Mort Walker's Private Scrapbook: Celebrating a Life of Love and Laughter

by Mort Walker

Book Overview

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... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0740711261
• ISBN13: 9780740711268
• Release Date: December 2000
• Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 2.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 8.4" x 10.3"

Customer Reviews

That man led a...charmed life.

Mort Walker could've BROKEN record as the world's youngest cartoonist ever to make professional debut at age 11! But don't forget that he was a whiz at architecture, a busy high schooler who did EVERYTHING from editor to cheerleader, a war hero holding prisoners in Italy, and a legendary father who raised several talented cartoonists to boot! Not to mention the fact he once did SEVERAL comic strips at once and that he also aged beautifully into a white-haired saint. How can the rest of us ever measure up to this man, who could be easily the world's MOST FAMOUS cartoonist ever!This is truly a rich book packed with Mort Walker's personal (but amusing) autobiography, old cartoons, rare illustrations (there's even a spread of a NAKED Miss Buxley!), and oodles of photos featuring himself and his ever-growing clan. There are also some fun trivial facts about the eyeless Beetle Bailey, who was once a college student and now serving forever as an Army private, which we all come to know and love. We are also treated to the historical evolution of Mort Walker's famous comic strip as well as his partnership with the late Dik Browne, who created "Hagar The Horrible" and "Hi and Lois". You'll truly love the nostalgic trip through those timeless cartoons that Mort Walker and Dik Browne produced as well as their funny memoirs together, too. Once again, I say Mort Walker himself must've been hand-picked by God!

An insitefull autobiography with humor thrown in

I love comics. So there was no doubt in my mind that I wouldn't enjoy this book. But the sheer amount of information and humor Mort Walker puts into this book set me aback. Mort Walker himself is so intertwined with famous cartoonists it's no wonder he writes such an excellent strip. This book is a must read if you are even remotely interested in comics or humor. That's why I rated it 5 out of 5 stars, and give it a hearty thumbs up and my hopes and good wishes for the cartoonist.

Treasure trove!

Of course this is stuffed with strips, history, and information about the Beetle Bailey strip, all of which is a treasure trove for fans, but some of the best material is the rarely-encountered drawings, cartoons, letters, etc., from Walker's pre-BB days as a child, soldier, and novice commercial cartoonist. Superb stuff and a delight to read and reread.

I LAUGHED UNTIL IT HURT!

Mort Walker is truly a gifted man. This book chronicles his life, drawings he made as a child which ultimately led to a career as a cartoonist. We are treated to the other strips Mort Walker breathed comic life into; we are introduced to "Hi & Lois," a spin off of "Beetle Bailey." (Lois is Beetle's cousin).Camp Swampy is one of the FUNNIEST comic stops in the funny paper! Sarge, Beetle Bailey, Gen. Half-Track and the gang are a SCREAM! I actually wiped tears of laughter from my eyes when I read this book. Beetle Bailey is truly one of the FUNNIEST strips to ever grace the newspaper!We, the readers, are treated to the evolution of Beetle Bailey, indolent college student to Beetle Bailey, the work dodging private. We watch the metamorphasis of Sarge from a slightly husky man to the large, lovable irate officer he became. We laugh with Cookie, who looks like Sarge in a chef's hat. We scream over bunny-toothed Zero, Ms. Buxley, the aptly named secretary and General Half-Track, who's eyes never leave Ms. Buxley. The entire Camp Swampy crew will have you in stitches! This is truly a brilliant work that will leave you wanting more.