Embrace the Pun [Paperback]

Barry Corbett (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2005

Book Description "Embrace the Pun!" is a collection of single panel cartoons from independent cartoonist Barry Corbett. Oscar Levant once pointed out: "A pun is the lowest form of humor... if you didn't think of it first." According to Edgar Allen Poe: "The goodness of the true pun is in direct ratio to its intolerability." Readers will find this inventive selection of Barry's best cartoons delightfully intolerable.

Editorial Reviews

Review

From the Author Anybody who's known me for any length of time knows that I just live for the opportunity to come up with a shameless pun. I'm usually the only one laughing, but that's never stopped me in the past. Anyway, I decided to broaden my scope. Why limit the experience to a shrinking circle of friends and associates, when I can put these remarkable witticisms in print for the general public to endure? And so, "Embrace the Pun!" was born. All cartoonists develop their own style, but we can't help but be influenced by our peers. Readers have compared my semi-realistic drawings with Dan Piraro, who's Bizarro series has always been one of my favorites. The truth is, we take a little bit from all of our heroes. I learned to draw by reading Marvel and DC comics and studying the varying styles of Neal Adams, Curt Swan, Todd McFarlane and Jack Kirby. Writing for laughs is the tricky part. I'm in awe of all the great panel cartoonists who consistently come up with such hilarious material. Foremost in my opinion are Gary Larson, Jeff MacNelly, Jim Unger and even underground comic creators like Robert Crumb and Peter Bagge. There are endless sources of influence and we're always looking to learn and grow. So, please, pick up the book and help me groan... er, grow. --From the author - Corbett Features

From the Author

Anybody who's known me for any length of time knows that I just live for the opportunity to come up with a shameless pun. I'm usually the only one laughing, but that's never stopped me in the past.

Anyway, I decided to broaden my scope. Why limit the experience to a shrinking circle of friends and associates, when I can put these remarkable witticisms in print for the general public to endure? And so, "Embrace the Pun!" was born.

All cartoonists develop their own style, but we can't help but be influenced by our peers. Readers have compared my semi-realistic drawings with Dan Piraro, who's Bizarro series has always been one of my favorites.

The truth is, we take a little bit from all of our heroes. I learned to draw by reading Marvel and DC comics and studying the varying styles of Neal Adams, Curt Swan, Will Eisner, John Buscema and Jack Kirby.

Writing for laughs is the tricky part. I'm in awe of all the great panel cartoonists who consistently come up with such hilarious material. Foremost in my opinion are Gary Larson, Jeff MacNelly, Bill Waterson and even underground comic creators like Robert Crumb, Shannon Wheeler and Peter Bagge. There are endless sources of influence and we're always looking to learn and grow.

So, please, pick up the book and help me groan... er, grow.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Corbett Design (September 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0976229420
• ISBN-13: 978-0976229421
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.2 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,567,913 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Barry is a freelance magazine cartoonist and self-published author of three trade paperbacks, 3 webcomics and two comic books.

His panel cartoons have appeared in many national publications including Barron's, Readers Digest, American Legion Magazine, Lacrosse Magazine, Discoveries, True West Magazine, Medical Economics, Fantasy & Science Fiction, The Maple Leaf News, Skipping Stones, The Valley News, The Chicago Loop News, The Artist's Magazine and FiftySomething Magazine.

Barry released his first book in 2005. "Embrace the Pun!" is a collection of pun-based panel cartoons.

"Kitty Nirvana: The First Ginger & Shadow Collection" was released in 2008 and won a Silver Medal at the IPPY Awards. The IPPY's are presented by Independent Publisher Magazine.

"Revenge of the Pun!" was released in 2010 and is also available in e-book format. ForeWord Reviews Magazine awarded Revenge of the Pun a Silver Medal for Humor, at their 2010 Book of the Year Awards. The book has also won a Bronze Medal for Cartoons & Graphic Novels at the 2011 IPPY Awards.

Barry also offers his panel cartoons for use in PowerPoint presentations, websites and newsletters. It's quick and easy. Log onto www.corbettcartoons.com, sort through hundreds of cartoons sorted by topic, and instantly download your selections.

A graduate of the Vesper George School of Art in Boston, Barry owns a Graphic Design business in Beverly, MA. Together with fellow graduate and cartoonist Brian Codagnone, he formed Corbett Features, a cartoon and comic illustration syndicate supplying content for print and multi-media.

Barry teaches Cartooning at local community colleges and Digital Graphic Design at The New England Institute of Art in Boston and North Shore Community College. He resides in North Reading, MA with his wife and two children.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A cross-section of chuckle-inducing fun, June 12, 2006

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Embrace the Pun (Paperback)

Embrace the Pun! is an anthology of one-panel black-and-white cartoons by savvy online cartoonist Barry Corbett. Using the author's gifts for original wit and wordplay, Embrace the Pun! mocks everything from serial killers to news events to sports and common TV cliches, with special emphasis on unique and original gags - for example, in one cartoon labeled "America's New Underclass" a disheveled man sits at a street corner begging for change by holding up a sign that reads "STILL ON DIAL-UP". A cross-section of chuckle-inducing fun.

5.0 out of 5 stars Embrace This Book, December 13, 2007

By 

Old Time Hockey "Old Time Hockey" (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Embrace the Pun (Paperback)

According to the author, Oscar Levant once said that "A pun is the lowest form of humor... if you didn't think of it first." and Edgar Allen Poe observed: "The goodness of the true pun is in direct ratio to its intolerability." And now they're both dead. There's a lesson there for all of us, and that lesson is that anyone who thinks of puns as low comedy hasn't read this book. Full of clever word play, twisted humor and, yes, non-pun cartoons, this book is a must read, if only as an excuse to use the cliche "a must read". Don't be the last on your block to own a copy or else you'll be like all those poor saps who couldn't discuss "The Da Vinci Code" around the office. Plus, instead of copying "Ziggy" to hang up in your cubicle, show the world that you're in with the hip crowd and not the broken hip crowd (does that count as a pun?) by hanging up Barry's cartoons. Embrace this book, you'll be glad you did.

5.0 out of 5 stars I love the pun!, December 7, 2007

By 

David A. Aldrich "Dave Aldrich" (Lincoln, RI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Embrace the Pun (Paperback)

I've enjoyed this book so much and never tire of witty puns from guys like Barry Corbett. I love his style... kind of old school with a fresh twist. And with so much full-color publications out there it's refreshing to see black and white art. He's got a new book coming out. I look forward to getting it.