Shroud For Waldo [Paperback]

Kim Deitch (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Underground cartoonist Deitch--who has influenced dozens of comics artists, especially Kaz ( Buzzbomb )--ultimately disappoints with this collection of his Waldo strip, the story of a drunken lout who thinks he's a cat. The art is amazing, at once completely nonrepresentational and realistic to the last detail. Yet there is so much in each panel--from dancing elephants to hideous demons--that readers can lose themselves in the art and ignore the story, which unfortunately is directionless and lackluster. The plot reveals the origin of Waldo: he is Judas Iscariot, reincarnated as a demon who looks like a cat. Waldo liberates Jesus from the cross while visiting the detox ward of a hospital ("So, you finally came back, huh?" Waldo asks), while an orderly discovers the Turin-like shroud of the title, with Waldo's image on it. The orderly is in fact a man who condemned Jesus at Gethsemane, and who has wandered immortal ever since; Waldo/Judas has been reincarnated to help redeem the orderly. A marginal book from a nonmarginal cartoonist.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: Fantagraphics Books (January 2, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560970812
• ISBN-13: 978-1560970811
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,612,034 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #45 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Comics & Graphic Novels > Publishers > Fantagraphics

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comix Classic, May 7, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Shroud For Waldo (Paperback)

A Shroud for Waldo is another excellent collection of "Waldo" comics from underground comix artist Kim Deitch. His artwork (black and white) will appeal to those who like cross-hatched line work and comics with an edge. These definitely aren't "Garfield" like comics. Deitch's other collections: All Waldo Comics, Hollywoodland and Beyond the Pale are also recommended.

3.0 out of 5 stars Waldo and Jesus save the day!, June 4, 2011

By 

Sam Quixote - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shroud For Waldo (Paperback)

Where did Waldo come from?

This is the central question driving this short book in Kim Deitch's "A Shroud for Waldo". It fuses the Judeo-Christian mythology to Deitch's own created and long established timelines from his comics as we see Jesus Christ become a part of the never-ending Waldo narrative!

Originally published in weekly serials in the late 80s, the book (short for Deitch at nearly 60 pages) has each serial printed per page. The only annoying thing about this being a serial is that on each page there is a brief summary of the previous page's contents.

Otherwise, the artwork is fantastic. Deitch does a brilliant job of designing his page in such a way that the space is utilised efficiently enough to cover the summary, the title, and enough story for that week. Reading it is seeing a master craftsman at work.

As for the story, it's all to brief but nevertheless as imaginative and twisting as anything Deitch has written before. If you're a fan like me you'll enjoy it, if you're a more casual comics fan then I suggest his other work such as "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" or "The Search for Smilin' Ed". "Shroud" is clever, imaginative, and really well drawn but not his best book nor the best to read.