…”Insider Histories of Cartoonists,” by longtime fellow “Comics Journal” contributor and more recently pal, R.C. Harvey, who knows more about cartoonists than the entire populations of most stated. Here, in a dozen essays, Bob scrutinizes several of them, usually little known today, and raps generally about the art form. His knowledge is vast, his style welcoming, and his insights useful. Here is my favorite line, delivered about Bill Mauldin’s dogfaces,
Willie and Joe. “At least a score of his images are iconic, integrated every wrinkle and whisker intact into the cultural consciousness of America.” Note those repeating “i”s and “c”s and “w”s. Just beautiful.