to try out the latest management fad. Adams collection of cartoons, groups these into common categories of management tactics. If you look hard enough, you may even find a cartoon, that help you avoid experiencing the same Hell in your own office. It's too bad the managers don't seem to read these books, or if they do, they don't seem to be telling.

Perhaps the most important thing found in The Dilbert Principle, is that it gives some of us a better understanding of what's really going on. Unless you're fairly astute, you will occasionally find yourself buying into a lot of management disinformation. Information, that co