Munro

The Collected Works #2

by Jules Feiffer (Author, Illustrator)

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Genres: Comics, Humor, Comic Strips

96 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1989

About the author

Jules Feiffer was an American cartoonist, playwright, screenwriter, and author whose work left a significant imprint on American satire and cultural commentary. Emerging from the postwar era of newspaper comics, he first gained recognition through his long-running comic strip published in The Village Voice, where his loose, expressive line drawings and psychologically sharp dialogue captured the anxieties, contradictions, and social performances of contemporary life. Feiffer used humor to critique politics, relationships, and everyday neuroses, developing a voice that felt conversational, self-aware, and deeply engaged with the shifting cultural moods of the United States. His graphic style, which often emphasized gesture and tone over detailed renderings, was equally distinctive, and helped expand the visual vocabulary of editorial and literary cartooning. Beyond his cartoons, Feiffer became an accomplished writer for stage and screen; his play Little Murders offered a darkly comic exploration of violence and alienation in urban America, while his screenplay for Mike Nichols’s film Carnal Knowledge drew widespread attention for its unflinching examination of intimacy and desire. Feiffer also wrote children’s books, including the popular The Phantom Tollbooth, for which he provided the illustrations that helped establish the book’s imaginative visual identity. He demonstrated an enduring commitment to making art accessible, engaging with students and general audiences alike through teaching and public appearances, and continued producing work across multiple genres throughout his life. His comics and writings were often autobiographical in spirit, even when fictionalized, providing commentary on his experiences growing up in New York and moving through decades of cultural change. Feiffer received numerous honors for his contributions to American arts, including major awards recognizing his innovation in cartooning, his influence on graphic storytelling, and his impact on theater and film. His later work included longer-form graphic novels and personal memoirs, reflecting on childhood, family, and the evolution of his artistic voice. Feiffer remained an active and inquisitive creator well into his later years, consistently exploring new creative forms and responding to contemporary political and social issues. His legacy is seen in the work of generations of cartoonists and writers who drew inspiration from his willingness to bring emotional depth, social critique, and literary ambition to comics and satire. Feiffer’s work stands as a testament to the power of humor to illuminate the complexities of human behavior and the cultural forces that shape everyday life.

Reviews

[Óscar Trobo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Con la estructura típica del álbum ilustrado infantil, Feiffer nos ofrece en Munro una sátira sobre el ejército, con esta historia de un niño reclutado a la edad de cuatro años. Tiene muchos puntos en común con el The Bear That Wasn't de Frank Tashlin publicado más de diez años antes, pero la obra de Feiffer se acerca más al cómic que al álbum ilustrado. Los textos pierden peso a favor de un dibujo que con muy pocos trazos consigue ser muy expresivo. Una auténtica obra maestra.

[Rick Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Munro is the second in the collection of Jules Feiffer's comics works as published by Fantagraphics, a series that eventually was cancelled by its third installment. The collected works of Feiffer is published chronologically, so this one begins with "Munro", a strip created by Feiffer in 1953. Included here are also some of his "Kermit" strips as well as nine single page "Clifford" gag strips. Though the stories throughout this collection are slight in design, Feiffer's subtle ingenuity comes through with some of the stories manifesting some deeper social messages involving anti-war sentiments. It makes sense given Feiffer's recent military service in Korea, an experience that left him with only negative perceptions on the military complex.

[StrictlySequential · Rating 3 out of 5]

On back is Book 1's ISBN/Barcode (978)093019340(7/9)

Really quick read that's good at times- especially Munro.

Fantagraphics projected 15 volumes of Feiffer so instead of only getting what would make it into a three books you 80% less "editorial" scrutiny.

[Glen Russell Slater · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hilarious satire. Pure genius.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great satire.