Editorial Review

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Features

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Reviews (125)

Bravo, Mr. Watterson, Bravo.
Calvin and Hobbes is quite plainly a timeless calssic. Just as Charles M Shultz's The Penuts Gang, Calvin and Hobbes brings so many emotions to the table it's not even fathomable. It will heartwarm you, bring back childhood memories, pick you up when your down, make you laugh, chuckle and quite possible cry. I have read almost every Calvin and Hobbes book, aside from the tenth aniversery and no matter how many times I read one I can always read it again. Calvin and Hobbes only lasted ten years, yes that's right, ten short years. Although Bill Watterson has refused many pleas for more, his comics are just as special.
25 pounds in comics!
This is an absolute musthave for all Calvin and Hobbes fans.I had to use almost all my birthday money to buy this treasury collection, but it was worth the price.This set has three hardbound books fitted into 1 slipcase and I found out that to get the books out you had to tip the set so the books would slide out.The pages are thick but instead of stiched they're glued to the spine.Watterson's brilliant watercolor really stood out and made the pictures come to life.The set includes an introduction by Watterson and comics he drew earlier including an earlier version of Calvin and Hobbes.These books are very heavy so don't put it on your bookcase unless it's strong enough.No family is complete without this collection especially if you're a kid.

COME BACK CALVIN!
This is the defintive collection on this iconic comic strip.It is beautifully presented and a fitting tribute to Calvin and his stuffed tiger.Everytime I see the comics section of a paper I think of Calvin and Hobbes and am reminded of how consitant and quality this strip was; it is missed everyday.I can't imagine anyone not loving this collection, it is quite simply, the best.Come back Calvin, we miss you... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Comic books, strips, etc    2. Comics & Cartoons    3. General    4. Humor    5. Cartoons & comic strips    6. Comics & Graphic Novels / Comics & Cartoons   

Reviews (2)

"Welcome to 1962!"
It's almost 45 years since Sally uttered this rather sarcastic prophecy to Linus after he filled her ears with tales of the Great Pumpkin (much of this story featured here in The Complete Peanuts Volume 6 would later make its way in It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown).The cartoons in this anthology would be featured in Holt paperbacks such as We're On Your Side, Charlie Brown, You Can't Win, Charlie Brown, Snoopy Come Home and You Can Do It, Charlie Brown.Other cartoons featured here would include one of the 1st Beethoven birthday parties hosted by Schroeder (featured on the cover of this volume), though one year he'd forget Beethoven's birthday and sink into a deep depression and would resign as catcher in order to devote more time to practicing his piano ("You're what?!" asks a devastated Charlie Brown, several times).Also, a new character named Frieda would make her debut.She was known for her vanity ("How do you like my naturally curly hair?") and harrassing Snoopy ("Why aren't you chasing rabbits?").She would later get a cat to spite Snoopy, whose attitude towards cats is typical of any dog "Cats are the crabgrass in the lawn of modern life!"Also, one of the great characters you never saw in person is mentioned quite a bit in the Van Pelt household- Linus's blanket hating grandma!Linus defends his blanket after being teased by Violet and Patty ("I am the Count Dracula of Transylvania!") and takes the brunt by a disappointed Sally after a night of sitting in the pumpkin patch.In 1962, he'd be featured wearing glasses, which Snoopy would often steal, along with his blanket.He and Charlie Brown are best buddies, though Charlie Brown doesn't share his beliefs in the Great Pumpkin and they get in an argument when Charlie Brown reveals to Linus that Miss Othmar gets paid for teaching (imagine the shock and depression when Linus discovers Charlie Brown is right!).He pulls a fast one on big sister Lucy, congratulating her for being crabby at him every day for over a year.Charlie Brown has trouble flying a kite (he almost buys a kite until Lucy preaches to him how cruel that would be to the kite!) and is bereaved when his baseball hero Joe Shlabotnik is sent to the minors (he stays loyal to his baseball hero, for the "blockhead" knows quite well the agony of defeat).He is given his own t-shirt which reads "Manager" and will not call off a ballgame just because of rain (Linus erects a wooden shade to protect him) and this is one of the only times his team wins a game!But he takes a chance on stealing home and slide as he might, he doesn't make it and becomes the goat again.Lucy gives some advice for free "The sooner you forget about it, the sooner everybody else will.Good night, goat!"Shermy says "Well, Charlie Brown, there a lots of pills we must swallow."Charlie Brown says he'd rather cancel his prescription!Charlie Brown admits he wishes he could be known as "Flash" Brown!The Van Pelts get a pool table and the entire Peanuts gang gets upset when their mothers spend more time playing pool than taking care of them.Sally is thrilled to get her own library card, gets frustrated with jumpropes and fears entering Kindergarten.Lucy is still Lucy, crabby to Linus ("Am I buttering too loud for you?")and Charlie Brown("AUUUUGH!"), she's hopelessly in love with Schroeder (painfully, too, since he often yanks the piano away from her head!) though admittedly the "fussbudget" knows nothing about his hero Beethoven after the Beethoven shindig and offers advice for anyone who has 5 cents (quite often good ol' wishy washy Charlie Brown).Snoopy's imagination still runs wild as he makes friends with a snowman who melts before his eyes and imitates a ferocious vulture, much to the chagrin of the Peanuts gang.As you can guess, Snoopy is less than thrilled with rabbit chasing (he'd rather make friends with them) and the prototype of Woodstock is featured here (though it'd be 8 years before he'd be introduced by name).The beagle gets a turkey as a Christmas present and reflects "Happiness is a thoughtful friend!"Also, look forward to an intro by Diana Krall, who like Schroeder, is an accomplished pianist.

Waiting eagerly...
This series is going to be a regular drain on my bank balance for the coming decade, as that is how long it is going to take Fantagraphics to finish publsihing this collection, if they stick to their published schedule.
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Subjects:  1. Comics & Cartoons    2. Comics & Graphic Novels    3. General    4. Humor    5. Comics & Graphic Novels / Comics & Cartoons   

Features

• Box set

Reviews (1)

Complete 2-book Set : Identical as the books sold separately only cheaper!
The Complete Peanuts is definitely complete! It's a real collectors' item! Hats off to Fantagraphics Books for initiating such an ambitious project though their release schedule (releasing only two books every year - it will take twelve and a half years before the entire collection is published) leaves one frustrated.
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Editorial Review

Scott McCloud's Read more

Reviews (8)

Amazing

Great book for establishing your comics
Scott Mccloud's Making Comics resembles a constitution for those want to establish their comics either as a hobby or as a carrier. It goes through so many details regarding creating your panels, establishing scenes, storytelling, characters designs and feelings, drawing styles, and the list goes on. Simply, the book gives you a guideline for establishing a living world in papers. What makes "Making Comics" unique is that it can teach you how to be a comic artist even if you're not good enough in drawing. The book illustrates the fundamentals of drawings comics and let you be creative for starting your own comic book. All in all, I really enjoyed reading this book, and it will help me a lot for my comics' drawings.

Disagree with review below--this is a remarkable book!
The previous reviewer accuses Scott McCloud of lacking the authority to write a guide to making comics. But McCloud's book is based on clear demonstration, not on authority.
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Subjects:  1. Cartooning    2. Comic books, strips, etc.    3. Comics & Cartoons    4. Comics & Graphic Novels    5. Drawing Of Specific Subjects    6. Educational    7. Fiction - General    8. Fine Arts    9. History & Criticism    10. History: World    11. Humor    12. Technique    13. Techniques - Cartooning    14. Comic book & cartoon art    15. Comics & Graphic Novels / Comics & Cartoons   

Reviews (3)

The Get Fuzzy crew at its best
I just bought this book a couple of days ago and have already read most of it. It is another great collection of hilarious cartoons featuring Bucky, Satchel and Rob and their efforts to maintain a happy household. Of course Bucky does his best to keep that from happening. I'm glad it was finally released. It was well worth the wait.

The Best Yet
This is by far the best Get Fuzzy collection to date. It has some of the newer strips, some I've seen in the papers and more than a few that I haven't. Perhaps the funniest is when Bucky takes Smacky to get appraised at one of those traveling antique tv shows. I laughed until I cried. A definite classic Bucky moment. This is Conley at his best.

Renevatio
Sweetness is upon us my friends. life long get fuzzy fan and i tell ya, thar aint no comic out there is better than get fuzzy. es[ecially the new stuff. the new stuff isHILARIOUS.
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Editorial Review

A comic book about comic books. McCloud, in an incredibly accessible style, explains the details of how comics work: how they're composed, read and understood. More than just a book about comics, this gets to the heart of how we deal with visual languages in general. "The potential of comics is limitless and exciting!" writes McCloud. This should be required reading for every school teacher. Pulitzer Prize-winner Art Spiegelman says, "The most intelligent comics I've seen in a long time." ... Read more

Reviews (95)

Don't let the title mislead you...
If you think this is just about comics, think again!It's a book which defines and illustrates what we call "art".The presentation is so simple, yet so profoundly deep, you'll find yourself referring back to this densely packed little book for many years to come.I always keep a copy at work to pass on to colleagues.It's absolutely genius.
A Comic about Comics
Understanding Comics is simple and deep.Profound and sometimes silly.It's such a no-brainer idea, why not USE the medium of comics to best describe the tools, power and impact of comics.
STEALTH TEACHING
Mc Cloud writes and draws in such a logical, straightforward style that remains funny and entertaining. His research and organization show this to be a heavy book disguised as fluff. (not to say that all comics are shallow, but they usually do not give the first impression of "War and Peace"). I was visiting my daughter at school and saw this softcover laying on the coffee table. I thought it might be a counter- culture "People" magazine. I was sucked in to the light approach and funny quirks in animation. Soon I realized this was a serious topic and also impossible to put down. I had to have a copy of my own. (turns out it was being used as a textbook in an English/Writing class on campus). Scott is a genious if could reach me. I am a photographer and Scott opened my eyes to new visual logics.
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Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Authorship    4. Comic books, strips, etc.    5. Comics & Cartoons    6. Humor    7. Juvenile literature    8. Periodicals, Publishing of    9. Techniques - Cartooning    10. Comic book & cartoon art    11. Comics & Graphic Novels / Comics & Cartoons    12. History Of Art / Art & Design Styles   

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Subjects:  1. American wit and humor, Pictorial    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Comics & Cartoons    4. Editorial And Political Cartoons    5. Form - Cartoons & Comics    6. General    7. Graphic Satire And Humor    8. Humor    9. New Yorker (New York, N.Y. : 1925)    10. Art / General   

Reviews (2)

Uproarious And Seditious - What I LIKE About The Funny Pages!
This comic isn't to everyone's taste.Let's get that right out of the way.It likes to talk about what the comics usually doesn't - death, sex, cynicism, other comics - and yet it does so in a way that you can't help but love.
Lot of laughs
This had to be great. I mean just the cover made me laugh and with Stephan Pastis's commentary and introduction, it was about the best comic treasury i have ever read. I have forty different comic treasuries and this is the crown of my collection. Thank you Stephan Pastis; you have made me laugh uncontrollably several times! Something that only the sarcasm, exagerration, and satire in Pearles Before Swine can do. ... Read more

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Subjects:  1. Calendar    2. Calendars & Diaries    3. Calendars - Humor / Comics / Games    4. Comics & Cartoons    5. General    6. Non-Classifiable    7. Humor / General   

Reviews (5)

Recommended!
I'm only a casual fan of Peanuts but I saw these boxed sets and bought the first one quite cheaply to "test the water" as we Brits say... Fabulous. I've since bought this 55-58 set and will be buying the others. Can't recommend enough, although the lack of colour where there was colour before (the Sundays?) is a little disappointing now I know about it - not enough to put me off. The design of these books can't be bettered I don't think - Seth has done an AMAZING job in capturing the feel of the period and the cartoons within.

Complete 2-book Set : Identical as the books sold separately only cheaper!
The Complete Peanuts is definitely complete! It's a real collectors' item! Hats off to Fantagraphics Books for initiating such an ambitious project though their release schedule (releasing only two books every year - it will take twelve and a half years before the entire collection is published) leaves one frustrated.
Completely Awesome... Peanuts 1955-1958
This series is going to be a regular drain on my bank balance for the coming decade, as that is how long it is going to take Fantagraphics to finish publsihing this collection, if they stick to their published schedule.
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Reviews (32)

Caught my eye, then I washed it out
Really wished I could have liked this story. It had a good beginning and lead to some really great expectations. Unfortunately, it lead me the wrong way as I was severly disappointed in the ending. Just not my cup of tea. Friends of Marv, ask a friend to borrow first.

always with the superheroes
I care strongly about stories.However, I am not skilled at appreciating graphic novels or comics as such--that is, when I read something like Ronin, I come away with strong feelings about its characters and plot, but with only a vague impression of the quality of its visuals.The story in this book frustrated me.It is angsty and epic in the way of so many other works that I, as a clever person who programs computers and enjoys science fiction, am supposed to love:Ender's Game, for instance.I have my own share of angstful memories and heroic fantasies, but I believe that there is much more to life.Geek entertainment feels stunted to me--it's always about urgent quests, just-off-the-mainstream gimmickry, and simplistic sentimentality cloaked in ugly cynicism.As far as I can tell, there is no reason for the protagonist in Ronin to appear as a samurai, except that the author thought feudal Japan was cool.It's unclear how the villainous power in this story could possibly have come into being.The author's rendering of the handicapped hero's formative angstful experience is hauntingly grotesque, but that character's eventual redemption is comparatively shallow and silly.Of course good wins over evil in a burst of something or other.Of course there is a girl; of course she is good, and of course someone falls in love with her and makes a huge sacrifice for her and refrains from sticking around to deal with the little messy details of a relationship with her.All of this is lame.
I wish I enjoyed it as much as the others
I did not know what to expect when I bought the comic, which is a good thing.Frank Miller is one of my favorite writers and I loved his other novels such as the Sin City series, The Dark Knight, Hard Boiled, etc.I was dissapointed reading this book.
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Editorial Review

Hunter S. Thompson, in his drunken, rambling introduction to this volume of paintings and illustrations, calls Ralph Steadman "the Albert Gore of twentieth century art." It's hard to imagine a less apt appellation: Steadman's drawings and paintings are the wild antithesis of the notoriously stiff V.P. His pop art is also the opposite of Warhol's clean lines and soulless imagery; it screams with pain and nightmare power. While Steadman is best known for his illustrations to Thompson's Read more

Reviews (14)

One of His Best!
I love his work, have since he did the cover art and animation for Pink Floyd The Wall. This book is worth grabbing if you respect the artistic value of total insanity and the furthering of freedom of expression.

Gonzo forever!
May the ghost of Hunter S. Thompson come down and become the next President of the United States - and may Ralph Steadman be his Art Director!

Plastered from the master.

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Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Comics & Cartoons    4. Graphic Satire And Humor    5. Individual Artist    6. Steadman, Ralph    7. Humor / Cartoons   

Reviews (1)

I've been using the Far-Side Desk Calendar for 3 years now
This is a great way to organize yourself. This calendar is spiral bound, has an annual theme for its cartoons (which are very funny!), and is divided into weekly pages (and each month has its own page as well). This is convenient because sometimes you want to look at your month at a glance, and sometimes you want to make more specific daily plans. There is space to write notes for the month and space for daily notes. There is a small section for phone numbers, for a yearly plan, and each week comes with its own color cartoon.
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Subjects:  1. Calendar    2. Calendars & Diaries    3. Calendars - Humor / Comics / Games    4. Comics & Cartoons    5. General    6. Non-Classifiable    7. Humor / General   

Reviews (2)

Readers involved in comic history, evolution and art simply must have
Any involved in the comics must have ART OUT OF TIME: UNKNOWN COMICS VISIONARIES, 1900-1969: it celebrates the lesser-known work of Bob Powell, Astan MacGovern, Boody Rogers and others who proved eccentric but influential comic visionaries before the rose of underground comics in the late 1960s. These artists created their own versions of western, romance, humor and horror genres and worked within the confines of popular comics of their times to provide visionary works. Some became famous, others remained obscure. ART OUT OF TIME reprints complete comic book and strip stories: many appear here for the first time since their first appearance. A thematic organization allows for quick access while surveys of pre-underground stars makes for a winning collection. Another big plus: the strips appear in full color, capturing all the nuances of the originals and losing nothing in translation. Readers involved in comic history, evolution and art simply must have ART OUT OF TIME.
VERY GOOD COMPILATION OF UNKNOWN ARTISTS
The edition and compilation of material is brilliant, and also is the reproduction of old pages. It's a fantastic purchase for comic lovers. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Comic books, strips, etc    2. Comics & Cartoons    3. Comics & Graphic Novels    4. Fiction - General    5. General    6. Graphic Novels    7. Humor    8. Comic book & cartoon art    9. History of art & design styles: from c 1900 -    10. Humor / Cartoons   

Reviews (3)

Highly recommended
Featuring a foreword by General Richard B. Myers (USAF, Ret., Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff) The War Within: One More Step At A Time is a unique collection of G. B. Trudeau's Doonesbury newspaper comics that is not only humorous, but also cutting-edge relevant . The strips follow the daily life Vietnam, Gulf War, and Iraq War veteran B.D., whose tour of duty was cut short by a near-death experience, the loss of his leg, and perhaps most shockingly, the loss of his iconic helmet. Far more life-altering than the physical damage is the post-traumatic stress disorder that leaves him increasingly disoriented, hostile, withdrawn, and turning to alcohol to self-medicate. When B.D. is on the verge of mistaking friends and family for mortal enemies, the turning point comes when he overhears his own daughter say that she has become afraid of him. Help comes in the form of the local Vet Center, and the skillful aid of counselor and fellow Vietnam vet Elias. The War Within brims with classic Trudeau wit, yet also reveals the author's resolve to accurately portray the harrowing pressures America's armed forces are subject to during and after risking their lives in the service. Highly recommended. Proceeds from "The War Within" are to benefit Fisher House, a "home away from home" for families of patients receiving medical care at major military and VA medical centers.

Worth the wait!
Received and read "The War Within" last week but find it hard to characterize this one.While BD was the central figure in "The Long Road Home" I think this one has a cast offigures with equally important stories to tell.BD continues his journey but one gets a much deeper understanding of his pain and struggles as well as those of his family.
A service to our country's fighting men and women
These are some most heart-rending yet funny cartoons I have ever read. For a man who has never "been there" Trudeau does an outstanding job of showing the long road that a miltary man has to walk to "recover" from war. B.D. is wounded both on the outside and the inside and as Trudeau shows in a daily comic strip, sometimes it's the hidden wounds that are the worst. If any comic strip is worthy of a Pulitzer, it is the current run of Doonesbury with the ongoing journey of B.D. If you have any empathy for the American fighting man/woman these strips will bring tears to your eyes. They are Art with a capital A. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Comics & Cartoons    2. Comics & Graphic Novels    3. Graphic Satire And Humor    4. Humor    5. Topic - Political    6. Comic book & cartoon art    7. Comics & Graphic Novels / Comics & Cartoons   

Editorial Review

The fifth volume in Fantagraphics Books' Read more

Reviews (14)

The best comic strip ever written
The best ever written. It's very difficult not to relate to Charlie Brown. He is Joe Everyman. I can't wait for the rest of the strips to come out. A big mistake for a "Peanuts" fan not to own them.

Charlie Brown and Snoopy Are For Everyone, Not Just Christians
Eric Paddon said in his review that Whoopi Goldberg's "specialty is foul-mouthed hate diatribes toward anyone who isn't a raving leftist like her."
Great Cartoons - Ignore the Introduction
It's a joy to watch the continuing development of the Peanuts characters through this, the fifth volume in the continuing series.You can safely ignore the 'introduction' - an interview with Whoopi Goldberg that casts little light on the Peanuts Gang or Charles Schulz.I have no axe to grind as far as Ms. Goldberg is concerned - she's a fine actress and an interesting person, but for a volume such as this, part of a complete collection, I'd expect a more relevant essay or perhaps some additional information on Mr. Schulz or his work.
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Reviews (8)

The History of Wally
In the introduction Scott Adams talks about his time at Pacific Bell and the management decisions that resulted in the real-life Wally, an employee that worked hard to be in the bottom 10% so that he could be laid off with a substantial severance package.From there we move to the strips which cover most of the range of the Dilbert Years right from the early, unpolished days of Wally.Reading the collection we can see hoe the coffee mug carrying character has developed over the years.
Another wonderful collection
Fans of the cartoon strip Dilbert have another wonderful collection packed with black and white and color cartoons alike. This is the author's 26th Dilbert book, but it doesn't lesson the impact of describing office politics, ironies, and inconsistencies. Cubicle cartoons are hilarious and continue to remark on work life with its favorite characters joined by a few new faces.
More Great Dilbert
What makes it funny is that everyone knows a Wally where they work? It is funny because there is so much truth in it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Comics & Cartoons    2. Form - Cartoons & Comics    3. Graphic Satire And Humor    4. Humor    5. Non-Classifiable    6. Nonfiction    7. Topic - Business and Professional    8. Comics & Graphic Novels / Comics & Cartoons