The Daily Cartoonist

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Brian Walker publishes “The Comics”

Alan Gardner62 mins

Brian Walker, comic authority and historian is releasing a new book entitled, “The Comics: The Complete Collection.” Looks like a great book.

That bit of gone and long ago would not be news to Brian Walker, son of Mort Walker, the cartoonist who created “Beetle Bailey” and “Hi and Lois.” What he doesn’t know about newspaper comics and their creators isn’t worth knowing. Since childhood, Walker the Younger has been up to his elbows in pen and ink and is the author of the newly released, massive volume “The Comics: The Complete Collection” (Abrams, $40).
In a bit of publishing sleight of hand, “The Comics” is actually a combination of two books previously authored by Walker that chronicled the history of newspaper comics before and after 1945. It’s a mammoth undertaking, running 659 pages in a large format with copious reproductions of comic strips from “The Yellow Kid” to “Doonesbury,” beautifully printed on slick paper.

Retail is $40. Amazon is selling it for $26 and some change right now.

UPDATE: Publishers Weekly reviews both Brian’s book and the other authoritive tome, “The Comics: An Illustrated History of Comic Strip Art” by Jerry Robinson (creator of the Joker). Jerry’s book is due out next week.

6 thoughts on “Brian Walker publishes “The Comics””

  2. I don’t get it. I’ve had this for at least a year. In fact, I think I even mentioned in a post on TDC that I got it at Borders on clearance for $20.

    I keep looking at the listing. Yep. Same book. Combines the two previous books.

    Anyway, this is a great book to own and Brian Walker did a fantastic job. It’s the type of book that compels you to routinely pick it up and read (which, given its size, is also great exercise).
    The price on Amazon is a steal.

  3. I bought this at Borders in downtown Manhattan last year for $20. Such a great read. 🙂

  4. I’m w/ Stephen on this one. I got it at Borders as a $20 remainder two Christmases ago. And now the publisher is charging $40?

  6. Just an FYI for anyone in the NYC area–Jerry Robinson is doing a panel (followed by a book signing) at MoCCA Fest 2011 on Sunday, April 11th.

    His panel is actually a discussion about his career with Michael Uslan, Executive Producer of the Batman films (from Batman to the upcoming The Dark Knight Rises).

    If you go to the Museum of Comic & Cartoon Art – MoCCA website and click on the MoCCA Fest links, there is information about the festival, which is the largest fundraiser of the museum:
    moccany.org

    (Full disclosure: I work part time for MoCCA)

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