Dark Humor

by Oliver Gaspirtz

Throughout history’s darkest times, people have exhibited a particular type of dark humor, also known as black humor, black comedy, dark comedy, or gallows humor. That’s my favorite kind. I like absurd, random stuff. But with a dark twist. Black humor makes fun of the things that terrify us. It’s a coping mechanism. Some people think death is taboo as a topic for jokes. But every stand up comic and every cartoonist knows that taboo jokes get the biggest laughs, the guilty laughs, and the biggest dopamine release. Humor is not supposed to be polite. It’s supposed to mock bad things. Here’s a little selection of some of my favorite cartoons, about life’s painful little absurdities that make me laugh. “I laugh because I must not cry, that is all, that is all.” -Abraham Lincoln

41 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 24, 2020

About the author

I've been making a living as a cartoonist and writer for over 20 years. My first book was published in 1993.

Reviews

[Lyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a bit of a fluke, got this off of Kindle and I did not really understand what I was getting. My Kindle version says "Dark Humor" but on here its this title. Weird.

Dark humor comics - made famous by Charles Addams and Gary Larson - are favorites of mine and this fit the bill for the most part, just not a lot here. I'd like to see this artist produce oodles more comics in this genre.

[Nancy Cortes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark and twisted. Yes, it made me laugh. Perfect for 2020.

[Eric Prater · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great fun read!

It's nice to go to the dark side everybody and then, I don't want to live there, but it's nice to visit every now and then!

[DOUGLAS J BERRY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cartoons from a free lancer.

Good color artwork. Free from the author. 34 pages. Not suitable for children. A quick look at a free lancers work in various papers.

[Diarmuid O'Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short but still good

Very short, but still elicited a chuckle. The humor is dark, but it's pretty tame and inoffensive. I got it for free, but would pay a few bucks for it. Some of the jokes are ones you will have seen or heard elsewhere and some aren't funny, but there are several ones that are pretty original.

[Eugene VANDELSEN · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was exactly what the doctor ordered!

Thanks, Gaspirtz. You are so right about a little dosis of humour when all seems dark around us. This is the only way to survive and watch a new day illuminate our world. Thanks for your humour whether black or pink it helped me tremendously tonight.😅

[Stefan Mitchell-Lauridsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very quick read that can make some people smile even if some jokes are bit old and dry. There could have been dome much more to improve it but as a free book there is no reason to complain since it is free.
If you paying for it then it is not worth more then 0.99 cents.

[Megan K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks for the laughs!

I've loved the off-key type humor forever. Gaspirtz is the man who writes it. He's a meme machine. Thank you Gaspirtz, for chilling that pain that nothing could quell.

[Bulldog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good for a quick laugh

I wouldn't consider it dark, but I'm from the Darkside. Still chuckled at a few.

And I have to add more words.

[marian henrici · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good but to short

Funny book but to short just like this review. I am a real fan of dark humor. Good for people that liked the Far side comics.

[tabby mccain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

Very very funny!!! Loved the quotes an the pictures but it's too short I wish it was longer!! All in all it was a good laugh!!!

[Joseph Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Made me smile

Great little book of cartoons. Too funny. I liked his humor and it didn't push the envelope too much. I would recommend!

[Lloyd]

Funny

The art is good and jokes funny. What else can you say about a joke book! Loved it. Ha ha

[Patricia-Ann Convery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Witty and clever

Funny and well drawn, worth returning for a quick burst of humour that can be enjoyed by all. Definitely brighten up my day

[Tara Ranowiecki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Its a good laugh to help pass some.time

If nothing else this book gives you a good chuckle! Great way to pass some time. I recommend giving it a try

[Sreelekha Nama · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of funny

I can't really judge by just this book, I'll have to go get a little spin of his others works too. Well some of them are funny!

[JC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant! Hilarious!

Twisted cartoons / memes that come at you sideways and make you laugh, sometimes loudly. Reminds me of “The Far Side” but uniquely Gaspirtz. Wonderful!

[Henry Wortmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short

Hard to review because it is so short. I guess I can add @#$%&%$#@ to stretch it out! It not. Take your pick.

[Eva Hambruch · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kind of humor!

Minus a star for being too short. Got it back for being free with Kindle Unlimited. (Four more words needed in this review? Okay.)

[Gretchen Holtcamp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warped

I loved it, I laughed until I snorted. The cover picture is a good example of the rest of the book, so if that doesn't make you laugh then this not the book for you.

[craig gottschling · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not funny

Just not funny to me. None of the jokes were original. A chuckle or two maybe but not a single laugh.

[Wendy ( ͡°❥ ͡°) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little strange but not enough pages for me to make a fair judgement. 🤷🏻‍♀️