VIP: The Mad World of Virgil Partch

by Virgil Franklin Partch, Jonathan Barli (Editor)

Only a few months after the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor and the same year that Albert Camus offered the world his bleak vision of man’s existence by introducing his philosophical dictum of The Absurd, Virgil Partch burst onto the scene with his own twist on the phrase. Partch was a cartoonist who offered comic counterpoint to the grim headlines and a unique perspective on human nature in the pages of the nation’s most popular magazines. Known to millions by his jazzy signature, VIP, this comic genius ushered in a new era of the gag cartoon―zany, sometimes surreal, always hilarious―that inspired a generation of fellow cartoonists starting in the 1940s and ’50s. His madcap style of humor was reflected in the cutting-edge comedic sensibilities of Burns & Allen, Jack Benny, Ernie Kovacs, Bob & Ray, Stan Freberg, and Jean Shepherd, and would position Partch as one of the most prolific “gag-men” of his day. VIP contributed to an astonishing array of magazines, wrote gags for other cartoonists, illustrated books, album covers, and advertisements, and adorned merchandise including, appropriately, cocktail The Mad World of Virgil Partch is the first time Partch’s life and career has been treated in full, collecting amazing artwork from the entire range of his inspired career and featuring his own writings. 

Genres: Art, Humor, Biography

199 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 16, 2013

About the author

Partch is also known under his initials, Vip.

Reviews

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I never heard of Parcth but picked this book up on a whim from Comixology Unlimited. The biographical essays about Partch were informative, providing a nice overview of his life without getting bogged down with tons of detail. I quite enjoyed Partch's cartoons which were funny and had a unique style. I found the essays by Partch at the end to be tedious and would have preferred more of his cartoons over his prose.

[Charles Eldridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

VIP’s art has always been familiar - perhaps it subliminally present around our mutual Orange County environs. This was a fantastic introduction to the person behind the pen. What a varied life! This book does a lovely job of presenting the artists beginnings and career and personal life - complete with a great sampling of visuals. The bonus of a few articles penned by the artist himself at the end really tied together everything.

[A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Virgil Partch’s books were something my father kept on the bookshelf in his den. When he wasn’t there, I would look through these books and many others. It was a surreptitious education through osmosis.

Finding this biography, full of Partch’s drawings, stirred a long-forgotten memory.

[Richard Horsman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great art, beautiful layout, and hilarious cartoons: another great piece of book design from Fantagraphics. Unfortunately the workmanlike text that gives the very broad outlines of VIP's life and art doesn't offer much in the way of depth or analysis.

[David Rickert · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it was an interesting biography and VIP is definitely one of the funniest and most talented cartoonists ever. However, I would have liked to see more of his published gag cartoons since those can be difficult to find.