Cartoons Books

I loved this book. I bought it for my children and was amazed to discover that it is a great and valuable book for adults too! It is entertaining, insightful and fun! Alexa is a natural born teacher. I hope she writes more books! The title of the book is just wonderful and the drawings really cute and amusing!

A 7 year old wrote this book to teach other children how to draw, but her lessons will be of help to artists of any age. Alexia reminds us, on every page, the importance of honesty, simplicity, and perseverance. She does not lecture the reader on the importance of doing anything her way, she simply invites us to learn from her art work. She makes no assumptions that anyone should follow in her steps. Yet her techniques are fabulous! Her work is successful because of her obvious love of drawing and her talent. She passes on to us her advice and experience thus inviting us into her world and welcoming that we try it too (shading: scribble, cross hatch, and pure dark shading, and light sources: sunset colors). Her book is honest, ego-less and impressively mature for a girl of her age. Her priceless spelling resembles Winney the Pooh ( try different feelings: expressions: frightened, embarrassed, devil invaded) and made this book even more fun to read. It's nice to know that an adult publisher did not censor or correct her voice. Beginner artist, young and old, will get true pleasure and lots of laughter from reading this humorous and wonderful book.

Drawing Comics is Easy (except when it's hard) by Alexa Kitchen

I bought this book as a gift because I presumed that if a 7 year old
girl had written it, it would be perfect for my daughter, also age 7,
who loves to draw. Little did I know that I would be so enthralled
that I'd keep it for myself. To say that Alexa is talented and
imaginative is an understatement. It's uncanny how sharp and artistic
she is. Her simplistic yet remarkable drawings convey great messages
and humor. The reader experiences an invitation to enter Alexa's
world of fantasy and free expression. Her book is full of sketches
of her cat, Denis. This is how she teaches us to freely experiment
with drawing. She shares much wisdom ("Never be scared to make a
mistake, that's why they invented erasers!) Mark Schultz wrote the
introduction and Robert Crumb is one of the raving reviewers. I hope
that Alexa will be able to publish another book when she has free
time after completing her third grade homework. This book will not
disappoint.

five stars

This is a truly remarkable book for a 7 year-old! Not only can Alexa Kitchen draw in a remarkably sophisticated style for her age, she has genuine insights into the creative process and can articulate it quite well, in spite of charming misspellings and a somewhat disjointed narrative. I was especially struck by her characters' facial expressions and her slightly naïve but earnest "philosophy" of art. I think any creative grade school child will benefit from this book, as will any adult, like me, who appreciates the process of creation. I can't wait to see what Alexa is doing in a few short years, if she continues to develop her skills.

This Doonesbury book takes us back a bit.It starts around May of 1999 and ends with the strip of May 13,2000.What a year it was. Events were a little unfocused ,then we see Thudpucker reviving his career with Net Aid, the gay marriage of Mark and Chase,Mike enters the business world of a Dot Com company,Zip goes to college ; but things all get focused when Duke decides to enter politics with his own Reform party ,with a platform of
Compassionate Fascism;and starts a campaign to run for President.
It's hard to believe that this was 6 years ago. Can you believe it;Dubya with the help of Scull and Crossbones beat out the Duke despite the backing of Mr. Butts and the tobacco industry . With all the other wannabees really never in contention. If there was anything that might have produced a different outcome; all I can think is that Duke erred when he passed up Honey for his "Arm Candy".
What I really enjoy about these books is reading them several years after the stripts; boy,don't they bring back the memories.
I have only one complaint,though,the use of black and white just doesn't do the artwork justice.
This book really emphazises how unpredictible even 6 years can be. Who could ever have imagined 9/11,The War on Terror,Dubya getting re-elected over Kerry ,who wasn't even on the radar screen.Then the demise of the great HST ,his blast off into space .And now ,the biggest issue of all;how to deal with 12 million illegal immigrants. Heck,6 years ago,that issue couldn't even get a dozen lines in some border weekly newspaper.
The pundits are all talking about Condi vs Hillary;n but it could very well be someone like Al Sharpton vs some Mex.American from
Cain's great State of Arizona and with the right running mate,wake up ,Ms.Huan is still available. And this time no Campaign Headquarters in Coon Rapids MN; put it anywhere on the border with Mexico.Keep it moving and if its on a river bed,just keep an eye out for flash floods.
Hey,if you think this is crazy,take a stab at it. I got a feeling "You ain't seen nothing yet."...Keep tuned!

Trudeau draws his (real-life) politicians as invisible men. Except for a whaffle (Clinton) or a cowboy hat (George W.). Now in case of Duke (who is fiction) one can see his political message speaking from the man's brain: Mini-D brings us a message of compassionate fascism. Does this mean that we can see fiction clearer that the real people in political life?

The campaign 2000 was so much of a (life) cartoon itself that any (drawn) cartoon can only pale beside it. Anyway, this newest book in the "Doonesbury"-saga is only part one of things to come in Duke's presidental quest. The strip has become very bitter compared to its heydays in the70s and 80s. But still - it's the best!

This book is excellent for anyone who loves Zonker's uncle Duke. The former ambassador runs for president in this hillarious book. Its worth the money.

Err... I mean Uncle Duke for President. This time -- why not the worst? Compassionate fascism!?!? Isn't that, more or less, what we got in the last election? It almost seems like Uncle Duke was elected -- a former drug abusing wack job.

What a country.

This book is the best of the post-1980 Doonesbury books. It is good to see that Trudeau hasn't grown tired of his HST knockoff. He is a true American Orginal... and the Trudeau take on Raoul Duke is classic.

This is the latest edition of Alsion's series of "cartoonoramas"(her phrase)following the lives and loves of a series of lesbians who live in a place that looks suspisciously like upsatate New York. The stories are evolutionary-as are lives and focus around "Mo", a woman who resembles Ms. Bechtel herself. Most imprtantly however, the series and this edition especially are laced with sharp wit and warm humor as well as the "zeitgeist' as the reviewer above noted.
When historians review our time 100 years from now, they will find these books and Doonesberry as primary sources.
Buy this book and-the whole series-and you will not regret it.

Fun and wacky, as usual. I have her entire collection and can't wait for the next book. If any of you dykes out there want to find a storybook with strong Latino girl characters (could be dykes when they grow up) check out, DRUM, CHAVI, DRUM!/ TOCA, CHAVI, TOCA! Add this book to your Dykes to Watch out For collection or buy it for the children in your family. The feisty little girl isn't allowed to play Congas in the Miami Cuban Calle Ocho Festival because drumming is for boys! She struts her stuff and won't take "no" for an answer... i think this book is a first of its kind with an all Latino cast, written by a Cuban, illustrated by a Cuban and set in a Cuban community. Another super FUN book for all you lesbos out there!

Anyhow, I highly recommend the entire collection of DYKES...

Hilarious, true-to-life comic strips for any human, not just dykes or feminists or liberals: Clarice and Toni are trying to raise their six-year-old son and find their sex life again; Ginger's dog is nearing the end of her life; English lit professor Sydney does what she can to try to get tenure; Jezanna is struggling with her independent bookstore Madwimmin and with menopause and with her elderly father; and Mo wonders if her life shouldn't be more than clerking at a bookstore that could go out of business any day.

Go to your favorite indie bookstore, read a few panels, and try to not laugh too loud, then buy it.Or trust me and the editorial reviews and buy it here! Buy 'em all (this is #10, but there are good introductions so you don't have to read them in order). After you're done smirking and giggling, they'll give you plenty to think about. Alison Bechdel is a goddess.

Kimberly Borrowdale
Under the Covers Book Reviews

Watching a cartoonist mature over the course of a career can be a real joy, and that's certainly been my experience with Alison Bechdel's most recent "Dykes to Watch Out For" collection. To my mind, it's a real shame that her work isn't syndicated on the comics page of general-circulation newspapers. Calling her work only of interest to the GLBT community means that a lot of folks are missing out on her real-life characters, fascinating plot twists, deft artwork, and wry interpretation of current affairs.

This straightbag het housewife says, Alison forever!

Ever wonder what fairies do whither they're on the job or just by themselves? If you do then you'll love the second book to The New Bondage Fairies by the infamous Kondom. Warning this book is not meant for anyone under 18 and contains adult situations! The New Bondage Fairies book is a hilarious installation to the already famous, and well-known writer of the first installation to the fairy world. The book fallows the adventures, and bizarre situations of two forest fairies that help defined the forest along with the animals. Their names are Pfil and Pamila, who are both female fairies in love and worriers to the fairy race. Anyone who loves fantasy stories and amusing ending will enjoy this book.

I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THAT IT IS THE MOST NATURAL LOOKING BLK/WHT COMIC BOOK THAT I HAVE EVER SEEN. THEY REALLY GET ONTO THE DRAWINGS SO YOU "FEEL" AS IF YOU ARE THERE. I DO NOT LIKE COMIC BOOKS, BUT EVEN SO....I WOULDN'T CONSIDER THIS ONE A COMIC BOOK. IT IS LIKE NOTHING i'VE EVER SEEN BEFORE.

BUT ONE THING, THE STORIES ARE ABOUT THE SAME 2 FEMININE FAIRIES, WITH DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES. I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE SEEN A LOT OF DIFFERENT FAIRIES AND MAYBE EVEN SOME HUMANS.

ONLY FOR ADULTS OVER 18

Ever wonder what fairies do whither they're on the job or just by themselves? If you do then you'll love the second book to The New Bondage Fairies by the infamous Kondom. Warning this book is not meant for anyone under 18 and contains adult situations! The New Bondage Fairies book is a hilarious installation to the already famous, and well-known writer of the first installation to the fairy world. The book fallows the adventures, and bizarre situations of two forest fairies that help defined the forest along with the animals. Their names are Pfil and Pamila, who are both female fairies in love and worriers to the fairy race. Anyone who loves fantasy stories and amusing ending will enjoy this book.

Bondage Fairies is up there with Secret Plot and Slut Girl in the best hentai (erotic) manga. And this one takes the prize story-wise. The scripts are very funny and hot, never getting boring or repetitive. And the sex is hot! The two main fairies do it anywhere, anyway, with anything. If you're tired of seeing the girls do always the same plain stuff, in this series you'll be aroused. The flying beauties get it stuffed from behind and front, with not only the male genitalia but with all kinds of crazy things. Cockroaches, praying mantis, monsters, the grossest stuff... They do it and they like it. It's here, and you will love it.

This book should be considered a combination of art/animation history,as well as a bible for Felix fans!

John Canemaker has the rare gift of bringing the human side of great animation to life. He is at the top of his form in this book, which follows the story of Felix the Cat from his creation by Otto Messmer through the present day. Very highly recommended for anyone interested in Animation in any form whatsoever.

An excellent book filled with early pictures of Felix the Cat. A must for anyone (like me) who has an interest in early animation. In the book are interesting facts about the first comic superhero that was born about 65 years before Bart Simpson. Did you know that Walt Disney admitted to stealing some of the way Mickey Mouse looked from old drawings of Felix the Cat? I have found this this black-and-white coffee table book very useful in my research for my Felix the Cat web page. (http://w3.nai.net/~eifert)

Canemaker takes the reader through the amazing roller coaster ride that is the career of Felix the Cat. From the shady past of producer Pat Sullivan, to the brilliant career of Otto Messmer, this is a great read. Complete with rarely seen Felix memorabilia, this book has it all. It is just too bad that there aren't more books like Canemaker's out there for the dyed-in-the-wool fan. Pick it up!

Very enjoyable, loving, entertaining and a definate for cat lovers. I just need to know where I can purchase the book?
Please email me that information. Thank you.

My brother and I fell on the ground laughing hysterically at the illustrations and captions--although this was 9 years ago
we still get a good laugh out of it. We almost got kicked out of the bookstore for disturbing the others.

As a life-long cat LOVER, I was suprised to find myself laughing hysterically at nearly every page in this book. The pictures and the light-hearted text are too cute and silly to be taken as malicious. The best advice - wait.

I got this book up at a used book store, I love it! It's hilarious, and I have to keep telling my mom not to let our siamese cat see it. It's one of my 3 books I always have on hand, and I read it all the time. My fave exits are turkey and microwave. Makes a good coffee table book, and a good gift, cat-lover or cat-hater. Just DON'T get any ideas! Have fun!

What more could parents ask for than a book which combines healthy snacking, family bonding and learning? This is the most original book on the shelves. The illustrations are entertaining and make me laugh, I can't put this book away!

Clever way to mix together entertainment and education.
Excellent book. Outstanding illustrations.

What a wonderful book to help children learn the alphabet. A very clever use of food and football - all children love pretzels. The introduction is very poignant and heartwarming and its nice to know the young man is healthy and well.

A fun, clever and entertaining book that will bring kids and their parents closer together. The diagrams showing exactly where to bite the pretzels make all the difference. Be sure to read the author's introduction. It's a poignant and heartwarming account of how she and her son came up with the original idea.

What a great comic strip this was! It always gave me quite a chuckle, and still does through the books, Suburban Cowgirls (the book), and A Fistful of Credit Cards (the book). Guess the two creators of this strip had bigger fish to fry. It was certainly great while it lasted. I ordered these books used and gave them as Christmas presents.

Hey Kathy Couldn't read P O Box. Look me up in Plymouth book under Lee. Write or call. J.

Hey Kathy Couldn't read P O Box. Look me up in Plymouth book under Lee. Write or call. J.

Hi Janet, get in touch with me. I love both of your books, lost touch with you. Write to me at P.O. Box in Hanover...Kathy (& Katy)!

I don't own this, but have 5 or 6 issues of the original (er, vol 2) and they are "hilariously funny". They're kind of like the MST3K of old goofy comics. The insanity is nigh-insurmountable. I only wish there were more grostesquely lavish, indulgent illustrations to go along with every sentence... (wait, they said "more art" !) @! presently... KER-BUY!!! (will update with a proper review)

This is a deftly presented overview of some of the quirkier artifacts of our popular culture. I can remember quite clearly when I was a kid, reading under the covers, way after my bedtime, the tale of how Superman's pal, Jimmy Olsen, was transformed into a giant turtle. When I got done with it, I tilted my head in newfound bemusement. Yeah, it's something of an epiphany when you realize that you really CAN waste your time even when you're eight years old. This slim volume (nowhere near long enough) also shows that it doesn't matter, comics are still fun.

The same review printed twice is not two customer reviews. That said, this is a terrifically entertaining book, written with love for its subject (think PSYCHOTRONIC as opposed to GOLDEN TURKEY AWARDS) and even, or especially, fun for somebody who might have been "too old" to read JIMMY OLSEN, etc. the first time around. Other people's nostalgia is a gas!!!

This is a deftly presented overview of some of the quirkier artifacts of our popular culture. I can remember quite clearly when I was a kid, reading under the covers, way after my bedtime, the tale of how Superman's pal, Jimmy Olsen, was transformed into a giant turtle. When I got done with it, I tilted my head in newfound bemusement. Yeah, it's something of an epiphany when you realize that you really CAN waste your time even when you're eight years old. This slim volume (nowhere near long enough) also shows that it doesn't matter, comics are still fun.

I have long admired Mr. Luckovich's hummor from his cartoons in the AJC, and can highly recommend it, just on that basis; however, reading Four More Wars!! will trigger much deeper emotions. I highly recommend it.

Mike Luckovich may arguably be the best at his trade. We consider ourselves quite fortunate to have him with the AJC. He gets a point across when no one else can. Great collection of Mike's work.

I grew up on the editorial cartoons of Pat Oliphant. Mike Luckovich is cut from the same cloth and has the Pulitzer Prizes to prove it. FOUR MORE YEARS, his devastatingly accurate take on "Shrub", Cheney, Rumsfeld and assorted Republic and Democratic pols, demonstrates why those Pulitzers are so richly deserved.

Luckovich's cartoons span the first six years of the 21st Century. Naturally enough his chief target is George W. Bush, America's worst President in recent memory. Given Bush's lack of intellect, self-righteous attitude, unwillingness to consider other viewpoints and the terrible damage he's done to America and its future, "Dubba" is almost too easy a target. Yet he continues to blunder on, opening himself up for even more editorial skewers from Luckovich and others.

Luckovich's work certainly produces a chuckle but it also produces much headshaking as the reader revisits Bush's sad reign of error. It's gallows humor at its best but at what a cost to America!

This is the most hilarious collection of political cartoons I've ever seen. It is worth the price of the book just to read the intro about the "pyramid of freedom" and the story behind Jimmy Carter's endorsement...

Four More Wars!!! is a collection of political cartoons by two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist Mike Luckovich. These simple black-and-white sketches, most of them single-panel, exquisitely capture governmental foibles and follies with unforgettable twisted wit. Collecting cartoons that appeared in newspapers from 2001 to 2006, Four More Wars!!! is especially critical of governmental mistakes in handling the Iraq War - one attributes the words "The Almighty's guiding me" to President George W. Bush while an onlooker comments, "God's lousy at postwar planning" - but also touch upon ethics violations at home, nominations of questionable candidates, and there are even a few private sketches Luckovich drew of White House personnel. A vivacious albeit bitingly critical collection of the most mock-worthy moments in new millennium American politics.