Birth of a Beetle: the Magazine Cartoons of Mort Walker

By Bill Janocha

Mort Walker, the "Dean of American Cartooning," left behind a legacy that extended far beyond his Beetle Bailey and Hi and Lois fame. For the first time ever, Hermes Press and Bill Janocha (Walker's assistant) present a rare selection of gags and art from Walker's early years, before Beetle-mania took over the world. This historical book contains examples of the work he did prior to Beetle Bailey, and explores the evolution of his style and showcases his many gags, from his early comics in Showme magazine to the work he did for the Saturday Evening Post. This tome also contains historical essays detailing his life and career, up until his death in 2018 as written by Janocha. This special project has been nine years in the making, and is something any fan of Mort Walker will need to own.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1613451806
• ISBN13: 9781613451809
• Release Date: February 2025
• Publisher: Hermes Press
• Length: 256 Pages
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 8.5" x 11.3"
• Age Range: 13 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 8 and higher