{"product_id":"the-smythes-hardcover","title":"The Smythes - Hardcover","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eRea Irvin\u003c\/b\u003e (Author), \u003cb\u003eR. Kikuo Johnson\u003c\/b\u003e (Editor), \u003cb\u003eDash Shaw\u003c\/b\u003e (Editor)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA CLASSIC 1930s COMIC STRIP: \u003ci\u003eThe New Yorker\u003c\/i\u003e's first art editor satirizes the petit bourgeoisie in these stylishly eccentric cartoons with echoes of Cheever and Wodehouse.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eRea Irvin was \u003ci\u003eThe New Yorker\u003c\/i\u003e's first art editor and creator of the magazine's iconic mascot, the butterfly enthusiast Eustace Tilley. In 1930, he ventured into new territory with the comic strip \u003ci\u003eThe Smythes\u003c\/i\u003e. The Smythes--comprised of John, Margie, and their two forgettable children, Willie and Maudie--are a niceish suburban family, restless in their social stature, and eager to climb a sometimes wobbly social ladder. Irvin's distinct, graceful line renders the Smythes in all their glory and hilarity as they navigate ill-fated dinner parties with pompous socialites, fend off robbers dressed as Santa, and get chased out of restaurants by cleaver-wielding chefs. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Smythes\u003c\/i\u003e drolly captures the joys, heartbreaks, and humiliations of being in a family. Handpicked by acclaimed cartoonists R. Kikuo Johnson and Dash Shaw--who also penned the introduction together--this new selection of \u003ci\u003eSmythes \u003c\/i\u003estrips also includes an enlightening afterword by comics historian Caitlin McGurk. An unsung masterpiece of cartooning, \u003ci\u003eThe Smythes\u003c\/i\u003e is finally available to a new generation of readers ready to marvel at the full reach of Irvin's artistic abilities.\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eRea Irvin\u003c\/b\u003e (1881-1972) was a graphic artist and cartoonist who served as the de facto first art editor of \u003ci\u003eThe New Yorker\u003c\/i\u003e. He created the magazine's iconic Eustace Tilley cover portrait, designed its typeface, and introduced many of publication's most recognizable and distinguishing design elements. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eR. Kikuo Johnson\u003c\/b\u003e has illustrated over a dozen covers for \u003ci\u003eThe New Yorker\u003c\/i\u003e and has published three graphic novels, \u003ci\u003eNight Fisher\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Shark King\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eNo One Else\u003c\/i\u003e. In 2023, he was the recipient of the Whiting Award for fiction, the first cartoonist to receive that honor. He lives in Brooklyn, New York. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eCaitlin McGurk\u003c\/b\u003e is the Curator of Comics and Cartoon Art at the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library \u0026amp; Museum and Associate Professor at The Ohio State University. McGurk's scholarship and exhibitions center around the work of women in comics, alternative and underground comics, and early American comic strips. She is the author of the bestselling book \u003ci\u003eTell Me A Story Where the Bad Girl Wins: The Life and Art of Barbara Shermund\u003c\/i\u003e. She lives in Columbus, Ohio. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eDash Shaw\u003c\/b\u003e is a cartoonist and animator. His most recent graphic novel, \u003ci\u003eBlurry\u003c\/i\u003e, from New York Review Comics, was named a graphic novel of the year by \u003ci\u003eThe New York Times\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Washington Post\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eForbes\u003c\/i\u003e, and others. He's also the cartoonist of \u003ci\u003eDiscipline\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eNew School\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eBottomless Belly Button\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eBodyWorld\u003c\/i\u003e, and others. He's written and directed two animated features, most recently the 2021 film \u003ci\u003eCryptozoo\u003c\/i\u003e, which won the Sundance Next Innovator Award. He currently lives in Richmond, Virginia.\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 168\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.91 x 12.11 x 9.61 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIllustrated:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e December 09, 2025\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47438116323549,"sku":"9781681379548","price":47.94,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0811\/9867\/8237\/files\/sHJAYRo9199781681379548.webp?v=1771413921","url":"https:\/\/handfulofbooks.com\/products\/the-smythes-hardcover","provider":"Handful of Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}