Best of
Cartoon

1998

Batman Animated


Paul Dini - 1998
    Since its premiere in September 1992, Batman: The Animated Series has been acclaimed by enthusiastic viewers and longtime fans of the Batman character as the defining image of the Dark Knight onscreen. Now readers are offered an inside look into the creation of the series. Granted unprecedented access to the archives of the Warner Bros. Animation Studio, Chip Kidd has combined breathtaking photographs by Award-winning photographer Geoff Spear and fashioned an imaginative layout of never-before-published preproduction and finished artwork that echoes the boldness of producer-designer Bruce Timm's powerful TV show.Paul Dini's text offers entertaining and informative commentary on the series history, development, and continuing production. It includes glimpses into the making of the Batman animated features Mask of the Phantasm and SubZero, and a sneak peek into the future projects.Featuring a detailed episode guide, comments from the series creators and voice actors, and an introduction by Bruce Timm, Batman Animated is a must-have for Batman fans young and old.

Our Mutts: Five


Patrick McDonnell - 1998
    In Patrick McDonnell's animal-centric world, Earl, the dog, and Mooch, the cat, provide both postulations and punch lines, enlightenment and entertainment. They seem innocent, yet speak volumes. "Kids will immediately take to the funny-animals look of the strip," wrote Mark J. Estren in Virginia Parent, "but there's plenty here for adults, too." Indeed there is. From musings about friendship to the benefits of adopting shelter animals, these two and their furry pals hammer out the mammalian issues of the day.The late Charles Schulz described MUTTS: "I think the best new comic strip to come along has been MUTTS. . . . The little dog and cat are just innocent creatures, and all the characters are funny and fun to look at." MUTTS is a true classic.

Yesh! - Mutts IV


Patrick McDonnell - 1998
    But if there's one thing the two sides do agree on, it's that they love Patrick McDonnell's charming strip, Mutts.Mutts has won the devotion of animal lovers and comics readers across the land. Fans love the charming humor the talented McDonnell provides, as well as his one-of-a-kind artistic style that stands apart on the funny pages. Yesh! features Earl the dog, his pal Mooch the cat, and the plethora of other lovable animal regulars who pop in and out of their lives.Few people could conceive what animals are truly thinking until McDonnell gave us the antics and adventures of Earl and Mooch. In one series of strips, Earl reveals what pets think when their owners are late arriving home: ""I must ration my dinner...who knows how long it will need to last?...The day?...The week?...The next two minutes?"" His buddy Mooch declares after becoming stranded on top of a tree: ""I need to reassess my goals.""The delightful personalities of McDonnell's animal stars have won the hearts and acclaim of readers the world over. Veteran cartoonist Charles Schulz called Mutts one of the best strips ever. The strip earned the National Cartoonists Society's Comic Strip of the Year Award in 1996. In 1998, McDonnell captured the Swedish Academy of Comic Art's Award for Best International Comic Strip Artist. Yesh! celebrates the subtle humor and unparalleled style of a strip that hearkens back to the classic strips of yesteryear.

The Eighth Garfield Fat Cat 3-Pack


Jim Davis - 1998
    So whether he's crash-landing into a bowl of soup, modeling his favorite sandwich fashions, or prying his head from the cookie jar, GARFIELD always gets the last bite. And you'll be sure to get the last laugh!

The Full Alex Omnibus


Charles Peattie - 1998