In Your Face: A Cartoonist at Work

by Doug Marlette

The creator of the nationally syndicated "Kudzu" comic strip offers a revealing glimpse inside the world of a cartoonist, describing the creative process, discussing the art of cartooning, and providing anecdotes about his own career

Genres: Comics, Humor, Cartoon, Memoir

212 pages, Paperback

First published November 13, 1991

Reviews

[Aaron Kent · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't written a review in a while, but this book warranted it. This was a bittersweet read. As a kid in the early eighties I entertained visions of becoming a cartoonist, possibly even a political cartoonist. I remember a failed attempt at my idea: Reganomics Comics for the school newspaper. I'm sure Doug Marlette was an inspiration, but at that age I wasn't connecting names to images that much. When I started reading I was leery about a book that was admittedly neither autobiography or cartoon how-to. By mid-read I was amazed at how Doug hit upon just the right amount of personal and professional history, anecdote and tongue-in-cheek "tutorial" to make for an amazing read. Also, if you're middle aged and reading this, the news stories are a blast down 70s/80s/early 90s memory lane. Three quarters of the way through the book I googled Doug to see what he was currently up to and felt really saddened by his tragic death. We leave the world our body of work in whatever form that takes. In Your Face is one of the most successful undertakings to share the experience of one's profession/passion I have ever encountered.

[Bruce · Rating 4 out of 5]

More detailed review forthcoming when I have the time (such excuses seem to be piling up for me of late). The gist, here, though is that my doodle-mad 10 year old son recommended this book to me; he had picked it up at an elementary school book swap/sale. Good suggestion on his part; I very much enjoyed it.

The book features much jejune humor (examples to be provided), but it is by no means juvenile. Marlette has been active as a political cartoonist (e.g., Charlotte Observer, Atlanta Constitution, New York Newsday) and comics artist (Kudzu) since the early 1960s. He wrote this particular retrospective in the early '90s, so it does not reflect his most recent work, but it's nonetheless comprehensive and fun.

Each chapter is accompanied by Marlette's insights and observations on art, writing, history, social politics, journalism, art and literary criticism, and a touch of personal biography. Very edifying if none too deep; he prefers to let his work samples flesh out his comments, and frankly, ain't that why we're here?

His bio as a son of the south, and specifically of poor, un(der)educated millworkers is remarkable considering his personal politics and sense of outrage. His observations of the geography of racism in America (north, south, east, and west) are fascinating to read. His personal insights on pathways to professional cartoonist are likewise worth admission... they remind me of Charles Schulz's in You Don't Look 35 Charlie Brown and some of the other Peanuts anniversaries that have been published over the years.

I'm just tickled pink that my son came to this independently. If he hadn't, I surely would have tried foisting it on him (and his older sister), and I can't imagine it would have made half the impression it did. On either of us.

[Ted Mallory · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marlette won the Pulitzer for editorial cartooning the year I graduated from high school. This is an awesome combination how-to documentary, comedy, behind-the-scenes expose, self-effacing memoir about his work as both an editorial cartoonist for New York Newsday and daily comic strip Kudzu, as well as his misadventures in the world of colleague cartoonists, journalists, Eastern Europe, college in the turbulent 60's and growing up with a the tolerant, compassionate heart of a liberal in the deep, white, conservative, Baptist South.

I thought this was a great choice to start reading since it's been about a year since I gave up editorial cartooning for the Mapleton PRESS, AND because Halloween is also National Editorial Cartoonist Day. It's also a lot lighter than the Viktor Frankl psychology book I also started reading- Marlette has lots of pictures. :)

[Havva · Rating 1 out of 5]

Can I give something negative stars? I never really liked the comics, and after reading this I hated the author too.