The Comics: Before 1945

And not just funny--witty, colorful, inventive, slapstick, adventurous--and eagerly awaited. Here's an oversized, hardback, full-color, coffee table book chock-full and brimming with the art of the funny papers. Brian Walker, son of Mort Walker (Beetle Bailey), not only draws comics but also mounts exhibitions of them. This book includes hand-colored originals from the Museum of Cartoon Art, as well as full page Sunday layouts. From the Yellow Kid and Hogan's Alley at the turn of the century to the wartime wonders of the 'forties, this is a coffee table book you can't put down. Retailing at $50, Amazon's price is about $30--a bargain and a steal for such a beautiful volume. Also check out Walker's companion volume, The Comics: Since 1945.

Even though the gold standard is still the 'Smithsonian Collection of Newspaper Comics', this is a most wonderful addition to any comics connoisseur's library. A *must-have*, really: highly knowledgeable, tightly written, great print quality & choice of artwork. Vol. 2, The Comics: After 1945 extends the time frame even further than the Smithsonian (+ no dupes !).Highly recommended !(ps. There is a new revised edition collecting both volumes into one. Go check !)

I was disappointed in this book... all of the cartoons are reduced in size. The font is impossibly small, and both the text and artwork suffer for it. Better to have included less content so that it could be more legible. I had to buy my dad a magnifying glass specifically to read this book. It's a shame - they're great comics.

Many time book stores will sell gift books that are all fluff with no meat in them. This book (I am happy to state) is not one of them.Broken up by decade you get a treasure trove of strips, some everyone knows and some obscure but beautiful (you will often find yourself wishing for more).The text pieces are insightful and the strips themselves both are chosen for the classic and the obscure.Well worth it for the Amazon price!!!

If you want to study the history of graphic art this isn't a bad place to start- slightly oversized format that helps highlight the art.Its Mr. Peabodys Wayback Machine in a book.

What a great book! A compendium of the comics over the years. Interesting history.

Some strips are small making them harder to see, but more inclusion. Good clear images.

This book was in great condition, I was really happy with it.