Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood

Book Description

A New York Times Notable Book
A Time Magazine “Best Comix of the Year”
A San Francisco Chronicle and Los Angeles Times Best-seller

Wise, funny, and heartbreaking, Persepolis is Marjane Satrapi’s memoir of growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. In powerful black-and-white comic strip images, Satrapi tells the story of her life in Tehran from ages six to fourteen, years that saw the overthrow of the Shah’s regime, the triumph of the Islamic Revolution, and the devastating effects of war with Iraq. The intelligent and outspoken only child of committed Marxists and the great-granddaughter of one of Iran’s last emperors, Marjane bears witness to a childhood uniquely entwined with the history of her country.

Persepolis paints an unforgettable portrait of daily life in Iran and of the bewildering contradictions between home life and public life. Marjane’s child’s-eye view of dethroned emperors, state-sanctioned whippings, and heroes of the revolution allows us to learn as she does the history of this fascinating country and of her own extraordinary family. Intensely personal, profoundly political, and wholly original, Persepolis is at once a story of growing up and a reminder of the human cost of war and political repression. It shows how we carry on, with laughter and tears, in the face of absurdity. And, finally, it introduces us to an irresistible little girl with whom we cannot help but fall in love.

Customer Reviews:

ABOUT THE BOOK.......2007-10-02

This is a truley wonderful graphic novel.
Even though I'm only ten I must say this is an amazing book. I would love to meet Mrs. Satrapi. When my mom just bought the book I was very curious what it was about. Believe it or not I read it before her. Even though it's really an adults book which I think they will love (like my mom) I think kids might like it too.
This is a book about a little girl who lives with her parents and has god on her side, facing all the wars and deaths in Iran. It's hard, but she keeps believing that one day Iran will be in peace once again.
It truley tells the story of what happend, She tells the story with emotion, with her words and illustrations, what her words can't tell the illustrations will tell. Mrs. Satrapi will make you read it atleast twice. We now know what a little girl experienced during the revolution in Iran, not just like that, but with feelings!

This is an AMAZING story for Everyone!

Remember to catch Persepolis 2 & Embroideries!

Non-Fiction.......2007-09-25

An autobiographical account of a girl growing up in Iran. Through her own story she highlights how deeply screwed up the country is, and has become, and how ludicrous some of the religious laws and commands are, when you see them through the eyes of a child. Wear something on your head? It is too hot, stupid! That sort of thing.

She is not holding back, talking about how people feel when their 18 year old next door neighbour is executed as being a communist, after a leftist lead revolution allows them to take power, or when your uncle's sister is strangled to death because he was not home to kill, and things like that.

She points out other crazy things that we probably are not aware of, you can't have chess sets, in Persia? That is very freaky.

The art style is quite cartoony, which is somewhat jarring when she is talking about firing squads.

Definitely good.

Awesome.......2007-09-23

Amazing graphic novel about the author's childhood in revolutionary-era Iran. I learned a lot about this time and place. I also enjoyed her artwork with its heavy black lines and highly graphic style. The sequel is also very good.

Beautifully written - Azadi Bareya Iran.......2007-08-17

Like "Maus" and the story of the Holocaust, Persepolis brings the sad story of the Iranian Revolution to light in a way only a well-done graphic novel can do. It is an absolutely brilliant book that gives you the raw pain and emotion of the Revolution, with all the necessary facts and events, without the dry and verbose nature of many historical novels. Rarely can it be done, in pictures, like it is done here.

If you truly want to know the sad story of the Iranian Revolution from the perspective of an average Iranian family, this is the book for you. Please read it.

Disheartening, but with hope for a better future.......2007-08-06

'Persepolis' was my first graphic novel (or, in this case, graphic autobiography) experience. It is the childhood story of Marjane Satrapi, who was a young girl of liberal parents during the Islamic Revolution in Iran in the 1980s.

Satrapi's drawings are simple yet poignant, and reading about her experiences and culture so foreign to me was at the same time both fascinating and dismaying. I hope to read more of her works.

Average customer rating:

Great Product
Very Nice Choice For Younger Boys
Simply, the best picture Bible
A great supplment to the Good Book who is a visual learner.
not just for young kids

The Picture Bible
Iva Hoth
Manufacturer: Chariot Victor Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0781430550

Book Description

Though The Picture Bible makes a good first Bible for young readers, this classic perennial best-seller is loved by people of all ages. The full-text version contains 233 Bible stories in full-color comic format.

Customer Reviews:

Great Product.......2007-10-05

This is a great resource for kids and adults. This bible is presented in historical order, which has been helpful for our family. The stories are well written and appeal both to younger and older kids. The pictures are not "cartoons". Instead, the pictures are very detailed and well drawn, more like a quality comic book. It is well written and very intriguing.
We have given several copies away as gifts.

Very Nice Choice For Younger Boys.......2007-09-15

I have two boys ages 6 and 4 who love comic book super heros. They absolutely love this Bible! They flip through it on their own and bring it to us to be read to them. I would recommend it to anyone with children who are visual learners.

Simply, the best picture Bible.......2007-09-13

Everyone in my family LOVES to read this beautiful picture Bible. The stories correspond 99.99% with "MOTHER BIBLE". It's a MUST HAVE for kids and grown-ups TOO!

A great supplment to the Good Book who is a visual learner........2007-09-06

The Picture Bible is a collection of bible stores written like a graphic novel broken down into the two testaments arranged by the popular stories ordered in a timeline fasion. The art is great and the dialog is fun to read. Also included is a bible passage index where you can look up a known bible passage for the story in the book. All stories are headed by their passage in which they came form. It is a good book for someone who enjoys graphic novels or someone who is just a visual learner and gets intimidated by the small print by the Good Book.

not just for young kids.......2007-05-20

Regular bibles, to be honest, are drab, repetitive, and oddly written. Even adults, or teens like me, will appreciate the fact that this picture bible is easy to read, and even entertaining.

Average customer rating:

The gift of Nothing
Another must have ''CLASSIC" for both children and adults
So so so so cute
What could be more perfect?
A book about nothing....who knew?

The Gift of Nothing
Patrick McDonnell
Manufacturer: Little, Brown Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 031611488X

Book Description

Mooch the cat desperately wants to find a gift for his friend Earl the dog, but Earl already has everything. What do you give a guy who has everything? Mooch wonders. The answer, of course, is nothing! This simple story features characters from Patrick McDonnells popular comic strip, Mutts, and has the same depth, charm, and heart that he gives to his daily readers. With delightfully spare illustrations and text, this book has all the makings of a longtime classic, perfect for gift-giving all year round.

Customer Reviews:

The gift of Nothing.......2007-06-27

Nice short story commenting on consumerism and the often taken-for-granted value of connectedness with others.

Another must have ''CLASSIC" for both children and adults.......2007-04-10

The author may have gotten some tips from those classic MasterCard commercials which illustrate that money can buy some things, but certain moments and life experiences are "priceless."

Through the beautifully and simply illustrated tale of friendship between a cat and a dog (the interspecies metaphor alludes to openness and acceptance of differing points of view and experiences), we learn that material possessions and tangible items are sometimes not as meaningful as the space between two individuals, people, living beings, etc. It is the unspoken, uncategorizable, sublime moments of life that are most fulfilling and rewarding, and the hardest to capture or describe. Therefore, when trying to convey the depth of meaning of these moments, we cannot, and therefore, should not even bother trying (to encapsulate them, try as we may through photographs, video, blogging, etc.). The best gift is one that one already has the power to give oneself--the gift of friendship, self-awareness/mindfulness and the ability to honor and nurture the two.

So so so so cute.......2007-02-13

I bought this for the only little man I know (my sister's son.) Since everyone else in the family buys him gifts pretty much all year long... like most kids he has more toys than he needs. So, I thought a non-traditional b-day present would be great this year.

This would even be a great gift for parents of new little ones - it's an excellent, sweet bedtime story!

What could be more perfect?.......2007-01-09

This book is very cute but also to the point. Although it seems that the book is for those you can't seem to find the perfect gift for, it's also a good gift for those whom you'd like to just let them know how much they mean to you. Because, truly, in the long run, it's not the gifts, but the memories and times we share with one another that sums up all the love we can give. I like to add my own personal message in the back of the book for the special person who receives it. It truly touches everyone who receives it!

A book about nothing....who knew?.......2007-01-03

I found this book at my daughters' book fair this year and immediately purchased it. A wonderful view of what we really (really) need at the holiday times. I have since sent copies to other (grown-up) friends for them to share.

Average customer rating:

Lunch Money RULES!
Lunch Money
lunch money?! the best? chyea
lunch money?! the best? chyea
Lunch Money

Lunch Money
Andrew Clements
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0689866836

Book Description

Greg Kenton has always had a natural talent for making money -- despite the annoying rivalry of his neighbor Maura Shaw. Then, just before sixth grade, Greg makes a discovery: Almost every kid at school has an extra quarter or two to spend almost every day.

Multiply a few quarters by a few hundred kids, and for Greg, school suddenly looks like a giant piggy bank. All he needs is the right hammer to crack it open. Candy and gum? Little toys? Sure, kids would love to buy stuff like that at school. But would teachers and the principal permit it? Not likely.

But how about comic books? Comic books might work. Especially the chunky little ones that Greg writes and illustrates himself. Because everybody knows that school always encourages reading and writing and creativity and individual initiative, right?

In this funny and timely novel, Andrew Clements again holds up a mirror to real life, and invites young readers to think about money, school, friendship, and what it means to be a success.

Customer Reviews:

Lunch Money RULES!.......2007-03-15

Lunch Money is a good book for money lovers. Its about a boy who has all these good ideas to make money and then he comes up with his best idea yethe decides to make comic books!The princapal disagres but then Mrs Davenport decidesto let Greg sell comic books. I highly recomend this book!

Lunch Money.......2007-03-15

I really liked LUnch Money because it was detailed, funny and lots more!
It is about a boy named Greg, who, really, really, really likes money. For almost his whole life he has been enemies with a girl named Maura.
What will happen?Read the book to find out!

lunch money?! the best? chyea.......2007-01-25

In Lunch Money, Greg Kenton, a normal 12 year old kid, is obsessed about money. He's always trying to earn money anyway he can, collecting bottles, extra chores, the works. He then thought of an idea, selling toys to his schoolmates, but the principle found out about it and banned him from selling them at school. Even though his idea for great money making was snatched away, he quickly regained his creativity. He thought of a genius idea to earn a load of more money. Little comic books, about the size of a credit card. The only bad thing about selling these mini comics, is it's giving Greg a lot of trouble. Maura, his neighbor, reproduced his idea into her own. A mini book, short stories about unicorns. Greg became furious against Maura thinking she was copying his idea. After many arguments and a fight that ended with a bloody nose and a teacher almost passing out, Greg and Maura made a deal to publish their own combination of a comic and story for the students at school. Later, the principal then again banned the comic books. Greg later noticed a flyer for a book fair. Comic books, were advertised in the flyer. Soon after finding this out, Greg and Maura sent a request to the school committee. Hoping to get permission to sell their books, realizing how unfair it was for the school to sell comics but Greg and Maura couldn't.

This story teaches you a great lesson about being selfish and learning how to share and respect others. It's one of your typical self changing books, but with a fun twist. Lunch Money is a page turning thriller and when you start to read it, you won't want to put it down.

-S.K. :]

lunch money?! the best? chyea.......2007-01-25

Lunch Money .......2007-01-22

Have you ever wanted to be rich? Probably. Well if you have, have you ever done anything about it? I'm guessing not. In the book Lunch Money, Andrew Clements writes about a boy who wants to be rich too, but he actually does something about it.
Greg Kenton is a boy with a dream. A dream to be rich, just like any other 12 year-old kid. Except Greg actually does something about it. Greg went around school selling little toys to students until the principle caught him and told him not to sell the toys in school any more. During the next school year Greg started selling little comic books that he made himself. After a few weeks the principle caught Greg selling the comic books and almost suspended him because he didn't listen to what she said the year before. Greg knew this was going to happen sometime but he didn't know what to do now. Then he saw something, a flyer. It was a flyer for the book fair and on one of the pages it showed comic books and Greg didn't really figure anything of it, until something hit him. Greg wondered why the schoolbook fair could sell comic books in school and he can't. That got Greg thinking. Will the school committee permit Greg to sell his comic books, or will they refuse?
Something that was surprising to me was when Greg made a deal with Maura (a girl in his class who he despises) to go into business with her because her comic books were better than his. Even though Greg despises Maura me made that deal with her because all he wants money because he is greedy.
Theme in Lunch Money is not to be greedy because you could lose all your friends. Another theme in this book is not to judge a book by its cover. An example of this was when Greg thought Maura was copying him he got really mad, but when he got to know her a little better Greg realized she was sort of inspired by him.
Do you like money? Well if you do I think Lunch Money would be a great book for you because it is all about a boy who wants money and the different ways he tries to get it.

Prepare to Board! Creating Story and Characters for Animation Features and Shorts

Average customer rating:

Exceeds Expectations
very inspiring
A valuable resource
Absolutely Terrific
Loved it.

Prepare to Board! Creating Story and Characters for Animation Features and Shorts
Nancy Beiman
Manufacturer: Focal Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0240808207
Release Date: 2007-03-02

Book Description

Packed with illustrations that illuminate and a text that entertains and informs, this book explains the methods and techniques of animation preproduction with a focus on story development and character design.

Story is the most important part of an animated filmand this book delivers clear direction on how animators can create characters and stories that have originality and appeal. Learn how the animation storyboard differs from live action boards and how characters must be developed simultaneously with the story. Positive and negative examples of storyboard and character design are presented and analyzed to demonstrate successful problem-solving techniques. Artwork from an international array of students and professionals supplement the authors own illustrations. Three never-before-published interviews with well known development artists and a comprehensive glossary are also included.

·Written and illustrated by a renowned animator with 30 years experience as producer, designer, and story artist.
· Storyboard and character design examples from an international array of students and professionals.
· Positive and negative examples illustrate the techniques.

Customer Reviews:

Exceeds Expectations.......2007-10-16

Wow! This book contains a wealth of knowledge about storyboarding and character design that is essential reading for anyone who desires to work in the animation industry. Prepare to Board! is a surprisingly easy, clear and fun read with plenty of pictures to support the text.

Nancy Beiman explains the differences between live-action and animation storyboards, offers professional techniques for designing lively and interesting characters, and demonstrates how to properly pose, stage and compose a storyboard. She illustrates the basics to lay a strong foundation, then continues to build upon that information to push your work beyond the mediocre. More importantly, she ties in how story structure and character development work hand-in-hand to create believable and entertaining films. The interviews in the back of the book are also very insightful.

The great thing about this book is that everyone will learn something regardless of skill level- from inexperienced beginners to seasoned pros. The material in this book will definitely give you an edge in the industry and is an invaluable resource. There's a reason why Prepare to Board! has so many 5 star reviews!

very inspiring.......2007-09-26

Although I haven't read all the chapters of the book, I can tell you that I'm very enthusiastic about read all the book. The reason why I bought this book was because although I can draw well (I think), I got stuck trying to create my own characters and animations, but this book shows me a new way of thinking, and really inspired me to create situations, stories and new characters. It offers nice guidelines to create better characters and put this characters in the right situations or viceversa, create characters based on the story or situation.

A valuable resource.......2007-09-15

Nancy Beiman is a well-known figure within the world of animation, having been a long-time animator at Disney, Warner Bros. and elsewhere, and also having taught in a variety of contexts, including her current position at Rochester Institute of Technology. Anyone who knows Nancy fairly well understands three things about her: she is a very gifted artist, she has high expectations of excellence for her students, and she is very broadly knowledgeable about the arts, traditions of humor, and animation itself. Combine these characteristics with the fact that Beiman is one of the most accomplished female animators within the US industry, and you can understand why I was eager to see this book come to life.
Over the last year, I finally completed work on a production-related book, and during that time I consulted with Nancy on various topics. She told me about her own book and, knowing about her ecclectic background and broad knowledge base, I was eager to see how her project would be realized. What I found is pretty much what I expected, a book that introduces essential concepts, but enhances them with discussion of aesthetic issues and is grounded in an appreciation for the history of classical Hollywood animation, with breadth in examples from other animation practices.
So many animation students struggle with story and developing the cinematic aspects of their work, in order to tell their story visually. Beiman's book offers instruction in chapters devoted to the development of story, storyboarding, types of stories (situation driven, character driven, ways to manipulate the `real'), character development and design, scale and location. As the book's title suggests, a large portion of the text is devoted to storyboarding in various respects: sketches and working out roughs; story beats, sequences, and pacing; and visualizing a script, among other topics. She also focuses on refining characters and art direction, including the use of color. Finally, she addresses topics related to the presentation of storyboards and their use in the production process.
Beiman's writing will appeal to anyone from the beginning artist on up, as she writes in a colorful manner and uses a range of examples drawn from her own experience and her analysis of many films. Included in the appendix are interviews she conducted with A. Kendall O'Connor, T. Hee, and Ken Anderson, and the book itself is filled with quotations and short Q and As with the likes of Tex Avery and other well-known figures. Many illustrations--both instructive and humorous--enhance the book, adding extra appeal for the reader. A number of these images come from students Beiman has worked with through the years, attesting to her influence on many young artists.
Prepare to Board is highly recommended for libraries at institutions where production is taught, particularly at the high school and undergraduate levels, and for all artists wishing to learn more about character development, story, and boarding.

Absolutely Terrific.......2007-08-26

This is a very strong book.

When it comes to storyboarding and character design there is a ton of material to cover, yet this relatively short volume captures it beautifully. The writing is never digressive or self indulgent - from page one, it's down to business. At the same time it's very accessible, especially since the illustrations complement the text so simply and effectively. Often both negative and positive examples are compared, explaining not only what to do but what NOT to do. (Something I wish more art books would try!) Topping off the book is a series of interviews from some unimpeachable masters of story and character.

Perhaps what I love the most, though, is that the book isn't just about story and character, it's about marrying story and character. They are not discrete disciplines - the one can't shine without the other! Understanding how they harmonize is critical for any artist, and this guide imparts an intimate understanding of that harmony.

All told, there's a wealth of material to absorb here. Nancy Beiman makes it both engaging and straight-forward. Whether you want it for your nightstand, your bookshelf, or your drawing table, Prepare to Board is a great buy!

Loved it........2007-07-31

I am not an artist, so can't comment much on the core of the book (although, as a layman, I found the explainations extremely clear).

I LOVED the interviews with Ken Anderson, Ken O'Connor and T- Hee as well as the way they were illustrated (there were quite a few documents that I had never seen before).

Justine and the Story of O (Evergreen Series)

Average customer rating:

The Complete Crepax

Justine and the Story of O (Evergreen Series)
Guido Crepax
Manufacturer: Taplinger Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 3822863025

Customer Reviews:

The Complete Crepax.......2000-05-08

This volume along with it's companion "Emmanuelle" also published by Taschen present the great works by comics/illustration master Guido Crepax. The black and white linework is beautifully reproduced on glossy paper and is sure to satisfy fans of Crepax. These are a very nice improvement over the paperback editions published by NBM.

An Anthology of Graphic Fiction, Cartoons, and True Stories

Average customer rating:

An interesting introduction to "comix"
A Great Resource For the Newer Materials
A change from the usual comic fare
Amazing Introduction for the Non-believer
Great introduction to graphic fiction

An Anthology of Graphic Fiction, Cartoons, and True Stories

Manufacturer: Yale University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0300111703

Book Description

Comic artist Ivan Brunetti, the creator of Schizo, offers a best-of anthology of contemporary art comics, along with some classic comic strips and other historical materials that have retained a “modern” sensibility. As with Chris Ware’s selections for his best-selling McSweeney’s anthology, Brunetti’s choices make for a highly personal book (“my criteria were simple: these are comics that I savor and often revisit”) that serves as a broad historical overview of the medium and a round-up of some of today’s best and most interesting North American comic artists. Included here are works from such well-known artists as Robert Crumb, Kim Deitch, Art Spiegelman, Chris Ware, Ben Katchor, Charles Burns, Gary Panter, Seth, Phoebe Gloeckner, Daniel Clowes, Lynda Barry, Joe Sacco, and Jaime and Gilbert Hernandez, as well as many other pioneers whose names may be less familiar.
Brunetti offers selections from the works of more than seventy-five avant-garde comic artists. His selections are arranged by genre and grouped thematically. Luxuriously produced and printed in four-color throughout, the book is a must-have for collectors, aficionados, readers of comics, and those generally interested in cutting-edge art and literature.

Customer Reviews:

An interesting introduction to "comix".......2007-09-22

I wanted to get a taste of some "graphic fiction," and this book looked pretty good. I've enjoyed it, and it has certainly increased my knowledge of the medium, but it could have been better. By sticking to only the North American continent, there are a number of glaring omissions, such as Tintin, Asterix, and the enormous field of Japanese-language comics. The rising medium of webcomics has not a mention. There are even a few notable American comics which were omitted, such as Popeye and Dick Tracy. Krazy Kat is here, but with only one strip. Though I realize that space is at a premium here, there are a number of things which seem poorly represented.

Much of the book is made up of graphic novel excerpts, which irritate me slightly, as they tend to end just when they've captured my interest. However, there are also a lot of "short stories" and single-page or single-spread comics.

It should also be noted that this book is not intended for children. There is a good deal of what is often referred to as "language" and a number of depictions of sex and/or nudity.

One last thing...this book includes two "farewells" to Charles Schulz by Art Spiegelman and Chris Ware, which will no doubt interest Peanuts fans.

A Great Resource For the Newer Materials.......2007-07-13

I don't know if there is a softback version of this book, but I got the hardback and it is a bit of a pain to handle; the spine is real stiff and it is heavy and sharp edged; like it would be hard to lug in a back pack to be read on a subway train.

If I'm not mistaken, there is no Brunetti material in the book, other than his intro, sequencing, etc.! This was an oversight of Mr. Brunetti's!

There are some wonderful artists here, people whose work I haven't come across yet - I'm making a list as I read and googling them and buying their works. In this way the book is a wonderful guide - you could almost call it a buying guide. As mentioned in another review here, the book is hurt by not having a TOC or an index - no index! It makes researching these artists a little harder, but I'm getting around it.

This is a must buy for anyone that wants to be up to date on the more recent alt comics. It will be one of the reference works that will be left standing 30 years from now, when libraries and the great learning institutions finally realize how important these works are and teach them in lit courses and collect manuscripts, ha ha. I love the new attention for this genre that I have loved and followed for something like 35 years now, but since it's become mainstreamed the prices have gone up, and we are forced to read pompous, over-intellectualized and uptight reviews by the likes of Gary Groth, etc. I hope they relax one day and stop straining so hard to legitimize this genre; it is getting there in its own way and own time.

A change from the usual comic fare.......2007-06-21

There is a stark difference between mainstream commercial graphic fiction and the alternative or independent variety featured here. The difference is between Michael Bay and Darren Aronofsky although maybe even Aronofsky is too commercial. In many cases it's the difference between Bay and a college film maker. The point is that mainstream comics are generally intended for safe consumption by a mass audience while independents tend to reflect an artists true vision. Let me just say that this collection is not for everyone and it most certainly is not for children. The stories feature molestation, pedophilia, raw language and graphic nudity both male and female. Don't be fooled by the whimsical cover.

Ironically what got me interested in independent artists was a collection from DC comics called `Bizarro Comics' which featured alternate-comic creators doing their takes on the DC characters. Inspired by the unique stories in Bizarro I purchased `McSweeney's Issue 13' which absolutely blew me away. However, my next purchase, `The Best American Comics - 2006' was a big disappointment and led me to wonder if there just weren't enough quality alternative comics produced in a single year to create an entire 300+ page book. Some of the stories were entirely too long and left me wishing they were over. `An Anthology of Graphic Fiction' is an out of the park home run. The author presents comics going back to the 1940's but leaning decidedly towards current stuff. They run the gamut from Aline Crumbs primitive scratchings to Chris Ware meticulous works that look like they came straight from a graphic design class. The writing is much more profane and a helluva lot more gloomy than what you find in mainstream graphic fiction. Someone should do a study on why alternative artists are so depressed.

One final point. At the risk of sounding like an advertisement you DEFINITELY get your money's worth with this one. It's 400 pages jam packed with great material. Get this one... get `McSweeney's Issue 13' but skip `Best American' and if you still need more grab up the vastly underrated Bizarro Comics. If you've never experienced some of the alternate comics out there you really should give it a try. It's certainly different and definitely more intimate, honest and thought provoking.

Amazing Introduction for the Non-believer.......2007-03-27

This is one of the best graphic novel/alt comics anthologies that I have ever read.

The choice of selections and their arrangement are outstanding, allowing this anthology to serve as a great introduction for someone not familiar with the form and a terrific read for devotees.

Highly recommended, even if you already own Pekar's Best American Comics or Ware's volume of McSweeney's.

Great introduction to graphic fiction.......2007-03-20

I'm not extremely well-read on the subject of graphic fiction/cartoons/ comics as editor Ivan Brunetti refers to his anthology. This collection is extremely lengthy and definitely provides a taste of several different and very unique styles of artistry and story-telling.

There are about 30 contributers to this anthology. Some are more entertaining than others, but nearly all of them are intriguing in their own way. They each have some special draw that keeps you reading. And that's what Brunetti is putting on display here.

It seems like if you already knew what cartoonists you liked this book might be kind of useless, considering you'd probably already own the collections of comics that this book takes excerpts from, but as an introduction to this world of interlaced stories and drawings, it's perfect.

I felt like they could have been ordered in a more understandable way, maybe by date published, or alphabetically. But overall I have no complaints. The pages are beautiful and each different comic has its own style of paper and printing. It makes the anthology even more exciting to read. This is the perfect book to keep around for those times when you feel like reading a few non-committal pages.

Eric Stanton: The Dominant Wives & Other Stories (Klotz Series)

Average customer rating:

stanton book fails to arouse
Compared to DOMINANT WIVES not that good but worth 3 bucks.
A really good book, but too short
Great visual story telling from an acclaimed master

Eric Stanton: The Dominant Wives & Other Stories (Klotz Series)
Eric Stanton
Manufacturer: Benedikt Taschen Verlag
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 3822874353

Customer Reviews:

stanton book fails to arouse.......2007-01-05

there should have been some indication that this book was far from the standard size. it is so small that it's hardly worth the effort of looking. Stanton is a master of the form, but this meager volume is hardly the best one to enjoy his work. even as a sampler it fails.

Compared to DOMINANT WIVES not that good but worth 3 bucks........2000-11-17

I ordered DOMINANT WIVES AND OTHER STORIES at the same time I ordered this little, bity book which made this much smaller collection of Stanton's pictures, stories, etc. seem poor in comparison. There are a few good things here but spend the extra money and get DOMINANT WIVES if you want to see a more impressive view of female dominance, bondage, punishment,etc. provided by the strange, but fun, world of Eric Stanton.

A really good book, but too short.......2000-10-26

This book is really worth more than three bucks, but it is a bit short. If you like Eric Stanton book, this is a really good and cheap buy.

Great visual story telling from an acclaimed master.......1999-11-30

For those men with a special fondness for Female Superiority, this book is a keeper. It is a generous volume of some of the late Stanton's best artwork with graphic examples of women getting the better of men. Apparently, these items of work were the product of commissions, and it is interesting to ponder how widespread the desire for women to be in control of men is. There is great variation within what could be a limited field: women of colour in charge, women ganging up on single men, women in the mafia, women reassigning the house keeping chores etc. Plenty to keep one titillated. Minor drawbacks are the, at times, typographical errors, and rather hard to follow (text being very compressed) three or so stories at the start of the book. There is one story that is pure graphics with no speech. At first I thought this was deliberate but I gather it is not since the messages from the frames are not clear. But these should not get in the way of the overall enjoyment of this great compendium. All the women are beautifully drawn, quite voluptious and well endowed, and Stanton presses buttons with the mandatory sleek looking high heels supporting shapely calves: Awe inspiring art forms that tower over snivelling looking men, who appear quite insipid and rightly deferential to the REAL Stronger Sex. Great stuff!

Average customer rating:

Creep Show
Creepshow. That's NOT the ticket
It would not keep me up nights
CREEPSHOW-One of king's best works
Interesting format for a King story collection.

Creepshow (Plume)
Stephen King
Manufacturer: Plume
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0452253802

Customer Reviews:

Creep Show.......2007-02-26

Creepshow is a really excellent movie I ever seen. (I even like the comic drawings in the movie more than the comic book drawings). But I question, why doesn't the comic book say, "# Issue Collectors' Edition & Jolting Tales of HORROR?" "And what the f*:o is the L logo on the comic in the movie!?"

Also, I thought of a doing parodic comic based on Creep Show called, "Creep Bear"

Creepshow. That's NOT the ticket.......2005-09-09

Unfortunately, the comic book is not as good as the movie (in fact my favorite movie). The comic book is illistrated by a different person than the movie. That's one reason I don't like it. I'd only recommend it to fans of the movie.

The comic book is basically like a storyboard for the movie. For the most part the dialogue is the same but sometimes completely different.

Basically, I don't like the comic book as much as the movie, but it's not bad. I'd only recommend it to the fans of the movie. As Jordy Verell would say, "Thats the ticket!"

It would not keep me up nights.......2005-05-09

Some of Stephen King's material has kept me up at nights, both while reading it and lying in bed listening to the walls creak. However, the movies based on his books never seem to generate the passionate fear that his books do. I attribute this to the fact that less imagination is required in the movies, which means that there is less suspension of reality. This book is a set of cartoons based on the movie of the same name by George A. Romero.
The cartoons plus dialog is not scary, and while the artwork is good, it cannot be described as spectacular. My favorite story is "The Crate", where a monster was somehow captured in an expedition to the Arctic a half century earlier. The idea that it somehow lay dormant all that time was absurd, but the interesting part to me was the shrewish wife of a college professor. As an academic, the (exaggerated) subplot of academic politics running throughout the story kept my interest.
If you are a Stephen King fan, you will probably find the cartoons of interest. However, King is one of those people whose ideas are best savored in written form, where the scary details can be up close and personal. That takes away some of the force of the stories.

CREEPSHOW-One of king's best works.......2003-06-18

I've read alot of Stephen King's novels. But I've found CREEPSHOW
to be one of his best works. I rented it from the local library & am waiting to own a copy soon.

Interesting format for a King story collection........2002-02-21

This is a comic book version of the screenplay based on Stephen King stories. The drawing and story included in the book hold true to the movie and the plots of the different stories included. King's love of the macabre and unusual twists comes through even in the abbreviated version of these stories.

Book Description

We all know the joke. We've all told it. Kids love to tell it over and over and over again, with as many different punch lines as possible. And now we've found out that famous award-winning artists love to tell the joke too—and they have some wacky and downright hilarious ideas about why that chicken really did cross the road.

Mo Willems's chicken confesses his motives to a police officer; David Shannon's chicken can drive a car; Marla Frazee's chicken is looking for a more luxurious coop; and Harry Bliss's chicken encounters aliens. And this is just the beginning. One thing is for sure—you won't cross this book without a good laugh!

IN PECKING ORDER: Marla Frazee, Mo Willems , Judy Schachner, Tedd Arnold, Jon Agee, David Shannon, Vladimir Radunsky, Jerry Pinkney, Chris Sheban, Harry Bliss, Mary Grandpre, Lynn Munsinger, David Catrow, Chris Raschka

Customer Reviews:

Boring.......2007-05-11

If you want a collection of children's artists, this book would fit the bill. Otherwise, I didn't find this to be a "keeper"-check it out from the library rather than spend your money. Artists are not necessarily great writers-after a couple of readings, my kids were bored with it.

Better than the cover suggests.......2007-04-21

I am not sure how this delightful book got stuck into this cover, but it is very
uninviting. I also happen to work at a kid's bookstore on a "help-out" situation, and
it was my impression that this book didn't move at all during the critical Christmas
holiday. The cover has to be the reason.

Inside are the delightful and sometimes hilarious answers to the question in the title,
with a wonderful selection of top children's illustrators of the day. The book is a
real keepsake and a reminder to check out other books by these illustrators.

Highly entertaining.......2007-03-09

I'm not sure if my daughter enjoyed this as much as I did, but this book is hilarious and fun. This collection of illustrations is top-notch, to put it simply. This is a great book for stimulating interactive questions between the reader and the listener, too. This is one that YOU will want to read again and again. Oh yeah, and your child/students probably will, too.

Great for all ages.......2007-01-03

Imagine your kids favorite authors/illustrators each providing a page to this book wherein they answer the age old riddle of why did the chicken cross the road? The book is funny with fantastic pictures and should have wide appeal for primary schoolers and parents alike.

Delicious when fried.......2006-09-23

There are some jokes out there that are so classic they've passed the point where they're funny anymore. Knock-knock jokes fall into this category. Light bulb jokes too. And then there's the best one of them all. Why-did-the-chicken-cross-the-road jokes. Boy oh boy you just can't make anyone laugh with one of those anymore, can you? Well that's the way my thinking would have gone had I not picked up a bizarre little picture book title by the same name. In this book fourteen different children's illustrators are each granted a two-page spread to offer their answer to this, the oldest of questions. No two answers are exactly alike and no two illustrators have styles even vaguely similar. It makes for a book that kids will adore, grown-ups will pore over, and insipient illustrators will want to keep very close at hand.

So why did the chicken cross the road? The answer may surprise you. Marla Frazee, illustrator of things like "Roller Coaster", and the recent smash hit, "Walk On: A Guide For Babies", shows a determined chicken crossing a road away from a rain-soaked grey-skied chicken coop towards a blue-skied brightly colored fun-factory of a building. Her single thought: "duh". Turn the page and Mo Willems has taken an entirely different tack. In the gloom of a police department some hard-boiled cops are giving a very nervous chicken (note the number of eggs under its chair) the third degree. The chicken itself is insisting that "I just did it to get to the other side! Honest!". To one side a detective is pouring the contents of a significant looking charcoal bag onto a grill. The entire book is like this. David Shannon taps into a vein not dissimilar from his beloved "Duck On a Bike" to show us chicken at the wheel of a fancy red convertible. Flip further through the book and you see pictures by everyone from the great Jerry Pinkney to the far-out Mary Grandpre and the more than slightly twisted machinations of David Catrow. Here you may find more answers than you ever could have thought up yourself.

The great joy of a book like this is that it also serves to introduce people to hitherto unknown illustrators. I remembered most of the people from this book before, but then there were people like Chris Sheban who'd entirely escaped my notice in the past. Mr. Sheban's picture is an evocative piece where one chicken has accidentally hit a baseball over another chicken's head and into a window. The two stand poised in a kind of frozen shock as late afternoon light seeps over the suburban scene. Or there was Judy Schachner who's tiny-brained chick, "wasn't just free range ... she was de-ranged!". I suppose my favorite pictures in here were from people who seemingly were working in unexpected ways. Take Jon Agee as your example. If you've seen his "Terrific" or "The Incredible Painting of Felix Clousseau" then you are aware of his clean lines and sparse palette. Now consider a picture that consists of cars, people, dogs, pigs, motorcyclists, buses, etc. fleeing from three hungry look dinosaurs. And perched on the side of the road, not immediately apparent to the eye, stands a lone chicken. Or consider Harry Bliss. I was used to his New Yorker-like picture books like, "Don't Forget To Come Back" that tend to have an innate sophistication to them. The last thing I would have expected was for him to come up with the answer, "Ask the mutated zombie chickens from Mars!". But you know what? It works.

Children's illustrators banding together to put together a book... it's not a new concept is it? I mean, you can always find books like, "Oz: The Hundredth Anniversary Celebration" or "The Art of Reading: Forty Illustrator's Celebrate RIF's 40th Anniversary". The problem with those titles, though, is that they're really not produced with kids in mind. Far rarer is the picture book filled with different illustrators that kids might recognize and love. I'm not saying it's never happened before. But name me three such books off the top of your head and I'll be mighty impressed, if not utterly blown away. No, sir, this is an original idea and a classy little work. Consider this book to be an essential addition to any picture book collection. Funny and fabulous.

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