Humbug

From Strand Bookstore

[2-Volume Set]. The creator of the legendary MAD comic, as well as co-creator of Playboy's "Little Annie Fanny," Harvey Kurtzman was one of the most influential American cartoonists of the twentieth century. One of his lesser known satirical works was the short-lived magazine HUMBUG, which also contained comics by Will Elder, Jack Davis, Al Jaffee, and Arnold Roth. This two-volume set reproduces the entire run of 11 issues. Arnold Roth and Al Jaffee appeared at Strand Bookstore on April 13, 2009, for a book-signing. Pre-order your copy, complete with bookplate signed by these two co-authors.

From the Publisher

A complete collection of the lesser-known series's eleven-issue run from 1957 to 1958 offers insight into the MAD founder's satirical creativity and includes art by such cartoonists as Will Elder, Jack Davis, and Al Jaffee.

Review

John McAlley - National Public Radio
"Fantagraphics, the exemplary Seattle-based archivists of comics and comic-strip history, couldn't have lavished more care in restoring HUMBUG's yellowing pages had they been original Shakespeare folios."

Review

Booklist
"[T]he dawning of contemporary satire in a box."

Review

Publishers Weekly
"[F]or dry cocktail laughs and low schoolboy snorts, it's hard to think of a better pair of books to have at your nightstand."

More about the book

Best known for Mad magazine, for a brief--but all things considered not insubstantial--11 months Harvey Kurtzman put out Humbug, working with some of the era's great satirical artists and writers: Al Jafee, Jack Davis, Will Elder, Arnold Roth, and Larry Siegel, among others. This two-volume set collects all 11 issues and includes some classic bits (like a FRANKENSTEIN spoof and Jafee's judo gag), some deliciously dated pop-culture riffs, and even some political comedy, which provide a real sense of the landscape of the time.