When Bad Things Happen to Stupid People: A Close to Home Collection

by John McPherson

Some call it weird. Others, eclectic, creative, hilarious, laugh-out-loud funny, and good old-fashioned snort-milk-out-your-nose humor. Whatever adjective you apply to Close to Home , it has become one of the most popular comic panels in the funny pages today. Close to Home has devout fans that range from elementary students to octogenarians. As one fan put it, "I feel like you have been looking in my window and are drawing my life!" Though by no means a Peeping Tom, John McPherson does have the unique skill of being able to take those idiosyncrasies of daily life that drive us all nuts and infuse them with razor-sharp wit. In When Bad Things Happen to Stupid People John features angry letters from readers, cartoons that were killed by the editor, a glimpse inside his creative process, and never-before-seen photos of his erasers, quill pens, and his lucky drawing slippers. Who could resist it?

Genres: Comics, Comic Strips

146 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2005

About the author

John McPherson is an American cartoonist best known for Close to Home. In the 1990s John decided to leave his engineering job and focus on free-lance cartoons. Close to Home debuted in 1992 and went on to appear in over 600 papers worldwide, including The Washington Post, New York Daily News, Miami Herald and The Tokyo Times.

Reviews

[MKF · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wasn't as funny as I was hoping.

[Ross Vincent · Rating 4 out of 5]

If Far Side is the Star Trek of one panel comics that are weirdly funny, then Close to Home would be the Next Generation. Just as weird, just as funny, and designed for a modern reader.

This collection has sections wher John McPherson gives us a glimpse behind the drawing board - see how some strips are drawn and then a round robin approach to find the best punch line. Or strips that offend people. (This is why we need more Mel Brooks movies - we need to raise that Offensive Bar some more). Or the ones that could NEVER make it to the newspapers (come on - who doesnt laugh at a naked cartoon butt!?!?!)

[Bryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reminds me of Far Side.