Modern Arf (Paperback)

~ Craig Yoe (Author) "ONE THING IS FOR SURE: I've loved comics since they fell into my meat hooks when I was a tender lad of six..." (more)
Key Phrases: Eric Chizzle, Ignatz Gooch, Little Square (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Modern Arf is a new anthology series "exploring the unholy marriage of art and comics" but pretty definitely emphasizing comics. That's just fine since there still aren't that many books focused on comics, and few of those are as delightful as this one. Among the treats on view in its oversized pages are cartoons depicting artists and their models, a zany 1920s magazine story by cartoonist Milt Gross (1895-1953), a historical examination of the precursors of Mad mascot Alfred E. Newman, obscure work by Mutts cartoonist Patrick McDonnell, and comic strips by Salvador Dali along with cartoonists' attempts at Daliesque surrealism. Comics aficionados may get the biggest kick out of an atypical story by legendary superhero artist Jack Kirby, in which a schlub is transported into a cubist alternate world; but there's something here to tickle nearly everyone's fancy. The title remains puzzling, though, unless it refers to the dogged efforts of compiler Yoe, who contributes the commentary and his own wacky scrawlings, to unearth forgotten treasure. Gordon Flagg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

Achieves a peculiar beauty, an almost hallucinogenic synthesis. -- Comic Book Resources

Eye-popping revelations! -- The Boston Globe

There's something here to tickle nearly everyone's fancy. -- Booklist

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 120 pages
• Publisher: Fantagraphics Books (June 27, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560976292
• ISBN-13: 978-1560976295
• Product Dimensions: 11.8 x 8.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,010,337 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mind-blowing comics I've never seen before!, August 25, 2005

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

I'm a lifelong comics fan and it's pretty unusual for me to see something in a book like this that I haven't seen before. That's why I was completely blown away by Modern Arf!

Craig Yoe managed to find not one, but several artists whose work was new to me. The stand-outs for me were Antonio Rubino's mind-blowing comics from nearly a hundred years ago and Hy Mayer's amazing worm's eye views - you have to see them to believe them. And even though I'm a huge Jack Kirby fan, I wasn't familiar with this bizarre cubist story. Yoe turned me on to quite a lot that I'd never seen. Furthermore, it's all great stuff!

I used to read Jimmy Hatlo's "They'll Do It Every Time" in the Sunday funnies but I don't recall ever seeing these strips about Hell. Yikes! Who knew Hatlo did his own take on Dante's Inferno?

The book also includes a variety of cartoons on the theme of artists and models that puts the "modern art" into Modern Arf. Plus there's plenty of Craig's own work which is weird and delightful.

Modern Arf is highly recommended to comics fans, art lovers, and pop-culture connoisseurs in general.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Yoe. Ho, ho, ho. :), July 28, 2005

By	CloudMiron - See all my reviews

Arf, the unholy marriage of art + comics by Craig Yoe, Fantagraphics Books.

Arf is 120 pages of surprising cartoons and comics. A few moments looking through Arf persuaded me to buy it. Arf has 120 pages of strong material. It's an admirable job of research and selection by C. Yoe. If Arf was your blind date, you'd be impressed and eagerly call back for second and thirds. Give Arf a chance.

I wanted to see Arf not purchase it. However, while reading Arf strange things happened. I was laughing heartily or finding something I'd never seen before on every page.
With Arf, the laughs started in the opening section titled, Artists and Models. It's thirty pages of plucky double intendeds from respectable names in art and comics: Cruikshank (1836), Dirks, Picasso, Bill Holman, Crumb, Wood, and more.
Some cartoons employ words to explore character or situation, like this clueless artist to lovely girlfriend, 'Ah, darling! Your plastic form, your cohesive organization, your third dimensional volume! However, the Artists and Models section demonstrates the power of wordless cartoon illustration to show more then words can tell. Cartoon's communicative strength is cunningly demonstrated by the Cooperative Model of Chaponnier's mid-1800's illustration and Picasso's revealing 1954 cartoon of the artist as an ape painting a classically posed nude.
A charming drawing by Patrick McDonnell closes the section and leads, finally, to the Table of Contents.
Arf features ten chapters. Two are complete comic stories. A surreal Jack Kirby romance and a Lady Luck story. Craig's color chapters on rarely reprinted individuals include: Rubino, Hy Mayer, Dali, Hatlo, Milt Gross and Patrick (Mutts) McDonnell. For these alone Arf deserves space on your book shelf.
Thirty-six antique color postcards uncover the original 'What Me Worry' Alfred E. Newman advertising kid. Hey, just like in Star Wars, there's a sister and she's as cute as he is.
Craig Yoe's own arf is a wild section of neoprepost revivalist retro color comics with plenty to offer. David, an unpaid, unbiased modern artist had this to say, 'Craig's work is the best part of the book.'
On page 30 Will Eisner's endorsement of Arf is mentioned. I enthusiastically second that emotion.
Standing in Dr. Comics, barking heartily every time I turned the page, showed me how good Arf is. The next day I returned with twenty bucks and traded them for a copy of Arf.
This was doe well spent.

Yours,
CloudMiron

5.0 out of 5 stars No surprise here...it's great!!!, January 7, 2009

By	R. Schaad (Harrison, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is the first issue of the Arf series...and it's a beaut. There are so many ingredients in this comic art soup, that it's tough to single anything out. I've already bought all of the Arf series, and so should you. Long may it reign! Not just for uncovering long-thought to be lost-comics, but for introducing forgotten-never heard of 'em before gems. So much care and attention has gone into every aspect, from rare initial caps to paper stock, and array of imagery. And who cares where the contents page is located?!? Keep Arf Alive!!