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The Best of PUNCH Cartoons
Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
*Best price found from Amazon Marketplace seller
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*Amazon: £17.21
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The Best of Matt 2008
Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
*Best price found from Amazon Marketplace seller
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*Amazon: £2.58
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 Customer Reviews
Fantastic!, 17 Aug 2008
Brilliant. Just Brilliant. I've always loved the cartoons, but with this collection I got far more than I expected. As below, when I ordered this I was prepared for something slightly bigger than a DVD boxed set - what I got is a collection about A4 height (from there you can probably get an idea of scale from the picture supplied) and packed solid with cartoons. Apart from the obligatory Author's introduction, each page contains 4 regular strips or one large colour strip. The books are well finished and give the impression that, well treated, they will last a lifetime of reading. The paper is thick and durable, which adds to the weight of the collection but you won't be accidentaly tearing pages while flicking through. In fact, the whole thing seems to have been designed with longevity in mind.
I won't go on about how good the cartoons are - if you're looking at this item you probably already know that. If not, the fact so many people have forked out £40-60 for the privilege of owning it should be evidence enough. What I can say is that if you know you're looking for a collection of Calvin and Hobbes cartoons, the price of this collection is fully justified by the build quality. It would make an excellent gift or, as in my case, an excellent bit of self-indulgence, and will give years of smiles and laughter.
Well worth it's weight!, 24 Jun 2008
The other reviews here pretty much say it all... if you are a fan of Calvin and Hobbes, you are going to love this! And, if you are already a fan, you will undoubtedly own a few worn-out copies of the various collections. I already have most, if not all of the books;
what makes this special and worth having (..in addition!) is the beautiful presentation, in chronological order, of all the strips, with the large cover art added throughout.
It is big, it is heavy, but bearing in mind that it will probably stay put and be well looked after, I don't see any problem with this! It's obviously not intended to be lugged about as your sole copy, and it's nice to have a nice hardback volume to sit and read. If you want portable, take one of your paperbacks. If you want your favourite (and the best, most imaginative, philosophical, entertaining cartoon strip ever) in 3 well-made volumes, then you should really add this to your bookshelf. I just did, having read the previous reviews, and I love it already!
(I've read Calvin and Hobbes through many times, and they just don't date either.. Calvin's comments about the advertising industry, and his Dad's views about t.v, the media, traffic etc are as funny and relevant today as when they were written.)
Not much more to say... if you love Calvin and Hobbes, this collection really is well worth it's weight.
When cartoons grew up, 23 May 2008
I just got back from my post office here in Oslo Norway. The little woman who went back to get this package for me looked less than thrilled. This is HEAVY!
Well, anyhow, I just had my first look at this and it's stunning. Calvin and Hobbes deserve no less.
1987. It's been that many years since I was in Denmark on holiday and bought my first volume of Calvin and Hobbes? (Steen & Stoffer in Danish, Tommy & Tigern in Norwegian). Wow, how time flies.
Calvin and Hobbes have been a great influence on me. I have tried and failed over the years to be a cartoonist or graphic artist myself, but my failure aside, this series really pushed me in conveying ideas with simple yet effective drawings. And that's the crux of this whole success. Amazing yet simple art, effective storytelling, heart, cheekyness, flights of fantasy and even a bit of insanity.
Calvin and Hobbes is all about lost youth to me, and I always pictured the last Calvin and Hobbes showing Calvin walking past Hobbes, with Hobbes no longer a living tiger, but being just a stuffed toy. Calvin realising that this time of his life is over, bursting into tears, and running to his mother for comfort.
Instead he left us, looking for adventure in the woods behind his house with his best friend, destined to live forever in an endless summer.
When a cartoon gets to you on so many levels, does it seize being a cartoon? I'm not sure you can even use the word about something as monumental as this, but don't let that put you off. This is great literature, and you should own it simply to show people that you are a kid at heart, and that you know a great body of work when you see it.
Absolutely fantastic!, 05 Apr 2008
This item contains every single Calvin and Hobbes cartoon ever published.
The three volumes also contain some additional material written by Bill Watterson.
It's interesting to see how the style developed, especially in the first book where Watterson describes the origins of Calvin and Hobbes. The early cartoon strips are of a visibly different standard to those later on.
I love Calvin and Hobbes and this has kept me quiet for hours.
Masterpiece, 15 Feb 2008
This has to be the finest collection of cartoon strips ever commited to print. The limited run of ten years allow all strips ever published to be collected in three large volumes giving you every Calivin and Hobbes story there is in one box set.
Buy this and you will laugh and cry in equal measures. And by the time you reach the end of the last volume you will be ready to start all over again.
Perfect in every way
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Customer Reviews
Fantastic!, 17 Aug 2008
Brilliant. Just Brilliant. I've always loved the cartoons, but with this collection I got far more than I expected. As below, when I ordered this I was prepared for something slightly bigger than a DVD boxed set - what I got is a collection about A4 height (from there you can probably get an idea of scale from the picture supplied) and packed solid with cartoons. Apart from the obligatory Author's introduction, each page contains 4 regular strips or one large colour strip. The books are well finished and give the impression that, well treated, they will last a lifetime of reading. The paper is thick and durable, which adds to the weight of the collection but you won't be accidentaly tearing pages while flicking through. In fact, the whole thing seems to have been designed with longevity in mind.
I won't go on about how good the cartoons are - if you're looking at this item you probably already know that. If not, the fact so many people have forked out £40-60 for the privilege of owning it should be evidence enough. What I can say is that if you know you're looking for a collection of Calvin and Hobbes cartoons, the price of this collection is fully justified by the build quality. It would make an excellent gift or, as in my case, an excellent bit of self-indulgence, and will give years of smiles and laughter.
Well worth it's weight!, 24 Jun 2008
The other reviews here pretty much say it all... if you are a fan of Calvin and Hobbes, you are going to love this! And, if you are already a fan, you will undoubtedly own a few worn-out copies of the various collections. I already have most, if not all of the books;
what makes this special and worth having (..in addition!) is the beautiful presentation, in chronological order, of all the strips, with the large cover art added throughout.
It is big, it is heavy, but bearing in mind that it will probably stay put and be well looked after, I don't see any problem with this! It's obviously not intended to be lugged about as your sole copy, and it's nice to have a nice hardback volume to sit and read. If you want portable, take one of your paperbacks. If you want your favourite (and the best, most imaginative, philosophical, entertaining cartoon strip ever) in 3 well-made volumes, then you should really add this to your bookshelf. I just did, having read the previous reviews, and I love it already!
(I've read Calvin and Hobbes through many times, and they just don't date either.. Calvin's comments about the advertising industry, and his Dad's views about t.v, the media, traffic etc are as funny and relevant today as when they were written.)
Not much more to say... if you love Calvin and Hobbes, this collection really is well worth it's weight.
When cartoons grew up, 23 May 2008
I just got back from my post office here in Oslo Norway. The little woman who went back to get this package for me looked less than thrilled. This is HEAVY!
Well, anyhow, I just had my first look at this and it's stunning. Calvin and Hobbes deserve no less.
1987. It's been that many years since I was in Denmark on holiday and bought my first volume of Calvin and Hobbes? (Steen & Stoffer in Danish, Tommy & Tigern in Norwegian). Wow, how time flies.
Calvin and Hobbes have been a great influence on me. I have tried and failed over the years to be a cartoonist or graphic artist myself, but my failure aside, this series really pushed me in conveying ideas with simple yet effective drawings. And that's the crux of this whole success. Amazing yet simple art, effective storytelling, heart, cheekyness, flights of fantasy and even a bit of insanity.
Calvin and Hobbes is all about lost youth to me, and I always pictured the last Calvin and Hobbes showing Calvin walking past Hobbes, with Hobbes no longer a living tiger, but being just a stuffed toy. Calvin realising that this time of his life is over, bursting into tears, and running to his mother for comfort.
Instead he left us, looking for adventure in the woods behind his house with his best friend, destined to live forever in an endless summer.
When a cartoon gets to you on so many levels, does it seize being a cartoon? I'm not sure you can even use the word about something as monumental as this, but don't let that put you off. This is great literature, and you should own it simply to show people that you are a kid at heart, and that you know a great body of work when you see it.
Absolutely fantastic!, 05 Apr 2008
This item contains every single Calvin and Hobbes cartoon ever published.
The three volumes also contain some additional material written by Bill Watterson.
It's interesting to see how the style developed, especially in the first book where Watterson describes the origins of Calvin and Hobbes. The early cartoon strips are of a visibly different standard to those later on.
I love Calvin and Hobbes and this has kept me quiet for hours.
Masterpiece, 15 Feb 2008
This has to be the finest collection of cartoon strips ever commited to print. The limited run of ten years allow all strips ever published to be collected in three large volumes giving you every Calivin and Hobbes story there is in one box set.
Buy this and you will laugh and cry in equal measures. And by the time you reach the end of the last volume you will be ready to start all over again.
Perfect in every way
complete?, 14 Sep 2008
It's funny how it's called the 'Complete' comic strip,yet obviously it isn't complete as they have released the 3rd 'Complete' comic strip book of Moomin.
I love the illustrations-i just dont like the incompleteness...
Either make one big proper complete book or just call them 'comic book 1,2 and 3'.
I prefer reading 'Who will comfort Toffle' anyway.
Finland's Finest, 21 Feb 2007
If, like me, you have loved the Moomin family since childhood, you will have read all the quirky, unique books in the series, many , many times. If so, you may be surprised to find, as I was, that these comic strips exist, and allow us an unexpected opportunity to re-enter the world of Moominvalley.
In a way comics are the ideal medium for Tove Jannson, the illustrations to her Moomin series are as fine as the effortlessly brilliant stories. Her sense of fun and rather unworldly viewpoint are showcased in these strips as well as her beautiful artwork.
Having said all that, these strips perhaps lack the shade of gloomy darkness that make the Moomin series of books so memorable, "Moominvalley in November", for example, is almost bleak in outlook. Also, the characters are all slightly different from in the books, which is a bit distracting at times.
Even so, these collected newspaper strips are a hugely welcome addition to any Moomin fan's library.
Marvellous Magnificent Moomins, 03 Feb 2007
If you don't know the Moomin comic strips - originally created for the London Standard in the 1950's - then this is a treat. Tove Jansson's quiet and quirky observations of life, as represented by the eccentric Moomins are every bit as endearing here as in the full length books. The strips were a huge success, continuing into the '70's when her brother, Lars took over. Only one annual was ever published in Britain (in the fifties) and it is wonderful to at last have these wonderful strips revived for all to enjoy.
Tove's independant view of life, her fiercely non-capitalistic stance and pacifist tendancies all shine through these bizarre, unexpected and utterly individual stories, which see the "De Moomins" mixing with film stars on the Riviera (including "the great little Audrey Glamour") and transforming old ladies into randy young men, with magic potions! Hers was a unique talent and these glorious strips are in the ame class as Herge's Tintin, or the Peanuts strips.
Her economy of line and brilliantly understated humour are quite remarkable and the production of this book is a real class act. Just the drawings are worth the purchase price alone. Drawn and Quarterly are to be congratulated for a beautifully put together volume - the first of several - not showy or ostentatious, but lavish and discreetly handsome, as befitting the glorious delights within. It is utterly unmissable - and another magnificent side of the work of this quiet genius.
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The Gashlycrumb Tinies
Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
*Best price found from Amazon Marketplace seller
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*Amazon: £1.73
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Customer Reviews
Fantastic!, 17 Aug 2008
Brilliant. Just Brilliant. I've always loved the cartoons, but with this collection I got far more than I expected. As below, when I ordered this I was prepared for something slightly bigger than a DVD boxed set - what I got is a collection about A4 height (from there you can probably get an idea of scale from the picture supplied) and packed solid with cartoons. Apart from the obligatory Author's introduction, each page contains 4 regular strips or one large colour strip. The books are well finished and give the impression that, well treated, they will last a lifetime of reading. The paper is thick and durable, which adds to the weight of the collection but you won't be accidentaly tearing pages while flicking through. In fact, the whole thing seems to have been designed with longevity in mind.
I won't go on about how good the cartoons are - if you're looking at this item you probably already know that. If not, the fact so many people have forked out £40-60 for the privilege of owning it should be evidence enough. What I can say is that if you know you're looking for a collection of Calvin and Hobbes cartoons, the price of this collection is fully justified by the build quality. It would make an excellent gift or, as in my case, an excellent bit of self-indulgence, and will give years of smiles and laughter.
Well worth it's weight!, 24 Jun 2008
The other reviews here pretty much say it all... if you are a fan of Calvin and Hobbes, you are going to love this! And, if you are already a fan, you will undoubtedly own a few worn-out copies of the various collections. I already have most, if not all of the books;
what makes this special and worth having (..in addition!) is the beautiful presentation, in chronological order, of all the strips, with the large cover art added throughout.
It is big, it is heavy, but bearing in mind that it will probably stay put and be well looked after, I don't see any problem with this! It's obviously not intended to be lugged about as your sole copy, and it's nice to have a nice hardback volume to sit and read. If you want portable, take one of your paperbacks. If you want your favourite (and the best, most imaginative, philosophical, entertaining cartoon strip ever) in 3 well-made volumes, then you should really add this to your bookshelf. I just did, having read the previous reviews, and I love it already!
(I've read Calvin and Hobbes through many times, and they just don't date either.. Calvin's comments about the advertising industry, and his Dad's views about t.v, the media, traffic etc are as funny and relevant today as when they were written.)
Not much more to say... if you love Calvin and Hobbes, this collection really is well worth it's weight.
When cartoons grew up, 23 May 2008
I just got back from my post office here in Oslo Norway. The little woman who went back to get this package for me looked less than thrilled. This is HEAVY!
Well, anyhow, I just had my first look at this and it's stunning. Calvin and Hobbes deserve no less.
1987. It's been that many years since I was in Denmark on holiday and bought my first volume of Calvin and Hobbes? (Steen & Stoffer in Danish, Tommy & Tigern in Norwegian). Wow, how time flies.
Calvin and Hobbes have been a great influence on me. I have tried and failed over the years to be a cartoonist or graphic artist myself, but my failure aside, this series really pushed me in conveying ideas with simple yet effective drawings. And that's the crux of this whole success. Amazing yet simple art, effective storytelling, heart, cheekyness, flights of fantasy and even a bit of insanity.
Calvin and Hobbes is all about lost youth to me, and I always pictured the last Calvin and Hobbes showing Calvin walking past Hobbes, with Hobbes no longer a living tiger, but being just a stuffed toy. Calvin realising that this time of his life is over, bursting into tears, and running to his mother for comfort.
Instead he left us, looking for adventure in the woods behind his house with his best friend, destined to live forever in an endless summer.
When a cartoon gets to you on so many levels, does it seize being a cartoon? I'm not sure you can even use the word about something as monumental as this, but don't let that put you off. This is great literature, and you should own it simply to show people that you are a kid at heart, and that you know a great body of work when you see it.
Absolutely fantastic!, 05 Apr 2008
This item contains every single Calvin and Hobbes cartoon ever published.
The three volumes also contain some additional material written by Bill Watterson.
It's interesting to see how the style developed, especially in the first book where Watterson describes the origins of Calvin and Hobbes. The early cartoon strips are of a visibly different standard to those later on.
I love Calvin and Hobbes and this has kept me quiet for hours.
Masterpiece, 15 Feb 2008
This has to be the finest collection of cartoon strips ever commited to print. The limited run of ten years allow all strips ever published to be collected in three large volumes giving you every Calivin and Hobbes story there is in one box set.
Buy this and you will laugh and cry in equal measures. And by the time you reach the end of the last volume you will be ready to start all over again.
Perfect in every way
complete?, 14 Sep 2008
It's funny how it's called the 'Complete' comic strip,yet obviously it isn't complete as they have released the 3rd 'Complete' comic strip book of Moomin.
I love the illustrations-i just dont like the incompleteness...
Either make one big proper complete book or just call them 'comic book 1,2 and 3'.
I prefer reading 'Who will comfort Toffle' anyway.
Finland's Finest, 21 Feb 2007
If, like me, you have loved the Moomin family since childhood, you will have read all the quirky, unique books in the series, many , many times. If so, you may be surprised to find, as I was, that these comic strips exist, and allow us an unexpected opportunity to re-enter the world of Moominvalley.
In a way comics are the ideal medium for Tove Jannson, the illustrations to her Moomin series are as fine as the effortlessly brilliant stories. Her sense of fun and rather unworldly viewpoint are showcased in these strips as well as her beautiful artwork.
Having said all that, these strips perhaps lack the shade of gloomy darkness that make the Moomin series of books so memorable, "Moominvalley in November", for example, is almost bleak in outlook. Also, the characters are all slightly different from in the books, which is a bit distracting at times.
Even so, these collected newspaper strips are a hugely welcome addition to any Moomin fan's library.
Marvellous Magnificent Moomins, 03 Feb 2007
If you don't know the Moomin comic strips - originally created for the London Standard in the 1950's - then this is a treat. Tove Jansson's quiet and quirky observations of life, as represented by the eccentric Moomins are every bit as endearing here as in the full length books. The strips were a huge success, continuing into the '70's when her brother, Lars took over. Only one annual was ever published in Britain (in the fifties) and it is wonderful to at last have these wonderful strips revived for all to enjoy.
Tove's independant view of life, her fiercely non-capitalistic stance and pacifist tendancies all shine through these bizarre, unexpected and utterly individual stories, which see the "De Moomins" mixing with film stars on the Riviera (including "the great little Audrey Glamour") and transforming old ladies into randy young men, with magic potions! Hers was a unique talent and these glorious strips are in the ame class as Herge's Tintin, or the Peanuts strips.
Her economy of line and brilliantly understated humour are quite remarkable and the production of this book is a real class act. Just the drawings are worth the purchase price alone. Drawn and Quarterly are to be congratulated for a beautifully put together volume - the first of several - not showy or ostentatious, but lavish and discreetly handsome, as befitting the glorious delights within. It is utterly unmissable - and another magnificent side of the work of this quiet genius.
Just.. not that imaginative.., 29 Jun 2008
Not as good at The Epileptic Bicycle - yes, the idea behind it is funny, but the ways the kids die aren't that imaginative at all (see The Bunny Suicides!) ... and so, just not that funny...
The best Gorey, 01 Apr 2008
This is my favourite of all the Gorey I've read, and was also the first I purchased. It is, esentially, an A-Z of children dying, so it may not be to everyone's taste, however, the style and wit with which it is executed is unbeatable. Highly reccomended.
S is for ...., 01 Jan 2008
superb, smashing & silly. I giggle every time I pick it up.
Everyone should have a copy.
One of his best..., 08 Mar 2006
Some of Edward Gorey's work is quite nonsensical, almost like dream diaries (see "The Epileptic Bicycle" and quite a few others), but "The Gashlycrumb Tinies" is absolutely perfect. The drawing is in obsessively minute detail, giving it all a strange clarity, as if the macabre accidents that befall the A-Z of small children are a matter of melancholic inevitability. In several of the pictures there almost seems to be actual movement, as if it would all come to life if you looked at it from the corner of your eye. The blacker-than-black humour to be found here is certainly reminiscent of the late great Roald Dahl, as other reviewers have noted, and this book is clear evidence of the huge influence on Tim Burton.
Like Tim Burton's "Melancholy Death Of Oyster Boy", this is a grim little gem that you will surely come back to on many a rainy afternoon indoors. ("The Doubtful Guest" is also excellent.)
Wow..., 25 Jan 2006
I bought this on a recommendation and at first I was a little sceptical about it, but I was completely wrong. This is something I know off by heart (literally) and something that makes me laugh at smile, it’s getting to be in quite a state which is a compliment for any loved book. The pictures are great, but on there own they wouldn't be anything too special, but nor would the words so it's fair to say they compliment each other perfectly and for any fan of Roman Dirge, Tim Burton, Vasquez Gorey's work is pretty much ensured to amuse and fascinate.
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Customer Reviews
Fantastic!, 17 Aug 2008
Brilliant. Just Brilliant. I've always loved the cartoons, but with this collection I got far more than I expected. As below, when I ordered this I was prepared for something slightly bigger than a DVD boxed set - what I got is a collection about A4 height (from there you can probably get an idea of scale from the picture supplied) and packed solid with cartoons. Apart from the obligatory Author's introduction, each page contains 4 regular strips or one large colour strip. The books are well finished and give the impression that, well treated, they will last a lifetime of reading. The paper is thick and durable, which adds to the weight of the collection but you won't be accidentaly tearing pages while flicking through. In fact, the whole thing seems to have been designed with longevity in mind.
I won't go on about how good the cartoons are - if you're looking at this item you probably already know that. If not, the fact so many people have forked out £40-60 for the privilege of owning it should be evidence enough. What I can say is that if you know you're looking for a collection of Calvin and Hobbes cartoons, the price of this collection is fully justified by the build quality. It would make an excellent gift or, as in my case, an excellent bit of self-indulgence, and will give years of smiles and laughter.
Well worth it's weight!, 24 Jun 2008
The other reviews here pretty much say it all... if you are a fan of Calvin and Hobbes, you are going to love this! And, if you are already a fan, you will undoubtedly own a few worn-out copies of the various collections. I already have most, if not all of the books;
what makes this special and worth having (..in addition!) is the beautiful presentation, in chronological order, of all the strips, with the large cover art added throughout.
It is big, it is heavy, but bearing in mind that it will probably stay put and be well looked after, I don't see any problem with this! It's obviously not intended to be lugged about as your sole copy, and it's nice to have a nice hardback volume to sit and read. If you want portable, take one of your paperbacks. If you want your favourite (and the best, most imaginative, philosophical, entertaining cartoon strip ever) in 3 well-made volumes, then you should really add this to your bookshelf. I just did, having read the previous reviews, and I love it already!
(I've read Calvin and Hobbes through many times, and they just don't date either.. Calvin's comments about the advertising industry, and his Dad's views about t.v, the media, traffic etc are as funny and relevant today as when they were written.)
Not much more to say... if you love Calvin and Hobbes, this collection really is well worth it's weight.
When cartoons grew up, 23 May 2008
I just got back from my post office here in Oslo Norway. The little woman who went back to get this package for me looked less than thrilled. This is HEAVY!
Well, anyhow, I just had my first look at this and it's stunning. Calvin and Hobbes deserve no less.
1987. It's been that many years since I was in Denmark on holiday and bought my first volume of Calvin and Hobbes? (Steen & Stoffer in Danish, Tommy & Tigern in Norwegian). Wow, how time flies.
Calvin and Hobbes have been a great influence on me. I have tried and failed over the years to be a cartoonist or graphic artist myself, but my failure aside, this series really pushed me in conveying ideas with simple yet effective drawings. And that's the crux of this whole success. Amazing yet simple art, effective storytelling, heart, cheekyness, flights of fantasy and even a bit of insanity.
Calvin and Hobbes is all about lost youth to me, and I always pictured the last Calvin and Hobbes showing Calvin walking past Hobbes, with Hobbes no longer a living tiger, but being just a stuffed toy. Calvin realising that this time of his life is over, bursting into tears, and running to his mother for comfort.
Instead he left us, looking for adventure in the woods behind his house with his best friend, destined to live forever in an endless summer.
When a cartoon gets to you on so many levels, does it seize being a cartoon? I'm not sure you can even use the word about something as monumental as this, but don't let that put you off. This is great literature, and you should own it simply to show people that you are a kid at heart, and that you know a great body of work when you see it.
Absolutely fantastic!, 05 Apr 2008
This item contains every single Calvin and Hobbes cartoon ever published.
The three volumes also contain some additional material written by Bill Watterson.
It's interesting to see how the style developed, especially in the first book where Watterson describes the origins of Calvin and Hobbes. The early cartoon strips are of a visibly different standard to those later on.
I love Calvin and Hobbes and this has kept me quiet for hours.
Masterpiece, 15 Feb 2008
This has to be the finest collection of cartoon strips ever commited to print. The limited run of ten years allow all strips ever published to be collected in three large volumes giving you every Calivin and Hobbes story there is in one box set.
Buy this and you will laugh and cry in equal measures. And by the time you reach the end of the last volume you will be ready to start all over again.
Perfect in every way
complete?, 14 Sep 2008
It's funny how it's called the 'Complete' comic strip,yet obviously it isn't complete as they have released the 3rd 'Complete' comic strip book of Moomin.
I love the illustrations-i just dont like the incompleteness...
Either make one big proper complete book or just call them 'comic book 1,2 and 3'.
I prefer reading 'Who will comfort Toffle' anyway.
Finland's Finest, 21 Feb 2007
If, like me, you have loved the Moomin family since childhood, you will have read all the quirky, unique books in the series, many , many times. If so, you may be surprised to find, as I was, that these comic strips exist, and allow us an unexpected opportunity to re-enter the world of Moominvalley.
In a way comics are the ideal medium for Tove Jannson, the illustrations to her Moomin series are as fine as the effortlessly brilliant stories. Her sense of fun and rather unworldly viewpoint are showcased in these strips as well as her beautiful artwork.
Having said all that, these strips perhaps lack the shade of gloomy darkness that make the Moomin series of books so memorable, "Moominvalley in November", for example, is almost bleak in outlook. Also, the characters are all slightly different from in the books, which is a bit distracting at times.
Even so, these collected newspaper strips are a hugely welcome addition to any Moomin fan's library.
Marvellous Magnificent Moomins, 03 Feb 2007
If you don't know the Moomin comic strips - originally created for the London Standard in the 1950's - then this is a treat. Tove Jansson's quiet and quirky observations of life, as represented by the eccentric Moomins are every bit as endearing here as in the full length books. The strips were a huge success, continuing into the '70's when her brother, Lars took over. Only one annual was ever published in Britain (in the fifties) and it is wonderful to at last have these wonderful strips revived for all to enjoy.
Tove's independant view of life, her fiercely non-capitalistic stance and pacifist tendancies all shine through these bizarre, unexpected and utterly individual stories, which see the "De Moomins" mixing with film stars on the Riviera (including "the great little Audrey Glamour") and transforming old ladies into randy young men, with magic potions! Hers was a unique talent and these glorious strips are in the ame class as Herge's Tintin, or the Peanuts strips.
Her economy of line and brilliantly understated humour are quite remarkable and the production of this book is a real class act. Just the drawings are worth the purchase price alone. Drawn and Quarterly are to be congratulated for a beautifully put together volume - the first of several - not showy or ostentatious, but lavish and discreetly handsome, as befitting the glorious delights within. It is utterly unmissable - and another magnificent side of the work of this quiet genius.
Just.. not that imaginative.., 29 Jun 2008
Not as good at The Epileptic Bicycle - yes, the idea behind it is funny, but the ways the kids die aren't that imaginative at all (see The Bunny Suicides!) ... and so, just not that funny...
The best Gorey, 01 Apr 2008
This is my favourite of all the Gorey I've read, and was also the first I purchased. It is, esentially, an A-Z of children dying, so it may not be to everyone's taste, however, the style and wit with which it is executed is unbeatable. Highly reccomended.
S is for ...., 01 Jan 2008
superb, smashing & silly. I giggle every time I pick it up.
Everyone should have a copy.
One of his best..., 08 Mar 2006
Some of Edward Gorey's work is quite nonsensical, almost like dream diaries (see "The Epileptic Bicycle" and quite a few others), but "The Gashlycrumb Tinies" is absolutely perfect. The drawing is in obsessively minute detail, giving it all a strange clarity, as if the macabre accidents that befall the A-Z of small children are a matter of melancholic inevitability. In several of the pictures there almost seems to be actual movement, as if it would all come to life if you looked at it from the corner of your eye. The blacker-than-black humour to be found here is certainly reminiscent of the late great Roald Dahl, as other reviewers have noted, and this book is clear evidence of the huge influence on Tim Burton.
Like Tim Burton's "Melancholy Death Of Oyster Boy", this is a grim little gem that you will surely come back to on many a rainy afternoon indoors. ("The Doubtful Guest" is also excellent.)
Wow..., 25 Jan 2006
I bought this on a recommendation and at first I was a little sceptical about it, but I was completely wrong. This is something I know off by heart (literally) and something that makes me laugh at smile, it’s getting to be in quite a state which is a compliment for any loved book. The pictures are great, but on there own they wouldn't be anything too special, but nor would the words so it's fair to say they compliment each other perfectly and for any fan of Roman Dirge, Tim Burton, Vasquez Gorey's work is pretty much ensured to amuse and fascinate.
Wonderful book, wonderful series, 12 Aug 2008
This is a wonderful and beautifully presented series. I highly recommend it. Although some of Peanuts comedy has dated, the vast majority is still as sweet and charming as ever. If you love Calvin and Hobbes, this where it all began. A joyous collection.
THANK YOU SPARKY, 17 Dec 2007
I have just finished reading this book and found it wonderful. It is well worth the money.
I was fascinated to see the beginnings of what was to be the most brilliant comic strip the world has seen and certainly recommend it to anyone. I was brought up to believe that comics were inferior to 'real' books but this proves that point of view so wrong.
I just hope we get all the strips over the next few years as promised so that we can enjoy again the world of Sparky Schulz.
Peanuts from birth, 03 Nov 2007
Until I picked up this beautifully designed and produced edition of Charles Schulz' Peanuts cartoons I hadn't appreciated how Charlie Brown and Snoopy and Lucy and the Gang had evolved over the years. As another reviewer rightly says the humour is already there but Snoopy is still a puppy and Linus a baby and the whole crew that little bit younger. This first volume also has a brilliant and fascinating interview with Charles "Sparky" Schulz which was revelatory.
At £15 a pop the first two volumes are a complete bargain and something that you will treasure for ever. I've also heard that Canongate intend to co-publish with FantaGraphics in America the complete Peanuts catalogue. All I can say is bring em on and thank you.
About Time, Charlie Brown, 13 Oct 2007
Although definately not 'Peanuts' as my generation remembers it, with the basics in place, and definately not a bit of humour lost, this wonderful book takes us through the first 2 years of the longest story ever told. Charlie Brown and Snoopy are there, but few of the 'classic' Peanuts characters we know and love today are, and instead we see more of the 'straight men' Shirmy, Patty (not to be confused with Peppermint Patty) and Violet. Still in this book we see the first of Charlie Brown, Snoopy and Schroeder, the characters who indeed stood the test of time, and it is fascinating to see all those little developments like the first appearance of Charlie Brown's zig-zag shirt and Snoopy's first ever thought.
Although all of the strips are presented, some may not appear in their original form, and it is my understanding that all of them will be in black and white and not colour, even in future series. Although in the US (where this series of books is produced under 'fantagraphics') volumes of the complete peanuts will be released twice a year (finally ending in 2016) as yet, I have been unable to find any confirmation that canongate will do the same thing. Definately a must for any die-hard Peanuts fan or comic lover, but at the bargain price I found here on Amazon at the time of writing, a great read for anyone who enjoys clever, fun cartoons. Bring on the rest of the series!
This is a must have, 05 Oct 2004
Finally we can see how it al began for Chuck and the gang. This book is the first of 20 that will reprint for the first time all 17,897 'Peanuts' Dallies and Sundays. This covers the first two years. Although ignores the earlier 'Lil'Folks' which first introduces Patty, Charlie Brown and a puppy much like Snoopy. These are reprinted in 'Peanuts the art of Charles Shultz'.
There are some differences between the early 'Peanuts' here and the later ones. For a start both Linus and Lucy debut as babies. Snoopy is a curious puppy, and some characters who later vanish have starring roles. Sharmy, Patty and Violet had all vanished by the end of the `70's (Patty is different to Peppermint Patty who didn't arrive until 1966). But the feel of the strip is there from day one.
Important event's in the book are Charlie Browns first attempts at kicking the football (but it is Violet and not Lucy who holds it for him. Pulling away because she fears that Charlie will kick her hand) Schroder learns Piano in a day, and Snoopy thinks his first words.
I personally can't wait till the next book, and will keep on buying till I have the whole lot!
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Customer Reviews
Fantastic!, 17 Aug 2008
Brilliant. Just Brilliant. I've always loved the cartoons, but with this collection I got far more than I expected. As below, when I ordered this I was prepared for something slightly bigger than a DVD boxed set - what I got is a collection about A4 height (from there you can probably get an idea of scale from the picture supplied) and packed solid with cartoons. Apart from the obligatory Author's introduction, each page contains 4 regular strips or one large colour strip. The books are well finished and give the impression that, well treated, they will last a lifetime of reading. The paper is thick and durable, which adds to the weight of the collection but you won't be accidentaly tearing pages while flicking through. In fact, the whole thing seems to have been designed with longevity in mind.
I won't go on about how good the cartoons are - if you're looking at this item you probably already know that. If not, the fact so many people have forked out £40-60 for the privilege of owning it should be evidence enough. What I can say is that if you know you're looking for a collection of Calvin and Hobbes cartoons, the price of this collection is fully justified by the build quality. It would make an excellent gift or, as in my case, an excellent bit of self-indulgence, and will give years of smiles and laughter.
Well worth it's weight!, 24 Jun 2008
The other reviews here pretty much say it all... if you are a fan of Calvin and Hobbes, you are going to love this! And, if you are already a fan, you will undoubtedly own a few worn-out copies of the various collections. I already have most, if not all of the books;
what makes this special and worth having (..in addition!) is the beautiful presentation, in chronological order, of all the strips, with the large cover art added throughout.
It is big, it is heavy, but bearing in mind that it will probably stay put and be well looked after, I don't see any problem with this! It's obviously not intended to be lugged about as your sole copy, and it's nice to have a nice hardback volume to sit and read. If you want portable, take one of your paperbacks. If you want your favourite (and the best, most imaginative, philosophical, entertaining cartoon strip ever) in 3 well-made volumes, then you should really add this to your bookshelf. I just did, having read the previous reviews, and I love it already!
(I've read Calvin and Hobbes through many times, and they just don't date either.. Calvin's comments about the advertising industry, and his Dad's views about t.v, the media, traffic etc are as funny and relevant today as when they were written.)
Not much more to say... if you love Calvin and Hobbes, this collection really is well worth it's weight.
When cartoons grew up, 23 May 2008
I just got back from my post office here in Oslo Norway. The little woman who went back to get this package for me looked less than thrilled. This is HEAVY!
Well, anyhow, I just had my first look at this and it's stunning. Calvin and Hobbes deserve no less.
1987. It's been that many years since I was in Denmark on holiday and bought my first volume of Calvin and Hobbes? (Steen & Stoffer in Danish, Tommy & Tigern in Norwegian). Wow, how time flies.
Calvin and Hobbes have been a great influence on me. I have tried and failed over the years to be a cartoonist or graphic artist myself, but my failure aside, this series really pushed me in conveying ideas with simple yet effective drawings. And that's the crux of this whole success. Amazing yet simple art, effective storytelling, heart, cheekyness, flights of fantasy and even a bit of insanity.
Calvin and Hobbes is all about lost youth to me, and I always pictured the last Calvin and Hobbes showing Calvin walking past Hobbes, with Hobbes no longer a living tiger, but being just a stuffed toy. Calvin realising that this time of his life is over, bursting into tears, and running to his mother for comfort.
Instead he left us, looking for adventure in the woods behind his house with his best friend, destined to live forever in an endless summer.
When a cartoon gets to you on so many levels, does it seize being a cartoon? I'm not sure you can even use the word about something as monumental as this, but don't let that put you off. This is great literature, and you should own it simply to show people that you are a kid at heart, and that you know a great body of work when you see it.
Absolutely fantastic!, 05 Apr 2008
This item contains every single Calvin and Hobbes cartoon ever published.
The three volumes also contain some additional material written by Bill Watterson.
It's interesting to see how the style developed, especially in the first book where Watterson describes the origins of Calvin and Hobbes. The early cartoon strips are of a visibly different standard to those later on.
I love Calvin and Hobbes and this has kept me quiet for hours.
Masterpiece, 15 Feb 2008
This has to be the finest collection of cartoon strips ever commited to print. The limited run of ten years allow all strips ever published to be collected in three large volumes giving you every Calivin and Hobbes story there is in one box set.
Buy this and you will laugh and cry in equal measures. And by the time you reach the end of the last volume you will be ready to start all over again.
Perfect in every way
complete?, 14 Sep 2008
It's funny how it's called the 'Complete' comic strip,yet obviously it isn't complete as they have released the 3rd 'Complete' comic strip book of Moomin.
I love the illustrations-i just dont like the incompleteness...
Either make one big proper complete book or just call them 'comic book 1,2 and 3'.
I prefer reading 'Who will comfort Toffle' anyway.
Finland's Finest, 21 Feb 2007
If, like me, you have loved the Moomin family since childhood, you will have read all the quirky, unique books in the series, many , many times. If so, you may be surprised to find, as I was, that these comic strips exist, and allow us an unexpected opportunity to re-enter the world of Moominvalley.
In a way comics are the ideal medium for Tove Jannson, the illustrations to her Moomin series are as fine as the effortlessly brilliant stories. Her sense of fun and rather unworldly viewpoint are showcased in these strips as well as her beautiful artwork.
Having said all that, these strips perhaps lack the shade of gloomy darkness that make the Moomin series of books so memorable, "Moominvalley in November", for example, is almost bleak in outlook. Also, the characters are all slightly different from in the books, which is a bit distracting at times.
Even so, these collected newspaper strips are a hugely welcome addition to any Moomin fan's library.
Marvellous Magnificent Moomins, 03 Feb 2007
If you don't know the Moomin comic strips - originally created for the London Standard in the 1950's - then this is a treat. Tove Jansson's quiet and quirky observations of life, as represented by the eccentric Moomins are every bit as endearing here as in the full length books. The strips were a huge success, continuing into the '70's when her brother, Lars took over. Only one annual was ever published in Britain (in the fifties) and it is wonderful to at last have these wonderful strips revived for all to enjoy.
Tove's independant view of life, her fiercely non-capitalistic stance and pacifist tendancies all shine through these bizarre, unexpected and utterly individual stories, which see the "De Moomins" mixing with film stars on the Riviera (including "the great little Audrey Glamour") and transforming old ladies into randy young men, with magic potions! Hers was a unique talent and these glorious strips are in the ame class as Herge's Tintin, or the Peanuts strips.
Her economy of line and brilliantly understated humour are quite remarkable and the production of this book is a real class act. Just the drawings are worth the purchase price alone. Drawn and Quarterly are to be congratulated for a beautifully put together volume - the first of several - not showy or ostentatious, but lavish and discreetly handsome, as befitting the glorious delights within. It is utterly unmissable - and another magnificent side of the work of this quiet genius.
Just.. not that imaginative.., 29 Jun 2008
Not as good at The Epileptic Bicycle - yes, the idea behind it is funny, but the ways the kids die aren't that imaginative at all (see The Bunny Suicides!) ... and so, just not that funny...
The best Gorey, 01 Apr 2008
This is my favourite of all the Gorey I've read, and was also the first I purchased. It is, esentially, an A-Z of children dying, so it may not be to everyone's taste, however, the style and wit with which it is executed is unbeatable. Highly reccomended.
S is for ...., 01 Jan 2008
superb, smashing & silly. I giggle every time I pick it up.
Everyone should have a copy.
One of his best..., 08 Mar 2006
Some of Edward Gorey's work is quite nonsensical, almost like dream diaries (see "The Epileptic Bicycle" and quite a few others), but "The Gashlycrumb Tinies" is absolutely perfect. The drawing is in obsessively minute detail, giving it all a strange clarity, as if the macabre accidents that befall the A-Z of small children are a matter of melancholic inevitability. In several of the pictures there almost seems to be actual movement, as if it would all come to life if you looked at it from the corner of your eye. The blacker-than-black humour to be found here is certainly reminiscent of the late great Roald Dahl, as other reviewers have noted, and this book is clear evidence of the huge influence on Tim Burton.
Like Tim Burton's "Melancholy Death Of Oyster Boy", this is a grim little gem that you will surely come back to on many a rainy afternoon indoors. ("The Doubtful Guest" is also excellent.)
Wow..., 25 Jan 2006
I bought this on a recommendation and at first I was a little sceptical about it, but I was completely wrong. This is something I know off by heart (literally) and something that makes me laugh at smile, it’s getting to be in quite a state which is a compliment for any loved book. The pictures are great, but on there own they wouldn't be anything too special, but nor would the words so it's fair to say they compliment each other perfectly and for any fan of Roman Dirge, Tim Burton, Vasquez Gorey's work is pretty much ensured to amuse and fascinate.
Wonderful book, wonderful series, 12 Aug 2008
This is a wonderful and beautifully presented series. I highly recommend it. Although some of Peanuts comedy has dated, the vast majority is still as sweet and charming as ever. If you love Calvin and Hobbes, this where it all began. A joyous collection.
THANK YOU SPARKY, 17 Dec 2007
I have just finished reading this book and found it wonderful. It is well worth the money.
I was fascinated to see the beginnings of what was to be the most brilliant comic strip the world has seen and certainly recommend it to anyone. I was brought up to believe that comics were inferior to 'real' books but this proves that point of view so wrong.
I just hope we get all the strips over the next few years as promised so that we can enjoy again the world of Sparky Schulz.
Peanuts from birth, 03 Nov 2007
Until I picked up this beautifully designed and produced edition of Charles Schulz' Peanuts cartoons I hadn't appreciated how Charlie Brown and Snoopy and Lucy and the Gang had evolved over the years. As another reviewer rightly says the humour is already there but Snoopy is still a puppy and Linus a baby and the whole crew that little bit younger. This first volume also has a brilliant and fascinating interview with Charles "Sparky" Schulz which was revelatory.
At £15 a pop the first two volumes are a complete bargain and something that you will treasure for ever. I've also heard that Canongate intend to co-publish with FantaGraphics in America the complete Peanuts catalogue. All I can say is bring em on and thank you.
About Time, Charlie Brown, 13 Oct 2007
Although definately not 'Peanuts' as my generation remembers it, with the basics in place, and definately not a bit of humour lost, this wonderful book takes us through the first 2 years of the longest story ever told. Charlie Brown and Snoopy are there, but few of the 'classic' Peanuts characters we know and love today are, and instead we see more of the 'straight men' Shirmy, Patty (not to be confused with Peppermint Patty) and Violet. Still in this book we see the first of Charlie Brown, Snoopy and Schroeder, the characters who indeed stood the test of time, and it is fascinating to see all those little developments like the first appearance of Charlie Brown's zig-zag shirt and Snoopy's first ever thought.
Although all of the strips are presented, some may not appear in their original form, and it is my understanding that all of them will be in black and white and not colour, even in future series. Although in the US (where this series of books is produced under 'fantagraphics') volumes of the complete peanuts will be released twice a year (finally ending in 2016) as yet, I have been unable to find any confirmation that canongate will do the same thing. Definately a must for any die-hard Peanuts fan or comic lover, but at the bargain price I found here on Amazon at the time of writing, a great read for anyone who enjoys clever, fun cartoons. Bring on the rest of the series!
This is a must have, 05 Oct 2004
Finally we can see how it al began for Chuck and the gang. This book is the first of 20 that will reprint for the first time all 17,897 'Peanuts' Dallies and Sundays. This covers the first two years. Although ignores the earlier 'Lil'Folks' which first introduces Patty, Charlie Brown and a puppy much like Snoopy. These are reprinted in 'Peanuts the art of Charles Shultz'.
There are some differences between the early 'Peanuts' here and the later ones. For a start both Linus and Lucy debut as babies. Snoopy is a curious puppy, and some characters who later vanish have starring roles. Sharmy, Patty and Violet had all vanished by the end of the `70's (Patty is different to Peppermint Patty who didn't arrive until 1966). But the feel of the strip is there from day one.
Important event's in the book are Charlie Browns first attempts at kicking the football (but it is Violet and not Lucy who holds it for him. Pulling away because she fears that Charlie will kick her hand) Schroder learns Piano in a day, and Snoopy thinks his first words.
I personally can't wait till the next book, and will keep on buying till I have the whole lot!
How do I love Peanuts? Let me count the ways..., 24 Jan 2008
I used to rely on the back pages of newspapers for my Peanuts fix; now I can binge with a heavy hardback. Good grief! This has an introduction by an unlikely but super-enthused Peanuts fan, Walter Cronkite (a famous CBS news anchor, for any Europeans who don't recognise the name), and includes all of the strips from the cartoon's 3rd and 4th years of existence. It's fascinating how different the characters looked back then. I look forward to following my hero, Lucy, 'the nation's foremost authority on jumping ropes', through the next few volumes. May there be many.
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The Best of Alex 2008
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Charles PeattieRussell Taylor;
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Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
*Best price found from Amazon Marketplace seller
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*Amazon: £4.52
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Customer Reviews
Fantastic!, 17 Aug 2008
Brilliant. Just Brilliant. I've always loved the cartoons, but with this collection I got far more than I expected. As below, when I ordered this I was prepared for something slightly bigger than a DVD boxed set - what I got is a collection about A4 height (from there you can probably get an idea of scale from the picture supplied) and packed solid with cartoons. Apart from the obligatory Author's introduction, each page contains 4 regular strips or one large colour strip. The books are well finished and give the impression that, well treated, they will last a lifetime of reading. The paper is thick and durable, which adds to the weight of the collection but you won't be accidentaly tearing pages while flicking through. In fact, the whole thing seems to have been designed with longevity in mind.
I won't go on about how good the cartoons are - if you're looking at this item you probably already know that. If not, the fact so many people have forked out £40-60 for the privilege of owning it should be evidence enough. What I can say is that if you know you're looking for a collection of Calvin and Hobbes cartoons, the price of this collection is fully justified by the build quality. It would make an excellent gift or, as in my case, an excellent bit of self-indulgence, and will give years of smiles and laughter.
Well worth it's weight!, 24 Jun 2008
The other reviews here pretty much say it all... if you are a fan of Calvin and Hobbes, you are going to love this! And, if you are already a fan, you will undoubtedly own a few worn-out copies of the various collections. I already have most, if not all of the books;
what makes this special and worth having (..in addition!) is the beautiful presentation, in chronological order, of all the strips, with the large cover art added throughout.
It is big, it is heavy, but bearing in mind that it will probably stay put and be well looked after, I don't see any problem with this! It's obviously not intended to be lugged about as your sole copy, and it's nice to have a nice hardback volume to sit and read. If you want portable, take one of your paperbacks. If you want your favourite (and the best, most imaginative, philosophical, entertaining cartoon strip ever) in 3 well-made volumes, then you should really add this to your bookshelf. I just did, having read the previous reviews, and I love it already!
(I've read Calvin and Hobbes through many times, and they just don't date either.. Calvin's comments about the advertising industry, and his Dad's views about t.v, the media, traffic etc are as funny and relevant today as when they were written.)
Not much more to say... if you love Calvin and Hobbes, this collection really is well worth it's weight.
When cartoons grew up, 23 May 2008
I just got back from my post office here in Oslo Norway. The little woman who went back to get this package for me looked less than thrilled. This is HEAVY!
Well, anyhow, I just had my first look at this and it's stunning. Calvin and Hobbes deserve no less.
1987. It's been that many years since I was in Denmark on holiday and bought my first volume of Calvin and Hobbes? (Steen & Stoffer in Danish, Tommy & Tigern in Norwegian). Wow, how time flies.
Calvin and Hobbes have been a great influence on me. I have tried and failed over the years to be a cartoonist or graphic artist myself, but my failure aside, this series really pushed me in conveying ideas with simple yet effective drawings. And that's the crux of this whole success. Amazing yet simple art, effective storytelling, heart, cheekyness, flights of fantasy and even a bit of insanity.
Calvin and Hobbes is all about lost youth to me, and I always pictured the last Calvin and Hobbes showing Calvin walking past Hobbes, with Hobbes no longer a living tiger, but being just a stuffed toy. Calvin realising that this time of his life is over, bursting into tears, and running to his mother for comfort.
Instead he left us, looking for adventure in the woods behind his house with his best friend, destined to live forever in an endless summer.
When a cartoon gets to you on so many levels, does it seize being a cartoon? I'm not sure you can even use the word about something as monumental as this, but don't let that put you off. This is great literature, and you should own it simply to show people that you are a kid at heart, and that you know a great body of work when you see it.
Absolutely fantastic!, 05 Apr 2008
This item contains every single Calvin and Hobbes cartoon ever published.
The three volumes also contain some additional material written by Bill Watterson.
It's interesting to see how the style developed, especially in the first book where Watterson describes the origins of Calvin and Hobbes. The early cartoon strips are of a visibly different standard to those later on.
I love Calvin and Hobbes and this has kept me quiet for hours.
Masterpiece, 15 Feb 2008
This has to be the finest collection of cartoon strips ever commited to print. The limited run of ten years allow all strips ever published to be collected in three large volumes giving you every Calivin and Hobbes story there is in one box set.
Buy this and you will laugh and cry in equal measures. And by the time you reach the end of the last volume you will be ready to start all over again.
Perfect in every way
complete?, 14 Sep 2008
It's funny how it's called the 'Complete' comic strip,yet obviously it isn't complete as they have released the 3rd 'Complete' comic strip book of Moomin.
I love the illustrations-i just dont like the incompleteness...
Either make one big proper complete book or just call them 'comic book 1,2 and 3'.
I prefer reading 'Who will comfort Toffle' anyway.
Finland's Finest, 21 Feb 2007
If, like me, you have loved the Moomin family since childhood, you will have read all the quirky, unique books in the series, many , many times. If so, you may be surprised to find, as I was, that these comic strips exist, and allow us an unexpected opportunity to re-enter the world of Moominvalley.
In a way comics are the ideal medium for Tove Jannson, the illustrations to her Moomin series are as fine as the effortlessly brilliant stories. Her sense of fun and rather unworldly viewpoint are showcased in these strips as well as her beautiful artwork.
Having said all that, these strips perhaps lack the shade of gloomy darkness that make the Moomin series of books so memorable, "Moominvalley in November", for example, is almost bleak in outlook. Also, the characters are all slightly different from in the books, which is a bit distracting at times.
Even so, these collected newspaper strips are a hugely welcome addition to any Moomin fan's library.
Marvellous Magnificent Moomins, 03 Feb 2007
If you don't know the Moomin comic strips - originally created for the London Standard in the 1950's - then this is a treat. Tove Jansson's quiet and quirky observations of life, as represented by the eccentric Moomins are every bit as endearing here as in the full length books. The strips were a huge success, continuing into the '70's when her brother, Lars took over. Only one annual was ever published in Britain (in the fifties) and it is wonderful to at last have these wonderful strips revived for all to enjoy.
Tove's independant view of life, her fiercely non-capitalistic stance and pacifist tendancies all shine through these bizarre, unexpected and utterly individual stories, which see the "De Moomins" mixing with film stars on the Riviera (including "the great little Audrey Glamour") and transforming old ladies into randy young men, with magic potions! Hers was a unique talent and these glorious strips are in the ame class as Herge's Tintin, or the Peanuts strips.
Her economy of line and brilliantly understated humour are quite remarkable and the production of this book is a real class act. Just the drawings are worth the purchase price alone. Drawn and Quarterly are to be congratulated for a beautifully put together volume - the first of several - not showy or ostentatious, but lavish and discreetly handsome, as befitting the glorious delights within. It is utterly unmissable - and another magnificent side of the work of this quiet genius.
Just.. not that imaginative.., 29 Jun 2008
Not as good at The Epileptic Bicycle - yes, the idea behind it is funny, but the ways the kids die aren't that imaginative at all (see The Bunny Suicides!) ... and so, just not that funny...
The best Gorey, 01 Apr 2008
This is my favourite of all the Gorey I've read, and was also the first I purchased. It is, esentially, an A-Z of children dying, so it may not be to everyone's taste, however, the style and wit with which it is executed is unbeatable. Highly reccomended.
S is for ...., 01 Jan 2008
superb, smashing & silly. I giggle every time I pick it up.
Everyone should have a copy.
One of his best..., 08 Mar 2006
Some of Edward Gorey's work is quite nonsensical, almost like dream diaries (see "The Epileptic Bicycle" and quite a few others), but "The Gashlycrumb Tinies" is absolutely perfect. The drawing is in obsessively minute detail, giving it all a strange clarity, as if the macabre accidents that befall the A-Z of small children are a matter of melancholic inevitability. In several of the pictures there almost seems to be actual movement, as if it would all come to life if you looked at it from the corner of your eye. The blacker-than-black humour to be found here is certainly reminiscent of the late great Roald Dahl, as other reviewers have noted, and this book is clear evidence of the huge influence on Tim Burton.
Like Tim Burton's "Melancholy Death Of Oyster Boy", this is a grim little gem that you will surely come back to on many a rainy afternoon indoors. ("The Doubtful Guest" is also excellent.)
Wow..., 25 Jan 2006
I bought this on a recommendation and at first I was a little sceptical about it, but I was completely wrong. This is something I know off by heart (literally) and something that makes me laugh at smile, it’s getting to be in quite a state which is a compliment for any loved book. The pictures are great, but on there own they wouldn't be anything too special, but nor would the words so it's fair to say they compliment each other perfectly and for any fan of Roman Dirge, Tim Burton, Vasquez Gorey's work is pretty much ensured to amuse and fascinate.
Wonderful book, wonderful series, 12 Aug 2008
This is a wonderful and beautifully presented series. I highly recommend it. Although some of Peanuts comedy has dated, the vast majority is still as sweet and charming as ever. If you love Calvin and Hobbes, this where it all began. A joyous collection.
THANK YOU SPARKY, 17 Dec 2007
I have just finished reading this book and found it wonderful. It is well worth the money.
I was fascinated to see the beginnings of what was to be the most brilliant comic strip the world has seen and certainly recommend it to anyone. I was brought up to believe that comics were inferior to 'real' books but this proves that point of view so wrong.
I just hope we get all the strips over the next few years as promised so that we can enjoy again the world of Sparky Schulz.
Peanuts from birth, 03 Nov 2007
Until I picked up this beautifully designed and produced edition of Charles Schulz' Peanuts cartoons I hadn't appreciated how Charlie Brown and Snoopy and Lucy and the Gang had evolved over the years. As another reviewer rightly says the humour is already there but Snoopy is still a puppy and Linus a baby and the whole crew that little bit younger. This first volume also has a brilliant and fascinating interview with Charles "Sparky" Schulz which was revelatory.
At £15 a pop the first two volumes are a complete bargain and something that you will treasure for ever. I've also heard that Canongate intend to co-publish with FantaGraphics in America the complete Peanuts catalogue. All I can say is bring em on and thank you.
About Time, Charlie Brown, 13 Oct 2007
Although definately not 'Peanuts' as my generation remembers it, with the basics in place, and definately not a bit of humour lost, this wonderful book takes us through the first 2 years of the longest story ever told. Charlie Brown and Snoopy are there, but few of the 'classic' Peanuts characters we know and love today are, and instead we see more of the 'straight men' Shirmy, Patty (not to be confused with Peppermint Patty) and Violet. Still in this book we see the first of Charlie Brown, Snoopy and Schroeder, the characters who indeed stood the test of time, and it is fascinating to see all those little developments like the first appearance of Charlie Brown's zig-zag shirt and Snoopy's first ever thought.
Although all of the strips are presented, some may not appear in their original form, and it is my understanding that all of them will be in black and white and not colour, even in future series. Although in the US (where this series of books is produced under 'fantagraphics') volumes of the complete peanuts will be released twice a year (finally ending in 2016) as yet, I have been unable to find any confirmation that canongate will do the same thing. Definately a must for any die-hard Peanuts fan or comic lover, but at the bargain price I found here on Amazon at the time of writing, a great read for anyone who enjoys clever, fun cartoons. Bring on the rest of the series!
This is a must have, 05 Oct 2004
Finally we can see how it al began for Chuck and the gang. This book is the first of 20 that will reprint for the first time all 17,897 'Peanuts' Dallies and Sundays. This covers the first two years. Although ignores the earlier 'Lil'Folks' which first introduces Patty, Charlie Brown and a puppy much like Snoopy. These are reprinted in 'Peanuts the art of Charles Shultz'.
There are some differences between the early 'Peanuts' here and the later ones. For a start both Linus and Lucy debut as babies. Snoopy is a curious puppy, and some characters who later vanish have starring roles. Sharmy, Patty and Violet had all vanished by the end of the `70's (Patty is different to Peppermint Patty who didn't arrive until 1966). But the feel of the strip is there from day one.
Important event's in the book are Charlie Browns first attempts at kicking the football (but it is Violet and not Lucy who holds it for him. Pulling away because she fears that Charlie will kick her hand) Schroder learns Piano in a day, and Snoopy thinks his first words.
I personally can't wait till the next book, and will keep on buying till I have the whole lot!
How do I love Peanuts? Let me count the ways..., 24 Jan 2008
I used to rely on the back pages of newspapers for my Peanuts fix; now I can binge with a heavy hardback. Good grief! This has an introduction by an unlikely but super-enthused Peanuts fan, Walter Cronkite (a famous CBS news anchor, for any Europeans who don't recognise the name), and includes all of the strips from the cartoon's 3rd and 4th years of existence. It's fascinating how different the characters looked back then. I look forward to following my hero, Lucy, 'the nation's foremost authority on jumping ropes', through the next few volumes. May there be many.
A Masterley Production, 03 Apr 2008
I first came across Alex, that cynical, worldly wise - but never weary - and manipulative investment banker, when he appeared in "The Independent" after the Big bang in 1986, and followed him to the Telegraph when it became clear that the people he was supposed to be satirising loved him.
In 2007 Alex continues to do battle with Cyrus, his tee-total, born-again American boss, with whom he conspires to be trapped in a crevasse while skiing - but only so he can have some time to talk up his bonus. He also moves buildings and bags the best desk, dreams (as he does come Christmas time) a VC takeover of Santa's Lapland company, has cosmetic surgery (and excuses his bruising as being the result of boxing - or was that botox-ing?), and, at the end, smells the first whiff of the "sub-prime" credit crunch.
Some of the jokes require a recollection of what was happenning in the City at the time, but I can still chuckle at my first Alex annual published back in 1988 - "The Unabashed Alex". Let me relate two of the jokes:
"I've put us both down for the combat survival zone combat game this weekend, Clive...
"We'll be in the corporate finance team playing against a team made up of those spivs and wide boys from the Metrobank Moneybroking Department...
In the final panel you see the spivs and wide boys charging Alex and colleagues with paintball guns at the ready, and Alex orders:
"Don't shoot until you see the whites of their socks."
Second favourite: A more typical four-panel cartoon, wih the typical twist in the tail in the fourth, has Alex and boss Rupert talking at the (wine) bar:
Rupert does all the talking:
"When you're young it's fanatically important what sort of car you're seen to be driving...
"Take your BMW, Alex... it isn't simply a means of transport, it's a symbol of your position in society, your manhood...
"But when you get to my age and position, things like that appear silly and trifling, a car really ceases to have value as a status symbol...
"That's why I got the helicopter."
Boom boom! Brilliant stuff! Beg steal or borrow!
Always fun, 01 Jan 2006
Alex is the only cartoon that I make a point of reading regularly, and this annual - like the others before it - is very enjoyable. I'm never sure whether these collections, entitled "Best Of", contain all of the cartoons for a year, but this one has 228 cartoons which I guess (taking into account weekends and holidays) is probably all of them.
As with any long-running cartoon series, some of the themes and jokes are repeated or predictable, such as the seemingly endless stream of cartoons about annual bonuses. Nevertheless, they always try to have new storylines which keeps the series surprisingly fresh.
Fun as always, 15 Apr 2005
Alex is one of my favourite cartoons and the annual books are well worth getting. The situations this year are quite varied with Alex being out of Megabank, and the authors' inventiveness is given full rein. The book itself is well produced and good quality, well worth the asking price. Get it while it's available, they tend to become unavailable all to soon!
Same great fun as every year !!!, 14 Oct 2004
"Best of Alex 2004" is a collection of the great Alex cartoons. Peatty and Taylor show the real, hard live of an Investmentbanker with great humour. Unfortunately, because of Alex being unepmloyed, most the cartoons in the current issue de not take place at a bank, but in many other businesses Alex was look down all the years before. Again, great fun, great satire!
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Customer Reviews
Fantastic!, 17 Aug 2008
Brilliant. Just Brilliant. I've always loved the cartoons, but with this collection I got far more than I expected. As below, when I ordered this I was prepared for something slightly bigger than a DVD boxed set - what I got is a collection about A4 height (from there you can probably get an idea of scale from the picture supplied) and packed solid with cartoons. Apart from the obligatory Author's introduction, each page contains 4 regular strips or one large colour strip. The books are well finished and give the impression that, well treated, they will last a lifetime of reading. The paper is thick and durable, which adds to the weight of the collection but you won't be accidentaly tearing pages while flicking through. In fact, the whole thing seems to have been designed with longevity in mind.
I won't go on about how good the cartoons are - if you're looking at this item you probably already know that. If not, the fact so many people have forked out £40-60 for the privilege of owning it should be evidence enough. What I can say is that if you know you're looking for a collection of Calvin and Hobbes cartoons, the price of this collection is fully justified by the build quality. It would make an excellent gift or, as in my case, an excellent bit of self-indulgence, and will give years of smiles and laughter.
Well worth it's weight!, 24 Jun 2008
The other reviews here pretty much say it all... if you are a fan of Calvin and Hobbes, you are going to love this! And, if you are already a fan, you will undoubtedly own a few worn-out copies of the various collections. I already have most, if not all of the books;
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