Clean Cartoonists' Dirty Drawings (Paperback)

~ Craig Yoe (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

The risqué artwork in this engaging volume shows what happens when artists in the squeaky-clean fields of comic books, comic strips, and animation color their drawing boards blue. Here are rare private sketches by such renowned talents as Milton Caniff (Steve Canyon), George Herriman (Krazy Kat), Al Capp (Li’l Abner), Mort Walker (Beetle Bailey), Johnny Hart (B.C.), Joe Shuster (Superman), and Bob Kane (Batman). Some, like Carl Barks (Donald Duck), Hank Ketchum (Dennis the Menace), and Dan De Carlo (Archie), are represented by naughty gags drawn for girlie magazines; Alex Raymond (Flash Gordon) and Cliff Sterrett (Polly and Her Pals), by pinups for the troops of World War II. Perhaps the most unexpected entry is a vision of Wonder Woman skinny-dipping by the chaste Amazon princess’ first limner, Harry G. Peter. Most of the drawings are pretty tame, though Wally Wood’s fabled Disneyland orgy, created for Paul Krassner’s counterculture magazine The Realist, and the image accompanying a foreword by R. Crumb, who’s nobody’s idea of a clean cartoonist, definitely aren’t. --Gordon Flagg

Product Description

The classic American comic strip is known for being wholesome family entertainment, accesible to everyone. But these artists, including Sidd (B.C.) Hoff and Mort (Beetle Bailey) Walker, also had a mischievous side they only shared with peers and friends. Now, in Clean Cartoonists' Dirty Drawings, the general public can see the work of these American masters in their moments of blue humor.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Last Gasp; First Printing edition (October 30, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 086719653X
• ISBN-13: 978-0867196535
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #82,691 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A lot of fun and just a tiny bit naughty, October 31, 2007

By	David Burd (East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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I'd been waiting for this book for a long time, reading about it on the web site, and anticipating it anxiously. I wasn't disappointed.

It's a tricky topic and I can see how it could easily have been mishandled. Make it too dirty and people are offended. Make it too clean and they're disappointed. I think Craig has achieve the perfect balance of showing the work of familiar cartoonists whom we know from the funny pages and the comic books, and giving us just a peek at what they draw for themselves in their private moments.

Art schools are full of nude models in life drawing classes, so it should come as no surprise that most artists have drawn an unclad female at one time or another. The fun is in seeing drawings like this from the pen of well-known cartoonists who specialize in family-friendly material. It's a novelty that in no way detracts from their vast body of work but shows them as rather human.

I also have to mention the beautiful production. You don't usually find such high-quality paper and printing in a book at this price point. The cover alone is impressive, gorgeously printed with embossing and spot varnish. A real art book kind of treatment, nicely designed and executed.

I'm looking forward to the next volume!

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Ginchy Glimpses of Classic Kink, April 12, 2008

By	D. Goldie "Goldo McSas" (Canada) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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This book is just what the title offers; a very nice collection of early 1900's era dirty cartoons from some of the worlds most famous cartoonists including surprises from creators like Charles Schulz (creator of Peanuts) and Jack Kirby (creator of the X-Men, Fantastic Four, Hulk, Thor, etc.). As a self-proclaimed pervert I thoroughly enjoyed the drawings in this book, my only complaint, and thus the 4 out of 5 stars, is that each cartoonist features only a page at most of their work. While this allows the book to collect a prolific number of creators, I would have liked to see a full strip or story; I guess I'm just a sucker for a plot.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars clean cartoonists drawings, December 13, 2007

By	Richard N. Stretton - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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A book of cartoonists offbeat drawings-including risque, and glamour drawings by such artists as milton caniff(terry and the pirates), chuck jones(bugs bunny),ham fisher(joe palooka) and al capp(li'l abner among others. A good book if you are interested in cartoons or comic book art.