This massive hardcover volume is now the definitve account of the life and work of the one and only Harvey Kurtzman, the man who brought the world Mad and so much more. Written by Kurtzman's friend and one-time publisher, Denis Kitchen, who also currently represents the Kurtzman estate, in collaboration with the prolific cultural historian and biographer, Paul Buhle. Kitchen is an accomplished cartoonist in his own right, one who was influenced by Kurtzman, and who was active during the glory days of Underground comix, and so is more fully capable of appreciating Kurtzman's achievement than your average biographer. This book has it all: miraculously preserved childhood drawings, early comics and illustration work, Kurtzman's glory days in comics, the creation of Mad, Humbug, Trump, and Help! followed by Little Annie Fannie and much, much more, including plenty of rarities that will astound and delight Kurtzman fans. And now available for an amazing price! What's not to like?
Published by one of the leading lights of the Left, Verso Books, this anthology is jam-packed full of engaging, entertaining, enjoyable and, especially, educational comics about a wide swath of historical figures – ranging from Walt Whitman to Charlie Parker and including Gertrude Stein, Mabel Dodge, Billie Holiday, Josephine Baker and far too many others to mention here – that have been collected together under the umbrella of "Bohemians." There are some great comics on hand here, by the likes of Sharon Rudahl, Dan Steffan, Sabrina Jones, Matt Howarth, Lance Tooks, David Lasky, Milton Knight, Ellen Lindner, Peter Kuper, Afua Richardson, and the late, great Spain Rodriguez, whose participation here indicates that this has been a long fermenting project. All in all it makes for a great read, and it's a good deal! Laugh and learn, for less. Recommended.