“One of the great cartoonists of our time.” –New Yorker cartoonist Arnold Roth The remarkable story of one of America’s most prolific and beloved cartoonists, Al Jaffee, with dozens of original color illustrations. Jaffe’s career in cartooning stretches back to 1941—with early humor pieces for Timely Comics, a precursor to Marvel Comics—but the iconic artist remains best known for the brilliant Fold-In cartoons he invented at Bill Gaines’s Mad magazine in 1964. The cerebral and sardonic illustrations have inspired generations of Mad readers—including Stephen Colbert, R. Crumb, Gary Larson and Charles Shultz—to embrace a firm and healthy irreverence towards the status quo. New York Times columnist and bestselling author Mary-Lou Weisman (My Middle-Aged Baby Book) helps Jaffe tell his remarkable story.
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"Wow. I really wasn't expecting this when I picked up this book. Jaffee had one of the more bizarre childhood's I've read about. Interesting to see the effect it had on he and his three brothers." — Tim (4 out of 5 stars)
"Wow. I really wasn't expecting this when I picked up this book. Jaffee had one of the more bizarre childhood's I've read about. Interesting to see the effect it had on he and his three brothers."
“An unnerving biography with a moving graphic novel hidden inside it.”
“Al Jaffee’s Mad Life lays bare in harrowing yet often riotous detail how a Southern boy, twice uprooted by his mother to Lithuanian shtetls on the eve of World War II, grew up to become a tireless satirist for some of America’s cheekier magazines.”
“I’ve been privileged to know many brilliant cartoonists, but the incredibly creative, supremely talented Al Jaffee is right up there at the top of the list.”
“When I am among other cartoonists talking about the giants in our field, one of the first names that comes to the conversation is Al Jaffee...He is a cartoonist’s cartoonist!”
“Allen Rickman’s engaging and comfortable tone works well in depicting Jaffee’s life.”
" This is a short book with a lot more emphasis on Jaffee's childhood than his 60+ years at Mad--but that's ok because his young life is such a compelling story. "
" Wonderfully told, with Jaffee drawings illustrating key moments in his life. Would have loved to have had more samples of Jaffee's work, especially MAD stuff. "
" Way too much time spent on Al's depressing childhood and hardly any time spent discussing his years as a cartoonist and his years at Mad Magazine. Lots of great new drawings from Mr. Jaffee! "
" The fact that it is only three fourths of the way through the book that Jaffee gets to MAD will tell you all you need to know about this book. A huge disappointment. "
" I grew up on Mad Magazine, so even if this book sucked,I would like it.It doesn't suck so read it.I would love to have a few beers with Jaffee. "
" Though the writing is nothing special, the illustrations by Mad Magazine's Al Jaffee of his colorful and eventful life help make this biography an enjoyable and entertaining read. "
Mary-Lou Weisman is an award-winning journalist and bestselling author. Her published books include My Baby Boomer Baby Book, Traveling While Married, My Middle-Aged Baby Book, and Intensive Care: A Family Love Story. All of her books remain in print. Her essays, feature articles, interviews, and film and book reviews have appeared in many publications, among them the New Republic, Newsweek, Glamour, Vogue, Atlantic Monthly, and the New York Times. She has also contributed essays and commentary to Public Radio International. She lives in Westport, Connecticut, with her husband, a lawyer.
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