Synopsis
Wilson is among the most popular, widely read, and beloved cartoonists in the history of the medium, whose career spans the second half of the 20th century and all of the 21st. His work has been seen by millions - no, hundreds of millions - in the pages of Playboy (Wilson appeared in every issue of Playboy from the December 1957 issue to today), The New Yorker and many other magazines.
Wilson ridicules everything from state sponsored executions to teenage dating with hilarious satirical jabs. Although Wilson is known for his black comedy, this three-volume set truly demonstrates the depth and breadth of his range. Gahan Wilson: 50 Years of Playboy Cartoons is a testament to one of the funniest - and wickedly disturbing - cartoonists alive. It's not only a perfect holiday gift for his legion of fans, but also has crossover appeal to those who favor the darker sensibilities of cartoonists such as Charles Addams or Edward Gorey.
Review
It's a testament, not only to Wilson's genius (the material never flags or gets rote, no matter what the decade) but also to Fantagraphics skill in presenting this material in such a stellar fashion. Really, it was the best retrospective collection of the year.--Chris Mautner
Gahan Wilson's macabre illustrations and wicked sense of humor have made a lasting impression.
Norman Rockwell s evil twin.
Starred Review. Few cartoonists ever had as lavish a tribute as a three-volume-slipcased collection, but few are as deserving as Wilson. Collecting 50 years worth of his monthly single page gag cartoons from Playboy, it's a definitive overview of a remarkable talent and viewpoint.
Fantagraphics sets a high standard for quality in all of their products, and this collection does not disappoint. ... It's just amazing...this is a product with a real 'wow' factor. ... If you're an admirer of Wilson's work like I am then this will be a must-have, something you'll want to look at again and again.--Matt Staggs
This incredible boxed set of three gorgeous hardcovers celebrates one of art's funniest and most disturbing cartoonists. ... Gahan Wilson: Fifty Years of Playboy Cartoons is the most comprehensive and attractive Wilson book ever produced.--Rick Klaw
Most of [Wilson's] cartoons appeared in Playboy, where he has been in every issue for the past three decades. Now Fantagraphics has lovingly and exhaustively collected these, so if Miss January leaves you cold, you can pick up this wondrous, three-volume set and tuck in.--Laurel Maury
The best retrospective collection of the year.--Chris Mautner
As a physical object Gahan Wilson: Fifty Years ofPlayboy Cartoons cannot be praised highly enough. ...[F]or all theirmorbidity and ghoulishness, Wilson s cartoons affirm the value ofcherishing life. As inhuman as his characters often are, Wilson is adeeply humane cartoonist. --Jeet Heer
Norman Rockwell 's evil twin.
The best retrospective collection of the year. --Chris Mautner"
Starred Review. Along with the centerfolds and the interviews, Playboy is famous for Gahan Wilson s cartoons, 50 year s worth of which are aptly mounted on Playboy-size pages in this boxed set. Glowing introductions by Playboy proprietor Hugh M. Hefner and Wilson s latter-day friend and writing partner Neil Gaiman, the five Wilson short stories Playboy has also published over the years, and a sterling profile of and interview with the artist by Comics Journal editor Gary Groth accompany the cartoons.... Hefner knew great cartooning when he saw it, and the satirical undercurrent coursing through Wilson s work amused him as much as Wilson s eldritch comic irony, which is wilder than but otherwise of a piece, especially in quality, with that of Wilson s greatest peer, Charles Addams. And doubtless Hefner admired, along with the rest of Wilson s ardent following, the flamboyant, wiggly line with which Wilson limns the hideous figures that people his panels. "
As a physical object Gahan Wilson: Fifty Years of Playboy Cartoons cannot be praised highly enough. ...[F]or all their morbidity and ghoulishness, Wilson s cartoons affirm the value of cherishing life. As inhuman as his characters often are, Wilson is a deeply humane cartoonist. --Jeet Heer"
Norman Rockwell s evil twin. "
Wilson s misshapen mind s eye, in which every figure and prop and setting looks like it s made of the same stuff as those watches by Dali, has remained unblinking and interested to this day. Wilson was the antithesis of the one-panel, one-gag cartoonist he appeared to be... Whole dystopian novels detached from their illustrations were sensed in [his] cartoons --Adam McGovern"
Starred Review
Starred Review. A definitive overview of a remarkable talent and viewpoint, beautifully designed and printed.
Like Charles Addams, to whom he is often compared, Wilson is a master of the macabre.
Norman Rockwell s evil twin."
This career retrospective is massive and beautiful and I think a lot of people are going to be so happy to have all this work in one place.--Tom Spurgeon
This is a stunning collection, gloriously presented.--Steve Duin
Twisting pop-culture icons to dark-witted ends, Wilson places his characters in a world of terror and understatement. ... [T]he incidental commentary here about human selfishness and shortsightedness squeezed between the B-movie monsters and little green men feels timeless, as does the remarkably high level of quality Wilson has maintained over the years. ... [Grade] A.
A monster production, a slipcased behemoth, nearly 1000 pages in three volumes, with deliciously wicked humor on every page. ... Open the box, free the three volumes, and dive in anywhere. You will not be disappointed.--John Mesjak
As mammoth and daunting a career retrospective as anyone could wish for: a gorgeous three-volume set, beautifully designed.--Douglas Wolk
Gahan Wilson: 50 Years of Playboy Cartoons cannot be praised highly enough. --Jeet Heer
Gahan Wilson: 50 Years of Playboy Cartoons cannot be praised highly enough. --Jeet Heer
Wilson's misshapen mind's eye, in which every figure and prop and setting looks like it's made of the same stuff as those watches by Dali, has remained unblinking and interested to this day. ... Wilson was the antithesis of the one-panel, one-gag cartoonist he appeared to be... Whole dystopian novels detached from their illustrations were sensed in [his] cartoons...--Adam McGovern
Norman Rockwell's evil twin.
The work is tremendous and witty and, as always with an excellent retrospective, it offers the reader an excellent chance to walk back in time through decades of experiences, memories, turbulences and triumphs, and just plain old human oddities. What's truly amazing is how, for more than 50 years, Wilson rarely misses a witty beat.--John Hogan
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