Cartooning Books - Page 2

It's A Magical World: A Calvin and Hobbes Collection

Bill Watterson

Amazon Price: $11.53 List Price: $16.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Andrews McMeel Publishing Amazon Marketplace: 146 new & used starting at $2.44

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 76 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

When cartoonist Bill Watterson announced that his phenomenally popular cartoon strip would be discontinued on the last day of 1995, Calvin and Hobbes fans throughout the world went into mourning. Fans have learned to survive - despite the absence of the boy and his tiger in the daily newspaper. Now, like the wave of a sweet memory; comes one last chance to experience Calvin and Hobbes, in its final collection. Like the thirteen extraordinarily successful Watterson books that came before it, this volume promises to deliver all the satisfaction of visiting its characters once more. Calvin fans will be able to see their favorite mischief maker stir it up with his furry friend, long-suffering parents, classmate Susie Derkins, school teacher Miss Wormwood, and Rosalyn the baby-sitter. This collection, including full-color Sundays, has it all: Calvin-turned-firefly waking Hobbes with his flashlight glow; courageous Spaceman Spiff rocketing through alien galaxies as he battles Dad-turned-Bug-Being; and Calvin's always inspired snowman art. There's no better way for Watterson fans to savor once again the special qualities of their favorite strip.

The Animator's Survival Kit

Richard Williams

Amazon Price: $19.80 List Price: $30.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Faber & Faber Amazon Marketplace: 70 new & used starting at $17.92

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Subjects -> Arts & Photography -> Design & Decorative Arts -> Graphic Design -> Animation
Subjects -> Comics & Graphic Novels -> Cartooning
Subjects -> Entertainment -> Movies -> Direction & Production

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 95 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

The definitive book on animation, from the Academy Award-winning animator behind Who Framed Roger Rabbit?Animation is one of the hottest areas of filmmaking today--and the master animator who bridges the old generation and the new is Richard Williams. During his more than forty years in the business, Williams has been one of the true innovators, winning three Academy Awards and serving as the link between Disney's golden age of animation by hand and the new computer animation exemplified by Toy Story. Perhaps even more important, though, has been his dedication in passing along his knowledge to a new generation of animators so that they in turn could push the medium in new directions. In this book, based on his sold-out master classes in the United States and across Europe, Williams provides the underlying principles of animation that every animator--from beginner to expert, classic animator to computer animation whiz --needs. Urging his readers to "invent but be believable," he illustrates his points with hundreds of drawings, distilling the secrets of the masters into a working system in order to create a book that will become the standard work on all forms of animation for professionals, students, and fans.

Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art

Scott Mccloud

Amazon Price: $15.61 List Price: $22.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Harper Paperbacks Amazon Marketplace: 136 new & used starting at $6.95

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Subjects -> Arts & Photography -> History & Criticism -> General AAS
Subjects -> Arts & Photography -> Instructional & How-To -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 126 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

A Brilliant Look at the Psychology, Physiology, and Effectiveness of Comic Strips and Books 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This is an important book that everyone should read. I would give it twenty stars if I could.

I've long been interested in both art and comic books (I have collected them for over 50 years). While the library shelves are full of wonderful books that explain what traditional artists are trying to do and why they succeed, I've often found the books to be pretty boring. In recent years, such books have gotten bogged down into abstruse language that is much less appealing than the art which is the subject.

But in those years, I've never seen anything that was very helpful in discussing the rules of comic art, except some books about pop art when that was popular that examined how the pop art was different from comic art. Naturally, I was blown away when I found that Understanding Comics is a far more comprehensive, thoughtful, and accessible book about interaction with art than I have ever read. Although the subject is ostensibly comic strips and comic books, it's clear to me that that Mr. McCloud has a deep and powerful understanding of all art. Some of his conceptual displays of where different forms of art fall in different dimensions of choice (degree of realism, abstraction, and message) are unbelievably powerful.

I hope that some art historian will stumble on this book and recast the history of art to explain and relate different styles to one another using this book's methods. There would be a lot more art lovers if that were the case.

Ultimately, the book's main benefit is to help the reader appreciate that comic art can be a higher and more effective form of art than either pure images or written words by requiring a mastery of more elements . . . elements that are more powerful in grabbing attention and conveying meaning.

Yet the book stays in humble form, a comic book. The powerful ideas sneak up on you as Mr. McCloud deconstructs the elements of comic art expression into chapters on defining what kind of art comics are ("sequential art" for short); explaining where various comics fall on the spectrum of reality, story, and abstraction; the way we fill in the spaces around the lines and between panels with our minds, allowing us to participate in creating the story and the experience; how time is expressed in various ways; the role of lines in creating our understanding and responses; how words and images can interact; a conceptual look at creating comic art; the effect of color; and a synthesis of the book in historical and conceptual terms.

If you want to enjoy both traditional art and comic art more, read this book. It's the Rosetta stone for non-artists in appreciating the images, stories, and messages that artists want to share with us through these media. You'll never be the same . . . and the change will be good for you!

Bravo, Mr. McCloud!

Editorial Review:

Praised throughout the cartoon industry by such luminaries as Art Spiegelman, Matt Groening, and Will Eisner, this innovative comic book provides a detailed look at the history, meaning, and art of comics and cartooning.

The Simpsons 2003 Fun Calendar

Matt Groening

List Price: $12.99 By: HarperEntertainment Amazon Marketplace: 4 new & used starting at $29.52

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Another Great Simpsons Calendar 5 out of 5 stars.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful.

Another year, another great Simpsons calendar. With the impending arrival of 2002, Matt Groening and the creators of the Simpsons treat us to twelve months of memorable Simpsons' moments. Extracting scenes from the show's many seasons, the "2003 Simpsons Fun Calendar" provides the user with colorful, glossy pictures that not only catch one's attention, but also captures the zany, fun spirit of Springfield's many denizens. If you are a Simpsons fan or know of one, this calendar will make a great gift during this upcoming holiday season.

Spectacular Simpsons 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This calendar is just what i expected - fun, colourful and entertaining.

Buy this every year 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I buy this every year for my teenage son. It's becaome tradition and each year it is hung on the wall and used. He loves it because he loves the Simpsons. There are birthdays listed of celebrities although I'm not sure he cares too much about that. The calendar is usually funny and colorful.

Who doesn't love the Simpsons? 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Spend your year with the Simpsons like you should be. The centerfolds in the calendars make nice posters, if you're into that kind of thing. I've been using the Simpsons Fun calendar for about 4 years now, and I'm never disappointed. This year's theme is travel, so the pictures are scenes from episodes, unlike previous calendars which were made up for the most part.

The Perry Bible Fellowship: The Trial of Colonel Sweeto and Other Stories

Nicholas Gurewitch

Amazon Price: $10.17 List Price: $14.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Dark Horse Comics Amazon Marketplace: 27 new & used starting at $9.40

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Subjects -> Comics & Graphic Novels -> Publishers -> Dark Horse

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 56 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Amazingly funny 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

The Perry Bible Fellowship is a hilarious comic available for free on the internet, so why would you pay for a book that you can read on the internet for free?

The answer is because of the book. Perry Bible Fellowship is a kind of comic with art and humor rarely found in other comics. The book itself is high quality, with a very nicely drawn cover and comics not on the site that are definitely worth the price of the book. You can also spread the joy of PBF by putting it on your coffee table and not having to sound like a nerd by telling everyone about "this awesome webcomic that you have to read!"

The Humorless Need Not Apply 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Honestly, I was already familiar with every strip in this book; however, these strips never fail to make me laugh, cry, die, laugh again. The book also has the ability to trap souls. I've personally collected many of my friends' souls. Collect them all!

Editorial Review:

The award-winning Perry Bible Fellowship has a achieved a cult following both online and in its weekly appearances in newspapers and magazines around the world. Now, for the first time, the hilarious cartoons of Nicholas Gurewitch are being collected in this handsome hardcover edition.

Homicidal Psycho Jungle Cat

Bill Watterson

List Price: $19.95 By: Andrews McMeel Publishing Amazon Marketplace: 12 new & used starting at $4.00

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 50 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Typical Calvin 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This collection takes place mostly in winter/spring/summer and is not themed (as you would think) along the lines of Hobbes "pouncing" which made me hesitate to purchase it at first because I wasn't that keen on all that pouncing. If you are into that aspect of C&H, however, you can get the C&H Lazy Sunday Book Collection. This one DOES however contain a lot of his priceless snowman sculptures which I AB-SO-LOUTELY LOVE, a great deal of interation with Susie, and escapades in Miss Wormwood's class. 5 *s for another fantastic collection!

Graphic SF Reader 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

The title alludes to the four legged part of this classically funny duo. The thing that causes Hobbes, Calvin's tiger, the most joy, is pouncing on, and scaring the crap out of, his owner. Calvin is a willing participant, most of the time going along with it for the thrill. A lot of satire and insightful observation delivered along with the clowning, here.

Editorial Review:

Calvin and Hobbes--the sensationally popular comic strip dynamic duo--are ready to pounce back on bestseller lists nationwide with this all-new collection of daily and color Sunday cartoons. All eight previous Calvin and Hobbes collections have sold more than 1 million copies in the first year of publication.

30 Years of Laughs & Lasagna: The Life & Times of a Fat, Furry Legend! (Garfield)

Jim Davis

Amazon Price: $23.10 List Price: $35.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Ballantine Books Amazon Marketplace: 49 new & used starting at $21.00

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

“If Garfield ever lost weight, I’d lose my job security.”
–Jim Davis

When the world’s most famous feline hits the three-decade milestone it’s time to celebrate! 30 Years of Laughs & Lasagna is a tribute to this tremendous achievement. Organized by decade, each with an introduction by Jim Davis, this lavishly illustrated volume features more than four hundred strips, including thirty of Jim Davis’s all-time favorites–with informative remarks from Jim on why they made the grade. Packed with early sketches, enlightening quotes, and fun facts (did you know that the Garfield comic was originally titled Jon?), this book shows how Garfield evolved from a witty kitty to a world-renowned fat cat.

Of Jim Davis’s “little hobby,” Blondie cartoonist Dean Young writes: “Every one of [these] little treasures is an exquisite menagerie of comic timing, writing, and cartoon art. It’s easy to see why his strip is continually voted one of the best on our planet by readers everywhere.”

So if you appreciate the unparalleled splendors of layered pasta, need something to ward off those nap attacks, or have a healthy appetite for humor, 30 Years of Laughs & Lasagna is just the ticket. Perhaps Jim Davis puts it best: “This whole line of work is to make people happy and smile.” Garfield’s millions of fans couldn’t agree more.

The Indispensable Calvin and Hobbes: A Calvin and Hobbes Treasury

Bill Watterson

List Price: $19.95 By: Andrews Mcmeel Pub Amazon Marketplace: 11 new & used starting at $5.00

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 55 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

an epic, great modern day comic strip parable ......... 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I could relate to Calvin and Hobbes, from the moment I first started following the adventures of the devilish, eternal six year old (Calvin) and his scruffy, stuffed pal tiger (Hobbes). Though, many of the plots appear simplistic (example: Calvin makes a mess and his mother yells at him!), there is so much more to the little strips than meets the eye. For starters, Calvin and Hobbes ponders the meaning of life, the voicelessness of children in society, and self image (among other themes).

Though, this comic strip is something that definitely appeals to little children, because it presents a little boy that we all can relate to (or maybe spent time avoiding on the playground if he teased us), and his stuffed animal. Anyone who owned a stuffed animal and knows what an important bond that is for a child, knows the feeling when that toy crosses over from the identity of "inanimate object" to "lifelike being." The creature that we relate to truly embodies the qualities who want in a best friend and companion, and we aren't doing the talking for that creature, because it truly does have a mind of its own! (in the eyes of a child) Wonderful, very funny and beautifully drawn. I've had mine for almost fifteen years and I just went back to look at it today. It feels like no time has passed between now, and the time I first looked at it. Buy this today and make it a part of your collection.

Editorial Review:

A Calvin and Hobbes "best of" collection features the hyper-imaginative six-year-old and his guardian tiger in their most memorable adventures, including cartoons from Revenge of the Baby-Sat and Scientific Progress Goes "Boink".

The Indispensable Calvin and Hobbes: A Calvin and Hobbes Treasury

Bill Watterson

List Price: $19.95 By: Andrews Mcmeel Pub Amazon Marketplace: 11 new & used starting at $5.00

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Comics & Graphic Novels -> Comic Strips -> Calvin and Hobbes
Subjects -> Comics & Graphic Novels -> Cartooning
Subjects -> Entertainment -> Humor -> Satire

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 55 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

an epic, great modern day comic strip parable ......... 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I could relate to Calvin and Hobbes, from the moment I first started following the adventures of the devilish, eternal six year old (Calvin) and his scruffy, stuffed pal tiger (Hobbes). Though, many of the plots appear simplistic (example: Calvin makes a mess and his mother yells at him!), there is so much more to the little strips than meets the eye. For starters, Calvin and Hobbes ponders the meaning of life, the voicelessness of children in society, and self image (among other themes).

Though, this comic strip is something that definitely appeals to little children, because it presents a little boy that we all can relate to (or maybe spent time avoiding on the playground if he teased us), and his stuffed animal. Anyone who owned a stuffed animal and knows what an important bond that is for a child, knows the feeling when that toy crosses over from the identity of "inanimate object" to "lifelike being." The creature that we relate to truly embodies the qualities who want in a best friend and companion, and we aren't doing the talking for that creature, because it truly does have a mind of its own! (in the eyes of a child) Wonderful, very funny and beautifully drawn. I've had mine for almost fifteen years and I just went back to look at it today. It feels like no time has passed between now, and the time I first looked at it. Buy this today and make it a part of your collection.

Editorial Review:

A Calvin and Hobbes "best of" collection features the hyper-imaginative six-year-old and his guardian tiger in their most memorable adventures, including cartoons from Revenge of the Baby-Sat and Scientific Progress Goes "Boink".