Cartoon County

Cartoon County chronicles the community of cartoonists, illustrators, and comic artists who lived and worked in Connecticut's Fairfield County during the mid-20th century. Author Cullen Murphy, son of Prince Valiant illustrator John Cullen Murphy, provides an insider's perspective on this concentrated hub of artistic talent. The book documents the professional and social lives of artists who created newspaper comics, magazine illustrations, and advertising artwork during the golden age of print media. Through personal stories and archived materials, Murphy reconstructs the collaborative atmosphere and work habits of creators behind strips like Big Ben Bolt, Steve Roper, and Prince Valiant. The narrative follows these artists from their early training - many as WWII veterans who studied under the GI Bill - through their careers as they balanced commercial success with artistic ambition. Murphy examines their techniques, tools, and the business relationships that sustained their creative output. The book serves as both a cultural history and a meditation on the vanished world of mid-century commercial art, capturing a time when illustrated storytelling held a central place in American media and imagination.

Readers highlight the nostalgic portrait of Connecticut cartoonists and illustrators during the mid-20th century, with many appreciating the personal perspective Murphy brings as the son of Prince Valiant artist John Cullen Murphy. Readers liked: - Rich details about the creative community and artistic processes - Historical photos and artwork samples - Behind-the-scenes glimpses of how comic strips were made - The father-son relationship woven throughout Common criticisms: - Too much focus on the author's father versus other artists - Limited coverage of female cartoonists - Occasional meandering narrative structure Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (142 ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (48 ratings) "A time capsule of a vanished artistic world," noted one Amazon reviewer. A Goodreads reader said it "captures the collegial atmosphere among cartoonists." Multiple reviews mentioned wanting more information about other artists beyond Murphy's immediate circle.

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🎨 The book explores a unique artistic community in Connecticut where many famous cartoonists and illustrators lived during the "golden age" of newspapers, including the author's father, John Cullen Murphy, who drew "Prince Valiant." 📚 Cullen Murphy grew up learning the craft directly from these artists, working as his father's assistant on "Prince Valiant" from age 17 and eventually writing the strip's storylines. ✏️ The artistic colony included creators of iconic comics like "Beetle Bailey" (Mort Walker), "Hi and Lois" (Dik Browne), and "The Wizard of Id" (Johnny Hart), who would gather regularly to share techniques and stories. 🗞️ The book captures a vanishing era when newspapers were central to American life, with Sunday comics sections reaching millions of readers and comic artists achieving celebrity status. 🎭 Many of the cartoonists featured in the book were World War II veterans who used their artistic skills in military service, creating everything from training manuals to combat illustrations, before becoming commercial artists.