Assorted Foxtrot

FoxTrot Anthologies

by Bill Amend

FoxTrot has built its considerable appeal with its sincere depiction of the hilarious clashes seen in everyday family life without getting too sticky sweet. Fans of all ages can find something in creator Bill Amend's work with which they're familiar, from the outrageous sibling rivalries between ten-year-old Jason and his teenage siblings, Peter and Paige, to marital squabbles over golf between parents Roger and Andy. FoxTrot's appeal, in large part, comes from Amend's talent for finding humor in contemporary topics and issues. Readers enjoy a delightful ride as the Fox family members give their takes on the latest in pop culture. It's sometimes surprising and always entertaining to see just how different members of the same gene pool can be.Universal Press Syndicate newspaper

Genres: Comics, Humor, Comic Strips, Graphic Novels, Comic Book, Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics

252 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Bill Amend is an American cartoonist, best known for his comic strip FoxTrot.
Born as William J. C. Amend III, Amend attended high school in Burlingame, California where he was a cartoonist on his school newspaper. Amend is an Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America. He attended Amherst College, where he drew comics for the college paper. He majored in physics and graduated in 1984.
After a short time in the animation business, Amend decided to pursue a cartooning career and signed on with Universal Press Syndicate. FoxTrot first appeared on April 10, 1988.
Amend currently lives in the midwestern United States with his wife and two children, a boy and girl.

Reviews

[Nicolo]

FoxTrot is one of my favorite current daily strips and its book collections are hard to find, at least in my city, so finding a copy of an oversized collection of various strips in one of my bargain hunting bookstore strips was a real treat.

This particular collection has aged a bit, youngest son Jason is quite excited at coming the Episode I, the first Star Wars film in years. Actually, that doesn't seem qw dated at all since he will also feel the same at a new Star Wars movie slated for release in 2015.

I've also read some of the daily strips in this collection, since they are reissuing them again with creator Bill Amend semi-retired and only doing new Sunday strips. But the Sunday strips here are new to me, since those haven't been reissued. Those colored strips along are worth the sticker price.

[Arthur]

Among favorite kinds of books to look for at thrift shops and flea markets are collected editions of newspaper comics. These one-time mainstays on the shelves of Barnes & Noble and Borders (RIP) have almost disappeared, and thanks to the waning polularity of the medium they are probably not widely missed. Or even perhaps thought about all that much at all.

Foxtrot was always one of my favorite comics to read in the newspaper, back when our family had such a thing delivered to our house every day, and this anthology collection is a good reminder of how sharp and consistent it was (still is, I guess, though it carries on as a Sunday-only concern). Each family member is well-defined as a person, and their interactions work well on the surface and even better the more immersed you are in the strip.

The focus tends to fall more on the kids (Peter, Paige, and Jason), especially when it veers into week-long or multi-week stories, and I like how each one of them is portrayed as a little bit less cool than they think they are, but in a relatable rather than a mean-spirited way. Andy and Roger, the parents, get less of the spotlight, but I found myself enjoying the installments that focus on them much more than I did when I was younger and I think the strip does a good job showing them as committed to their family and also wanting to express themselves as individuals.

This collection runs through a few years of late 90s strips, and there's a good amount of lighthearted nostalgia going through the Fox family's reactions to pop cultural touchstones like Titanic, the Beanie Baby craze, the release of Windows 98 and the Phantom Menace hype. It's also got some storylines about the dot com bubble (pre-burst) and day trading that have aged very well in their side-eyed cynicism.

[Mita]

There's no other way of saying it except that FoxTrot is made of awesome. Amen!

[Noelle]

There’s some continuity in this book. Hooray!

[David Blankenship]

Another great collection...with a surprising mini-graphic novel about how Roger Fox has a mid-life crisis. Was not expecting that.

[Chris Seltzer]

To me, this is peak FoxTrot. After spending the early 90s fleshing out the characters and themes of the strip and then running in sort of 'autopilot' mode during the rest of the 90s, we arrive here, now with predictable characters, expected outcomes, but still interesting situations, much like the Chicago Bulls of the late 90s.

As with previous books, technology and pop culture, references remain integral to the comic's contemporary appeal. Examples include Andy getting hooked on Titanic, Jason creating his own operating system (Jasondows 98), and Peter dealing with Star Wars fans at the theater.

This anthology continues showcasing the Fox family members' growth and evolving relationships. For instance, Eileen tricked Jason into admitting that he likes her, signaling a potential shift in their dynamic. Additionally, Roger's concern for Jason after his toy car accident demonstrates the deep bonds between family members.

The comic's signature blend of humor and absurdity remains a key feature. Instances such as Jason's dream involving Lara Croft, Roger's giant cell phone (Mobycom 2000), and Paige's essay getting blown away by the wind all contribute to the comic's lighthearted and entertaining tone.

FoxTrot continues to depict the daily challenges and responsibilities faced by the characters, making their experiences relatable to readers. Examples include Paige babysitting Katie O'Dell, Peter joining the baseball team, and Andy trying to get Roger over his coffee addiction. These scenarios help ground the comic in reality and provide a relatable context for the humorous situations that ensue.

The storylines in this set also demonstrate the characters' ability to adapt to changing circumstances. Roger's foray into day trading stocks and ultimately returning to work at Pembrooke and Andy's decision to buy a new computer (the iFruit) after the family's financial struggles showcase their resilience in the face of adversity.

If you're going to pick up only a single anthology book I think this is the one you should choose.

[Heather]

Foxtrot is a great Sunday comic series, and I enjoy picking these up when I need a little pick me up. Sometimes though the selfishness of the characters really gets to me. It's a silly thing, like Peter eating all the food, or Paige using one of her mother's favorite books to squash a bug because she didn't want to ruin her latest cosmo. At first these things didn't bother me but since I read these all the time over and over it makes me upset. Totally silly but that's the only reason this doesn't get higher stars on my list. Otherwise the artwork and stories are great, lots of fun.

[Ummu Auni]

HAHAHA! I bought this because the price is cheap, thanks BookXcess for selling this at RM 17.90 (that's equivalent to USD 4.50). Now, I'm hooked to it. From the geeky little brother, a sister who needs trendy clothes, a brother who's an average guy, a father who's working almost 24 hours a day to feed his family and a mother, the author was able to capture the essence of a family! Love it to bits!

[Duane]

If you enjoy clean fun family style humor, then Foxtrot is exactly what you're looking for. From the jocky older brother, fashion crazed middle sister, geeky lil brother, clueless dad, and the mom who tries to hold it all together, the daily humor will make you laugh out loud. A great read for any age!

[Malik Vest-Walton]

Hefty and worthwhile compendium. Made me laugh consistently when I was happy and now while I am sad. Clear Calvin and Hobbes influence but with the greatest of anything that's inevitable. I imagine this would be even more enjoyable reading it as it came out as it smartly and boldly commented on trends, like star wars, and apple products. It made me wonder sometimes if they were getting sponsored.

[Bryan Frazier]

I have just re-read this treasury for the umpteenth time !! ( And , I enjoyed reading the book for the umpteenth time !! ) FoxTrot is a fun , wholesome , and creative Comic Strip that debuted on April 10th , 1988 !! I can certainly recommend any and all books in the FoxTrot library !! They are all filled with laughs !!

[Kimberly]

The publishing company of this book is absolutely brilliant! I always love the covers and the book jackets!
My favorite characters are Jason, Paige, and QUINCY! He's absolutely adorable, and Paige's phobia of him is absolutely hilarious! :D

[angrykitty]

again....fox trot really was just a 1/2 hour sitcom in comic form, but it was just so damn funny. i was sooo bummed when i found out amend wasn't going to do the strip anymore. no calvin and hobbs, no far side, now no foxtrot...:(

[Eclipse]

Way funnier than the others. It was super entertaining! I just love how Paige is always being tormented. Bill Amend has to have many more books like this. This book always should be 5 star. I'd recommend it because it is really nice on car rides. Especially boring ones.

[Hailey]

Foxtrot will always be one of the best comic strips of it's day.

[Cindy]

Jason is my favorite, I think. I love the strips with him. I wish this was out every day again instead of just once a week.

[Tatiana]

foxtrot is one of the few cartoons that has ever consistently made me laugh out loud. i can read them over and over again if i need a good cheering-up.

[Nuruli Khaliq]

Buku pertama Foxtrot yang saya baca.
Semenjak itu...... ketagihan berat hehehe

[Seth]

Hilarious!

[Wesley Adams]

Hilarious and so funny I recommend it!

[Ubalstecha]

Another great collection of Fox Trot cartoons.

[Didi]

Great reading companion when I can't sleep late Saturday night/ early Sunday morning.

[Marshall Ruddock]

I've had these FoxTrot books since I was a kid, and I've always found that I could go back whenever and reread them for a laugh.

5*

[Josh]

Funny, but not the best of the collection, still loved it

[Sarah Durkee]

I love foxtrot and have read all these books several times.

[Liz]

Delightful as always. A perfect read right before bed.

[Glen]

Excellent treasury of Foxtrot comic strips.

[Alexander Davidson]

I re-read these Foxtrot anthologies all the time. Perfect way to unwind before bed.

[Sarah]

The introduction of the iFruit! One of my favorite Foxtrot collections thus far!