Thrashed: Zits Sketchbook No. 9

Zits Sketchbook #9

by Jerry Scott, Jim Borgman

It's incredible to think that Zits was only launched in syndication in the summer of 1997. Since then, the strip's leading teenager, Jeremy Duncan, and his mom, dad, and assorted friends have become a part of the American fabric and, more important, a part of our own families. Who else but cocreators Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman could so quickly work this magic through the more than 1,200 newspapers that now carry Zits worldwide?

Now comes Thrashed, the 9th collection of this incredibly popular strip. All the usual suspects are here: Jeremy; his friends Hector, Sarah, and Pierce; and Jeremy's long-suffering mom and dad. The crew find themselves wrapped up in all the angst and anxiety that life can muster, from keeping the gas tank above "E" to understanding the meaning of life. Through it all, Zits maintains its focus on the adventurous-if-sometimes-pockmarked journey that teens take toward adulthood.

This Zits collection of the past year's daily and Sunday strips is perfect for both teenagers and those who share residences with them, or ever did. Its warm and sympathetic tone brings humor and insight, even though the terrain is often rocky.

Genres: Comics, Humor, Bande Dessinée, Graphic Novels Comics, Graphic Novels, Comic Strips, Fiction

128 pages, Paperback

First published April 30, 2005

About the author

Jerry Scott is an American cartoonist. He is the creator of Baby Blues and co-creator of Zits.

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally published in 2005 (with strips from 2004), this continues the adventures of Jeremy Duncan, as he battles teenaged life and tries to understand his parents, Walt and Connie. As ever, there’s a lot to love in this and I’m sure at least part of that affection comes from the bells this rings in my own life, both my memories of being a teen (in the 80s, what a great decade!), my love of coming-of-age stories and, of course, my life as a parent to Dude (who’s now 20 and about to start his third year at university). There were some great strips here - funny, accurate, sometimes surreal, sometimes a little melancholic - and my highlights include Teachers in thongs, static, taller than Dad, sleepover at 30, conceived to “Stairway To Heaven”, predictable Mum, Mum talking her head off, “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do”, airhugs, Sara’s mole, Hector and “I love you, Dad”, Jeremy’s pregnancy suit, driving lessons, sharing a locker, dirty laundry and a hug for Mum. With some panels that properly made me laugh out loud, this is a cracking collection and I’d highly recommend it.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

He got a cell phone - flip, not smart. LOL

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

great