99% Perspiration: A Frazz Collection

by Jef Mallett

Here's a strip to savor, doubly immersed in squeaky cleanliness and a knowing grasp of second graders' cool universe." —Mike Durrett, Humor Today Frazz is fun. Frazz is cool. Frazz is . . . a hit! Take one successful and secure songwriter, put him on the steering end of a janitor's broom, and drop him into the world of elementary education. And with that, if Jef Mallett's calling the creative shots, you have the makings of one of the most flourishing new comic strips to come along in years. Frazz follows the life and loves of one Edwin Frazier, aka "Frazz," as he writes more best-selling lyrics, ponders the world's greatest literature and deepest mysteries with an 8-year-old genius, and interacts with the menagerie of other faculty and staff members. What results is a wild mix of witty observations and outright slapstick that amuses while causing you to see the world in a new light. 99 Percent Perspiration is the second collection of this very popular strip that appears in more than 150 newspapers worldwide, including the Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, and Chicago Tribune. Frazz was nominated in 2004 as one of the best comic strips of the year by the National Cartoonists Society. It has also received two Wilbur awards for ethics and values.

Genres: Comics, Humor, Fiction, Comic Strips, Graphic Novels

128 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2006

Reviews

[Dan]

99 Percent Perspiration is the second collection of Frazz cartoons.

Frazz is one of the few current newspaper comics I follow but I'm not a fanatic about it. My in-laws got me this for Christmas in 2020 and I finally read it. One notable thing about this collection is that it's when Frazz and Miss Plainwell get together.

I'm a fan of Jef Mallett's art with its obvious Bill Watterson influence and his jokes centering around grade school kids are good. There's just nothing exceptional about it for me. It's no Calvin and Hobbes. I like it but I'm not in a rush to read another collection.

[Mary]

Yeah, it's a comic book, but it's just as thought-provoking, educational and inspirational as anything else I'm reading. Honestly, who wouldn't want to be Frazz, the philosophical triathlete elementary school janitor? Plenty of perspective here and not just the artistic kind.

[Carolyn]

A grownup Calvin without Hobbes. Pure fun and insightful conversations about our current world situation distilled down to elementary school. I pick this one up when I want to laugh.

[Jay Dombrowski]

One of the funniest strips today

Reminds me of Calvin and Hobbes only more grown up. I read all the strips and spend a lot of time laughing out loud

[Justin Saunders]

Intellectually minded jokes, strong in life lessons, will love if you like Calvin and Hobbes.

[Mary Catelli]

Another Frazz book, still recommended for all who like Calvin and Hobbes.

The title is an allusion to a sequence in which he pokes fun at his own error attributing that famous quote to Einstein rather than Edison. He also shows the children the significance of history by means of his senior pictures. He ends up coaching summer baseball because Miss Plainwell is also coaching. Caulfield gets tired of their shilly-shallying and throws Frazz and Miss Plainwell together. The principle objects to Caulfield's taste in music -- all that violence -- well, opera's not for everyone. A survey on whom people would want to have lunch with -- anyone living or dead. And many philosophical discussions between Caulfield and Frazz and other one shots.

[Ryk Stanton]

Could Frazz be Calvin (from Calvin & Hobbes) all grown up? He's got the look, he's got the philosophical outlook, he's got the poems (now songs). He's got the attitude. too, I think.

It doesn't matter, really -- Frazz can stand on his own without being seen through the lens of the other character, and his story is entertaining and interesting enough as it is. I really enjoyed the book quite a bit.

[Robin]

Frazz is one of my favorite comics and one of my favorite characters. I love the idea of a janitor who doesn't need to work but does because he loves his job and the company. It's a well drawn comic and it has a lot of great moments and fun references.

[Matt]

I'm really glad Courtney introduced me to Frazz. Funny and good-natured.

[Jared]

Insightful, funny, wise, colorful, awesome. So good I can't find it, because the kids keep taking it. It's MY Christmas present, dang it! You gave it to me, kids!

[Lyg]

First Frazz book I've read. Very cute.

[Jessi]

Our favorite songwriting janitor and his coterie are back for fun and games. A lovely read.