Book Description

Kevin Matchstick was a lonely, disaffected everyman until events beyond his control conspired to prod him into becoming the hero he never wanted to be. Accompanied by a mysterious wizard and a crew of loyal friends, the reluctant hero must discover the courage to accept his true power and defeat the dark powers that threaten reality itself. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Simpler is better
It's been a long time since I read "Mage" and I bought this out of nostalgia. And yes, it gave me college flashbacks. Re-reading it, though, reminded me of its stunning strengths. That wouldn't be dialog - Wagner's dialog is occasionally stilted and awkward. But the simplicity of the art design reflects the simplicity of the story - both have hidden depths, and both are much richer than they might seem at first glance.

Every retelling of this story says something about the world that produces it. Wagner's world hasn't really aged. I look around and I see us as still alienated, still pathless, still worried about whether or not we should have as much conviction in pursuit of the right as our opposition has in the pursuit of what's evil.

It ain't perfect, but the characters have a modern individuality and archetypal resonance all at the same time, and that's tough to do. The characters and the world, they're really the jewels of "Mage", and well worth the investment in this beautiful conveniently collected volume. I'm glad I invested in it. I'm very much enjoying it all over again.

My favorite comic book series ever, but...
First serialized in the mid-80s, Matt Wagner's Mage: The Hero Discovered remains my favorite comic book series of all time.However, I feel this edition does not do it justice.One of the most distinctive aspects of the original Mage series was the hand-painted color by Wagner.Here, the original painted colors have been replaced by digital colors by Jeromy Cox.Cox is a talented colorist, but without Wagner's colors the art in this series loses a lot of its personality.If you want to see what Wagner's coloring can look like, turn to the Mage II "Interlude" at the back of the book.This may be unavoidable since the original negatives could be lost, but in my opinion, it's worth seeking out older editions with the original colors like the Starblaze/Donning editions.

Far Shallower than I Expected
The fight scenes were well choreographed, but there was very little depth to any other aspect of the book.The artwork by the last few issues presented was pretty good, but it was very weak to start with, and the characters are not developed at all.

In truth, I was highly disapointed with this book.I bought it because on the back Kevin Smith calls it one of the three best comic stories ever, and considering he owns a comic shop, has written comics himself, and overall seems pretty intelligent, I figured this book must be pretty darn good.Now I find myself really questioning Smith's judgement.Given time, I could probably come up with fifty collections better than this, and taken to a comic shop I could probably find ten or twenty monthly comics on the shelf better than any issue in this book.Today's books are far more sophisticated -- Mage, to me, read like it was written for a seven year old.

I'm sounding pretty harsh, and I don't mean to say Mage was bad, but I gotta say it's highly over rated, and wasn't very good. People talk about what a personal story it is, but by the end I couldn't tell you what the main character's job was, who any of his friends were, what his hobbies or any of his interests were, what he liked to do to pass the time, if he had a girlfriend or had ever had a girlfriend, where he was from, any single thing that had happened to him before the start of the first issue in fact, how he was raised, what he beleived, what he didn't believe, or why he believed or didn't believe those things.Kevin (the main character) is supposed to be a reluctant hero, but why?What makes him so reluctant?It's never articulated -- nor does his reluctance ever have any meaninfull affect on the story.And none of the other characters are fleshed out any better.None of the characters are fleshed out at all.They are all just stick figures.Thumb nail sketches.Card board cutouts I personally couldn't empathize with any more than I can empathize with the key board I'm typing on right now.And the villains?My word I did not find them intersting or menacing at all.Their motivations were exceedingly weak, thier actions and interactions very simple, and (much like the hero's) their skills surprisingly undefined.Again, much like the story felt like it was written for seven year olds, the characters felt like they were written for seven year olds.

If I'd read Mage when if first came out, I might have considered it alright, but not really good even for the time.Compared to stuff that comes out now, it's highly dated, and vastly overshadowed in every respect; writing, characterization, art, and coloring.To Mr. Smith I say the following are better: Watchmen, V for Vendetta, Saga of the Swampthing, Batman Year One, Batman the Dark Knight Returns, Daredevil Born Again, Jeff Smith's Bone, Superman Secret Identity, Ronin, Midnight Nation, Joss Whedon's Fray, the first couple Ultimate Spiderman collections, the Mark Verhieden Aliens collections (vol 1 and 2,) the Ultimates vol 1 and 2, The Punisher: Welcome Back Frank, Jon Sable by Mike Grell, JLA Virtue and Vice, Justice League a New Begining, Danger Girl the Ulitmate collection . . . I better stop.I said above I could probably pick 50 collections better, but now I imagine it's closer to a 100. I have many collections I only thought were decent that I would have to rank higher than Mage.And there's still more good ones I hadn't mentioned before, like both volumes of Ultimate Fantastic Four, Green Arrow the Longbow Hunters, Geof John's Teen Titans, Crisis on Infinate Earths, Smith's own Green Arrow Quiver, Supreme Power, most Brian Bendis work . . . Whoops I started again.Anyway, I have no idea what Smith was thinking when he called this one of the three best collections ever.

In short, I have a lot of friends who don't like comics, every once in a while I'll give them a good story to try to convince them to give comics a chance.I would never give them Mage.It lacks depth, tension, thrills, characters that feel real, a world that feels real, a tight plot, or powers that are ever really defined (which also plays into that tension thing -- it's hard to worry a character is overmatched when you have no idea what he's capable of doing.)

Stunning
Mr. Wagner's epic tale of the Hero. An Archetype hero soul is reborn into an average man who cannot find anything to believe in.To tell to much is to spoil it.Suffice it to say I have read mine until they are dog eared. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Dave Barry's humor speaks for itself. Barry on dating:"These are nonstereotypical times we live in, by which I mean thatit is the responsibility of the man to ask for the date, and theresponsibility of the woman to think up excuses that get progressivelymore obvious until the man figures out that the woman would rather chewon a rat pancreas." Barry on falling in love: "When twopeople have been on enough dates, they generally fall in love. You cantell you're in love by the way you feel: your head becomes light, yourheart leaps within you, you feel like you're walking on air, and thewhole world seems like a wonderful and happy place. Unfortunately theseare also the four warning signs of colon disease, so it's always a goodidea to check with your doctor." If you think you might be indanger of having a date, falling in love, or getting married, buy thisbook immediately. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHHAHH (etc.)
Another classic Barry. The title alone should give it five stars, but the content overwhelms my funny bone.

At one point, I was falling out of my chair I was laughing so hard!

oh well....5 STARS

Early Barry. . .
Though not as good as his later works, definitely worth buying, though 'Dave Barry's Guide To Life' is also availiable on Amazon.com and contains this and three other works of similiar quality and length by the same author, while being slightly cheaper than this edition alone.
Recommended.

Breaking Up Or Getting Engaged?
If you've made it to that chapter (Chapter 4) without laughing so hard you have beverages coming out of your nose, please check your pulse. You may already be dead.

Anyone who has ever read a Dave Barry article can appreciate his incredibly dry wit and hilarious sense of humor. Barry always seems to capture subjects that are serious, but manages to put a funny twist on them. Not only does he nail the concept of marriage AND/OR sex in this book, but the illustrations by Jerry O'Brien are the perfect compliment. The outrageous diagrams on "How to French Kiss" remind me of my life just last week, er, I mean high school.

This book is loaded with helpful tips for both men and women. For instance, Barry feels that the best bet for a new bride on how to get along with her mother-in-law is drugs. If only more people could read this book!

This book has something in it for everyone. If you are about to get married, the chapter entitled "How to Have a Perfect Wedding No Matter What" will definately come in handy. Of course, those of you already married, chapters "How to Argue Like a Veteran Married Couple" and "Children: Big Mistake or Bad Idea?" will, most definately, be of interest.

Barry's book is a fairly quick read, and would make a nice addition to anyone's book collection, if not for the mere fact that it is a great conversation piece. Any fan of Dave Barry will love it, and if you live on another planet, and have never heard of him, this is a great book to start with. You can't help but laugh!

A funny worldwide reality
Barry continues being one of my favorite. His approach to human marriage relationships is no doubt almost a law (a little bit exagerated,maybe). Chapters 6 7 8 and were my favorites. I've just married and it was sort of an x-ray of my situation, except by the fact that have always believed in what he precisely satirizes: we don't need to spend a fortune in a full-of-critics-and-unpleasant people-that will not help you solve your infinite problem-night. His statements I think are of an almost universal reality. The only inconvenient for us latin american readers are perhaps the local jokes He is very serious (I'm not kidding)in telling us: Life is very simple and worth enjoying! Why screwing it up?

not his best work by a long shot
Although I thoroughly enjoy his writing, this book left me feeling ripped off. His subsequent efforts have been far superior. If you're a Dave Barry fan and you want to continue to love him, skip this one. ... Read more

Book Description

The second volume in the most eagerly-anticipated publishing project in the history of the American comic strip: the complete reprinting of Charles M. Schulz's 50-year American classic, Peanuts.

Our second volume begins with Peanuts' third full year and a cast of eight: Charlie Brown, Shermy, Patty, Violet, Schroeder, Lucy, the recently born Linus, and Snoopy. By the end of 1954, this will have expanded to nine. Linus still doesn't speak (except, on a few occasions, to himself, à la Snoopy), but Schulz begins laying the foundation for his emergence as the most complex and arguably most endearing character in the strip: garrulous and inquisitive, yet gentle and tolerant. And he evens acquires his "security blanket" in this volume!

Meanwhile, Lucy, an infant just a year ago, has forcefully elbowed herself to the front of the cast, proudly wearing her banner as a troublemaker or, in Schulz's memorable phrase, "fuss-budget." The strong, specific relationships she sets up with each character further contributes to making her central to the strip. (She has earned her cover status on this volume.)

Charlie Brown is clearly in transition. Although his eventual, best-known persona (the lovable, perpetually humiliated round-headed loser) is in evidence in many strips, his brasher, more prankish side as seen in the previous volume (foreshadowing Bill Watterson's future Calvin) shows up, too.

This period's significant new character is Pig-Pen, who would remain one of the main cast members throughout the decade. And then there's Snoopy. To readers unfamiliar with the early days of the strip, Snoopy's appearances here will no doubt come as the biggest surprise. Although Snoopy has started talking/thinking to himself, he does no imitations (except for one brief shark impression), he doesn't sleep atop his doghouse (much less type or fly a Sopwith Camel), and has no fantasy life—in fact, he doesn't even walk upright! But as we know, he is merely biding his time, and his evolution continues its fascinating course within these pages.

This book collects 730 daily and Sunday comic strips, the vast majority of which are not currently available in any in-print Peanuts collection, and over 400 (well over half) of which have never been reprinted since their initial appearance in papers over 50 years ago. The Complete Peanuts is produced in full cooperation with United Media, Charles M. Schulz Creative Associates, and Mr. Schulz's widow, Jean Schulz. Each volume in the series presents two years of strips along with supplementary material in a three-tier page format that accommodates three dailies or one Sunday strip per page. Award-winning graphic novelist Seth is designing the series so that each individual book is sharply recognizable and yet clearly part of a consistent series. Using archival-quality syndicate proofs for virtually every strip in its history, the series boasts the best-looking, crispest reproduction for a classic comic strip ever achieved. The volume's introduction is by revered news journalist Walter Cronkite.

Peanuts is the most successful comic strip in the history of the medium as well as one of the most acclaimed strips ever published. Charles Schulz's characters have become American icons. A Charlie Brown Christmas is as much an annual holiday ritual for families as It's A Wonderful Life. A United Media poll in 2002 found Peanuts to be one of the most recognizable cartoon properties in the world, recognized by 94 percent of the total US consumer market and a close second only to Mickey Mouse (96 percent), and higher than other familiar cartoon properties like Spider-Man (75 percent) or the Simpsons (87 percent). In TV Guide's "Top 50 Greatest Cartoon Characters of All-Time" list, Charlie Brown and Snoopy ranked #8. ... Read more

Book Description

Cats are famous for being aloof, but "cat-titude" reaches new heights in Get Fuzzy, the bitingly funny comic strip from cartoonist Darby Conley.Wry and witty, Get Fuzzy is a hilarious portrait of single life with pets.Rob Wilco is the human who heads the household, but it's really Bucky the cat who's in charge.Satchel is a gentle pooch with a sensitive soul who tries to remain neutral but frequently ends up on the receiving end of Bucky's mischief.Together, this trio makes it through the trials and tribulations of daily life as an unlikely team.Darby Conley's first book was a runaway hit; this second, Fuzzy Logic, will likely hit the same funny bone of everyone who enjoys their pets with an attitude. ... Read more

Reviews (53)

"Get Fuzzy": The next animal comic thing.... Generation
I'm a big fan of comic books (I previously made two new series) and I can say now that "Get Fuzzy" is a quality comic strip. The art is wonderful, the jokes are terrific and there is a wide variety open for the characters...it differs from Garfield in some ways: 1. The animals talk and the owner can understand them and hear what they're saying 2. The dog can talk and the cat is a bit hyper and active in some ways 3. The owner isn't as nerdy as you think. Actually, Garfield is good for people who like humor that occurs with talk backs and slapstick; whilst Get Fuzzy is a strip for people who like cunning and half-witted humor...All in all, read Get Fuzzy. You'll love its humor if you own a Siamese cat, any cat, or a dog, and the art will blow you away. If you love Garfield, you'll love this--I know I did.

Unbelievably funny!!!!
This is my absolute favorite comic strip in the world. The only other strip I'll bother to glance at is Dilbert, but it still does not compare to the humor contained in this book. What would your pets do and say if they could, well it's all here. All you'll be crazy if you don't fall in love with Rob Wilco, Bucky Katt, Satchel Pooch, and Joe. I read this book and lost all track of time whick is exactly what I needed in this highly stressful world... Get it, get it, get it. Thank you Darby Conley

Bucky and Satchel are Awesome
This is the best and funniest comic strip. I don't understand all these people writing things like "this represents everything that is wrong in America." These are characters. Personifications of animals with a brilliant outlook. If you take it so seriously that you can't see that you should just resign yourself to being miserable. I find this so much fun to read and laugh at. You should too!!!!

Smells Like Road Kill.
I'll keep this simple. Bad, poor, done before, looking for a better comic.

Slow Witted.
What is the praise this strip recieves? That Kat is so not funny. There is something that I have never seen before, an annoying cat. Where did Conley come up with such a brilliant idea? I can't believe that an annoying cat has never been thought of before for other comics. Please somebody put this strip out of its misery, or else just realize that this is a less than average strip. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Decent revenge stories
"100 Bullets" has one of the coolest concepts around - a mysterious man gives individuals who have been shafted a gun, 100 untraceable bullets and complete legal freedom to do whatever they want with it. A nice temptation to seek revenge, and revenge is at the heart of the stories compiled in this, the first collection of this series.

'First Call, Last Call' contains 3 seperate stories involving a different character who gets their lives changed by Agent Graves, the enigmatic man with the gun and the penchant for vengeance. They're decent tales, not as genius as some of touted the series to be, but pretty interesting. They have definately intrigued me to find out what happens next, as the second story hinted that there is more going on than just a crazy guy with a gun.

As far as the series goes, I havent read the rest of the issues, but 'First Call, Last Call' is a pretty good intro into the series. They didn't super-impress me by any means, but were pretty good.

The best current ongoing comic book series
Brian Azzarrello's 100 BULLETS is the best, most intriguing and most well-thought-out comic book series currently in publication. It starts out seemingly as an episodic series of revenge stories but quickly becomes part espionage thriller and part conspiracy theory yarn. This TPB collects the first two story arcs, both of which are fairly well self-contained. I fully expect readers will find it enjoyable enough that many sequels will follow.

The basic premise is that a mysterious man by the name of Mr. Graves arrives in your life and presents you with a briefcase. In the briefcase is a gun, 100 bullets of completely untraceable ammunition and loads of evidence about the person who screwed you over and why. You're given the choice: use the bullets or not. It's up to you what to do from there. You'd think the answer would be obvious and the series would degrade into a Charles Bronsonesque revenge caper. Far from it. The decisions Azzarrello's characters make and how they go about plotting their revenge never fails to surprise.

The opening tale is about Dizzy Cordova, a Hispanic "girl from the hood," whose boyfriend and child were killed by crooked cops. She meets Mr. Graves and makes her decision about what she should do with this opportunity to "make things right."

Eduardo Risso's art is perfect for this series. He uses darkness and light for maximum effect and is excellent at communicating the emotions of the characters through subtle depictions of body language and facial expressions. I don't know who the Vertigo people at DC Comics found him, but this Argentine (I think that's his nationality) is a serious talent.

Having read 100 BULLETS for a year and a half now, I can say that I honestly have no idea where it's headed but that it's a non-stop thrill ride. Great street-level stories with real, in-depth characterization. Gamblers, hoods, assassins, backstabbing business people, bartenders, dirty cops, you name it. They're all in 100 BULLETS and you'll want to read each and every one of their stories.

Loved it!
I agree with the person who said that the dialogue wasn't that stylised. There were a couple of cornball moments, but the whole story line over all is great and full colour artwork rocks my socks. I can't wait to read the rest of the series! Highly recommended to anyone even remotely interested!

Intriguing concept, Pulls you right in...
The start of this collection was a bit muddled, but once I got used to the art and writing, it became extremely enjoyable. The second story is better than the first, but the overall mystery/conspiracy is something that has me very anxious to read later volumes.

Eh -
It was a good comic, but nothing great. Worth your time, but if you can borrow a copy from a friend your better off doing that. Otheriwse, if you want a really good crime comic, go buy some Sin City. Compared to that this just falls short. ... Read more

Reviews (105)

Best retrospective collection
The announcement last November that Bill Watterson would be retiring his comic strip Calvin and Hobbes at the end of the year should not have surprised anyone--at least, anyone who has read the recently released The Calvin and Hobbes Tenth Anniversary Book. Like Gary Larsen's Pre-History of The Far Side, this volume provides a retrospective collection selected by the author, with notes on the origin and evolution of his creation. Both cartoonists annotated the books themselves, explaining the writing process and the business of cartooning. Larsen, though, as happy with his medium--his retirement was a factor of creative burnout rather than frustration with the limitations of the comics page of today's newspaper. That frustration with the four panel strip was the reason for Berke Breathed's early retirement, and is quite likely the reason for Watterson's as well. Watterson believes in the comic as a real art form--and in his hands it often was--but the dynamics of the business, both the physical limitations on the drawing and the way the economics is split between artist and newspaper with a syndicate go-between, restricted the full expression of his art.

The Tenth Anniversary Book is not a depressing collection, although it is quite serious in its examination of the ten years of the strip. Watterson reveled in his creation, and the work that he produced was always of the utmost quality. This collection has some of the most joyful moments of the past--Spaceman Spiff is there, as well as Stupendous Man, the Replicator, and the dreaded Babysitter. The amazing thing isn't that Watterson is retiring, but that he could spend ten years producing such work as fresh and imaginative as his debut.

While I am sad to see Waterson and Calvin and Hobbes retire, I have hope that we have not seen the last of either. The rise of the "graphic novel" and its acceptance in the United States (the form has always been popular in Europe [Tintin, Asterix] and Japan [magna too numerous to list]) offers Watterson the format that he deserves, where he can be enjoyed and appreciated as one of the most innovative sequential artists of the later 20th century.

Great comics, great commentary
Bill Watterson picks out some of his finest cartoons for this book, which would be reason enough to buy it. The additional commentary, though, makes it by far the best Calvin and Hobbes book. It was interesting to see what Mr. Watterson thought of his various characters, how he came up with different ideas and what he found interesting in certain stories. This book just confirmed to me that Calvin and Hobbes is one of the funniest, most original and most meaningful comics in recent years. It was interesting to hear about what Mr. Watterson is like as a person, as he reveals some of his personal interests and opinions through the commentary. Finally, finding out the background for Spaceman Spiff, Tracer Bullet, Miss Wormwood and the other Watterson inventions was interesting. Definitely worthwhile to buy, read and then read again and again.

Great Insight Into Bill Watterson's Mind
Bill Watterson hasn't drawn Calvin and Hobbes in almost 10 years, but fortunately, every strip in the series' run can be found in numerous compilations. The most impressive of these is the 10-year anniversary volume which contains some of his favorites. Watterson was a recluse and rarely gave an interview, but in this book, he is very generous in his insights into many of the comics he had drawn over the years and is particularly not bashful at taking shots at the trends of reducing the modern comic strip to almost illegible size and particularly the licensing of Calvin and Hobbes, which he very successfully opposed. It's not a surprise that he called it quits soon after this book came out.

Watterson comes off in his rants on the art of cartooning as a very bitter man, but a bitter man of unquestionable integrity. I totally agree with him that licensing characters and sticking them on "overpriced knick-knacks nobody needs" does cheapen the strip. As an example, "Dilbert" never affected me like it did after you couldn't turn around without seeing another Dilbert coffee mug, Dilbert stress ball, Dilbert burrito (I'm not making that up, folks), Dilbert hygiene product (OK, I made that up), etc. I got sick of looking at Dilbert and my interest in the strip waned.

But I love going back and looking at old Calvin and Hobbes strips. Sometimes I wish that Watterson would pick up his ink pen again and draw C&H againon his terms, but maybe he's just better off letting his creation stand on its own accord.

The 10th Anniversary Book
Watterson is one of the greatest cartoonists of our time. Calvin and Hobbes sometimes share their deep insights on the values of life. Sometimes their personal outlooks on life are reflected off Watterson's views, which is a great skill to have. Along with the comics, the book is filled with accounts the author wrote, explaining his feelings about the comics and what they mean to him. The book is funny and adventurous, and when you're through reading it, you might have learned a lesson.

Watterson is king
There are a lot of comics that have faded away over the years and tracking them down after they're out of print is sometimes next to impossible. I don't think Calvin and Hobbes is going anywhere for a while even though Watterson has ended the strip but if it does you'll probably kick yourself for not having a complete Calvin and Hobbes collection and this book is the crowning piece in that collection. Bill Watterson, a guy who keeps his opinions to himself (finding an interview with him is like a treasure hunt) gives you an inside look at the strip, Priceless. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Now that Bill Watterson has retired from drawing syndicated cartoons, the only way to get our Calvin and Hobbes fixes is through his book collections. The 10th Anniversary Book is particularly notable, because in addition to getting some of his most wonderful cartoons, we also gain a sense of Watterson as a person.

Approximately one-tenth of the book contains essays about matters great and small--from cartooning to life--and stories about the inspiration behind some of his greatest strips.Not surprisingly, Watterson shines through as a being of considerable integrity, and the cartoons gain in depth thanks to his commentary. And, of course, the cartoons in the other 90% of the book are alternately side-splitting hilarious or touching. Happy Anniversary, Bill, and good luck with whatever it is you are doing now! ... Read more

Reviews (105)

Great comics, great commentary
Bill Watterson picks out some of his finest cartoons for this book, which would be reason enough to buy it. The additional commentary, though, makes it by far the best Calvin and Hobbes book. It was interesting to see what Mr. Watterson thought of his various characters, how he came up with different ideas and what he found interesting in certain stories. This book just confirmed to me that Calvin and Hobbes is one of the funniest, most original and most meaningful comics in recent years. It was interesting to hear about what Mr. Watterson is like as a person, as he reveals some of his personal interests and opinions through the commentary. Finally, finding out the background for Spaceman Spiff, Tracer Bullet, Miss Wormwood and the other Watterson inventions was interesting. Definitely worthwhile to buy, read and then read again and again.

A SAD DAY INDEED
The day that Bill Watterson retired was a sad day indeed.

No more Adventures of Spaceman Spiff

No more wild wagon rides over a cliff.

No more disastrous camping trips in mud and rain.

No more school research projects written by Hobbes.

No more trips to the principal's office.

No more bombarding Susie Derkins with water balloons.

No more Moe the bully.

No more contests of will with Rosalyn, the killer baby sitter.

No more deep philosophical discussions between a six year old boy and his stuffed tiger.

But wait! Watterston has left his calling card, "THE CALVIN AND HOBBS TENTH ANNIVVERSARY BOOK."

Yep, there he is. He's kidnapping Susie's doll. Now he's paying 25 cents ransom to Susie to get Hobbes back, and Hobbes, the traitorous tiger lecher, liked being with Susie.

Now Calvin's making duplicates of himself so he can get into even more trouble. He's piloting his fighter plane and destroying his school. His dinner is attacking him and his mom just doesn't understand.

There's his dad relaxing on his day off by riding his bicycle 20 miles before breakfast in a sleet storm. There's Calvin again, reading the latest issue of his chewing gum hobbyist magazine.

Thanks for this book, Bill Watterson, with Calvin and Hobbes in all their glory and your commentary to boot. I'd never have made it "Cold Turkey." You're not such a bad guy after all.

Great Insight Into Bill Watterson's Mind
Bill Watterson hasn't drawn Calvin and Hobbes in almost 10 years, but fortunately, every strip in the series' run can be found in numerous compilations. The most impressive of these is the 10-year anniversary volume which contains some of his favorites. Watterson was a recluse and rarely gave an interview, but in this book, he is very generous in his insights into many of the comics he had drawn over the years and is particularly not bashful at taking shots at the trends of reducing the modern comic strip to almost illegible size and particularly the licensing of Calvin and Hobbes, which he very successfully opposed. It's not a surprise that he called it quits soon after this book came out.

Watterson comes off in his rants on the art of cartooning as a very bitter man, but a bitter man of unquestionable integrity. I totally agree with him that licensing characters and sticking them on "overpriced knick-knacks nobody needs" does cheapen the strip. As an example, "Dilbert" never affected me like it did after you couldn't turn around without seeing another Dilbert coffee mug, Dilbert stress ball, Dilbert burrito (I'm not making that up, folks), Dilbert hygiene product (OK, I made that up), etc. I got sick of looking at Dilbert and my interest in the strip waned.

But I love going back and looking at old Calvin and Hobbes strips. Sometimes I wish that Watterson would pick up his ink pen again and draw C&H againon his terms, but maybe he's just better off letting his creation stand on its own accord.

The 10th Anniversary Book
Watterson is one of the greatest cartoonists of our time. Calvin and Hobbes sometimes share their deep insights on the values of life. Sometimes their personal outlooks on life are reflected off Watterson's views, which is a great skill to have. Along with the comics, the book is filled with accounts the author wrote, explaining his feelings about the comics and what they mean to him. The book is funny and adventurous, and when you're through reading it, you might have learned a lesson.

Watterson is king
There are a lot of comics that have faded away over the years and tracking them down after they're out of print is sometimes next to impossible. I don't think Calvin and Hobbes is going anywhere for a while even though Watterson has ended the strip but if it does you'll probably kick yourself for not having a complete Calvin and Hobbes collection and this book is the crowning piece in that collection. Bill Watterson, a guy who keeps his opinions to himself (finding an interview with him is like a treasure hunt) gives you an inside look at the strip, Priceless. ... Read more

Book Description

Straight and macho Taki partners with feminine and gay Goh to form an expert team of bandits hired by the police to steal from the mafia. Lately, Goh has been more interested in acquiring Taki's feelings than the usual caches of arms and drugs. Will Taki and Goh form a new kind of partnership? Volume one of Yellow begins with a brewing personal interest between Taki and Goh, though Taki is still unwilling to answer to Goh's desires. A gangster's jealousy leads to Taki's kidnapping, and it's up to Goh's cunning and charms to save him. Working solo, it's also up to Goh to find the drugs he was hired to steal while sidestepping a police conspiracy powder keg. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

I AM A LARSEN JUNKIE!!! I NEED MORE!!!
Larsen is the world's greatest cartoonist. Too bad he retired. I have envelopes filled with his cartoons clipped out of the newspaper (10+ years ago!) that I still can't bear to throw away. So I suppose this book was a good idea. It will take up less space than several bulging envelopes.

For younger people who can't remember his cartoons in the paper every day, you need to hurry up and start collecting his books so you can always be within arm's length of a smile or a laugh.

Also, I love the story about the "Jane Goodall Cartoon"

--George Stancliffe

Very Unique!
gary larson is one he best cartoonists ever! you have to travel to the far side! all of his comics will have you thinking! its great! buy it, you'll love it!

The Far Side is Life
We've all seen Far Side cartoons, stuck on office doors and cubicle walls, and said, "I don't get it." Then we've learned a little and come back, this time laughing raucously. This book is filled with all sorts of Far Side gems, most of which any average yutz can find hilarious. If you like the Far Side, or if you just like a glimpse at that which is odd, warped, and mind-bending (or, in other terms, Larsonesque), you should have this book.

WHO DOESN'T LIVE IN THE FAR SIDE
Something unique happens whenever you read one of Gary Larson's Far Side collections. You find yourself thinking! How often can you say that about a one panel comic strip. Larson's ingenious humor can make people laugh who don't even have a clue about what they're laughing at!

All I can say is that if you haven't visited The Far Side...then get there today! And once you do...you'll want to come back again and again and again.

Something unique happens whenever you read one of Gary Larson's Far Side collections. You find yourself thinking! How often can you say that about a one panel comic strip. Larson's ingenious humor can make people laugh who don't even have a clue about what they're laughing at!

All I can say is that if you haven't visited The Far Side...then get there today! And once you do...you'll want to come back again and again and again.

Something unique happens whenever you read one of Gary Larson's Far Side collections. You find yourself thinking! How often can you say that about a one panel comic strip. Larson's ingenious humor can make people laugh who don't even have a clue about what they're laughing at!

All I can say is that if you haven't visited The Far Side...then get there today! And once you do...you'll want to come back again and again and again.

Something unique happens whenever you read one of Gary Larson's Far Side collections. You find yourself thinking! How often can you say that about a one panel comic strip. Larson's ingenious humor can make people laugh who don't even have a clue about what they're laughing at!

All I can say is that if you haven't visited The Far Side...then get there today! And once you do...you'll want to come back again and again and again.

Gotcha!

Gary Larson is the Best, period
There isnt much to say in a review of this book, except that if you buy this book i GUARANTEE you'll buy the other 4!!! There absolutely excelent. The funniest cartoon of all of them is the one with a chimpanzee picking stuff off her husbands back and saying "Another blonde hair, eh? Doing a little extra research with that Jane Goodall tramp?"....and thats just the tip of the iceberg! Enjoy! ... Read more

Book Description

No one understands superheroes better than Moore. This collection won him the 1997 Eisner Award for Best Writer, and shows he can still find fresh things to say about the nature of comic book superheroes. Supreme began life as an exceptionally violent Superman rip-off. Moore took over in 1996, jettisoning everything except Supreme's blond, muscular good looks and turning a copycat into an ingenious homage to the Superman archetype. This clever work retells the history of superhero comic books as reflected through Moore's retro drawings and superheroes modeled on characters and narrative styles from the 1930s to today. Suffering from amnesia, Supreme has returned to Earth, but must also return to his roots-his smalltown family, allies and bombastic enemies-to discover his origins. In his everyday identity, he's a mild-mannered comic book artist who draws a line of violent superheroes. As Supreme investigates his past, readers are treated to a delightful series of tongue-in-cheek flashbacks to revised versions of the Golden and Silver eras of comics. Supreme grows up in Little Haven, rather than Smallville; lives in Omegapolis, instead of Metropolis; and convenes meetings of the Allied Supermen, rather than the Justice League of America. Moore weaves a complex plot that leads to a startling, ingenious climax. He also offers his characters and readers moments of poignant self-discovery. In his superhero masterpiece Watchmen, Moore stressed the dangers of identifying with comic book heroes. This work is a much kinder look at the form, done with wit, intelligence and love.Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

SUPREME! A Super tribute to the 60's superman.
I think it would be rude to ignore that this comic had a whole series of stories before and after Moore's run, but I must be rude then. You can walk into this graphic novel with NO knowledge of Supreme before this and enjoy it as much as any fan of silver age superman comics would. But it is more than that. It treats the subject of comics creation with much reverence. I think that Alan Moore may be the most talented archivist writing stories for comics today. There are so many references to the 60's superman that one can only conclude that the writer is in love with the medium he is creating. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THAT???? Nothing. The genius of these stories is that it is not about just any old superman. It is about comics. Supreme's version of Lois Lane wears earrings with Herriman's Krazy Kat and Ignatz Mouse on either ear. GENIUS! The twisted love affair of the Kat & the Mouse & Offisa Pupp is still considered one of the most complex love triangles in comics history. Alan Moore is not a novice. His other work speaks for itself and if you do not know WATCHMEN, SWAMP THING (20 - 65), MIRACLEMAN, TOM STRONG, THE KILLING JOKE, and PROMETHEA, then I suggest reading those first. Yes, Moore came to Supreme when sales were lagging. Yes, he completely reinvented the character. But he also continued to create one of the finest writers portfolio's in all of comics. Any Alan Moore fan would be lacking something without reading this set. Highly recommended.

A flawed collection, but still worth your money
Forget the name Supreme - this is really Alan Moore doing Superman, and doing him like he SHOULD be done. Moore was one of the people who clearly saw that DC Comics made a mistake when they redefined Superman in the mid-eighties, throwing decades of often silly, but also very imaginative history out of the window. Moore realized that they'd basically thrown the baby out with the bath water. Fortunately the baby's back in this gripping story. This is glorious entertainment - unlike the grim and depressing superhero stories that Moores's eighties work helped spawn, this story is a pure joy. The art isn't always top notch, though. The flash back sequences, handled by Rick Veitch, are all glorious gems of retro comics nostalgia, but the 'modern-era' sequences are only so-so. They're done in the Image Comics style of the mid nineties, and they already look dated, unfortunately. Better artists would later help Moore evolve the flashy over-the-top nineties style into something more gorgeous and timeless in books like "Tom Strong" and "Promethea". The sometimes average artwork doesn't really ruin this book, though. This is all about the story. And while it's not quite up their with Moore's very best, it's extremely good. Yes, the quality of the printing is dissapointing, and real fans of comic book artwork should maybe consider seeking out the original issues. But I feel that other reviewers have exaggerated the problems slightly. If you're mainly in it for Moore's writing then this edition, even though it's flawed, will do okay.

Flawed Reproduction of Great Work
Alan Moore's writing on this book is great. He's able to take the Mort Weisinger version of Superman from the 1950s and early 60s and give it the Alan Moore touch. However, this particular collection is a terrible reproduction of the series. It almost looks like someone photocopied the pages from the original comic books and just bound them together.

Were the original production proofs not available?

You must read this work by Alan Moore. However, buying this particular production of it should be the third choice for acquiring it only if a better production in the future is impossible or if you cannot get the original comics due to the lack of availability or prohibitive cost.

A "Supreme" waste of time
I ordered two of these graphic novels based on the exceptional work of Alan Moore, who I greatly admire. It's perhaps the worst stuff I've ever read. While the timeline plotlines were an innovative idea, it was the worst sort of dreck. I expected better. I purchased these based on the 5 star ratings I saw on Amazon, & this is the 1st time I've been thoroughly disappointed. "Worst episode(s) ever!" as the Comic Book guy on the Simpsons might say. Waste of time, money, and effort.

Some of Alan Moore's best work ever!
I loved these stories. Alan Moore never missed a beat. As I understand it he set out to integrate the wonder and imagination of previous comic-book generations with today's storytelling, and he certainly succeeded.

This is some of the best work he has done since his resurgence in the late 90s.

Instead of his characters dwelling on everything that has happened to them, or moping or crying about what has happened, they are moral, determined, and optimistic.

Tim Veitch's flashbacks are fantastic; he wonderfully "imitates" the style of some many other artists/eras. And the modern day artwork does not bother me as much as it seems to have bothered other reviewers; it is not revolutionary but still enjoyable. ... Read more

Book Description

Realism lends humor and relevance to the story lines enacted by bernerd Jason Fox and his family in the enormously successful syndicated comic strip FoxTrot. Unafraid to tackle timely topics of the day, FoxTrot finds wry humor in such issues as SARS, video game violence, boy bands, Internet music piracy, and a multitude of pop culture themes.In fact, FoxTrot is so inextricably intertwined with pop culture that creator Bill Amend was interviewed in the premiere issue of The Lord of the Rings Fan Club Official Movie Magazine, thanks to a series of strips about Jason's fanatical excitement over the movie trilogy. And not only does FoxTrot incorporate pop culture into its story lines, the strip has actually become a pop culture icon: It has been used as a question on the game show Jeopardy! and as an answer in the New York Times crossword.Am I a Mutant, or What! is the newest FoxTrot collection, featuring strips that ran from late 2002 through mid 2003. Amply documented as a favorite with readers, FoxTrot runs in more than 1,000 newspapers, and previous FoxTrot books have sold more than two million copies. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Pure entertainment
Any Foxtrot book is worth the money. You can't go wrong with any of them.

LOVE, LOVE that Fox Trot
OK, it is a little sad that I give a comic strip a 5 star rating.

But, Fox Trot is just so wonderful. This comic strip is tender, funny and absolutely wonderful.

My one complaint: These mini-books are NEVER long enough. Bring back the treasury type books - please....

The Humor Never Ends
Fox Trot is the funniest book I have ever read. It incorporates everything that everyone loves. I would rate every book a 10 before even reading it. In fact, I inhale the books.
GO FOXTROT!!!
Read the books, It may be the greatest thing you have ever read...I got it for friends and they never put it down...It is better than Harry Potter! READ IT PLease so you can understand what I know. ... Read more

Book Description

Mongoose Publishing brings a brand new IP to the market with its Infernum line. The Book of the Tormentor is the second of three comprehensive 256-page rulebooks which allow you to roleplay in Hell itself. Take on the role of a vicious demon, a valiant human, or a fallen angel and battle across the nine circles of hell as you rise through the ranks to conquer all before you. ... Read more

Book Description

Mongoose Publishing brings a brand new IP to the market with its Infernum line.The Book of the Damned is the first of three comprehensive 256-page rulebooks which allow you to roleplay in Hell itself.Take on the role of a vicious demon, valiant human, or Fallen Angel and battle across the nine circles of hell as you rise through the ranks to conquer all before you. Building on the success of the highly acclaimed Book of Hell, this series is lavishly illustrated, and certainly not for the faint hearted. ... Read more

Book Description

The official guide to Dreamwave's all-new Transformers universe continues with new bios written just for this series, along with more fantastic art of classic characters. There are plenty of Transformers favorites, plus profiles of lesser-known stars, making this the complete resource for Generation One fans, who can catch up with their favorite main characters as they uncover the secrets of the Transformers comic universe. ... Read more

Book Description

With a deft and romantic touch, Tomine portrays the emotional ambivalence of drifting, urban twenty-somethings in stunning black and white. His stories are appealingly naturalistic, stylishly cinematic, and emotionally rich. His fans accuse him of eavesdropping on their most intimate moments, exhibiting their insecurities with both forensic detachment and surprising compassion. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

More Misses than Hits
I did not get interested in graphic novels until recently, when I ran across David B.'s amazing "Epileptic." I then read Daniel Clowes' "Ghost World," which was also very good. My next step was to purchase this book by Adrian Tomine, which is in very much the same vein as "Ghost World."

After two readings,though, I have to admit that I'm a bit disappointed with it. The stories are interesting, in their own way, and they do have substance, but the first two in particular are plagued by inadequate main characters. Tomine goes too far in making them ugly and unlikeable, to the point where they're not even realistic. It's impossible to care about these vain, petty, whiney young men. They don't even have a sense of humor. I can tolerate art that is dark and pessimistic, but only if there is enough substance to make it worthwhile. These first two stories do not overcome the extreme amount of self-loathing exhibited by the main characters.

Things improve with the third story, which is actually a collection of related vignettes about a young Asian-American woman. Although she is depressed, she at least shows some glimmers of a sense of humor, and I got the impression that if I met her, I would probably like her. The fourth story brings us back to high school, where a no-name loser-type character forms an odd but somehow functional relationship with the school's most notorious slut.

The artwork throughout this book is solid though not spectacular. It fits the mood of the stories, although there are a few lapses, such as the high school "jocks" in the last story who look like college kids from the 1950s.

I appreciate artists like Adrian Tomine who are using this medium to tell real stories about real people. I just think that these four stories miss the mark more often than they hit it. Maybe now I will look into some of his earlier material, which many people say is better than this.

Slap in the face
Just like his other two books of collections, this one is another SLAP in your FACE, when it comes to your emotions. As I read the stories I get drawn into the charcaters' simple events, yet complex emotions surrounding those events and feel hit when the end comes. I love how all of Tomines stories are dreary, having and/or not having closure at the same time, depending on how you look at it. I also enjoy the fact that his stories get progressively longer (from the first book on) and so this books is full of 4 long stories. The graphics are good and do an amazing job at expressing emotions and reactions of the characters. Also, I love how all his comics are based on a miserable real world and are told truthfully.

meow
This book is...okay, it's not something thats grand or something that should be considered a cult comic. I mean there are stories in this comic that do absorb you and you feel for the chracter, but most of his stories are pretty much along the same lines, and after a while it gets sort of repeptive, if you're someone who is a hopeless romantic and starting to get into comics, then these comics that are for you, but if you're a teenager or a college student or whatever that is hateful and angsty, then, no, maybe you should read Daniel Clowes, or Nate Powell.

Four Very Similar Stories
I really liked Tomine's first collection (32 Stories), and loved his last one (Sleepwalk and Other Stories), so shelled out for the hardcover edition of his latest. The four stories are beautifully drawn in Tomine's instantly recognizable precise style, but the storytelling is rather disappointing. His stuff has always been somewhat similar, focusing on loss and loneliness, but here here four protagonists (three male, one female) are little more than subtle variations of each other. Each is a kind of lonerish social outcast type who has deep problems relating to others and whose imagination is fertile territory for spawning sad obsessions. So you get a hipsterish writer who never got over high school and thus neglects his beautiful girlfriend due to his fascination with the younger sister of "the hot chick" from high school. Then you have the pimply-faced production designer at the alternative paper who seethes at his neighbor's casual sexual prowess and turns quasi-stalker in a surge of misguided imagination. There's the stoic Asian woman who simply cannot manage even a normal conversation. The last story is a totally banal high-school loser story which veers into a loser version of a John Hughes movie with a totally ridiculous ending. I still dig how Tomine just jumps into his character's lives, and manages to convey their whole life with a minimum of exposition, and then stops the story right when they're at a kind of emotional fork. The problem here is that the four stories are simply far too similar, almost as if he's stuck and has nothing else to say but further riffs on the same material he's been doing for ten years. I sure hope this isn't the case and that his next book will show a new maturation of his storytelling, 'cause he is a talented artist.

Interesting, yes. Unique, no.
I first experienced Tomine's work when his collection of "32 Stories" was first published. That was quite a few years ago. I found the art to be a bit undecisive and the stories were a tad...angsty. No wait, I take that back. The stories were semi-angsty. I picked up Summer Blonde, not expecting a marvelous read, but to drop in on how Tomine's work has matured.

I am sorry to say that it's biggest problem is that it *has* matured. No longer are the stories angsty, or even semi-angsty. His quirky little "situations" have lost their edge and whatever naivity contributed to a personal, possibly magical work. In most of Blonde's snippets (mind you, they are snippets and I can envision Tomine dreaming up uber-wicked-buzz-moments that would make for an "endearingly cool" piece) you can see him desperately trying to hold on to youth and failing miserably in capturing any of it. Everything in this new collection SCREAMS that it wants to be involved in something deeper with more resonance and I foresee his next collection of stories making the complete and final transition towards a boring half-lived thirtysomethings world.

I would like to additonally point out that I first ran across ads for Summer Blonde in various asian and comic book publications. The ad consists of a beautiful blonde woman in a tight white top sneaking a scornful glance at the we the viewers. The caption reads: YOU WATCHED HER ALL SUMMER, DIDN'T YOU? DID SHE KNOW YOU WERE THERE? SUMMER BLONDE! Corny? juvenile? Pretentious? Alienating? You be the judge. I just wanted to put this out there because, for myself, it one hundred percent represents Tomine's weaknesses in art, storytelling, and marketing.

For general readers, I say skip this and head on to something MUCH more incredible in scope and vision like Aaron Cometbus' "Despite Everything." It may not have pretty little drawings, but it will give you that sense of youth and emotional pull Tomine could only dream of capturing.

I *do* recommend this title to all artist-writers, though. It has glimpses of ideas that could be handled and improved upon LEAGUES beyond what Tomine has done with them. Milk this collection for all it's worth; it can be done better, captivate a wider audience, and generally have more impact at the hands of someone with a more ambitious vision.

To Tomine I say this: Hey, it's not your fault. Some people have the skills to build a time machine and they choose to invent mechanical toothbrushes. Such is life. ... Read more

Book Description

You've been to Disneyland…

You've seen Westworld…

You've read Dreampark…

Now, in the 21st century, experience your wildest fantasies come true in Dreamland!

Beyond rides, beyond robots and simulations, beyond illusions, lasers, and holograms, Dreamland takes you out of your body and into computer-generated "worlds" where anything you can imagine is possible!

Ride the open prairie with Jessie James or Billy the Kid, in Frontierworld.

Sprout gills and experience an undersea adventure in Oceanworld.

Hunt Dinosaurs and meet the missing link in Primalworld.

Play beach blanket bingo with Frankie and Annette in Surferworld.

Fight a dragon and rescue a fair damsel from the Black Knight in Fantasyworld, the oldest and most popular of the Dreamland Programs.

You'll have the time of your life!

If you survive…

The Dreamland Chronicles an onmibus collection of William Mark Simmon's three Dreamland titles...In the Net of Dreams, When Dreams Collide, and printed for the first time The Woman of His Dreams. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

WARNING:THIS BOOK IS TOO FUNNY FOR WORDS
Well I just got done reading this book and must issue the following warning to those who read this.DO NOT READ THIS BOOK IF YOU ARE: a)trying to go to sleep. This book will upset your sleep patterns and you will regret this.b)lacking any form of a sense of Humor. If you don't got it, you won't get it.c)under any way shape or form driving.It could kill you and that's not good.d)taking any medication or suffering from recent surgery in the abdominal area. Too much laghfter could split stiches or cause a reaction with medication. If your not suffering from any of the afor mentioned things then read on.
One prepare for many puns.Lots of puns. Some like to hide in wait and ambush you, while others stir themselves over a long period of time. Prepare for a massive assault on anything and everything. Nothing is safe from being used. Even Fed Ex gets hit at one point. Enjoy this book and have much fun for several hours/days/weeks or however long it takes to fininsh.

A exquisite read
I bought a first printing (only Printing) of "In a Net of Dreams" at an airport magazine stand. Little did I suspect it would be my all-time favorite book. Only tape holds my poor battered copy together.

So when I discovered this compilation, I had to have it. And it was worth it.

Sc-fi, Fantasy, Comedy, Drama, pop-culture references, and bad puns, this series has it all. And wraps it up with engaging, well developed characters.

Why are you still reading this? Order this book now. And pray with me that there will be another sequel.

And now for something completely different...
At first I was daunted by the task of reading this brick that deforested half of Equador, but as soon as I started reading the book I could not put it down. I knew I would enjoy it from the moment I saw those first three quotes: two from Shakespeare - The Tempest and Hamlet - and one from Monty Python's flying circus: "And now for something completely different." This was my type of humor. And as for humor this is probably the best book to read for that. That is if you like puns. Wm. Simmons knows how to use the right amount of puns, and doesn't go overboard, though I am sure that is tempting. As I read I was drawn into the world of the game and of the story. Part of the reason I loved it was because of the characters who were believeable and lovable... and in some cases not so loveable. I wanted to know what would happen to them. I almost cried when... well, that would give some stuff away. The story was the best part. I lost myself in those books (though in the middle of math that might not be a good thing) and read them constantly. After I finished each book, it would seem like I was waking up from a dream, or another world. And then I fell right back into the dream in the next book. Wm. Simmons is a wonderful story teller, and those who read this book will not be disappointed if they are looking for a book that has a serious plot with lotsa laughs.

To read, perchance to dream...and laugh
Wm. Mark Simmons, the fastest pun in the West, is back, and he's done it again! "Woman of His Dreams" crowns the Dreamland Chronicles trilogy after a long wait by his fans. I have loved and laughed through all of the adventures of Ripley and his cohorts, and this latest installment is the best yet. Simmons' trademarks are strong characters, thought-provoking philosophical twists of plot, lots of action, and truck-loads of wit. Even though familiar with his style, I still was not prepared for the finale. I found myself watery-eyed at the last page, and sad to see it end. This is a book I have given to friends and had them call me in the middle of, just to tell me it's the first time in years they've laughed out loud while reading a book. Simmons may or may not have screenplay experience, but his novels read like movies, extremely visual. Now...if only Spielberg would read them...

Full Contact Romp
This one is flat-out superb. A solid, satisfying and full-contact romp of a read that hits all the right marks and pushes all the right buttons. Epic fantasy without the stiff neck, science fiction without the technobabble, and enough trademark Simmons punnage to warrant drawing and quartering the man. A gem of a collection. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (2)

VERY Amusing!
Very much like her earlier books (same format, same humor). As I've gotten older, I only relate more to her humor of the mundane truth of our lazy, neurotic, full of junk lives. A lot of the cartoons in this book are about parenthood, so I expect I'll like it even more once I go through that. One cartoon is called, "An excerpt from Men are from Belgium, Women are from New Brunswick" and in another cartoon as a woman tries to convince her mother to wear the new bathrobe she sent, mom insists she likes the old one, "YOU remember it- I made it out of the washcloths that I took from hotels we stayed at when you were a little girl!" In seventh grade I discovered Roz Chast's books "Unscientific America" and "The Four Elements" and loved them. I've been waiting nearly 20 years for another of these books and "The Party, After You Left " tickles me just as much as those did.

Wonderful Retrospective...
If you are having a bad day, just open this book and check out a few pages. It will turn your day around and put you in a good mood. So funny and on target. A lot of depth - makes you think while you are chuckling. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (7)

Great fantasy for the gullible!
I was dissappointed that this book was so obviously rooted in fact but totally without substance. Yes there is a Bush family but where does the author get the set ups, the gags, etc.

I laughed, I cried (for our country)
SO hysterical and right on target, after reading a friend's copy I immediately ordered it for my child. I only pray that volume II will be "The Three Little Pigs and the door that hit them on their way out of office".

The quick synopsis is: The 3 little pigs are Dubya, Rummy and Dickie. Dickie and Rummy keep telling Dubya what to do and he just does it. They are building their own houses of bricks stolen from the country, while they rebuild the rest of the country with mud and straw (pacifying the country bumpkins with $300 a piece). The big bad wolf comes along (bin Laden) to blow the house down with his WMD (Winds of Mass Destruction), and then they try to divert the country's attention to the New big bad wolf (Sadam). The illustrations are exceedingly well done and the story is right on target.

Hilarious!
This book is a satire of the Bush administration using the framework of the story "The Three