Tag: Berkeley Breathed

Brian Walker’s two books on American newspaper comics, “The Comics Before 1945” and “The Comics Since 1945,” have been combined in a new and lavish omnibus edition, “The Comics: The Complete Collection” from Abrams Books. Walker surveys more than a century of strips and the book is jampacked with more than 1,300 images, including rare examples provided by the artists themselves. All of it is organized by decade and interspersed with creator profiles and trenchant analysis of the different genres and trends. More than a pop-culture scholar, Walker is a creator himself — since 1984 he has been part of the creative team that produces the “Beetle Bailey” and “Hi and Lois” strips. I caught up with the Connecticut author to talk about the glorious past and uncertain future of the great American comic strips. GB: As far as craft and just pure talent, ...

This weekend, Berkeley Breathed’s guest essay on “Mars Needs Moms!” runs in the Sunday Calendar section of the Los Angeles Times. Here’s an excerpt… We had a birth on Aug. 24, 2006. A difficult delivery — some screaming and tears. Yes, unplanned and yes, conceived in sin. A bit later I sold her on Buena Vista Street to some shadowy men wearing shiny loafers without socks. They drove her off into the Burbanknight, muttering about “big plans.” She cried. I cried. Selling your baby is emotionally tricky. On the other hand, they paid me in cash and I’ll need hair plugs one day. They’re $400 each. Stop with the shocked look. As a struggling new parent without a spare $100 million for expenses, I was in no position to raise my painted progeny myself. And “progeny” is exactly what picture ...