Comments on: B. Kliban

By: frankdawg

frankdawg — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 16:17:45 +0000

Thanks – I have loved Kliban’s work since first seeing it in Playboy. Recently started looking him up on line as there are a couple of his books I don’t have & want to acquire.

Its sweet and sad to see all the wonderful things people have written about him, though I am not sure he would be 100% pleased. I was also happy to see the comment here noting Addams & Wilson as possible influences. I have seen a bunch of comments trashing Gary Larson as a rip-off; I see his work as more commercial but as tied to Kliban as Kliban is to the earlier works. Thats no good or bad, it just is but it is nice to see them mentioned.

By: Charley Parker

Charley Parker — Sat, 01 May 2010 18:53:59 +0000

Thanks. I've changed the link to this one, though I don't know how long it will remain live: http://www.coldbacon.com/kliban2.html

By: The Old Wolf

The Old Wolf — Sat, 01 May 2010 13:01:18 +0000

Kliban. The very name makes me laugh. While I agree with your excellent write-up, I would go so far as to say that the mind-twisting style of cartooning had roots in earlier artists, notably Charles Addams and Gahan Wilson. Kliban, however, took the concept to a whole new level. I absolutely love his work, and thought it was a huge loss when he passed away so young.

Tragically, the link you provide is no longer live.

By: Tim Kreider

Tim Kreider — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 13:15:34 +0000

I second everything you’ve said. No better evidence is available for the proposition that There’s No Damn Justice in the World than the neglect of Kliban’s books and fading of his reputation. I have the original of “Dirty Fat Person Sits on President’s Face” hanging in the wall over the desk where I’m writing this, and it will be one of the few possessions I lug through the blighted ashscape with me when civilization finally collapses.

You might be interested in my essay on his cartoons, originaly published in the Comics Journal and available in the “writings” section of my website, thepaincomics.com, though it takes a good deal more time to say the same thing you have here, which is, essentially, read his books–they’re amazing.

By: Rick Parker

Rick Parker — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 16:42:19 +0000

I love the guy’s work and he occupies a special place in the order of the universe.

By: andrew

andrew — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 22:35:31 +0000

i hadn’t seen that cartoon before but i’ll never forget it.

it reminds me, i was listening to a show on the radio years ago and somebody was asked their favourite cartoon. whoever it was described a cartoon of two hippotamuses side by side in a swamp somewhere. one says to the other, “i keep thinking it’s thursday”!

By: Gerald Wilgus

Gerald Wilgus — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 01:49:23 +0000

Love to eat them mousies
Mousie’s what I love to eat.
Bite they little heads off
Nibble on they tiny feet.

By: Charley Parker

Charley Parker — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 15:05:07 +0000

That’s a great find. Glad you enjoyed your first taste of Kliban.