Cartooning: The art and the business [Paperback]

Mort Gerberg (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1989

An expanded and updated edition of The Arbor House Book of Cartooning (1983), acclaimed by both critics and professionals. "A definite help to anyone who would like to be a cartoonist."--Charles M. Schulz.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Accomplished in many phases of cartooning, the prolific Gerberg shares the tricks of his trade in this updated and expanded edition of his Arbor House Book of Cartooning ( LJ 11/15/83). Part 1 is devoted to the familiar magazine or "gag" cartoon, seemingly his first love and a good base for discussion of other cartoon forms. Part 2 covers other earning opportunities, including comic strips, editorial cartoons, spot illustrations, animation, advertising, TV, comic books, greeting cards, and humor books. That he is at home in all these areas is evident in his anecdotes, advice, and art work and in his choice of work by other big names. Not an elaborate "how to draw" manual; the book's strength is in its historical background and wide-ranging lowdown on materials, marketing, and making contacts--in short, on how things are done by the pros.
- William A. Donovan, Chicago P.L.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: W. Morrow; First Revised Edition edition (1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557100179
• ISBN-13: 978-1557100177
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,244,966 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The only how-to book you'll ever need, May 30, 2001

By 

Rachel Newstead "finder of forgotten animation" (Appleton, WI United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Cartooning: The art and the business (Paperback)

Mort Gerberg, longtime New Yorker cartoonist, has created the reference book to beat all reference books. Notice I said "reference book" and not "instruction book"--those wishing to learn how to draw cartoons will be disappointed here.

Originally published under the title "The Arbor House Book of Cartooning", Gerberg's book aims for aspiring professionals, those who are serious about pursuing cartooning. He is brutally honest about the pitfalls of the business, yet avoids the "sour grapes" approach of other cartooning-book authors such as Ken Muse (in other words, the "this business is tough and the editors are idiots, so it's hardly worth bothering" attitude).

Unlike authors of similar books, Gerberg lets the reader know that there are more markets for cartoonists than just comic books and comic strips. He not only covers the aforementioned subjects but delves into greeting card production, spot illustration, and magazine gags.

Gerberg is one of the few to write at length about gag writing for comic strips and magazine panels, and makes good use of his vast experience in both fields to examine the anatomy of the gag. The section on comic-strip creation is filled with common-sense knowledge that took me some twenty years to discover on my own. Gerberg even goes so far as to discuss the making of a winning comic character without descending into vague generalities. He compares today's comic characters (such as Garfield, Dilbert, and Beetle Bailey) to radio and TV comedians of the past. The best such characters, he says, were those with clearly defined comic personas (such as Jack Benny). Older readers can probably remember Benny's reaction when told by a robber, "Your money or your life!" The line was not funny in and of itself, says Gerberg, but if you understood Benny's comic persona, it was hilarious. (You Gen-X and Gen-Y folks might want to rent a few tapes to understand references like the above.)

At the rear are addresses of greeting-card companies, comic-book publishers, and comic-strip syndicates, but be warned--even the latest version is full of out-of-date information. Those wishing to find addresses are better off consulting Artist's Market.

If you're an aspiring cartoonist, keep this book within arm's reach. Gerberg even had the foresight in the paperback edition to underline those passages he felt noteworthy, so the reader can examine important points at a glance. My own copy, sadly lost now, was well worn after several years' use. My suspicion is, yours will be too.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A thorough, illustrated guide by a New Yorker cartoonist, October 12, 1999

By 

Harlan Simantel (Portland, OR USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Cartooning: The art and the business (Paperback)

Gerberg pulls no punches in writing about the difficulities of breaking into cartooning. But he also writes about the pleasure and satisfaction of this deceptively simple art form. From cartoonists' tools to how to generate ideas, from comic books to greeting cards and editorial cartooning, this one book probably answered all my questions about the profession. Lots of cartoons from a smorgasbord of cartoonists are a treat to study -- and chuckle over. Thanks, Mort.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cartooning The Art and The Business, January 19, 2000

By 

Yogi (Michigan, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cartooning: The art and the business (Paperback)

I checked this book out of the Library and once I read it I had to have it in my collection!