Sergio Aragones - Five decades of his finest works

This huge volume has been keeping me occupied for the past two weeks or so - a compendium of Mad Magazine cartoons by Sergio Aragones, long-time contributor to Mad Magazine, part of the "usual gang of idiots", also known among his peers as the world's fastest cartoonist.

I had grown up squinting and laughing out loud at his Mad Marginals - the steady stream of cartoons which filled the margins around the pages and between panels of Mad Magazine. He also has a feature in every issue called "A Mad Look at ..." which consist of two to four pages of comic strips around a common subject.

I've never met Sergio personally but I hope to some day. His work brings me much mirth and laughter, through sheer simplicity and almost always in pantomine - proof that cartooning is indeed the universal language. So half a century on, I look forward to another half century of cartoons...because Sergio is THAT fast.


Front cover


Back cover; I found myself nodding in agreement at the blurb by Matt Groening, creator of the Simpsons and Futurama


Inside cover features some of his marginals


There you have it... 5 glorious decades


Foreword by Patrick McDonnell, creator of Mutts


Interview by Nick Meglin, friend and former editor of Mad Magazine


Standout piece for me - A cartoon guide to the United States


Sergio's first contribution to Mad Magazine, from issue #76.


One of Sergio's "Mad Look at ..." features (in colour from the 2000's decade).


New self-portrait created for this volume


Includes a fold out poster of 500 (out of literally thousands) of Sergio's favourite marginals

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (Subterranean Press)

I am a huge Neil Gaiman fan and masochistic completist when it comes to collecting his work. The Graveyard Book won various awards including the prestigious Newbery Medal.

Subterranean Press published a limited edition 500 numbered and 26 lettered edition of the Graveyard Book and accepted pre-orders for it way back in Sept 2008. In order to reward those who paid upfront and put up with the half-year wait until its release, Subterranean published a register listing the names of people who pre-ordered.

In addition, this handsome volume contained exclusive content not found in the earlier editions:

– New and very different design from the Harpers and Bloomsbury editions

– New illustrations by Dave McKean

– New photographic sections adding atmosphere under the title pages at the beginning, and under the Interlude chapter

– Use of two colour and duotone throughout

– Full colour section at the end, with alternate covers, roughs and sketches.

– Hardbound in cloth and marbled paper

– Slipcase

– Signed by Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean

Numbered 261 of 500.




I'm on page 327! Not 42!