An Anthology of Graphic Fiction, Cartoons, and True Stories: Volume 2 (Anthology of Graphic Fiction, Cartoons, & True Stories) [Hardcover]

Ivan Brunetti (Editor)

Book Description

Series: Anthology of Graphic Fiction, Cartoons, & True Stories | Publication Date: October 21, 2008

Comic art is a vital, highly personal art form in which change—rapid and unpredictable—is the norm. In this exciting new anthology, comic artist Ivan Brunetti focuses on very recent works by contemporary artists engaged in this world of change. These outstanding cartoonists, selected by Brunetti for their graphic sophistication and literary style, are both expanding and transforming the vocabulary of their genre.

 

The book presents contemporary art comics produced by 75 artists, along with some classic comic strips and other related fine art and historical materials. Brunetti arranges the book to reflect the creative process itself, connecting stories and art to each other in surprising ways: nonlinear, elliptical, sometimes whimsical, even poetic. He emphasizes continuity from piece to piece, weaving themes and motifs throughout the volume.

 

As gorgeously produced as Brunetti’s previous anthology of graphic fiction, this book does full justice to the creative work of Art Spiegelman, Chris Ware, Charles Burns, Gary Panter, and the other prominent or emerging comic artists who are currently at work at the cutting edge of their medium.

(20080701)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Brunetti's second collection of his favorite cartoonists' work is even better than the first—more far-ranging, more personal and eccentric. Clearly a tour of one person's singular tastes, it's arranged in a stream-of-consciousness oh, and you have to see this one sort of way: work by 80-odd cartoonists, mostly from the past few decades, but also incorporating some early-1900s comic strips, a 1940s-vintage Fletcher Hanks story and several circa 1950 Harvey Kurtzman pieces as well as a smattering of previously unpublished gems. It's possible to quibble with some of Brunetti's aesthetic biases (or with his clustering most of the book's women cartoonists together in a block), but not with his selections. Nearly every piece is a killer, from big names like Chris Ware and Daniel Clowes as well as lesser-knowns like Laura Park and Matthew Thurber, and there's an enormous range of expressive styles and narrative approaches on display. The effect is something like Jerome Rothenberg's poetry anthologies: an investigation of unsettling, mind-opening places where only comics can travel. It's a pleasure to read straight through, and all but the most experienced art-comics enthusiasts are likely to discover a few new favorites. (Oct.)
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From Booklist

While Brunetti’s 2006 Anthology was a thoughtfully selected, impressively inclusive compilation of contemporary “art comics,” it didn’t purport to be the final word on the subject but left plenty of room for this volume, which overlaps its predecessor mostly by presenting second helpings of work by the usual suspects, such eminent veterans as R. Crumb, Art Spiegelman, Chris Ware, and the Hernandez brothers, who invariably—and rightfully—show up in such anthologies. The book’s greatest value lies in the less-well-known, younger talents on view, some of whom, like Kevin Huizenga, John Porcellino, and David Heatley, appeared in the earlier volume, while others—Megan Kelso, Renee French, Carrie Golus—did not. The only cavil to make is that this collection, like the first, ignores mainstream cartoonists other than a handful of pioneers who influenced the current generation. One such legend, MAD creator Harvey Kurtzman, receives affectionate tributes from Crumb and Spiegelman. Once again, the selection comes down to a matter of Brunetti’s tastes, which, fortunately, are well informed, eclectic, and occasionally cockeyed enough to shape an engaging, provocative, and valuable survey. --Gordon Flagg

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: Yale University Press; First Edition edition (October 21, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0300126719
• ISBN-13: 978-0300126716
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 7.7 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #343,732 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Some Good and Some Not So Good, December 1, 2008

By 

E. David Swan (South Euclid, Ohio USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: An Anthology of Graphic Fiction, Cartoons, and True Stories: Volume 2 (Anthology of Graphic Fiction, Cartoons, & True Stories) (Hardcover)

This is the second year in a row that Ivan Brunetti's `Anthology of Graphic Fiction, Cartoons & True Stories' has taken on `The Best American Comics'. Last year I gave the winning prize to Brunetti, although he does have a distinct advantage in that he doesn't limit himself to just a single year. So for 2008 which one is better? This year I'm declaring it a tie not because they were both so spectacular but because neither distinguished itself enough to win me over.

The whole cast of Alternative artists appear including R. Crumb, Harvey Pekar, Chris Ware, Seth, Kaz, Kevin Huizenga and dozens and dozens more. My litmus test for success in these anthologies is whether or not I discover a new artist intriguing enough that I purchase something else by them. The artist that most caught my eye this time was R. Sikoryak who did some brilliant parodies of 1950's Action Comic covers with an unpleasant character named `The Stranger' in place of Superman. I can't really do it justice trying to describe it. You have to see it to understand. Unfortunately it's only two pages long and I couldn't find any books devoted solely to Mr. Sikoryak who seems to only do compilations and covers for magazines like the New Yorker.

The comics in this collection run the entire gamut from the rough stick figures of Elinore Norflus and weird primitive drawing of Paper Rad (that look like they were done by a five year old) to the high school level art of Gary Painter, John Pocellino and Carlos Golus. On the other end of the spectrum is the frighteningly precise graphic design art of Chris Ware and the clean, profession lines of Jamie Hernandez. Anders Nilson gets the award for the most bizarre comics but in this case it's not really a compliment. Brian Chippendale gets the award for the most profane comic which is essentially raw porn and again this award is more dubious than distinguished. Seth's staid, dignified entry is the polar opposite and Chester Brown's comic is simply a straight out, but well done, explanation of schizophrenia.

I've enjoyed Jim Woodring in the past and this years entry is one of my favorites in what I assume is a story based on dreams he's had given the incredible surrealness of it. Joe Matt has a fascinating entry that skirts the edge of too much personal information. I'm not usually a fan of Jeffrey Brown but this one wasn't bad; maybe because he drew a lot of pictures of his busty girlfriend naked.

What really bothered me about this edition, and this is not a trivial complaint, is that a high percentage of comics will give the reader serious eye strain. I suspect that many of them were shrunken from their original size and they are literally painful to view. I actually skipped over entire sections because I could barely see them and my vision is quite good. I remember reading Quimby the Mouse by Chris Ware when it was presented in its original enormous size and it was difficult to read so imagine his works shrunk. And Ware is not the worst by a long shot. Chris Ware at least draws in clean bold colors but most of the artists in this collection work in black and white and when reduced in size the pages just look like a solid block of lines and tiny text. I really hope this is corrected for 2009 because it has reached the point of unacceptable.

The 2008 collection starts off strong with a great entry by Kaz but the middle of the book is filled with clunkers and forgettable pieces. Personally I thought the efforts by Norflus, Panter, Nilson and someone named C.F. should have remained in whatever high school or elementary school notebook they were created in. In the end the 2008 collection was an ok effort so I'll give it a generous 4 stars. If nothing else this book is so packed with stuff that even a hundred of so pages of sub par material still leaves 300 pages of good stuff.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You just can't go wrong when you grab a comics anthology..., October 30, 2008

By 

Elizabeth Simone Gallatin-Eberly "Simone" (California City, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: An Anthology of Graphic Fiction, Cartoons, and True Stories: Volume 2 (Anthology of Graphic Fiction, Cartoons, & True Stories) (Hardcover)

...For your entertainment dollar, comics anthologies are very much the way to go, and especially when you're new to the genre, or searching for new authors or artists. Brunetti (the man responsible for this collection, and its predecessor, An Anthology of Graphic Fiction, Cartoons, and True Stories (Anthology of Graphic Fiction, Cartoons, & True Stories)) is an accomplished cartoonist in his own right and has put together quite the stable of iconic authors/artists/titles here. (See the editorial review above for a pretty representative listing of these...)

However, whether this is a pro or a con is very much dependent on your point of view. Although I enjoyed re-visiting some old friends and their favorites, I might have been happier had I seen just a few more pieces that I didn't already recognize. Not that I'll be kicking this hefty tome out of my collection anytime soon. I'm just sayin'...

Lastly, I have to point out: Sometimes you CAN judge a book by its cover, and this is one of those times. I am absolutely smitten with the cleverness of the cloud/thought bubble and lampshade/speech bubble in the main cover pic! A great indicator of the good things to come once you get between these covers. At 400 pages- -and almost three pounds- -this book is well worth the pittance you'll remit!

2 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars If you've read Vol. 1, you've read Vol. 2, February 18, 2009

By 

apollinaire (western states) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: An Anthology of Graphic Fiction, Cartoons, and True Stories: Volume 2 (Anthology of Graphic Fiction, Cartoons, & True Stories) (Hardcover)

I bought volume one. Then, I bought volume two and experienced such a nagging sense of deja vu that I was forced to give away my copy.

There are a few 'printed-elsewhere' gems in here by the usual suspects (Clowes, Crumb, Ware, Sacco, Burns...), but you've got to put up with a bunch of visual noise to get to them.