Great Comic Cats

by Bill Blackbeard, Malcolm Whyte

In this delightful history of funny felines---a revised and expanded edition of the original 1981 publication---caricature, comic narrative, and color art add to the original coterie of creatures. Each of the eight entertaining chapters includes historical tidbits relevant to the printing, literature, and lifestyle of cartoon cats dating back over 200 years. But always it is the images of the cats that prevail. From Thomas Nast s ferocious Tammany Tiger to George Herriman s mischievous and irrepressible Krazy Kat to Jim Davis s cynical and self-centered Garfield, Great Comic Cats is a tribute to the legions of furry muses who have inspired artists for ages and ages. Bill the Cat, Poosy Gato, Felix, Orwell T. Catt, Kit n Carlyle, Fritz the Cat, Cicero s Cat, Polly and Her Pals, and the rest of the fantastic feline gang welcome you to the hilarious, irreverent, and joyful world of Great Comic Cats. Foreword by Patrick McDonnell, creator of the Mutts comic strip.

Genres: Comics, Humor, Animals, Art

157 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

Bill Blackbeard was an American writer, editor, and pioneering comics historian whose lifelong mission was to preserve the art of the newspaper comic strip. As founder and director of the San Francisco Academy of Comic Art, he assembled one of the world’s most important collections of comic strips and newspaper sections, ultimately totaling millions of items. His belief that the newspaper comic strip was a vital and uniquely American art form shaped both his scholarship and his preservation efforts, especially at a time when libraries were discarding bound newspapers in favor of microfilm.
A passionate advocate for the cultural value of comics, Blackbeard wrote, edited, or contributed to more than two hundred books, including The Smithsonian Collection of Newspaper Comics, 100 Years of Comic Strips, and major restorations of series such as Krazy & Ignatz and Wash Tubbs and Captain Easy. His work helped establish the foundation for modern comics scholarship, and his meticulous archival practices preserved material that would otherwise have been lost.
Through the Academy, he developed a vast network of supporters who helped him rescue newspapers from across North America. His collection later became a cornerstone of the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum, where it continues to support research and publication. Blackbeard’s influence extends far beyond his own writing; generations of scholars, cartoonists, and historians have relied on the resources he saved and the standards he set.

Reviews

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a nicely presented introduction to comic-strip cats both old and new(ish). I read the 1981 version, so "Mutts" was not included this one. I especially enjoyed the highly detailed Victorian illustrations.