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The Lexicon of Comicana

By Mort Walker

The Lexicon of Comicana

By Mort Walker

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Description
A new edition of Beetle Bailey creator Mort Walker’s riotous and immensely influential handbook for drawing and reading cartoons—a book that’s both a parody of humorless how-to guides and a genuine (and genuinely instructive) ode to the art of making comics. In a cartoon, what do you call the sweat drops shooting off a character’s head? Those are “Plewds.” What about when you see a character wagging their tongue out of their mouth? Oh, that’s a “Protusilation.” How about the lines coming off a freshly baked pie? That’s a “Waftarom.” This sort of playful comics nomenclature abounds in The Lexicon of Comicana, the revered 1980 cartooning handbook authored by Mort Walker, creator of the legendary daily comic strip Beetle Bailey. Both a send-up of lofty how-to-draw books and a sincere and hilarious love letter to the art of drawing cartoons, the Lexicon is a joyously exhaustive cheat sheet to key comics visuals that has been referenced and treasured by generations of cartoonists. This new edition includes a foreword by Chris Ware and a meticulous appendix by Mort’s son Brian Walker, who delves deep into the visual language of comics. With the help of The Lexicon of Comicana, you’ll come away a better, wiser, richer, and funnier artist. Plus, you’ll learn what a “Morf” is—Mort’s favorite part.
Product details
Binding:
Paperback
Edition:
1
Number of Pages:
128
Release Date:
2025-09-30
Publication Date:
2025-09-30
Publisher:
New York Review of Books
Languages:
Original: English
ISBN10:
1681379562
ISBN13:
9781681379562
GPSR Manufacturer Reference:
[email protected]
Weight:
386 g
Height:
215 cm
Width:
278 cm
Thickness:
11 cm
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