{"product_id":"the-search-for-smilin-ed-kim-deitch-9781606993248","title":"The Search for Smilin' Ed","description":"Originally created in 1997 and 1998 for the underground anthology \u003cem\u003eZero Zero\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eThe Search for Smilin' Ed!\u003c\/em\u003e is the latest of Kim Deitch's graphic novels to showcase his obsessive burrowing into the nooks and crannies of vintage American popular culture.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Where \u003cem\u003eBoulevard of Broken Dreams\u003c\/em\u003e focused on the earliest days of the animation industry, \u003cem\u003eAlias the Cat\u003c\/em\u003e delved into the history of comic strips, and \"Molly O'Dare\" (collected in \u003cem\u003eShadowland\u003c\/em\u003e) concerned vintage movie serials, \u003cem\u003eThe search for Smilin' Ed!\u003c\/em\u003e explores the wacky world of children's TV shows.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Launched on his latest investigation by a remark from his brother about a shared childhood favorite (\"Y'know, I heard that when Smilin' Ed died... his body was \u003cem\u003e \u003cstrong\u003enever\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003c\/em\u003e found!\"), Deitch begins to uncover some truly amazing things about the kiddie-show host and his malevolent sidekick, Froggy the Gremlin. Meanwhile, Deitch's muse and nemesis Waldo the Cat abandons Deitch to hang out with some demon buddies, and soon both Waldo and Deitch are closing in on the mysteries of Smilin' Ed and Froggy.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Ranging across the entire twentieth century, replete with flashbacks, stories within stories, and guest appearances from other Deitch regulars, \u003cem\u003eThe Search for Smilin' Ed!\u003c\/em\u003e is a narrative whirligig that shows Deitch at his wildest and woolliest. For those whose heads have started to spin at the complexity of \"Deitch world,\" Deitch scholar Bill Kartalopoulos offers a lengthy essay on the ins and outs of this ever-evolving, ever-expanding world where fantasy, reality, and satire combine, clash, and are sometimes downright indistinguishable.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Bonus! Deitch has also created a brand new story starring Waldo in his twenty-first century post-\u003cem\u003eAlias The Cat\u003c\/em\u003e state of domestic bliss, stumbling across an army of (French-) talking beavers. Of course, there's a story behind that...\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Kim Deitch\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1606993240\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781606993248\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Fantagraphics Books\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 06\/22\/2010\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 144\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.00lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.60h x 5.90w x 0.80d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReview Citation(s): \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e 06\/01\/2010 pg. 49\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e 07\/26\/2010","brand":"Kim Deitch","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":44078494318847,"sku":"9781606993248","price":16.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_fb2ceffd-100d-47e4-961d-27203cd211f2.jpg?v=1685475838","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/the-search-for-smilin-ed-kim-deitch-9781606993248","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}