Here are short bios of cartoon artists from the past. In all, more than five dozen of them. Their backgrounds, their families, their personality traits. (Some of them resembled their own cartoon characters.) How they got started. Some were high school dropouts. One was sent home from high school for drawing pictures in class (page 19). Some were naturals, born to draw comics (Walt Disney, Frank King). Others arrived by all sorts of unrelated jobs. One rode the rails as a hobo (page 80).

Fun facts about them. Quips and quotes and anecdotes. Surprises and laughs. Did you know that Jim Davis, the creator of Garfield the comical cat, grew up with 25 cats and had a wife who was allergic to cats?

And this book discusses their cartoon strips, their themes. Why they were popular, how they evolved over time. Indeed these strips were products of evolution. Before Blondie Bumstead there was Dumb Dora. Before Smokey Stover there was Scorchy Smith. Before Little Orphan Annie there was Little Orphan Otto. Before Mickey Mouse there was Steamboat Willie. Before Prince Valiant there was Derek, Son of Thane. Before Gasoline Alley there was Motorcycle Mike.

This book needs illustrations, especially portraits of the artists. It would help to know what they looked like. And a book about artists should include some examples of their work.

This is a secondary source, but well researched. Bibliography included. Recommended to nostalgiacs over 45 and fans of the funny papers. ( )