The Art of the Funnies: An Aesthetic History

This work examines the comic strip throughout its history for the elements that make cartoons one of the most appealing of the popular arts. The comic strip was created by rival newspapers as a device in their circulation battles. It quickly established itself as not only an effective device, but also as an institution that soon spread to newspapers world-wide. This historical study unfolds the history of the funnies and reveals the subtle art of how the strips blend word and pictures to make their impact. The book also unearths new information and weighs the influence of syndication upon the medium. Milestones in the art of cartooning featured include: Mutt and Jeff, Dick Tracy, Tarzan, Flash Gordon, Popeye, Krazy Kat, and others. More recent classics are also included, such as Peanuts, Tumbleweeds, Doonesbury and Calvin and Hobbes.