By Nick Meglin (Watson-Guptill)
ISBN: 0-8230-0269-1
Another terrific book in dire need of re-releasing is this bright and breezy tome that lists and lavishly illustrates the work of a dozen of the world’s greatest exponents of funny drawing.
Author Meglin calls on his many years experience to outline not only the history and careers of his eclectic selection of creators but also includes commentary, exposition on the subject matter, individual’s techniques, approach-to-work and business practices of each comedy mastermind featured. It’s also great to see that the scope is not limited to strips, gag-panels and comic-books but also includes work from magazine and book illustration, covers, greetings cards, cartoon animation, advertising art and television graphics. Meglin also dips his toe into dangerous and controversial waters as he attempts to explain what is funny and why – and he should know, since he’s toiled at Mad Magazine for over fifty years, many of them as Senior Editor.
So if you think you’re funny or have ambitions to earn a living at it, or simply want some great laughs from the likes of Sergio Aragones, Paul Coker, Jack Davis, Mort Drucker, Gerry Gersten, Johnny Hart, Al Jaffee, Bob Jones, Donald Reilly, Norman Rockwell, Arnold Roth and Maurice Sendak this is a volume well worth hunting down.
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