John Callahan (1) (1951–2010)

Callahan took gen-X guy humor to his personal demons, applying black humor to mental illness, disability, addiction, etc. In my youth, I found this collection, at least, humorous, despite tackyness and 1980s boy humor (including misogynist and homophobic tendencies). I've discarded it because It is now irritatingly juvenile etc.

This collection of Callahan's cartoons, including his brief autobiography, has a less sharp edge than his later bookeven if it has an "Adult Swim" vibe. There's still jokes about addiction, fat people, disability, and mental illness, but at this point in his career, there's a visible empathy, a clear "survivor humor".

When I (and the world) was younger, and I'd been subjected to less "politically incorrect" humor, I enjoyed this book for it's sense of humor. I'm just burnt out, I guess, on this sort of punching-around jokes. About 40% of the cartoons still strike me as amusing; but the rest are kinda juvenile...

dog cartoons by handicapped cartoonist