Nighthogs

Stephan Pastis broke into cartooning with some of the funniest cartoons I've ever seen. I gave his first book, "Pearls Before Swine : BLTs Taste So Darn Good," a rare five stars -- a very high ranking by my standards. As number 3 in the cartoon series, Nighthogs did not match the first volume in cleverness and wit. Quite a number of the cartoons ended in punchlines that were pun-ish reworkings of common phrases; these tended to be both far fetched and predictable. Another sequence involved Pig visiting a pork slaughterhouse, and my personal reaction was that it was too close to reality to be very funny.

No doubt it would be hard for any cartoonist to sustain the level of hilarity of the first volume in the series, so it's understandable show more that this one didn't attain the height of five stars. However, this one has many amusing moments and flashes of the irreverent wit that has brought Pastis such wide recognition. show less

I love Pearls Before Swine. Its one of the better (still currently produced) comics in the funny pages. One of the few that actually push the boundaries and not just in word usage, but actual context, style, and subjects and situations. I appreciate the very dark, bleak, gallows humor that goes unused by 99.9% of the other strips.

This book is good for your health, it makes you laugh in a giggly, groaning sort of way. The puns are completely groan-worthy, just the way I like them. The humor, dark and twisted and very satisfying.

Another fun addition on the Pearls Before Swine Volumes :) And, I think somebody in my library loves this comic since they seem to have a lot of the volumes on the shelf.

I like these characters. I also like the fact they occassionally "visit" other strips, and that the artist takes a few good-natured swipes at himself.

This one of the earlier Pastis Pearls Before Swine books offers only the promise of something more funny.

Great cover!

Tales of Rat, Goat, Pig, Zebra and other anthropomorphic beings.