I really am a huge fan of Steve Martin. He was on SNL so much in the 70s, as a kid, I really thought he was a member of the Not Ready For Primetime Players. Martin's The Jerk is a film that should be considered required viewing. His comedy book Pure Drivel was pure genius. Though you really should consume it as an audio book in order to get the inflection of his voice.
So when I found this cartoon book, I was all over it for very good reason!
The book came about because of an idea Martin had for a New Yorker cartoon. Not exactly blessed with drawing prowess, At a party, Martin ran across Francoise Mouly, the art editor of the publication since the mid-90s. Mouly paired the comedian with cartoonist Harry Bliss and comedic history was made.
Okay. The duo of Martin and Bliss probably doesn't rank up there with Lewis & Martin or Rowan & Martin. (Neither Martin is of any relation to Steve, as far as I know.) But once the two got together, the singular idea of Steve Martin's produced another strip. And another. And Another. Until there was about 150 more strips. Just enough to make a hardcover collection of!
This volume was a lot like a copy of The New Yorker. There were some hilarious jokes. A couple were very dry. A few needed a couple of minutes to get the punchline. And there were a handful I just didn't get. Thank God that there weren't any articles about the thriving Broadway scene. I gotta admit. I don't read The New Yorker for the articles!
The artwork was great. It was a little bit caricature. Especially the little vignettes that parody the working relationship between Martin and Bliss. The light pencil work just captures Steve Martin's comedy stylings so well- sophisticated and yet just a bit goofy.
An entertaining yet quick read. Not quite perfect. But a perfect combination in that of Steve Martin and Harry Bliss.
Worth Consuming!
Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.
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