Masterful Marks: Cartoonists Who Changed the World

by Monte Beauchamp

In a first-of-its-kind collection, award-winning illustrators celebrate the lives of the visionary artists who created the world of comic art and altered pop culture forever.

No one has told the story of comic art in its own medium, until now. In Masterful Marks, top illustrators—including Drew Friedman, Nora Krug, Denis Kitchen, and Peter Kuper—reveal how sixteen visionary cartoonists overcame massive financial, political, and personal challenges to create a new form of art that now defines our world.

Superhero comics didn’t exist until two teenagers from Cleveland created the first superhero of all time: Superman. Advertising artist Theodor Geisel released his first book in 1937 as Dr. Seuss—and children’s literature was never the same. Charles M. Schulz’s perseverance and passion gave the world Peanuts, the world’s most famous comic strip. Featuring these tales, and profiling such giants as Walt Disney, Robert Crumb, and the creators of MAD, Tintin, and manga, Masterful Marks illustrates how graphic storytelling became such a rich and popular medium.

Masterful Marks is a stunning portrait of the comic art’s aesthetic heritage and a powerful story of how creative vision can change the world.

Genres: Comics, Biography, Graphic Novels, Nonfiction, Art, History, Anthologies

128 pages, Hardcover

First published September 2, 2014

Reviews

[John Porcellino · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked this up at the library and didn't have any expectations, but this book of contemporary cartoonists drawing brief biographies of classic cartoonists turned out to be a very enjoyable read, and turned me on to some interesting artists.

[Stewart Tame · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely book! The premise is simple: biographies of famous and/or influential cartoonists drawn by other cartoonists. Some of the resulting combinations are so right--Arnold Roth doing a biography of Al Hirschfeld, for instance--as to make you shake your head in wonder. Some of my favorites include Drew Friedman doing a bio of Robert Crumb, and Peter Kuper's biography of Harvey Kurtzman which makes inspired use of Kurtzman's classic war story, "Corpse On the Imjin." There's something here for everyone, and I doubt anyone is so familiar with ALL of these biographies that they won't learn something new. One of the treats for me was the use of original artwork--in particular, a jaw-droppingly beautiful Sunday page by Winsor McKay--to illustrate the introduction. Don't let the minimal, constructivist cover design fool you. This is an absolutely gorgeous book and a joy to read.

[Derek Royal · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting collection of brief biographies of influential cartoon/comics creators. I don't want to get into the game of "Who I'd include," but I there are indeed some choices made here in editing as to whose bio to include and whose to leave out. Where, for example, is Will Eisner? Moebius? And there are only three non-U.S. creators included. Still, what is here is fine. The standout entries, at least for me, are the ones by Peter Kuper (Kurtzman) and Drew Friedman (Crumb), who use unconventional means to tell the stories of their creators' lives.

[Chandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a nice compilation. Not only is it informative, but each section is created by a different artist who feels a special connection to the artist they are representing. Physical proof of generational influence.

[Freddie🏳️‍⚧️🐀 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think any cartoonists, especially aspiring ones, should read this book. Perhaps also other types of artists. The book covers several cartoonists in a few pages, perhaps just the right amount. However I do feel they tend to just state your standard wikipedia summary of their life. I would prefer if they expanded on why their work is so influential. Then again I adored most of these stories. They can be a bit repetetive narrative wise, (early love of art, rejections, getting married, sad/bittersweet end), I still enjoyed them. For at least it is a good introduction to these inspirational cartoonists.

I quite liked the anthology aspect, the different artists all bring a different vibe to their storytelling. They all feel different.

Personally though, this book was very helpful for me. It made me want to research more of these cartoonists, and perhaps changed the way I want to make comics. It taught me comics are a medium where you can tell stories unlike any other medium.

[Rick Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book of infographic tributes to classic artists, illustrators, cartoonists, etc. like Disney, Dr. Seuss, Hergé, Siegel & Shuster, Kirby, Kurtzman, McCay, Crumb, Schulz, Lynd Ward, Gorey, Tezuka and more. Many great contemporary artists contribute to this collection - Drew Friedman, Denis Kitchen, Ryan Heshka, Peter Kuper, and more. The list of legendary artists is by no means comprehensive here, arguably many big names are left out, but the homages to aesthetic styles and the individual comic strips were a decent enough read. The infotainment aspect is pretty surface level, so you're not going to learn too much about these artists, but I'm sure some readers of this collection might get their interests piqued on artists they haven't had much exposure to.

[Greg L Goldstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

An ambitious effort: cartoon biographies of some of the world's most renowned cartoonists, drawn by some renowned artists. Results are not always 100 percent, but Drew Friedman's bio of --- and relationship with --- Robert Crumb, is alone worth the price of admission.
Other personal favorites of mine are Ryan Heshka's take on Siegel and Schuster and Superman, and Denis Kitchen's bio of Dr. Seuss.
My only gripe is that the stories themselves should have been longer; some --- including Friedman's tale of Crumb--- are too dense, and the book itself should have contained more biographies. Missing Eisner and Möbius are two that immediately come to mind.
Your results may vary.

[Al McCarty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm glad Monte Beauchamp created this book. A genius idea.
Here are my rankings of the contributions from favorite to less favorite (there's nothing bad inside).

1. Mark Alan Stamaty on Jack Kirby.

2. Drew Frieman on R. Crumb.

3. Peter Kuper on Harvey Kurtzman.

4. Arnold Roth on Al Hirschfield.

5. Nicholas Debon on Winsor McCay

6. Denis Kitchen on Dr. Seuss.

7. Frank Stack on Rudolphe Topffer.

8. Ryan Heshka & M.B. on Siegel and Shuster.

9. Owen Smith and M.B. on Lynd Ward.

10. Dan Zettwoch on Osamu Tezuka.

11. Marc Rosenthal on Chas Addams.

12. Sergio Ruzzier on Charles M. Schulz.

13. Larry Day and M. B. on Walt Disney.

14. Greg Clarke on Edward Gorey.

15. Nora Krug on Herge.

16. Gary Dumm & M.B. on Hugh Hefner.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick bios of masters of the form. Unfortunately not always created by masters of the form.

[Khalid Albaih · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well done legendary cartoonists bios in cartoons

[Kat Hogan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great look into the lives of some of the most influential comic artists. It's a little disappointing that there are no female comic artists in the book at all.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Theoretically, I'm the perfect audience for Masterful Marks: I read graphic novels occasionally, but have almost no knowledge of the history of the genre or its major players, and am desperately in need of a basic primer that could help give context to my explorations of the form. As pretty a conceit as it is, I'm not sure that Beauchamp's book is quite what the doctor ordered.

Marks provides brief biographies of sixteen cartoonists Beauchamp deems influential (whom I mostly had already heard of), illustrated by sixteen current cartoonists (whom I mostly hadn't). The reasons for the pairings are unclear, except in Drew Friedman's bit on R. Crumb, and I suspect one of the reasons his is such a stand-out entry is that he had personal knowledge of his subject to bring to the table. Peter Kuper manages to do an excellent piece on Harvey Kurtzman without any apparent direct connection to his subject, but most of the others seem a bit like prettily drawn Top Ten Facts You Should Know About {Fill in the Blank} lists.

I think perhaps the format here is working against its own best interests. Covering sixteen artists in less than 125 pages is daunting enough even when the majority of those pages aren't dedicated to pictures rather than words, and though the intent of the format to act as an homage is obvious, its result is to provide only the barest glossing over its subjects' lives. I'd happily have read more in-depth essays about Siegel & Shuster and Lynd Kendall Ward, had they been provided, but I'm not sure the taste I got here is enough to send me down the biographical rabbit hole...particularly since there's not even a convenient suggested bibliography for an interested reader to pursue. So while Beauchamp's work has a lot going for it, for me at least it just misses the mark.

[Shelly Donaghey · Rating 4 out of 5]

16 graphic styles. 16 biographies. 16 cartoonists who changed the world illustrated by 16 of today’s top cartoonists. This is MASTERFUL MARKS: CARTOONISTS WHO CHANGED THE WORLD, a colorful and fun depiction of the lives of 16 people who either drew or influenced the modern cartoon. Of course there is Charles Schulz and Dr.Suess, Windsor McKay and Robert Crumb, but there are also names I never heard of such as Osamu Tezuka (Manga and Anime), Lynd Kendall Ward (creator of the graphic novel) and Jack Kirby (so shoot me, at least I know Stan Lee is that old fart in the Marvel movies) as well as several others famous and not so.
The top cartoonists who drew the collection each have their own style, and while a few imitated the person they were drawing about, most depicted these wizards in their own individual stylized hand.
The book was written and edited by Monte Beauchamp with grace and style, trying hard to condense a lifetime of work into six to eight pages. The result is a wonderful mélange of tales, some tragic, some amazing (Hefner, realizing he wasn’t up to the professional standards needed to be a cartoonist, fell back into his B-Plan and did fairly well by it.) some inspiring.
In sum, a fine introduction to the men behind the drawings and the concepts that have formed today’s cartoon experience.
I won this book through Goodreads.

[Peter Landau · Rating 5 out of 5]

MASTERFUL MARKS: CARTOONISTS WHO CHANGED THE WORLD is a collection of 16 comic biographies of cartoonists edited and many written by Monte Beauchamp. The favorites are featured, from Harvey Kurtzman and Chas Addams to Jack Kirby and Charles M. Schulz, including the more obscure, such as Lynd Kendall Ward of the woodcut novel, and surprising, Hugh Hefner, a failed cartoonist. The stories are mostly told in linear, chronological third person, except for Drew Friedman’s portrait of Robert Crumb. It’s unique not only for Friedman’s magnificent artwork, but as the sole personal remembrance of the bunch. Even if you know these inky heroes like I do you’ll be treated to a tidbit of new information, and though the book starts with the tragic story of Siegel and Shuster, Superman’s creators, there are as many happy endings and even a couple ink-stained hands who retire rich and famous. There are lots of strong contributors, such as Peter Kuper and Arnold Roth, and with so many other talented working cartoonist out there, as well as other titans of the industry left to spotlight, here’s to this being only the first in an ongoing series of drawn tributes.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great idea! Pick the 16 most influential artists in graphic arts, comics, and cartoons and tell their story with a graphic presentation in their style. This history of comic art is fun to read and informative. Not being a big graphic novel afficianado, I was surprised at how many of these artists had been a part of my life and influenced my education. Of course Walt Disney, Charles Schultz, and Dr. Seuss were represented--and I learned a lot about them--but the creator of Mad Magazine was a big part of my adolescence, Lynd Ward's The Biggest Bear was one of my fondest childhood memories. Charles Addams and Edward Gorey have been part of my tv life (The Addams Family and Masterpiece Mystery). Al Hirschfield's caricatures and even the influence of Hugh Hefner on the morals of a nation have even been parrt of my life. And I haven't even mentioned Superman. Turns out that this genre has had a bigger impact than I thought, and this book was a fun journey through its history.

[Colin N. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book through a Goodreads Giveaway, so thanks Goodreads! The book is a collection of short graphic biographies of seminal cartoon creators, running the gamut from Kirby, to Addams, Crumb to Disney, Gorey to Seuss, and therefore including the creators of comic strips, comic books, animation, children's books, and adult magazines. Each profile is written and illustrated by a different artist. Overall it is an excellent work, providing good biographies and interesting facts about a number of unique individuals who have influenced society and pop culture in a myriad of ways. It is also a unique collection from a stylistic perspective, showcasing very different graphic styles. Some sections are stronger than others, notably those on Herge, Kurtz, and Crumb. But a good purchase if you are into any or all of these genres.

[Art · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun. Graphic biographies of sixteen cartoonists. An overview of significant cartoonists and publishing, mostly in the twentieth century.

The Midwest and Great Lakes region spawned many of these cartoonists. Charles Schulz came from Minneapolis. Al Hirschfeld was born in St Louis. Cleveland contributed Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. R Crum moved there to take a job. Hugh Hefner, Edward Gorey and Lynd Kendall Ward were born in Chicago. Walt Disney was born in Chicago, the family resettled to a farm in Missouri before moving to Kansas City. Denis Kitchen, who wrote and illustrated the Dr Seuss graphic biography here, made his name in Milwaukee with underground comix.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I love the premise, I'm not entirely thrilled with a few of the stories, nor with the selection. I understand why most of these men were selected but, with one exception, they are all white and, universally, all MALE. Are there no female artists that have made impacts on the world of cartooning? Ingrained, institutional misogyny within the cartooning world aside, most of these stories are impactful and well done in a completely superficial way, with the exception of Walt Disney, whose bio was a complete and utter disgrace to the man whose story was being told. An interesting point of view for the bio shelf.

[Jon Shanks · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice idea, but to try and cover the story of 16 big names in the cartoon/comic book in just over 100 pages isn't anywhere near enough space, you could take that many pages on any one of them and still not cover the entirety of there study. Some of the artists chosen to depict these potted biographies work really well (Chas Addams, Winsor McCay, Harvey Kurtzman, Osama Tezuka, Robert Crumb) other not so much (Walt Disney, Charles M. Schulz, Herge, Edward Gorey). Also, for a book about some of the biggest names in comics, where was Will Eisner?

[Ed Dinnermonkey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brief biographies of a range of sequential artists, all told with sequential art. The more personal or offbeat recollections are the more memorable (the Robert Crumb chapter in particular is fantastic), whereas some feel like they are just going through the motions.

No women to speak of here, save for the slew of jilted wives and partners that populate an alarming number of the stories (the tale of Dr. Seuss' wife is heartbreaking). Still, an interesting exercise that largely achieves what it sets out to do: encouraging you to discover more of these creators' works.

[Matthew Brady · Rating 2 out of 5]

Decent short biographies of important comics creators from throughout history (plus Hugh Hefner, for some reason). I knew about most of these, but they were still fun to read for the most part, often attempting to replicate the style (or at least the tone) of the work of person they are discussing. Worth a look if you're interested in comics history.

[Michael Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short biographies of 16 of the "best" and most famous cartoonists in the world, told in serial graphic form. Most of these cartoonists I have heard of, and most of the bio stories are interesting. However, I don't understand how the author could omit Will Eisner, Bob Kane and Jerry Robinson, Mobius, Al Capp, and a number of other greats. It bothers me more than it should.

[The Advocate]

"This is a great history of the artists that have changed many lives with their work and the struggles that these artists have gone through for their art."
Read more here.

[Jeanine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book on Goodreads.com and it was so much fun! It's 16 biographies of important cartoonists done in graphic novel style - all by different artists. Very clever and very interesting. I recommend it.

[Jack Cheng]

A series of comic strip autobiographies of famous comic book artists and luminaries. On the one hand, the biographical sketches are very brief, on the other, I learned something new about artists who I thought I knew well.

[Prima Seadiva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short graphic biographies of cartoonists who influenced the art by contemporary cartoonists. A bit circular but most amusing. My favorites were the stories of Jerry Segal and Joe Schuster, creators of Superman, R. Crumb,Charles Adams and Jack Kirby-done by a favorite of mine Mark Allen Stamaty.

[Aaron White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mostly fun and interesting. Gave me some new artists to look into. Some of the biographies were not as good. The Disney one seemed entirely pointless, might as well have just written a couple of paragraphs. Some I felt were bad choices to be included. But on the whole, a fun book.

[Adan · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my fictional university course titled "The History of Comics", this book would be the first text I would assign.

[Vincent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Check this out! I learned a great deal while being very entertained!

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid history of cartooning in an excellent format. This is the sort of book that should send readers out to explore the original artists.