Synopses & Reviews
The long-lost comic strip masterpiece by Crockett Johnson, legendary children's book author (, ), collected in full and designed by graphic novelist and Barnaby superfan Daniel Clowes (, ). Vol. 2 collects the years 1944-1945 of 5-year-old Barnaby Baxter and his Fairy Godfather J.J. O'Malley's misadventures. The cigar-chomping, bumbling con-artist and fast-talker O'Malley takes Barnaby on a trip to D.C. to serve his term in Congress. Also, Gus the Ghost and O'Malley follow the Baxters to their seaside cottage, enlisting Barnaby to join them on a treasure hunt. Plus Wall St., Ermine hunters, soap salesmen and more! Adored by all ages, Barnaby's deft balance of fantasy, timeless humor and elegant cartooning will delight even the most sophisticated reader (Chris Ware () loves it), much as it did in its original run, attracting fans as diverse as Dorothy Parker, Charles Schulz, W.C. Fields, Gardner Rea, Milton Caniff, Rockwell Kent and Louis Untermeyer.
Review
"Cushlamochree, Barnaby is back. ... Five-year-old Barnaby Baxter and his fairy godfather, Mr. O'Malley, had amazing journeys through the world (and dark underbelly) of politics, high finance and current events. They crossed the line between reality and imagination as often as we crossed the street, leaving readers spellbound and craving more." Reason
Review
"I haven't read a better book this year than the second volume of Fantagraphics' collection of the Crockett Johnson strip." Michael Taube The Washington Times
Review
"That's the unalloyed brilliance of Johnson's strip: in the end there's nothing extraordinary in this world -- only little flying men, ghosts and imps of all sorts, talking dogs, and the like, and a well-balanced little boy who doesn't consider that anyone should think any of this to be unexpected. ... These are gorgeous and charming books, fine harbingers of future volumes in the series, and a necessary reminder of the gentle pleasures of, as [Chris] Ware observes, the last great uncollected comic strip." Tom Spurgeon The Comics Reporter
Review
"[Johnson's] worldview... gave us one of the 20th century's most entertaining comic-strip characters, J.J. O'Malley. He might not be the fairy godmother a boy wants, but he's the egotistical lowlife of a fairy godfather we all deserve." Jesse Walker
Review
"...[T]he stories contained in this generous collection are magical in nearly every sense of the word: they delight and charm, they follow their own shaggy dog pace and rhythm, and they contain all kinds of enchanted creatures... a book like this is almost more charming now than it was back in the day." Jason Sacks
Synopsis
Volume 2 of legendary children's book author () Crockett Johnson's long-lost comic-strip masterpiece collects 5-year-old Barnaby Baxter and his Fairy Godfather J.J. O'Malley's 1944-1945 newspaper strip misadventures: designed by graphic novelist Daniel Clowes ().
Synopsis
The long-lost comic strip masterpiece by Crockett Johnson, legendary children's book author (Harold and the Purple Crayon, The Carrot Seed), collected in full and designed by graphic novelist and Barnaby superfan Daniel Clowes (Ghost World, Wilson). Vol. 2 collects the years 1944-1945 of 5-year-old Barnaby Baxter and his Fairy Godfather J.J. O'Malley's misadventures. The cigar-chomping, bumbling con-artist and fast-talker O'Malley takes Barnaby on a trip to D.C. to serve his term in Congress. Also, Gus the Ghost and O'Malley follow the Baxters to their seaside cottage, enlisting Barnaby to join them on a treasure hunt. Plus Wall St., Ermine hunters, soap salesmen and more Adored by all ages, Barnaby's deft balance of fantasy, timeless humor and elegant cartooning will delight even the most sophisticated reader (Chris Ware (Building Stories) loves it), much as it did in its original run, attracting fans as diverse as Dorothy Parker, Charles Schulz, W.C. Fields, Gardner Rea, Milton Caniff, Rockwell Kent and Louis Untermeyer.
About the Author
Crockett Johnson was the pen name of cartoonist and children's book illustrator David Johnson Leisk (October 20,1906-July 11, 1975). He is best known for the Harold series of books begun with Harold and the Purple Crayon and for the comic strip Barnaby. He was married to the children's book author Ruth Krauss, with whom he collaborated on several books, including The Carrot Seed.Daniel Clowes is a celebrated graphic novelist, Academy-Award nominated screenwriter, and frequent cover artist for the New Yorker. He lives in Oakland, CA. He is a multi-Harvey, Eisner, and Ignatz Award winner, and his papers were recently acquired by the University of Chicago library.Jules Feiffer is a cartoonist, playwright, children's book author and illustrator, and member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He teaches a humor writing class at Stony Brook Southampton College and lives in Southampton, New York.Eric Reynolds is the Associate Publisher of Fantagraphics Books and lives in Seattle, WA.