Politically, Fashionably, and Aerodynamically Incorrect: The First Outland Collection (Bloom County) [Paperback]

Berke Breathed (Author)

Book Description

Series: Bloom County | Publication Date: October 1992

the Sunday spinoff of ""Bloom County,"" introduces uninitiated readers to such new Breathed creations as Rosebud the Basselope and Milquetoast the cross-dressing cockroach. 150,000 first printing. $50,000 ad/promo.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Little Brown & Co (P); 1st edition (October 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316107018
• ISBN-13: 978-0316107013
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #612,608 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Berkeley Breathed lives and works in Santa Barbara, California and is the proud owner of a gentle pit bull named Ridley, a deaf dachshund named Milly, and a refugee mutt from the Puerto Rican streets named Pilar--splendidly flawed dogs, every one.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Actually.... 4 1/2 stars, but I can't choose that...., June 17, 2004

By 

Mark J. Fowler "Let's Play Two!" (Jacksonville, Florida) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Politically, Fashionably, and Aerodynamically Incorrect: The First Outland Collection (Bloom County) (Paperback)

This is the first Outland collection, and Berkeley Breathed writes in the introduction:

"I'm proud of the 'toons in this book. I had more fun drawing many of these than usual. As in Bloom County usual. Look at the earlier Outlands reproduced here. You can see me playing, experimenting, even doodling, looking for unexplored nooks and creative crannies. But when I look at these myself, I smile because I know that like the wild caribou, I was doomed to return to familiar territory. Outland is, of course, Bloom County without the continuing narrative that a daily appearance allows. But Bloom County was never about children or cats or penguins. It was about a loopy perspective - my dubious legacy to this world, and in plentiful evidence within this volume. Enjoy. I have. But no more than finally getting to compare myself to a wild caribou."

After years of creating the wildly popular and successful 'toon "Bloom County" Berke Breathed scaled back the strip to a Sunday-only offering called "Outland". During the same time he was beginning his work on his wonderfully written and illustrated children's books.
In Bloom County we were offered characters that grew familiar, even in their various deficiencies. The strips were episodic, frequently thoughtful and almost always hilarious. At the same time we came to identify with the various characters: Milo Bloom the precocious pre-teen and his paranoid buddy Binkley. Cutter John, the paraplegic Vietnam veteran who led his buddies on role-playing Star Trek adventures. Steve Dallas, the chain-smoking slime-ball lawyer who got his come-uppance over and over, usually as a result of his insensitivity to women. Oliver Wendell Jones, the young computer hacker who caused panic at the Pentagon, on Wall Street and in his school's science class.

Outland doesn't have the same feel as it's not episodic at all. Each Sunday comic "stands alone" - and each one is full of Breathed's inventive artwork and the same brilliantly conceived satire. I don't feel like the story stands still long enough to identify or care as much about the characters, and for that reason Outland isn't as satisfying to me as Bloom County.

Still, there's good stuff here and in addition to revisiting some old friends Breathed gets pokes in on cosmetic surgery, video dating, male bonding and 1-900 numbers.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Book review, August 2, 2010

By 

Beaker 63 (Portland, Oregon United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Politically, Fashionably, and Aerodynamically Incorrect: The First Outland Collection (Bloom County) (Paperback)

A great addition to my collection of cartoons by Berke Breathed. Opus could never be funnier. I miss the comic character, with his unique outlook on life. Highly recommended for a great time reading and sharing with your friends.