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A collection of interviews and articles from 1938-2004 that shows how the cartoonist managed to keep his art and stories fresh for over seventy years of production
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.
Talking Mort Walker: A Life in Comics is a major accomplishment." -Brian Walker (from the Foreword). Besides syndicating nine comic strips, including Beetle Bailey and Hi and Lois, Mort Walker devoted his life to creating, collecting, curating, and chatting about his one true love-the funnies. Talking Mort Walker: A Life in Comics takes readers on a journey for the first time through Walker's career between 1935-2018, where over 700 pages of rare interviews, articles, letters, unpublished photographs, and drawings reveal insights about the child prodigy who grew up to become the Dean of American cartooning.From his earliest press coverage as a kid to his final interview with his granddaughter, Walker maintained a healthy philosophy that "seven days without laughter makes one weak." Amongst his many awards and accomplishments, he was ultimately most proud of creating so many friends in the funny pages for millions of readers. Throughout this 83-year collection of clippings, Walker reveals his passion as well as his experienced views on the craft, business and history of cartoon art.Talking Mort Walker: A Life in Comics is a touchstone for comic scholars, fans, and budding cartoonists. Started before Walker's death, the book also includes speeches from his memorial by Tom Gammill (Seinfeld, The Simpsons, Futurama), Joe D'Angelo (King Features), Rocky Shepard (King Features), and tributes -many written specially for this volume- by his family and colleagues, including Jim Davis (Garfield), Patrick McDonnell (Mutts), Jeannie Schulz (Charles Schulz Museum), Lynn Johnston (For Better or For Worse), Jenny Robb (Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum), and writers including R.C. Harvey, Rick Marschall, David Astor, John Breunig, Jud Hurd, and Cullen Murphy. Author Jason Whiton first collaborated with Mort Walker on the biographical book project, Mort Walker Conversations (2005). He is the creator of Spy Vibe, a website about Cold War pop culture and design which has seen millions of visitors. Whiton's publications also include the upcoming book Spy Vibe and contributions as a writer/artist to USA Weekend, Rolling Stone, Arcana Comics, The Instrumentalist and other periodicals. Whiton's films and screenplays have been recognized by the Nicholl Fellowships (Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences), PBS, Sundance, and other festivals. He teaches drawing, cartooning, and media arts in San Francisco.
"Written as a satire on the comic devices cartoonists use, [this] book quickly became a textbook for art students. Walker researched cartoons around the world to collect this international set of cartoon symbols. The names he invented for them now appear in dictionaries."--Page 4 of cover
Focus of the collection is on Mort Walker's visit to the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1992 as a Scholar-in-Residence, including the unveiling of a bronze statue of Beetle Bailey. The collection includes original cartoons, animation cels, books, lithographs, photographs, and posters donated by Walker to the University Libraries. It also includes newspaper articles about the visit, and reproductions of Walker's work as editor/art editor of Showme, a humor magazine produced by students of the University of Missouri, 1946 and 1947.
