Cartoons Books

This book makes a great gift for your writer friends. After all, you can't just keep buying them nice pens for Christmas.... I found this while looking for a gift--and ended up reading it before I gave it away, though I wanted to keep it and tear out the pages to post 'round my desk. Really funny, really true (the best kind of humor).

'Writer at Work' is a high quality, thoroughly wonderful collection of Richard Krzemien's unique cartoons about the writing life. From the superb renderings to the pithy punchlines, each cartoon is a work of art in its own right. The keen eye will note the bookshelf in each drawing with a message specific to the cartoon written on the book bindings - a bonus addition to the cartoons. Funny and poignant - these cartoons can be enjoyed by writers and non-writers alike.

Krzemien finds his own unique truth about the writing process, then passes it on to readers with great humorous insight. This is a "must read" for anyone who claims to make a living with the written word. Feel the pain - and live to laugh about it.

I know lots of writers, and they're all depressed. They're constantly getting rejected, having their work chopped to pieces, and generally suffering from a lack of self esteem. This book makes them laugh out loud; the relief is palpable...someone who feels their pain and makes it funny. And you can look at it more than once, because of the detail in the pictures; you see things in the background that you miss the first time.

I laughed, I cried, [...], and that was for my own work. Finally, someone who understands the pain, yes the joy of putting words to paper. Helpful to any professional or student and, amazingly, the insights come at a price your therapist can't match.

I didn't expect to like this since it's marketed for children, but I freaking *loved* it! It's humorous, it's imaginative, it's really fun! I would recommend this for anyone who likes sci-fi or humor. Can't wait for volume 2! :)

Zapt is a cross between The Last Starfighter and the Green Lantern Corp but with fun Manga sensibilities. Its like the Saturday morning cartoon I always longed for but never got. A cool concept full of sci-fi tech, pirates, and a relateable main character. The art is very clean and in the stylized vein of Teen Titans Go! and X-Men Evolution. The dialogue is fluid and the story is just cool. I picked this book up on a whim and now have been recommending it around my circle of friends. Excellently written, fun book!

Shannon Denton and Keith Giffen have crafted a fun sci-fi/super-hero title that readers of all ages can read and enjoy. If you are an older comics fan would like a fun, quick read, then this is a great choice. Or, if you're a comics fan looking to turn some young readers on to comics, this is an excellent choice. I've bought several copies to give out to friends with kids.

I also really like Armand Villavert's art -- fun, clean and expressive. He's new to the comics scene, but looks like he'll have a nice long career if this book is any indication!

One of the best, most imaginative books I've read in a long time. Aliens, space pirates, this one's got it all!

In this hilarious first volume of the ZAPT! adventures, normal kid Armand finds himself having a typical day of school: he's tripped on the school bus, finds himself stuffed in a trash can, has his essay homework go missing, and realizes, at the last minute -- and to his horror -- that it's picture day.

And then things aren't quite as typical anymore. From one second of being in the school hallway to the next, when he finds himself in P.O.O.P. headquarters, Armand isn't sure exactly what's happened. Turns out he's the newest rookie recruit to the P.O.O.P. Squad, otherwise known as the Pangalactic Order of Police.

Now Armand has been teamed up with Payleen, a talkative, hyperactive Pandekian, on a "test mission." Except, as seems to be happening a lot during this really weird day, nothing goes according to plan. During the course of days, or maybe it's only minutes, the two meet a space pirate, fix a broken Capernium generator, and watch a princess-in-hiding being kidnapped. Seems it's all in a day's work for the members of P.O.O.P.

ZAPT! is a great graphic novel, full of action-adventure and laugh-out-loud humor perfect for all ages. I plan to pass this book along to my ten-year-old son next, who I'm sure will enjoy it. A great first volume in this new series, you don't want to miss ZAPT!

Reviewed by: Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius"

Where were YOU on the morning of September 11th, 2001? I was at work when Howard Stern reported that a plane had crashed into one of the World Trade Center Towers. Having been born and raised in The Bronx before moving to Rochester, N.Y., my workday immediately ended as I focused my full attention on Howard's show; He became my only link to the city I loved and would always call home. Later on came the TV reports and the images that will never leave my mind, but for those first few hours, I sat listening in shock as the man who makes me laugh every workday became my only connection to family, friends, and loved ones who were suddenly living in a war-zone.

9-11: Emergency Relief is a benefit book that is filled with true stories from September 11th. They range from touching, to infuriating, to thought-provoking, and the list of creators reads like a who's who of Indy Comics: James Kochalka, Will Eisner, Tony Millionaire, Harvey Pekar, Tom Hart, Joyce Brabner, Ted Rall, and literally DOZENS of others. Besides being entertaining, and raising money for the Red Cross, the book fulfills another important purpose: It stands as a reminder of a day we must NEVER forget. God Bless America!

9-11: Emergency Relief puts a unique perspective on a shared tragedy. Taking the events out of the cold realism of news photography and video and into the pen and ink world of the comix artist lets the reader share the emotions of another individual on a highly personalized level.

Do not let the genre keep you from reading this book! Even if you are not a comix afficionado, the images and storytelling technique of each artist/author are fascinating and deeply moving.

Like any good book, it is well structured. Stories lead up to the event, there are on-site accounts, the aftermath, and the realization that we're living in a changed world. For people having trouble coming to terms with the events of 9-11 -- regardless of their age -- this book provides comfort and insight. We all have stories to tell about 9-11 and most readers have probably wished they could express their own feelings so well. Fortuntely, this group of artists says it for us.

Easily the best of the comics industry's myriad responses to the tragedy of September 11th, this book gets down into the nitty-gritty of human experiences and reactions to tragedy. No superheroes. No larger-than-life expostulation. Just real people - talented artists - telling amazing stories. Higlights include Gregory Benton's "Treasure," an untitled Hutch Owen story by Tom Hart that manages to toe the fine line between rage and sentiment and "Citadel Of The Night" by K. Thor Jensen and Chris Knowle. Honestly, though, the book is so full of great material that nobody should be without it.

After the September 11th terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and in the skies over Pennsylvania, some 50 graphic novelists and cartoonist ranging from such legendary names as Will Eisner and Harvey Pekar, to newer talents such as Frank Cho and James Kochalka, came together in a very special project as a way of expressing their grief, patriotism, and support of the American people in the face of naked, lethal, ideologically driven aggression. The result is 9-11: Emergency Relief, a powerful graphic novel. The proceeds will go to benefit the American Red Cross. Simply put, every school and every community library in the country should acquire a copy of 9-11: Emergency Relief for the edification of their students and their patrons.

Everyone has a dark side--it's that frightening part of our personalities that drives
you to root for something to blow up and hurt James Bond. It's what makes us "root
for the bad guy" at Mel Gibson films. It's what drove us to watch with rapt attention
on September 11, as the Civilized World crumbled before our eyes.

This, happily, is not the part of us that forces us onward through "9-11," a graphic
novel that tells nearly fifty stories by respected creators from the comic-book industry
about the terrorist attacks and their implications. "9-11" is, with rare exception
like Ashley Wood's obscenity-laden two page monologue, a labor of profound love.

Here, comics legend Will Eisner--who literally invented the concept of "sequential
art," the name by which the academic community now refers to comics--joins virtually
ever major creator in the comics industry in donating his time, money, energy and
artwork to charities benefiting the victims of the September 11 terror attacks.

Marvel Comics lead the pack, their magazine-format "Heroes" book being the first
released (in late October) and best-promoted of all benefit books. The first week
in January, they followed up with "Moment of Silence," another comics-for-charity
project to which Hollywood director and comics guru Kevin Smith contributed a story.
"9-11" was released on January 9 by Alternative Comics, a small, independent publisher.
It contains mostly works done by small-press of self-published comics creators who
are not under contract to a major publisher. Contributors include Phil Hester of
DC Comics' best-selling "Green Arrow," Michael Avon Oeming of "Powers" and "Bluntman
and Chronic" fame, Eisner and "Bone" scribe Jeff Smith. Sixty-two stories featuring
more than 75 creators are collected in the 200-page book, which costs [price]. All
profits from the sale of "9-11" go to the American Red Cross.

Especially notable in the "9-11" tribute book are several pieces by non-legends,
who have been largely overlooked even in the comics press due to names like Harvey
Pekar, Will Eisner and Tony Millionaire being attached to the project. A. David Lewis'
11-page "Alabaster Cities" details his exploits on the morning of September 11, which
are refreshingly non-dynamic. Rather than depicting himself running out the door
to help, as is the temptation when writing a story about your personal reaction to
great tragedy, Lewis and many other creators in the book simply paint a picture of
desperate phone calls, frantic e-mails and great personal reflection and fear. Despite
a medical condition that precludes him from Armed Services duty, Lewis confesses
to ever-so-briefly worrying about being drafted on September 11--a thought that surely
crossed the mind of every young male in the country in the hours following the attacks
on America.

John "Bean" Hastings has a short but poignant story about the importance of art and
popular culture in troubled times--it's clear that he put a lot of himself in a small
amount of pages, and the result is stellar. Keith Knight's indictment of middle America's
closedminded attacks against Arab-Americans and Danny Donovan's disappointment that
the heroes of comic books and movies weren't there to save us when it was truly needed,
hit home in witty and well-thought-out stories designed to make readers take a break
from the seemingly endless pages of grieving and think about their own attitudes.

All in all, "9-11" is a beautiful book, put together by truly talented people and
well-executed; it can do no person harm to buy a copy. Or two--the money, after all,
is going to charity.

Asterix and friends battle Romans and go to different places. They also encounter new foreigners and always share wild boar with them. I rate it 5 stars because this book is better than the other books I have read.

I rate this book 5 stars because it was the best collection of Asterix comics I ever read. I was surprised when I found these sort of books at amazon.com. I am sure that from now on this is going to be my online book shop. have fun reading a lot more wonderful books at AMAZON.COM!!!!

Asterix should be read by all kids and adults. The jokes in it will make you laugh and give you a good feeling all over. Asterix is about a group of Gauls trying to defend themselves against the Romans and all the misadventures they have. All the stories take place in the year 50 B.C. the time of Julius Caesar and his conquests. These Gauls are the only people who are able to defend themselves against Caesar and his Romans. They contain such lovable characters as Asterix (a little midget that is clever and lovable) Obelix (a big fat stupid man who eats wild boars and beats up Roman soldiers) and Getafix (the druid who brews the magic potion that gives superhuman strenght) This is a good way for people who don't know who Asterix is to start. It contains five classics. It contains Asterix and Cleopatra, Asterix and the Big Fight, Asterix and the Cauldron, Asterix and the Chieftans Shield, and the Twelve Tasks of Asterix (based on the film) Each them are highly enjoyable. Not only that but Rene Goscinny does a wonderful story each time. One of the best things about it is the art work done by Albert Uderzo. The illistrations in it are beautifully done and contain much detail. To sum it all up, read it!

These tales are of great interest to adults. Cuttin the age at 12 is a great diservice to older folk who may think that they are *kiddies* books. Far from it. There are many references that only an adult or high teen would get, but they are still fun for the younger set. I would suggest that Amazon change the reading age to 9 to (whatever). Aloha

Asterix remains arguably the best comic book series ever written. It will delight to follow the french/belgian hero together with his fat friend Obelix (and his diminutive pet dog) throughout their adventures in the ancient world. Humor is always very subtle and entertaining and never falls into vulgarity. You will also find that the plot is coherent from beginning to end and every statement has a reason to be. By now you know I am one of those "till death" Asterix supporters - but for a good reason.

Eric Shanower is a true Oz genius. He is one of the only authors I know that not only give you a written word story that is close to the original tone and feel of the Baum classics, but he lets you really =see= the stories through his wonderful art.

These five stories, formerly available only as long out-of-print graphic novels, are collected together under one cover and one imprint. Formerly First Comics published these wonderful fully illustrated titles in a single issue graphic novel format, in a size (about 8 by 10 inches) that really lets you enjoy Shanower's wonderful art.

"Enchanted Apples of Oz," the 1st story, takes us on a journey to see the Wicked Witch of the South and what happens when someone falls in love with her (for a while anyway... :-). The story is about Bortag and his quest for the Enchanted Apples of Oz. I won't ruin it for you, but I loved them all, especially Quox the Flying Blue Marlin.

"The Secret Island of Oz," the 2nd story, takes Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Cowardly Lion, and Eureka on a journey to find the Crimson Tailed Quipperug and what happens to them along the way. I think you'll enjoy the story of Knotboy and Princess Trin.

"The Ice King of Oz," the 3rd story, takes us on a journey to the land of the Ice King. My favorite character was Flicker, the candle-maker, and his vital role in rescuing Ozma from a frozen fate.

"The Forgotten Forest of Oz," the 4th story, tells about Nelanthe, a wood-nymph, and how she falls under the spell of the King of the Trolls, and what Dorothy, Toto, the Scarecrow, and the Sawhorse have to do this time to save Oz.

Finally, "the Blue Witch of Oz," easily one of the best illustrated, tells the tale of what happened to the Good Witch of the East and also what happened to her and her family.

Oz fans will find very little to quibble with here - Eric tells these tales as though he had the ear of Baum himself - and even non-Oz fanatics will find these stories easy to read and very fun.

I highly recommend buying this - especially since Shanower gives you such wonderful stories you can even read to young children while showing them what they see. A real gem to add to the crown of Oz.

This book far exceeded my expectations. I like comics that have brilliant, bright, beautiful artwork and I have to say out of any comics I have ever read, this is by far the best. The illustrations in this book are more like book illustrations that comics. The story lines are wonderful and "fit" with the other Oz stories. The book is a high quality paperback with thick glossy pages. It is well worth the price.

From 1986-92, Eric Shanower made 5 Graphic Oz Novels (comic-like books) that told the fascinating stories of 'the Enchanted Apples', 'the Secret Island', 'the Ice King', 'the Forgotten Forest' and 'the Blue Witch' of Oz, all of which followed the adventures of Dorothy and Scarecrow with their friends, saving good people (sometimes one of them being misguided into doing bad things) from even worse people. Here, 'Adventures in Oz' is not a new story book by Eric Shanower, but a COLLECTION of ALL 5 Stories. Both the black-and-white and colour artwork for the graphic novels and other books have been rescanned by the publisher IDW Publishing, and Eric made sure that printing mistakes from the original editions would not be repeated (i.e. bits of a picture without colour) and did some minor revisions to the artwork, so therefore this book looks better than the orginal printings. The advances in the past 20 years makes the colours look far closer to what Eric Shanower originally painted than in the original printings of his Oz graphic novels - also his artwork changes from nearly good in 'Enchanted Apples' to Incredibly Fantastic and Lavish in 'Blue Witch'.
"Adventures in Oz" is actually published/printed in 2 different editions: a restored all-5-stories PAPERBACK (normal, currently still available) and a Deluxe LIMITED Signed Edition (which I am the lucky owner of!! Now Sold Out, Sorry!), which not only contains the original 5 stories in one volume but also includes some new, little seen and never-before-published material, such as Character Designs, Sketches, Colour Studies, Advertising Art, Abandoned Concepts and other things (just like the final Issue "9/Epilogue" of 'Oz: the Manga') not seen in the paperback version. The section for the extra material is more than 30 pgs and Eric was very keen on adding these special bonuses. Unfortunately it does not include the Introduction to 'Enchanted Apples' by Harlan Ellison.
BOTH Books have (in the following order) the same front and back cover design, Ozma & her tiny piglette on "This book belongs to", 2 red-dressed trolls, Scraps the Patchwork Girl with Toto and the Saw-Horse and tiny Flicker on the Book-Title pg, a re-scanning of the front & back cover for 'Enchanted Apples' but with 'Adventures' instead of the original title, Abatha the Blue Witch on a publishing pg, Nelanthe the Wood-Nymph with the Chapters, Eric Shanower's portrait of Ozma, "Just a word before you start", a Map of Oz (which again has the Blue East and Yellow West switching places!), Acknowledgements, 'the Enchanted Apples of Oz' story, 'the Secret Island of Oz' story, 'the Ice King of Oz' story, 'the Forgotten Forest of Oz' story, 'the Blue Witch of Oz' story (all 5 dedicated to someone special) and a colourful panel strip with the Oz characters. There are also ENDPAPERS, but both editions have different designs: the PAPERBACK has originally colourful yet b&w scanned pictures of the Famous 5 of Oz on the Yellow Brick Road (front) and the Forbidden Fountain of the Water of Oblivian (back), while the DLSE has new artwork of Eric's characters with 3 Denslow characters and two 'OZ' emblems. Also, in the DLSE after the 'colour-Oz-panel' comes the following: Eric's writing on him & Oz (throughout most of the book's ex. material), childhoods drawings (among them a history of the magic land), "General Jinjur of Oz" Pt. 1 in colour & Pt. 2 in design, design sketches for characters and books and location/places etc., Thanksgiving in Oz, Original opening for 'Forbidden Fruit of Oz' which became 'Enchanted Apples', rescanning of Eric's original graphic novel covers (without the writing), advertising art for the books, pictures made for magazines etc., origin of 'the Ice King', a try-out for Roger S. Baum's "Dorothy of Oz", original 'Story of Nebelle' before becoming Oz - which would've been out of place for Oz, alternate/cut-out endings, colour studies, cards & pin-ups, b&w pictures from Oz books illustrated by Eric Shanowers such as 'Wicked Witch' along with 2 Colour-Plates not in the book, 'Giant Garden', 'Runaway', 'Third Book', 'Invisible Inzi', 'Paradox' (which illustrates such films like 'Return', 'Journey Back', 'Cinar', silent films, etc.!), 'Oz-Story 6', 'Salt Sorcerer & Other Stories', another Ozma portrait, 'Oz-Story 3', 'Rundelstone', the annual Munchkin Convention and Winkie Convention of the International Wizard of Oz Club, 'the Living House' (which is seen on the 3-Disk MGM DVD!) and finally "If 6 Great Cartoonists had drawn Oz Characters'!
For me, I saw (and quickly scimmed through) "Forgotten Forest" and "Enchanted Apples" in 'Comic Kingdom' (which is also where I ordered copies of "Oz: the Manga") and I've always wanted to get 'the Blue Witch' which of course is out of print, but now that they are altogether in one brand-new collection, it doesn't hurt to get the one story I've always wanted with the other 4 stories and some extra delights (So Worth Looking at the Others!). Since I have never actually looked through or owned the orginal 5 books, I can't specify what has been changed or improved, but Eric did mention fixing the way he drew some of Dorothy's faces and the skin colour for the (human) characters, but unfortunately Dorothy still looks a bit too skinny and Ozma's hair isn't really tidy in 'Enchanted Apples'. Since I got 'Wicked Witch' long before 'Adventures' I often wondered at the drawing of "Who is that tiny little man with fire for hair?" Well, thanks to this book, I found out that it was Flicker from "Ice King (Oz)" and learned everything about him, so now I am no longer in the 'Not Know'.
I am VERY pleased to know that something OTHER than MGM is given a 'Special Anniversary Restored Edition' (it has been 20 years since the first publishing), and because of all the hard work that went into making this an 'Excellent Extended Edition' is why it took so long for its release. And I am REALLY GLAD to finally have my copy.
Eric Shanower also illustrated Rachel Cosgrove Payes' "the Wicked Witch of Oz" (which is not as scary or dark as it sounds, and can be bought through 'Hungry Tiger Press'), and even both written/illustrated other Oz books (Giant Garden, etc.). Although I never really liked his idea of giving Dorothy, Betsy and Trot modern-day clothes (shirts, shorts/pants, sneakers and socks that look suited for Summer) and copying John R. Neil's idea of all 3 girls having short hair (which can be confusing), his art is wonderful (ESPECIALLY in 'Blue Witch') and unlike John R. Neil, actually drew Betsy older than Dorothy and Trot younger than Dorothy, as originally written by L. Frank Baum in 'Lost Princess'. In 'Blue Witch', however, Eric redraws Denslow's Long-Haired Dorothy.
Once again, I am proud of some Classic Oz Books being restored for a Brand-New-Collection-Edition, especially since this saga was originally started by someone as talented as Eric Shanower, one of the greatest Oz Illustrators to ever live and draw!
Wouldn't it be GREAT if Eric did a Graphic Novel of L. Frank Baum's 'the Wonderful Wizard of Oz'?
P.S. On the MGM Oz - 3 Disk DVD, we actually see ERIC SHANOWER and some of his art in the 'Because of the Wonderful Things It Does: The Legacy of Oz' featurette, along with Willard Carroll! - but what about William Stout?

My first acquaintance with Eric Shanower's work was made when I hit on a slim volume called "the Enchanted Apples of Oz". I always search in the children's section of bookshops with the hope I will find something that will appeal to, as well as satisfy, my sense of wonder. Sure, I've spent many hours boring myself amongst piles of children's books totally inadequate for my adult brain who sees in them an unvarying sameness, but this consistent pursue has led me to the discovery of books whose imaginative work surpasses the customary outline that defines children's books. Shanower's stories and artwork transport the reader onto a mythic land which is as realistic as realistic is the pleasure one feels while being in this world. This pleasure I can only compare to the one I felt as a child when reading good old Walt Disney's stories. Through the years I've stopped reading cartoon stories such as those of Donald Duck and Uncle Scrooge and figured it was due to me growing up that I no longer found any excitement in them. Truth is, they hardly make quality comics nowadays - storytelling is reduced to a depiction of a fictional reality that is so much the same to the one we recognize as everyday reality. Shanower's work retains this old magic of cartoon series that is a fun to read no matter how old you are.
His respect towards his creation is felt throughout his stories and it is a respect the reader returns by making more room for this world and its characters to exist in one's imagination alongside with all the treasured creatures of our childhood. Yes, fantasy has intellectual faculties and once conceived it is never forgotten; it becomes ours forever and the pleasure of it remains.
"Adventures in Oz" features all five Oz graphic novels that Shanower created. Before ordering it, I hesitated as to whether the storyline would be as good as in "The Enchanted Apples of Oz" and thus, I wondered if there would be full-color illustration (I did not want any black&white surprise at this price). When I got it, I saw I had a treasure in my hands. Indeed, the stories get even better and it is in glossy full color illustrations that drowns the reader into the Oz land in a flash. The printing quality is of a high standard - better than the original publications and the color and black line art gives depth to the work. I am glad I got the hardback edition because I leaf through it so many times, so this binding is just.

L. Frank Baum's delightful Oz books have entertained every generation of readers, young and old alike, since they first appeared more than half a century ago. Indeed, so popular was the world of Oz and its myriad of colorful characters, that after his death other writers took up the task of creating more stories set in that colorful land over the rainbow. Now Eric Shanower has imaginatively written and beautifully illustrated five more stories that are combined in a large format graphic novel called "Adventures In Oz". The stories include 'The Enchanted Apples of Oz', 'The Secret Island of Oz', 'The Ice King of Oz', 'The forgotten Forest of Oz', and 'The Blue Witch of Oz'. Carrying and expanding the mythology, legendary, and fairy-tale fantasy first established by Frank Baum and enthusiastically recommended reading for ages 8 to 80, "Adventures In Oz" does full homage and credit to the growing library of Oz books, - and this time with the added visual and storytelling benefits of the graphic novel format. For school and community libraries (and dedicated Oz fans) it should be noted that IDW Publishing plans to release a hardcover edition next year that will have 70 additional pages of behind-the-scenes materials, including material from Eric Shanower's sketchbook, character designs, an essay by Eric about his experiences creating Oz comic stories, a variety of illustrations he has created for other Oz publications, short Oz comic stories, and more.

I found this book really by luck and was thinking I had too many animation books already - until I opened it and took a look. I realized I didn't! This is the most comprehensive and detailed book on the art of 2D animation - and can directly be used by 3D animators as the principals are the same. It is deceptively simple looking, but that is because it is one of the most well-designed books I have ever seen. If you are learning animation, brushing up on your skills, or even already doing animation this is the best book I have seen so far. Get it! Your library will thank you!

This book is amazing...it's a resource that any student of animation should not be without. It not only outlines in detail the process of drawing out the animation, it also explains to some degree every aspect of producing the piece. It is an easy read and a great reference, and I wouldn't want to be missing it in my collection.

As an animation teacher, I went through a lot of books as support for my 2D class; this one is on my top list and I would recommend it to any animation student new to the field who want to learn about the process and the principles of animation.
The book is clear, with beautiful illustrations. Many animation books use styles that often turn me off as being too cartoony or dated but this one is very appealing. Each chapter is well documented with simple explanation and visuals. I was particularly impressed by the clarity of the layouts and X.sheet section, as those are usually a nightmare to explain to students.
It offers a wonderful overview of the fundamentals of animation and covers all the aspect of the profession, from storyboard to animating to editing. Even if this is about hand drawn traditional animation, those principles can be applied to 3D and computer animation.

An absolutly great book!! I highly recommend it to any animation student or fan. It's as good as the preston blair book. Check it out!!

As an animation artist, I am familiar with the author's work and eagerly awaited the arrival of this book. It did not disappoint!
It is good for beginners and seasoned veterans alike. The sequential animation drawings - along with their respective numberings and spacing charts - are worth more than the price of the book. They are an excellent way for the student of animation to see how the drawings are spaced to provide the true 'spark of life' so necessary in the success of the animated image 'coming alive'. The book ranks up there with the Preston Blair books, Thomas and Johnston's ILLUSION OF LIFE, and Richard William's THE
ANIMATOR'S SURVIVAL KIT. The chapters on Storyboarding, Layout and Background, along with many other animation gems, are there as well. A true tour de force!

I own all of the Foxtrot books, and now have three of my five children fighting with me over them. We all love Jason, especially. The daily life situations remind us a lot of ours. My husband could be Roger, constantly struggling to drag the kids outdoors, while they hide with their video games. Another great book!

The end of bill amends career is still as funny as the start. I can't wait for the sunday only collections to start.

When I bought this book, I was expecting a somewhat bland comic book as this is (or not? hopefully not.) his last book and I thought that he might have been running out of ideas. But, after reading this book I found that I can't expect less from Amend but the best! This book is great for adults, teens (me!), and even little kids. Prepare to break your ribs laughing.

Consistantly funny...with consistant characters. That's why I keep buying the Foxtrot series. And no need to waltz down to the local bricks-and-mortar, I just get them online.

I received it in just a few days. I think it took longer for it to get shipped (a week tops) to me than to actually read the book. It was a little shorter than I expected but it was still great.

My wife bought a used copy of this book for me.....she wasn't sure if I would like it but since it was related to architecture, she thought she would take a chance...She was right on. It has a fresh take on a lot of the issues in the design and construction world. The author is not afraid to take on all disciplines and he is very successful. Some are a little "Far-Side-ish" but there is a lot of insight in the humor. And the drawings are really well done. I loved it. If you aren't sure this is for you, the author has an [...] website you can use for a test drive. My recommendation: This is a good book to have.

Great illustrations, Great Wit. Nicely packaged. The "Architect's Dream Sequence" cartoons resonated with me too. I didn't buy it but I would now- (It was a summer party gift to all employees from one of the principals in my office.)

I laughed and laughed! These cartoons are histerical! Every person who has ever built or designed a home or constructed any building whatsoever will enjoy this book! Its unique size and cover makes a great socking stuffer for all my "construction clients."

I think it is great that a professional can make fun of his profession and make other people laugh. It is all done in a very "non-bashing" way and should be read by all architects and design workers. They will learn a few things about their profession from Archi-Toons that they did not know.

What a delightful and humorus approach by an architect about his own profession. I am sure that everyone in the architectual and design profession or anyone in a family associated with someone in this profession will enjoy the humor in these delightful cartoons.

This book is big and chock full of beautiful Linsner paintings (many of which are of his greatest creation: Dawn). If you have ever seen any of his work and you liked it, I would recommend this book. There is an intro by Linsner that's pretty interesting and there are snippets about each painting throughout the book. It's a stout book that would be better as a hardcover, but that's my only complaint.

The Art of Joseph Michael Linsner is essential to any JML collector, but also an awesome item for anyone who appreciates the beauty of art. The softcover edition of this collection makes it affordable to the big fans with small bank accounts. Looking through the eyes of Joe, one will see a woman as a work of art or poetry and not a piece of meat. The colors are vibrant, the details are lucid, and the annotations throughout truly give insight into the mind of the artist, who he is, how he feels, and what inspires him.

Edited by JML and Eva Hopkins, with special thanks to Zeke Feldhaus, The Art of Joseph Michael Linsner is cleverly divided into sections. It begins with a nice introduction by Richard Kane Ferguson, then proceeds to a fabulous story by JML about the first artbook he bought which reveals how his taste for art began when he was just a boy. After that, we see exquisite images of Dawn, Death, and Dark Ivory along with many others (women, men, and vampires, oh my!) throughout the Love, Hate, Heaven and Hell sections. Then we move on to About the Art, comments by JML (about art, of course) which include images from the creation of the Dawn: Three Tiers #1 cover from its birth/sketch stage to the gorgeous finished painting. And of course, no collection of art would be complete without an About the Artist segment (with pictures). But wait, that's not all, there is also a two-page spread with photographs of Dawn Lookalikes from DragonCon, some Dawn collectors items, and a few other odd and end pictures. This definitely adds a personal touch to the entire thing. Well, if you've read this far, you must be interested, so what are waiting for? Get your copy today.

WOW! If one could give out 10 stars on the 5 star scale this would be the book to score that high.

More that just a detailed, beautiful look into one of America's leading illustrators, this is an insightful prose into the mind of that artist. Here is the successor of the great artists of the 40's, 50's, and 60's. Done in a style that is very today, and very much his own.

An amazingly well produced book, with quality throughout. From the paper, the binding, to the wonderful reproductions, everything is top notch. This is an art book you would expect to pay two to three times more for.

I feel this is a chance to glimpse into tomorrows major gallery artist, before he explodes on the scene. Live a little dangerously and venture into some unknown areas. ENJOY!

WOW! If one could give out 10 stars on the 5 star scale this would be the book to score that high.

More that just a detailed, beautiful look into one of America's leading illustrators, this is an insightful prose into the mind of that artist. Here is the successor of the great artists of the 40's, 50's, and 60's. Done in a style that is very today, and very much his own.

An amazingly well produced book, with quality throughout. From the paper, the binding, to the wonderful reproductions, everything is top notch. This is an art book you would expect to pay two to three times more for.

I feel this is a chance to glimpse into tomorrows major gallery artist, before he explodes on the scene. Live a little dangerously and venture into some unknown areas. ENJOY!

I believe the book is now out of print, but if you're lucky you might be able to pick it up at a comic book shop which is where I got mine. This book is FANTASTIC!!! Definitely one of the best fantasy art books out there. Great colors, excellent depictions of Dawn - the fiery redhead with one eye showing *grins* and some of the most imaginative and creative art pieces you'll ever see!

Even the backgrounds are incredibly detailed, with everything from dragons to architecture to detailed walls and textures. He really sets the mood in every piece he does.

Excellent work of art. Absolutely excellent.

The Artist Within showcases comic artists and cartoonists, usually inside their own workspaces, for a unique and thrilling look at how these creative people surround themselves (and therefore what drives them to do the work they do). The photos are stunning, the reproduction brilliant, and any fan of comic art will find many favorites represented inside, with huge black and white photos by Greg Preston, brief bios, and samples of their work.

There is no other book quite like this on the market, and it's about time we got one--and more than that, such a splendid one.

This book, without question is AMAZING! This book should be in every photography class, on every library and a standard for what the artist behind the camera can do.

Mr. Preston has run us through all emotions with this stellar work - he obviously threw his heart and soul into it - enjoy it!! The background of his shots makes one feel they are getting the best vew from his eye.

Thanks for a superior work!!

This book is an amazing study of artists and people. Even if you're not a comic book fan, these images open up the unbelievably private world of an artists' workspace and it's a fascinating study. Every time I leaf through these pages, I notice something new, some detail that you can see reflected in the pen and ink beside it.

And if you are a comic book fan... how can you resist this glimpse backstage?!

You can't. This book is irresistible. Thanks, Greg Preston!

Greg Preston has done an amazing job of photographing some of the worlds most talented and creative artists and getting that extra insight into their personalities by having them pose where they work, in their studios. Since he's been at it for well over a decade, the book luckily remembers many that have since passed away. It's fantastic to see so many people that have inspired me while turning page after page of this huge hardcover, Hogarth, Toth, Wrightson, Kaluta, Smith, Romita among, well, around 95 others! This collection should also put Greg on the map as an exceptional artist himself. You wouldn't even have to care about who he's snapping a camera at to enjoy and appreciate his knockout skill. I'm looking forward to a volume two!

As an artist myself, I am always fascinated to see the working environments of other artists. This book shows a ton of them. It's a huge, over sized book filled with gorgeous photos. I highly recommend it!