Book Review: I'M ONLY IN THIS FOR ME by Stephan Pastis

I’m a huge “Pearls Before Swine” fan and I was very happy to read a copy of I’M ONLY IN THIS FOR ME. I’M ONLY IN THIS FOR ME is a collection of “Pearls” strips that originally ran in newspapers from March 3, 2014 to December 6, 2014. The book has an introduction from Pastis about the time he ran for political office. This brief introduction is really the only thing in the book that is even slightly connected to the front cover which features a strongly political theme of Rat running for President. I enjoy the book even more because of the cover: it’s a complete misnomer designed to sell more books during the highly political year of 2016. The book is filled with strips that feature the usual “Pearls” humor: witty one-liners, extensive verbal gags, and bad puns. There aren’t as many long running storylines as in some of the other “Pearls” collections. However, the book does feature a running storyline about Stephan Pastis being kicked out of his house by his wife Staci. There’s also a storyline where one of the Crocs goes on “Wheel of Fortune” with Andy Capp and a guy from the comic “B.C.” Lemmings are also featured in several strips. There’s an absurd storyline that deals with Jim Davis and Garfield. However, out of all the “Pearls” collections out there, I’M ONLY IN THIS FOR ME is one that you have to own because it features the three strips that were guest drawn by Bill Watterson! Bill Watterson came out of his comic self-exile to draw those three strips so they could be auctioned off for charity. That makes I’M ONLY IN THIS FOR ME a must-have book for most comic-strip fans.

The Remote-Controlled Heart

"Pearls Before Swine" Dec. 5, 2005

I think this is my favorite "Pearls Before Swine" comic ever (I can't think of one I like better).

Book Review: SKIP SCHOOL, FLY TO SPACE

SKIP SCHOOL, FLY TO SPACE is a collection of "Pearls Before Swine" strips gathered together and marketed specifically towards kids under the AMP! label under Andrews McMeel Publishing. Unlike normal "Pearls" collections, these strips aren't from any specific time frame and don't contain any major story arcs. It's more like a "best of" book than anything else. SKIP SCHOOL, FLY TO SPACE is a great book to introduce "Pearls Before Swine" to someone who has never read the comic before. Fans of the strip can enjoy it as they are reacquainted with strips they haven't read for years.

Short Book Review: BREAKING STEPHAN by Stephan Pastis

BREAKING STEPHAN is a “Pearls Before Swine” collection that features strips that originally ran in newspapers from September 4, 2012 – June 2, 2013. The “Pearls” book covers are usually really entertaining and the cover for BREAKING STEPHAN continues that. It features a parody of the cable tv series, BREAKING BAD. Typical of “Pearls” humor, the book is filled with witty one-liners, bad puns, and extensive verbal gags. There are also several longer storylines. A few of the storylines featured in this collection include  Guard Duck working at a radio station, Rat running for public office, and Larry the Croc job hunting. Some of my favorite storylines in this collection are the one where Andy the (Chained-up) Dog, breaks free and rushes to the hospital to see his dying dad, the one where the killer dolphins move into the neighborhood, and the one where Zebra decides to take a tropical vacation and it goes all wrong. There’s also lots of strips feature lemmings (I love those guys), an armadillo, and the return of a character that died years ago. Overall, BREAKING STEPHAN is another fine collection of “Pearls Before Swine” comic strips.

Pastis for the Pun

"The Argyle Sweater" Dec. 30, 2014

 "Pearls Before Swine" is my favorite comic strip that's currently being published. "The Argyle Sweater" is my favorite one-panel strip that's currently being published. The author & creator of "Pearls Before Swine" is Stephan Pastis and he has become notorious for all the elaborate puns he makes in his strip. I love this homage/mash-up of that.

Book Review: PEARLS FALLS FAST

I'm a big fan of the comic strip "Pearls Before Swine." The strips are sometimes edgy, often relevant, and funny. PEARLS FALLS FAST is a treasury of "Pearls Before Swine" comic strips. The strips in this treasury first appeared in the book collections UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT and RAT’S WARS. These strips first ran in newspapers from February 28, 2011 to September 3, 2012.

Unlike some other comic strip treasuries, a "Pearls Before Swine" treasury includes notes from Pastis on many of the comics in the book. Even if you own all UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT and RAT'S WARS, PEARLS FALLS FAST is a book worth owning just for the notes by Pastis. Some provide some insight to the life of a cartoonist while others are just plain funny. This treasury has some great storylines. Some of these found in the book include: where Larry the Croc becomes the Vice President of a neighborhood Kids Club treehouse, Rat returning to work at Joe's Roastery, a story where aliens who are just anthromorphic beer cans visit the neighborhood, the imprisonment of Stephan Pastis for Rat's anti-government tirades, and Zebra's decision to build a huge wall to protect him from the Crocs; the Crocs continued attempt at getting over Zebra’s wall; Rat joining the Occupy Movement by Occupying Sesame Street; Rat getting sent to Siberia with the rest of Stephan’s missing luggage and Rat’s revenge afterwards; Larry the Croc getting caught in a compromising photo with his Zebra neighbor; Rat being hired to revise Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood; the break-out of the East Coast-West Coast Cartoonist War; Larry’s son becomes friends with Freddy the Frog; and Guard Duck’s “adoption” of Dinky Duckling. Characters from the comics "Dennis the Menace", "Pluggers", "Peanuts", "Blondie", "Mutts", "Beatle Bailey", "Cathy", and "Family Circus" all make appearances. Pastis' pleasure in using Sunday strips for elaborate puns continues in many strips, particularly the Sunday strips. There's also a great regular weekday strip where Pig gets a little bit of "revenge" on Rat on Opposite Day. I also like the Sunday Thanksgiving strip in this collection which features a tribute Charlie Brown and Charles Schultz. The last section is a section entitled "Wading into the Kiddie Pool" and features a selection of drawings (with commentary) by Pastis from his childhood. I always enjoy these treasuries because they feature neat little extras like "Wading into the Kiddie Pool." Overall, PEARLS FALLS FAST is a great treasury of " Pearls Before Swine” strips and an item that any fan of the strip is sure to enjoy.

Charlie Brown Did Not Do It

"Pearls Before Swine" Sunday, March 16, 2014

Book Review: RAT'S WARS

In my opinion “Pearls Before Swine” is one of the best comic strips currently running in newspapers. As is often the case, much of the humor in this collection of "Pearls Before Swine" strips, RAT’S WARS, comes in the form of witty one-liners, witty puns, and extensive verbal gags. The book features strips that ran from December 5, 2011 to September 3, 2012. Pastis' pleasure in using Sunday strips for elaborate puns continues. Some of the storylines I really enjoyed in this collection include: the Crocs continued attempt at getting over Zebra’s wall; Rat joining the Occupy movement by occupying Sesame Street; Rat getting sent to Siberia with the rest of Stephan’s missing luggage and Rat’s revenge afterwards;  Larry the Croc getting caught in a compromising photo with his Zebra neighbor; Rat being hired to revise Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood; the break-out of the East Coast-West Coast Cartoonist War; Larry’s son becomes friends with Freddy the Frog; and Guard Duck’s “adoption” of Dinky Duckling. Characters from the comics “Blondie”, “Mutts”, “Beatle Bailey”, “Cathy”, and “Family Circus” all make appearances at some point. I’m not completely sure, but the cover RAT’S WARS  (which is a parody of Star Wars) seems partially inspired by the Sunday strip on August 6, 2012 where Stephan is reading letters from “fans” and one of them says: PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, do something with Star Wars  where everyone blows up. STAR WARS ROCKS!!!!!!! Also, the introduction of the book Stephan describes part of his experiences visiting troops in Afghanistan for the USO with other cartoonists. Overall, RAT’S WARS is another fine collection of "Pearls Before Swine" comic strips.