Staff Picks (June14): Masterful Marks — Cartoonist Who Changed the World

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Simon & Schuster tend to tread lightly in the world of graphic novels but when they do it’s a yeti-sized step. This month in the Books section a book edited and written by Monte Beauchamp, Masterful Marks: Cartoonists Who Changed the World. This is the story of creators that go beyond the super hero and include those artists that expanded the worlds of graphic storytelling, animation, underground comics, Sunday funnies, magazines, and poster illustration.

Using graphic story telling we are treated to Siegel & Shuster and the creation of Superman by Ryan Heshka as well as unique illustrated bios on Edward Gorey, Windsor McKay, Charles Schulz, Harvey Kurtzman, Robert Crumb, and many more. The style of the artwork brings an alternative feel to creators most would consider to be very mainstream. This book is a great blending of these various components of the comic book and graphic illustration fields.

Masterful Marks: Cartoonists Who Changed the World is a book any publisher would be glad to have published. As Simon and Schuster celebrates its 90th anniversary, it’s so nice they gave us such a great present.

~ Steve Leaf