Mort Walker's Private Scrapbook [Hardcover]

Mort Walker (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2001

Many cartoonists have successfully caused brief splashes of excitement throughout history but simply don't have what it takes to command the world's attention for half a century. That is, unless you're comic genius Mort Walker, beloved creator of the cartoon strips Hi and Lois and Beetle Bailey. Mort Walker's Private Scrapbook provides a comprehensive look at the life and work of this suave cartoonist for his legions of fans and aficionados of the comic world alike. In this extensive work painstakingly compiled by Walker over the course of two years, he collects his earliest artwork, reveals who his characters are based on, follows the development of his creations, and relates a fascinating perspective about the evolution of the cartooning world. This full-color scrapbook is a unique glimpse into the window of cartooning that only award-winning veteran artist Mort Walker could provide. This book will be essential for comic strip historians, collectors, and faithful fans.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Mort Walker has been an integral part of the cartooning world for over half a century through his comic strips Hi and Lois and Beetle Bailey. He is heavily involved in the workings of the National Cartoonists Society and the Newspaper Features Council. He has also left his mark as the founder of the International Museum of Cartoon Art and Hall of Fame in Boca Raton, Florida. He lives in Stamford, Connecticut.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing (January 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0740711261
• ISBN-13: 978-0740711268
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,461,927 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Mort Walker has been an integral part of the cartooning world for over half a century through his comic strips Hi and Lois and Beetle Bailey. He is heavily involved in the workings of the National Cartoonists Society and the Newspaper Features Council. He has also left his mark as the founder of the International Museum of Cartoon Art and Hall of Fame in Boca Raton, Florida. He lives in Stamford, Connecticut.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I LAUGHED UNTIL IT HURT!, March 12, 2001

By 

BeatleBangs1964 (United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Mort Walker's Private Scrapbook (Hardcover)

Mort Walker is truly a gifted man. This book chronicles his life, drawings he made as a child which ultimately led to a career as a cartoonist. We are treated to the other strips Mort Walker breathed comic life into; we are introduced to "Hi & Lois," a spin off of "Beetle Bailey." (Lois is Beetle's cousin).

Camp Swampy is one of the FUNNIEST comic stops in the funny paper! Sarge, Beetle Bailey, Gen. Half-Track and the gang are a SCREAM! I actually wiped tears of laughter from my eyes when I read this book. Beetle Bailey is truly one of the FUNNIEST strips to ever grace the newspaper!

We, the readers, are treated to the evolution of Beetle Bailey, indolent college student to Beetle Bailey, the work dodging private. We watch the metamorphasis of Sarge from a slightly husky man to the large, lovable irate officer he became. We laugh with Cookie, who looks like Sarge in a chef's hat. We scream over bunny-toothed Zero, Ms. Buxley, the aptly named secretary and General Half-Track, who's eyes never leave Ms. Buxley. The entire Camp Swampy crew will have you in stitches! This is truly a brilliant work that will leave you wanting more.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars That man led a...charmed life., December 4, 2003

By 

R. Garcia "Beeyotch" (Brockport, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mort Walker's Private Scrapbook (Hardcover)

Mort Walker could've BROKEN record as the world's youngest cartoonist ever to make professional debut at age 11! But don't forget that he was a whiz at architecture, a busy high schooler who did EVERYTHING from editor to cheerleader, a war hero holding prisoners in Italy, and a legendary father who raised several talented cartoonists to boot! Not to mention the fact he once did SEVERAL comic strips at once and that he also aged beautifully into a white-haired saint. How can the rest of us ever measure up to this man, who could be easily the world's MOST FAMOUS cartoonist ever!

This is truly a rich book packed with Mort Walker's personal (but amusing) autobiography, old cartoons, rare illustrations (there's even a spread of a NAKED Miss Buxley!), and oodles of photos featuring himself and his ever-growing clan. There are also some fun trivial facts about the eyeless Beetle Bailey, who was once a college student and now serving forever as an Army private, which we all come to know and love. We are also treated to the historical evolution of Mort Walker's famous comic strip as well as his partnership with the late Dik Browne, who created "Hagar The Horrible" and "Hi and Lois". You'll truly love the nostalgic trip through those timeless cartoons that Mort Walker and Dik Browne produced as well as their funny memoirs together, too.

Once again, I say Mort Walker himself must've been hand-picked by God!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Treasure trove!, October 19, 2001

By 

R. Riis "rriis" (NY) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mort Walker's Private Scrapbook (Hardcover)

Of course this is stuffed with strips, history, and information about the Beetle Bailey strip, all of which is a treasure trove for fans, but some of the best material is the rarely-encountered drawings, cartoons, letters, etc., from Walker's pre-BB days as a child, soldier, and novice commercial cartoonist. Superb stuff and a delight to read and reread.