Product Description

Finally in paperback: the celebrated book in which one of America+s most beloved comic geniuses serves up a 25th-anniversary compendium of the best of Opus, everyone+s favorite maladjusted penguin. Both for die-hard fans and for those only now just discovering the matchless humor of Berkeley Breathed, OPUS is a treat.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #34499 in Books
• Published on: 2005-10-25
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780316107143
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

About the Author
Berkeley Breathed is the author of twelve comic strip collections, as well as numerous acclaimed picture books. He lives in Southern California.

Customer Reviews

Opus, where ya' been?
Oh how I miss Bloom County. Especially the loveable penguin named Opus who was truly the essence of Bloom County. If you don't remember the strip, this book probably won't mean a whole lot to you. The original is necessary as a foundation to make sense of his mannerisms, his foibles and his overall neurotic worldview that made him so loveable in the first place.

If you remember the strip, this is a nice book to peruse to stir up old memories. While the limitation is that many of these are removed from their original context and thus limiting the punch line, they still stand on their own.

As for Outland, what's to be said? It was innovative in that it was a Sunday only strip but it lost support over time. Turns out that minus the other characters, it wasn't as loveable. You can see the other characters slowly making their way back into the strip. Berkeley Breathed obviously missed them. But all the Outland strips are here.

The last several strips are entitled 'Opus' and show Mr. Breathed breathing a little more life into Opus. The characters are drawn in more detail and with more color and flair. Apparently the artistic freedom enticed him to be a bit more adventurous. Yet the other characters are still lingering underneath and behind. But you can't go back.

The full colors are brilliant and the size of the book makes it quite enjoyable on its artistic merit alone. Yet it tells a story of Bloom County and of Mr. Breathed himself in the lessons of life: loving, losing and realizing, almost sorrowfully, that you really can't go back. Yet there is still a glimmer of hope in ol' Opus that makes this book quite a little treasure.

Opus is the man.......er, penguin!
When I was a kid, the first section of the newspaper I would pick up to read was the comics. And beginning in the late 1980s, one of the first strips I would look for everyday (especially on Sunday) was "Bloom County." The strip was like no other. Inventive. Original. Funny. Very funny.

Then came along a naive penguin named Opus. Before long, Opus had taken over "Bloom County." Eventually, Opus had run for Vice President, played the tuba in a heavy metal band, and took on a cockroach as a pet.

Opus was always my favorite "Bloom County" character. His antics would often keep my in stitches each day. When the strip ended in 1989, I knew the comics page would never be the same. Although a Sunday only version called "Outland" started the following month, it just wasn't the same.

Eight years after "Outland" ended, the Sunday comics got a new shot in the arm when Berkeley returned with "Opus." Our favorite penguin was back, and better than ever. Only time will tell if the new strip can match the original, but so far so good.

And now for Opus fans everywhere, Berkeley Breathed has brought together some of his favorite Opus strips from all three cartoons. Included in this collection are introductions by Berkeley to each series, including a small sample of the fake cartoon he drew for the movie "Secondhand Lions." Thanks to these fake strips, he decided to get back into drawing and Opus made his return.

This book is a great collection of strips that will take those of us who remember "Bloom County" and "Outland" down memory lane. For those of you whose first introduction to Opus was the Sunday comic of the same name, this book will show you the transformation that our favorite penguin has gone through over the years.

"Opus" is a very funny book that you will enjoy reading again and again.

The Glory of Opus!
I have just received this book after a long pre-order time and I laughed out loud the moment I opened it. Not at any particular strip as I've yet to fully read and enjoy them, which I know I will, but at the inside cover art. You'll know what I mean when you get your copy in your hands.
I'd read Bloom County faithfully for many years and Outland for it's entire existance. Collected the compendiums and some merchandise.
Feeling a kinship with the "little penguin that could" makes me even more pleased to have all of his best adventures in one place. The book is very aesthetically pleasing, printed on slick paper and with beautiful attention to detail, colors and clarity.
If you were ever a fan of of Bloom County, Outland or just Opus himself, do yourself a favor and pick this book up. I guarantee a smile and some very sweet memories. If you are new to Opus and Co., I'm sure you'll be hooked after you read this book.