A large part of the book examines how and why this American
comic-strip hero translates so well to so many different cultures; a variety of demographic, cultural, and corporate decisions seem to be responsible.
The Betfair trio's two other
comic-strip juveniles are with Brian Meehan, namely Thirsk winner Stedfast McStaunch and General Jumbo, a more backward type.
While the information is all there, the format in which it is presented is a bit on the awkward side, requiring the reader to read through the comic-strip, then read the explanatory notes and refer back to the strip to see which portions each note refers to.
While the idea of using a comic-strip format to reach a younger audience is ideal, there is some language in the book that might not be suitable for younger readers.
Most themes at the
comic-strip museum are more entertaining.
Lots of children decorate the family refrigerator with cartoonish pictures of their parents; few grow up to write wonderful
comic-strip biographies of them.
So, in this case, the
comic-strip style couldn't work.
A sequel of sorts to De Haven's novel of early
comic-strip publishing, Funny Papers (1985), Derby Dugan's Depression Funnies follows narrator Al Bready as the
comic-strip ghostwriter and prodigiously prolific pulp-fiction author negotiates a pair of low-level crises in his life in late 1930s New York.
"Comic Riffs" has an 11-question, multiple-choice trivia quiz about comic strip artists titled "Better Know a 'Toonist," that asks for such information as, "Which one of these
comic-strip cartoonists has not been a Pulitzer finalist in the past 20 years?" a.) Tom Batiuk ("Funky Winkerbean"); b.) Lynn Johnston ("For Better or for Worse"); c.) Garry Trudeau ("Doonesbury"); d.) Berkeley Breathed ("Bloom County" et al.)
In addition to flawless reproductions of the original strips, James Bond 007: Colonel Sun includes an introduction by Britt Ekland, a summary of how Kingsley Amis came to continue the Bond legacy after Fleming's passing in 1964, and an interview with
comic-strip artist and adapter Jim Lawrence.
Comic-strip cartoonists are often asked why we don't compete more often in professional body-building contests.
Taking the comic as my basic form, I could play with the conventions of
comic-strip illustration.
Have you ever noticed how many folks decorate their workplaces (and refrigei,ators) with
comic-strip panels?
In Brain Capers: Shedding Skin four cardboard-snake aliens with identical human heads form a semicircle to scrutinize two male
comic-strip cutouts performing physiological love theater.
The artist was inspired by
comic-strips and advertising and was famous for using his signature hand-painted Benday dots.
