Tiny Footprints

by B. Kliban

Absolutely the last advice for seventy-five miles, a collection of 150 cartoons that consider topics such as information, dilute truth and the best way to hitchhike to the coast.

Visual jokes and puns, fantasies and long thoughts-taking the reader to here, there, and Nirvana (sometimes with a side trip to Portland). A New York Times bestseller. 248,000 copies in print.

Genres: Humor, Comics, Cartoon, Art, Nonfiction, Comix

150 pages, Paperback

First published January 5, 1978

About the author

Bernard "Hap" Kliban was a popular American cartoonist. He became an instant cartoon sensation after the publication of his groundbreaking book Cat in 1975. Some forty years after their initial appearance, Kliban’s quirky, colorful cat illustrations are adored icons and cherished friends of fans worldwide. One of the top cartoonists of the 20th century, Kliban contributed work to national magazines for over 30 years.

Reviews

[David Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tiny Footprints and Other Drawings by B. Kliban (Workman Publishing 1978) (741.5973) (3663).

Before Gary Larsen’s “Far Side” or Dan Piraro’s “Bizarro” appeared in the mainstream media, the master of the weird and warped single-panel comic was already at work: the legendary Bernard “Hap” Kliban, known professionally as “B. Kliban.”

Kliban’s work is…well, different. Many of his panels are laugh-out-loud funny, and others are just…weird - but in a hilarious way. For instance, what reaction is evoked when the reader observes a single-file line of biblical-era bearded men toting crosses on their backs as they climb a hill? One assumes that certain and painful death awaits, right?

But not Kliban. The punch line shows the same guys sitting on their crosses and grinning ear to ear as they sled down the hill they had just climbed. (Okay, it’s a lot funnier when you see it).

Tiny Footprints and Other Drawings is a collection of Kliban’s work circa 1978. When I realized that I had never read this volume, I immediately ordered a copy from Amazon (used paperback in good condition, $2.29, ordered 6/28/22) for my library collection. I am delighted that I did so.

My rating: 7.25/10, finished 7/19/22 (3663).

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[John “Hoss” · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good stuff, but not my favorite collection.

[Dominick · Rating 4 out of 5]

The strangest of the three Kliban books I have recently reread, I think. Proportionally more of these cartoons seem to be simply absurd or bizarre (even surreal) drawings, rather than jokes, per se. That's not a bad thing, necessarily, and indeed the more conventional cartoons are consistently funny, in typically trenchant Kliban style. But it is an odd collection.

[Lisa Macklem · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always classic Kliban. Some are funny, some are poignant. Does anyone "get" all of them? Some of them would benefit from a hint or two from a caption - but in many cases that would spoil the joke.

[Tentatively, Convenience · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sight gags galore. Very inspired. A rock dreaming of having a conquistadore place his foot declaratively on it, a native handing a white big game hunter an egg beater as a giant egg aproaches, a genie that materializes in the form of a tv ad, a man looking at a microscope thru a telescope. Kliban's cup spilleth over. Do his close relations get sick of how funny he is & wish he'd stop showing them his cartoons?

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kliban mocks sublimation, whether this is reflected in the ascetic impulse, in higher education or in art. The “story” “A Swell Tale” comments on systems of representation by juxtaposing absurd situations with captions suggesting linguistic entropy.

Acquired unknown year
The Word, Montreal, Quebec

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm much more familiar with B. Kliban's cat drawings, but I saw this book and thought I'd check it out. The drawings are inventive, creative and very odd, and sometimes sexually explicit. Nothing like I expected, but interesting nonetheless. No cat pictures, though; I was disappointed.

[Deke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspired insanity, clever mayhem, I loved these as a kid, and most have aged very well. Ahead of its time.