Caricature Books

This is where the characters that would later become "The Addams Family" got their start. Charles Addams with his unique sense of humor sheads a light on the dark side of humor. With whacky commementary on such light subjects such as suiside,murder and marrige, Mr. Addams never seemed to be without his tounge securly lodged in his cheek or was it bitten off? Oh well one never can tell what might come to mind after spending quality time in HIS mind! Anyone who loves the numerous shows or movies based on these hilarious cartoons owes it to themselves to see just where it all began!

An interesting book, but not what I expected. I was hoping for a collection of original Addams Family cartoons. Instead the book is almost exclusively cartoons of middle aged spouses trying to murder each other. Many of them are quite amusing, but if you want the Addams family characters you will need to look elsewhere. There is also some nudity on some of the cartoons, which may be inappropriate for some (I bought this for my teenage nephew but abandoned the idea after perusing the book).

These are hilarious! It's morbid humor without being morbid - it's hard to explain, but I can tell you this, this are wonderful! You will not be disappointed - everyone loves these cartoons.

Is a good compilation of charles Addams works. With this book we have a wonderful view for the most important topics of this important american creator.

Since I bought this book, I have bought all Glen's publications. He's got a great way to portray the Gay Lifestyle. Very respectful and creative, not to mention the amazing drawings. I recommend buying anything "Glen Hanson".

This book left me a bit cold. Great colors and all, but the guys here are so self-centered and self-absorbed, and I couldn't feel they could tell me something. Much better Hanson in Chelsea Boys, and if you're looking for beautiful boys with feeling, look at Joe Phillips' boys!

Glen Hanson has produced so much artwork of amazing quality. This latest project is just a wonderful as all the rest, interesting, beautiful, unusual - you have to get this book!

Sometimes less is more and with this book. It is totally, great photo's from beginning to end some of them revealing and some of them not so much. But this is for the better each photo has something offer just about anybody. After checking out G-man, i'm wanting more of this in spades.

He's a little brother dressed up in a cat costume. He can't speak, but somehow he communicates telepathically with his "master" and the family dog, Odie, who behaves like a retarded child.

These comics are cute, but there's really not that much humor in them, or maybe just a one-"hah" rank in humor.

I wish Gary Larson would go back to writing comics. He was good.

I've recently seen two other syndicated comics which are pretty funny, "Rubes" by Leigh and "Bizarro" by Dan Piraro. These newer, and presumably younger, artists make Jim Davis look like a children's cartoonist, which, in some ways, he actually is. But we're all really just big children, right? Right! Diximus.

Man I love garfield cause he is a very funny cat and he does such things as eating Jon's lasanga, being mean to Odie and destroying Jon's chair, there's a hilarious part when Odie drive's Jon's car inside the house but other than that, it's not a classic like some of Garfield's other books of this era.

Overall recommended.

I have had this Garfield book since it first came out and have enjoyed the witty, sarcastic humor of Garfield for 11 years.

Everybody out there keep buying Garfield books! They can be worth a lot of money someday and can become collector's items! I'm always going to keep all of mine so when I have kids they can read them!

This is perhaps one of the bests manga drawing books I have ever used. Not ideal for someone just starting out, however if you have a little bit of experience this book can really take you to the next level.

basic drawing book. deals mostly with proportion of figures.
would recommend How to Draw Chibi by Ben Dunn.
much more info and drawing examples.

I have been using the manga style for 25 years, yet i found this book a very welcome addition to my library of over 200 reference books. Using it with the sister volume #1 is simply a delight. The book is well presented and extremely clear for the beginner and the professional. I have recommended it and the sister volume #1 to many beginning to professional manga artists.

This book is basically a follow up to the first volume, but in this book they show you examples of drawing proportions on chibi characters as well as standard size characters. I really enjoyed the contents of this book. This whole book teaches you the correct head to body ratio when drawing your characters as well as their chibi counter part. Not only does Hikaru show you these examples, he also put in some facial expressions and action poses (for both chibi and standard size characters). Like I said in my title, this book is basically a big rough draft sketch book that's full of helpful images. I would definitely recommend getting this book, especially if you liked the first volume. This book advertises just what the title suggests, nothing more nothing less. If you are looking for something more than what the title suggest, then you will be sorely disappointed. I truly believe that one would benefit from this book tremendously and their art style will improve drastically. So if you are a big fan of chibi drawing, get this book! You won't be disappointed!

I really enjoyed this book. Fisgon uses comic panels to illustrate the ups and downs of globalization while also provided a very intelligent researched history into it. The book may drone every now and then but it is worth it for the point he is trying to make.

For any American who is curious about how the rest of the world views the political and economic leadership in the US, this book is a great place to start. Both clever and funny, El Fisgòn presents an overview of the history of Capitalism as viewed by those who have benefited from it the least. Economists, surely, would dismiss his views. The poor and the thoughtful, though, even in the US, will sense the truth in it.

If you've asked yourself, "Why do they hate us so much?" then this book is for you!

If you're involved in or sympathetic to the labor movement, then this book is for you!

If you want to understand the worldwide protest against recent US government policy, even from our allies, then this book is for you!

If you're confused or curious about the results of globalization and free trade and how they work, then this book is for you!

Challenge yourself! Read this book!

A poor Mexican businessman crosses the Sonoran Desert into United States in search of the career guidance that will show him the way to financial success. He meets a "Career Consultant" who teaches him the history of business and introduces him (and us readers) to the world of colonialism, subsidies, globalization, neoliberalism, the free market, and war. This book tackles some very serious issues in an easy-to-read, and wonderfully illustrated format. It is a great introduction to anyone who is struggling to make sense of the complex world of globalization. A clever ending.

Sometimes I question if some of the reviewers on Amazon have actually read the material they're reviewing. Since there only seems to be two reviews for this book, and since I have read the book twice, I can vouch for their praise. The author, whose name means "The Peeper" in English, is both well skilled in drawing, as well as very educated in social maters. Seeing first-hand what our decade old NAFTA did to his country of Mexico, he decided to enlighten the rest of the world by means of humor.
The book starts with a business man named Charro Machorro crawling through the burning sands of the Sonoran Desert. Why? Well it's not for water, shade or anything reasonable in that environment. Instead he is looking for The Carrera Clinic, famous for its financial sorceress, career consultant and `faith healer'. Keep that last one in mind will reading the book, you'll be in for a comical surprise. Charro's purpose for visiting her is to find out how to be successful in business. Although the book does answer that question, it is anything but the usual sap you see in the bookstores. To sum it up, this is a clever book; read it.

i think one of the issue(i say its one of the issue) in islam is the the border drawn in 1947 which the palestine is asking nothing more.why not stick to that border rather than expansion into palestine territory

The new book Islamophobia: Making Muslims the Enemy by Peter Gottschalk and Gabriel Greenberg, is an excellent addition to the growing literature, study, and analysis of Islamophobia in the West. The authors give a working definition of what Islamophobia consists of in relation to other phobias in their introduction.

The first chapter deals with a very good but brief overview of Western interaction and reaction to Islamic civilization and Muslims. What is important to note is that this all came about way before 9/11 and that because of this long history, people in the West have an ingrained and often warped image about what the religion of Islam represents.

In this book, the focus is primarily the role of political cartoons in mainstream media that help shape everyday peoples' image of Islam and Muslims. The proceeding chapters give excellent examples of the imagery and effectiveness of conveying stereotypical images of Muslims and Islam.

For those interested in learning about Islamophobia, I recommend this book along with Dr. Mohamed Nimer's Islamophobia and Anti-Americanism: Causes and Remedies. For good essay on the topic, I recommend Dr. Ibrahim Kalin's essay entitled "Roots of Misconception: Euro-American Perceptions of Islam Before and After 9/11" which can be found online.

The term of this book is incorrect: in non-Muslim countries, we are not "phobic" toward Islam, or Muslims. We are "phobic" toward Islamic terrorists and "Islamo-fascists" (Taliban, Al Quida, etc.). Thus, the correct term should be "Islamofascism-phobia", not "Islamophobia (thanks to British novelist Ian McKwen for that distinction). In other words, we are "phobic" (in fear of) those who want us dead. The Taliban and Al Quida want me and you dead. Thus, this fear is not irrational, and thus not a phobia. Rather, it is totally rational, a completely rational fear and aversion against Taliban and Islamic fascists. (I personally also dislike the use of "phobia" - a psychiatric term, to depict a political stance or political opinion. It is a misnomer, and to me smacks of the Soviet tendency to label political opponents as "insane", or suffering from a mental condition. Unfortunately, in the U.S., we picked this bad habit up, and now use it against people who disagree with us politically).

The second problem I have is showing cartoons as if they were somehow indicative of public opinion. Everyone understands that political cartoons are an exagerrated, often comical depiction, and not indicative of real public opinion (I bet one could analyze cartoons about Europeans in the U.S. press to then show how "racist" we are toward the Europeans). The authors depict cartoons as if they somehow are indicative of western opinion of Muslims and Islam, when in fact, they are exagerrations, and everyone understands them as such.

Also, the authors tend to contradict themselves. For instance, at one point, they state that most Muslims live east of Saudi Arabia (true), and thus don't care about Mideast politics. And then, they later claim that Muslims are enraged due to "U.S. Foreign policy". Well, which is it ? Is the Palestinian issue central, or not ? They seem to want to have it both ways: Muslims are not concerned about the Mideast, and yet, U.S. actions there are totally central to their worldview. (I would also like to point out here what real U.S. foreign policy did: save the Muslim Bosnians, give Egypt and Saudi Arabia billions every year, try to help Muslim Somalis in 1993, freed the Iraqis from Saddam, freed Kuwait in 1991, sending an aircraft carrier to Indonesia with aid packages, after the tsunami, taking in millions of Muslim refugees and allowing them to live in the U.S., etc. The U.S. record on foreign policy is far more friendly to Muslims than most people think).

They also claim that the West has much in common with Islam due to a shared respect for "Greek rationalism". In reality, the Muslims gave up on Greek rationalism 800 years ago, and have forasaken it since then. Greek rationalism was thrown out the window by the Muslims 8 centuries ago. To state that Muslims are a force for rationalism in our modern world is an extreme stretch, to put it mildly.

By the way, they claim that the sword is not a "central" symbol to Muslims. That might be true, but I also think I saw a sword depicted in the Saudi Arabian flag.

Ever since 9/11 I have been on the lookout for any book dealing with changed perceptions or heightened generalizations regarding Islam and Muslims. "Islamophobia" by Peter Gottschalk and Gabriel Greenberg is one of those books that must be read by Americans in this post-9/11 world.

This book starts off by reviewing the reaction of Muslims to the cartoon that appeared in the Danish news paper Jyllands-Posten, which portrayed the prophet Muhammad in a less than stellar light. From here the authors trace the depiction of Islam and Muslims throughout history and how this idea of the religion and its followers as backward, violent and primitive remains well-entrenched in the minds of many Western non-Muslim people. In the introduction, the authors make a statement that I think is right on target: That is they (views held by Americans) demonstrate how natural for so many Americans the image of Muslims as irrational aggressors and Americans as righteous innocents abroad and at home has become, so that any other perspective becomes not a counterargument but a challenge to an unquestionable world order." The authors skillfully present information to back up this statement.

From the history of Western perceptions of Islam, the authors go on to analyze political cartoons depicting Islams. Just before doing this they make a necessary distinction between caricature and stereotype. This is key, because I think for many people, caricatures and stereotypes are one and the same. Most people respond to visual stimuli and in the case of the cartoons, their lack of familiarity with Islam, coupled with a general post-9/11 resentment toward Muslim culture, allows them to formulate opinions based on the animations they read in the newspapers. For example, how many people know the difference between a Muslim and an Arab? The authors contend that too often people categorize all Muslims under the same category (violent, backward, oppressive, etc.)without any reference that may inhibit the formatin of inaccurate perceptions.

I could go on, but it is best for readers to read this book for themselves. I found it very interesting that in the 1950s cartoonists depicted Muslims as lazy and effeminate. Now, the depictions are much more savage in their portrayals. It seems that many cartoons follow the political winds blowing from Washington, DC.

I guess part of the charm of the New Yorker cartoons is finding them as a 'breather' between the articles... might be nice as a coffee table, waiting room, or guest room book, but I don't expect to read it again, even though I'm a "dog person."

I keep this book in my bathroom with some other fun books - I read it every time I'm in there, and I laugh over and over at the same cartoons. People always love going to the bathroom at my place because of it! :- ) Anyway, if you love woofers like I do AND enjoy the New Yorker sense o' humor, you must have this book!

Before discussing the cartoons (which are wonderful), let me warn you against the miniature paperback version. It is very small, the cartoons are hard to see, you need a magnifying glass for some, the reproduction quality is poor, and the paper is not good. Stick with the hardcover.

I have rated the book as the hardcover version. The only drawback I saw to the 101 cartoons was the lack of a witty introduction (like those in the cartoon books of the New Yorker for business and money).

In a spirit of self-disclosure, I must admit that I do not have a dog now . . . but I have had one in the past. Several of my friends have dogs, so I think I can properly evaluate the book from a dog lover's point of view.

The relationship between human and dog is an especially close one. The humor works well when it alludes to that. For example, in a wordless cartoon, a dog looks resentfully at a man reading a book entitled "How To Be Your Own Best Friend." Another one has a couple in bed with lots of dogs: "If you lie down with pugs, you wake up with pugs." In a third, a woman with two suitcases is seen leaving with the dog while a man inquires of the dog: "Et tu, Baxter?"

Dog-human reversals also work: A dog doctor examines a human and notes, "Well, your nose feels cold."

Sometimes the humor is aimed at the human, such as: A psychic tells a dog her/his fortune, "You will be going for a long walk."

Inevitably cats are part of the picture: Two dogs talking to each other spot a cat walking down the side walk, "Do you want to handle this, or should I?"

Sometimes dogs become just like people as in: A man walks down the street with a dog walking on hind legs holding onto his arm, "She never took to the leash."

What do dogs think of their humans? "They never pushed me. If I wanted to retrieve, shake hands or roll over, it was entirely up to me."

As someone who had a Sheltie, this one got to me: A sheep is leading lots of dogs in a herd, and a man says to another man, "I understand that in your country this thing is done quite differently."

Humor is a window onto our stalled beliefs that keep us from grasping our full potential of progress and joy from each day. Let these wonderful dog cartoons remind you of the potential in everything around you!

I could barely put it down, I just wanted to read "one more cartoon". Dog lovers like me would like it the most, but anyone would love it. My 11 year old daughter read it and liked it too!

Stan Lee at the time was cranking out these books with Fireside Press. This is part of the same series that brought us the reprint heavy Origins of Marvel Comics, Son of Origins of Marvel Comics and Bring on the Bad Guys.

The book is heavy with reprints. Stan Lee provides buffer pieces between reprints. He did this in the other books in the series but here they have shrunk to one page or so. I really don't think people read the things and looking back now I wonder if they are as objective as they could have been in regard to who created what.


Now I enjoyed the reprints, though these are the stories only without the covers. But some of the choices of stories had me scratching my head, until I realized that unlike other volumes in the series the "O" word (Origins) was not in the title.

The format allowed stories to be presented that were not origins (though there are some in there) such as the first time Sue (Invisible Girl) Storm uses her force field.

Over all, this is the Marvel equivalant of the DC 100 page Super Spectacular Comics a big book of fun reprints (and judging by the used prices its cheaper than some of them).

So if you like your women super powered this is the book for you. If you are trying to do some serious research regarding the behind the scenes stuff that went into the creation of these characters you might have to look elsewhere.

"The Superhero Women" was one of the early volumes in the Marvel Origins series, although technically few of the stories reprinted herein are origin stories. Included are: (1) "Make Way for Medusa," which features the scarlet haired Inhuman from an issue of "Spider-Man," story by Stan Lee and art by John Romita (Sr.); (2) "Eyes of the Gorgon," a Red Sonja story by Bruce Jones and Frank Thorne; (3) "The Return of the Mole Man!" from a very early issue of the "Fantastic Four" by Lee and Jack Kirby; (4) "This Woman, This Warrior," featuring the debut of Ms. Marvel, by Gerry Conway and John Buscema; (5) "The Icy Touch of Death" and "And So, To Die!" a pair of tales about Hela, Norse goddess of death from "The Might Thor," by Lee and Buscema; (6) "Beware the Claws of the Cat," one of the least memorable Marvel heroines, by Linda Fite, Marie Severin and Wally Wood; (7) "The Creature from Kosmos," which introduced the Wasp, by Lee, H.E. Huntley, and Kirby; (8) "The Fury of the Femizons," featuring Lyra from "Savage Tales" #1, by Lee and Romita; (9) "The Sahara Connection," with Shanna the She-Devil, by Carole Seuling and Ross Andru; and (10) "Beware...the Black Widow," another "Spider-Man" issue by Lee and Romita.

The two Spider-Man stories are probably the best, but nothing in this collection is particularly memorable in terms of story. The introductions are by Stan Lee in his inimitable patter and are probably the best part of the book. Interesting enough, what stands out in the artwork is not the early stuff by Jack "King" Kirby, but the "Savage Tales" story by John Romita which is done pretty much in pencil. Romita did have a talent for drawing the ladies (not quite in Gene Colan's league when it comes to drawing the Black Widow), but this pencil work is quite good. "The Superhero Women" is worth a look over, but does not qualify as a must have collection of Marvel comics from the 60's and 70's.

I first read this book as a young girl, and was inspired by both the great comic-book art and the strong female role models. Red Sonja, The Black Widow, and Marvel Girl, among others, are represented here. Any young woman would find this inspiring and very entertaining. I plan to pass a copy on to my own little girl.

"The Superhero Women" was one of the early volumes in the Marvel Origins series, although technically few of the stories reprinted herein are origin stories. Included are: (1) "Make Way for Medusa," which features the scarlet haired Inhuman from an issue of "Spider-Man," story by Stan Lee and art by John Romita (Sr.); (2) "Eyes of the Gorgon," a Red Sonja story by Bruce Jones and Frank Thorne; (3) "The Return of the Mole Man!" from a very early issue of the "Fantastic Four" by Lee and Jack Kirby; (4) "This Woman, This Warrior," featuring the debut of Ms. Marvel, by Gerry Conway and John Buscema; (5) "The Icy Touch of Death" and "And So, To Die!" a pair of tales about Hela, Norse goddess of death from "The Might Thor," by Lee and Buscema; (6) "Beware the Claws of the Cat," one of the least memorable Marvel heroines, by Linda Fite, Marie Severin and Wally Wood; (7) "The Creature from Kosmos," which introduced the Wasp, by Lee, H.E. Huntley, and Kirby; (8) "The Fury of the Femizons," featuring Lyra from "Savage Tales" #1, by Lee and Romita; (9) "The Sahara Connection," with Shanna the She-Devil, by Carole Seuling and Ross Andru; and (10) "Beware...the Black Widow," another "Spider-Man" issue by Lee and Romita.

The two Spider-Man stories are probably the best, but nothing in this collection is particularly memorable in terms of story. The introductions are by Stan Lee in his inimitable patter and are probably the best part of the book. Interesting enough, what stands out in the artwork is not the early stuff by Jack "King" Kirby, but the "Savage Tales" story by John Romita which is done pretty much in pencil. Romita did have a talent for drawing the ladies (not quite in Gene Colan's league when it comes to drawing the Black Widow), but this pencil work is quite good. "The Superhero Women" is worth a look over, but does not qualify as a must have collection of Marvel comics from the 60's and 70's.

One obvious critique of this book is not the fault of the author. In short, the topics that it covers are extremely dated. Mr. Asay would be well-served to produce a current book, as many of these cartoons have lost their punch because the issues are no longer on the table.

My other complaint about the book needs to be established under the notion that I am a rather staunch conservative, particularly as it relates to moral issues. So, I ultimately agree with many of the points that Asay tries to make.

However, I found his approach to be rather arrogant and disheartening on occasion, even when I totally agreed with his ideology. I find it discouraging when we resort to name-calling and finger-pointing, regardless of whose side we're defending.

Of course, many will claim that I'm missing the point of political cartoons. And if you think that political cartoonists have the right and even responsibility to make statements as insulting as possible, then you will appreciate Asay's approach.

However, I have read hundreds of political cartoons over the years that have made their point with wit and intelligence, which Mr. Asay is capable of doing as demonstrated in a number of his cartoons. I just wish that he had captured that spirit of intelligent disputation and critique throughout the entire body of work.

This book will probably make some conservatives hoot and holler with glee. But I suspect that more thoughtful readers, conservative or liberal, should look elsewhere for a better (and more current) commentary on the issues of the day.

You need this book for your coffee table: if you're a conservative, to stimulate your liberal friends and spread the word, and if you're a liberal, to irritate your liberal friends and let them worry what word you're trying to spread. Face it, there aren't many conservative toon makers. Asay has to be the best. This little book has his toons grouped under 13 topic headings: Big Government, The Justice Department, The Presidency ... on down to World. Since it's 5 years old, it's dated, but then again, not out-dated.

Asay Doodles is possibly the best collection of editorial cartoons from a conservative point of view available today. The artwork is wonderful and the jokes are fresh and funny but the ideas really grab you. Very often I got a new insight on an issue I thought I knew very well. Whatever your political perspective I think you will both enjoy this book and find your thinking on our issues and culture challenged by it. Hey Chuck, isn't it about time for another book?

This little book with fill your hunger for the macabre and your stomach at the same time. What a deal. Good Eats!

This is a fun little book showing off Chas Addam's morbid sense of humor. There are a few of his famous cullonary cartoons, but most of the cartoons are previously unpublished rough drafts. This is definately a from the personal archives and not a best of book. My main gripe about this tome is that it only features 10 pages of odd-ball recipes. I was hoping for something a little meatier in depth.

It's nice to have Charles Addams back in print. Addams' original Simon and Schuster collections are classics and now long out-of print, not to mention pricey on the secondary market. This book brings together some classic cartoons, plus some newly-published material, interlaced with creepy, but very real recipes from obscure vintage publications. Addams would most definitely have approved these selections, they are so precisely in tune with the Addams sensibility - reminiscent of his book "Dear Dead Days" which combined Addams cartoons with a scrapbook of macabre photos and clippings. This is just the culinary version! I'm not bothered by the fact that many of the new cartoons are "roughs", it provides a fascinating glimpse into Addams' work process. It's about time that new Addams product was put out, and this plus the recent reissue of "Chas. Addams' Mother Goose" are encouraging. Highly recommended, I'm off to make Mushrooms Fester!