Childhood Is Hell [Paperback]

Matt Groening (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2004

Find out the astonishing answer to the question Is Childhood Hell? in these original syndicated Simpsons-inspiring comic strips by genius Matt Groening. Destined to be read under the covers late at night, Childhood Is Hell may not be all that cute and cuddly, but it's peculiar insights could save you thousands of dollars in annoying therapy bills. Contents includes: The 16 types of mom, Your pal the tv set, How to be a turbulent two year old, How to handle problem parents ('If you drive your parents crazy it's because they are crazy'), and many more painfully funny tips for tots, and modern mores for an enlightened and enlivened childhood. Life in Hell was the syndicated newspaper cartoon strip by Matt Groening which ran in the States during the 80s and early 90s. Asked to turn the characters into TV animation, Groening instead developed The Simpsons, retaining many of the characteristics of Binky, Bongo, Sheba, Jeff and Akbar in the series. In a world where The Simpsons and Futurama are as popular as ever, these hellish cartoons featuring Matt Groening's zany brand of comic genius are simply gold dust.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Another Inevitable Mini-Jumbo Compendium of Hellish Cartoons by Child-At-Heart Matt Groening, author of Love Is Hell, Work Is Hell, School Is Hell, etc., etc., etc.

This pint-size yet chunky cartoon book contains dozens of zany, daffy, downright insolent comic strips-specially designed to be read under the covers late at night with a secret flashlight and a bowl of ice cream for nourishment. Don't let Mom catch you.

Childhood Is Hell is jam-packed with 48 of the wittiest and weirdest cartoons from Matt Groening's syndicated "Life in Hell" "RM" comic strip (seen weekly in the hippest newspapers from coast to coast). Not only do you get all 25 chapters of the painfully funny "Childhood Is Hell" maxiseries, you also get a whole bunch more bonus cartoons -- at practically no apparent added cost. Childhood Is Hell may not be all that cute and cuddly, but its peculiar insights could save you thousands of dollars in annoying therapy bills, as well as convulse you with childlike laughter and merriment. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Matt Groening is the genius behind The Simpsons and Futurama. Which says it all really.

Product Details

• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins Australia (March 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0007180268
• ISBN-13: 978-0007180264
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 8.7 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #502,251 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Matt Groening, creator and executive producer of Fox's Emmy Award®-winning series The Simpsons, made television history by bringing animation back to primetime and creating an immortal nuclear family. The Simpsons is the longest running primetime animated series in television history and is currently the longest-running comedy on television, having aired more than 400 episodes. In July 2007, the highly anticipated feature film The Simpsons Movie opened in theaters with worldwide grosses of more than $525 million to date.

Originally brought to life in 1987 for The Tracey Ullman Show, The Simpsons was Groening's amazing entry into the television animation world. Previously, he was best-known for his "Life in Hell" cartoon strip, an irreverent portrayal of love, work, school, life and relationships that currently appears in more than 250 newspapers worldwide and in a multitude of books.

Groening's other Emmy-Award®-winning creation, Futurama, launched on Fox in March 1999 and ran for five seasons. Last year Fox released the direct-to-DVD full-length original feature Futurama: Bender's Big Score. Three additional films will be released and the entire series with new episodes will air on Comedy Central this year.

In 1993, Groening formed Bongo Comics Group, where he serves as publisher of The Simpsons Library of Wisdom, Simpsons Episode Guides, Simpsons Comics, Bart Simpson Comics, Radioactive Man Comics, Simpsons Comics Treasure Trove, the annual Bart Simpson's Treehouse of Horror, Futurama Comics, more than 36 comic compilations, as well as instant classics including Bart Simpsons Guide to Life, The Simpsons Handbook, and The Simpsons Uncensored Family Album among others!

In addition to the many awards bestowed on his creations (including Emmys, Annies, and the prestigious Peabody Award), Groening was personally honored with the Rueben Award for Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year, the highest honor presented by the National Cartoonist Society. To date there are more than 14 million copies of books from HarperCollins in print throughout North America, the UK, and Australia based on The Simpsons, Futurama, and Life in Hell.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars my first self-help book with fabulous sense of humor, December 31, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Childhood Is Hell (Paperback)

I first bought this book in the eight grade and Matt Groening's wry humor got me to understand that I wasn't the only kid with these problems; and that when you think about it, it's all pretty funny. I still have have my original copy and evey other "Life is Hell" book. An early fan has become a life-long fan! EXCELLENT! :)

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 35 year old childhood memories brought back to life, July 9, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Keniwick Wa. USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Childhood Is Hell (Paperback)

This book in the life is hell series is a great parady of childhood.I am 40 years old and this book brought back memories I forgot that I ever had of being a kid.Every page is full of #%&@s and giggles!!If you are a fan of kids and old memories of childhood past? you will enjoy every page of this Mat Groening satire.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Think of Matt Groening as the Dante of modern childhood, June 5, 2003

By 

Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Childhood Is Hell (Paperback)

After a while Bongo, the young rabbit that Matt Groening insists on drawing with ony one ear (I think the left one is right) really creeps me out after a while. I prefer to get my insolent wisdom from Binky or even Akbar and Jeff, but Bongo shows up in the fast majority of the 48 cartoons from Groening's syndicated "Life is Hell" comic circa 1983-1988. The actual "Childhood is Hell" maxi-series consists of 25 chapters specifically intended to teach kids about wising up before it is too late, starting with "Tips for Tots" and providing sage advise for being all you can be for kids at odd ages 1 (Wily) through 9 (Naughty), with 10 (Twisted) thrown in for good measure. There are also several one panel cartoons, including two that totally capture the Christmas spirit that parents will find useful at before and after the opening of presents (show the little kiddies that Santa is not the only one who knows exactly what they are thinking in their warped little minds). As is the case with the more famous Matt Groening creation, "The Simpsons," the sad truth is that "Childhood is Hell" is too good for those who are still experiencing that particular state of arrested development. But unlike Bart and company, Binky, Bongo, Sheba and the rest of the gang are all wallowing much more in the depth of despair. However, if you are actually part of the age group that is intended to benefit from the weird wisdom collected within these pages, do follow the instructions provided on the back cover: read this book under the covers late at night with a secret flashlight and a bowl of ice cream for nourishment. But even if your Mom does not catch you remember that childhood is hell and none of us get out of it alive.