A nicely illustrated and well-annotated collection of what the author purports to be America's sixteen greatest comic strip creators. The list is made up of R.F. Outcalt, Rudolph Dirks, Frederick B. Opper, Winsor McCay, George Herriman, E.C. Segar, Cliff Sterrett, Roy Crane, Harold Gray, Hal Foster, Alex Raymond, Milton Caniff, Chester Gould, Al Capp, Walt Kelly, and Charles M. Schultz. If the list is chosen by longevity, popularity and influence, I can't argue with it. If the criteria are quality and creativity, I would add Bill Watterson (Calvin and Hobbs), Lynn Johnston (For Better or Worse), Peter O'Donnell (Modesty Blaise), and several others, and would drop several of the author's choices. In all, though, a fascinating book. ( )