The Cartoon History of the Universe
The Cartoon History of the Universe is an ongoing book series about the history of the world. It is written and illustrated by American cartoonist, professor, and mathematician Larry Gonick. The most recent volume, published in 2007, now names the series The Cartoon History of the Modern World.
Each book in the series explains a period of world history in a loosely chronological order. Though originally published in limited runs as comic books, the series is now published in trade paperback volumes of several hundred pages each.
Illustration style
The Cartoon History is illustrated in a black-and-white cartoon style. Gonick occasionally uses crosshatching and other realistic drawing techniques, but he primarily draws with a lively pen-and-ink squiggle that resembles Bill Watterson's Calvin and Hobbes, Walt Kelly's Pogo, and Albert Uderzo's Astérix.
Narrative framework
Each volume or chapter begins with a one- or two-panel introduction. An Einstein-like Professor (representing Gonick's authorial voice) prepares to travel in his time machine to whatever place or era the chapter is about. The Professor reads a passage from a historical book, which activates the "time machine," a literary device. For example, the Professor reads a book about dinosaurs to introduce Volume 1 about prehistory. He reads from Hans Zinsser's Rats, Lice and History before Volume 19 about the Black Death. This introduction provides a bridge to the action, the main narrative of each chapter.
Narrative style and tone
Point of view
Any history book has a point of view, and Larry Gonick's might best be described as "scientific humanist." His Cartoon History is governed by current scientific, anthropological, and historical evidence. But it isn’t written in the style of a didactic textbook. Instead, Gonick fleshes out history into a long yarn, injecting characterization into historical personages, continually reporting gory anecdotes, and focusing on quirky details—all backed up by research—to enliven his subject. He largely achieves an overall balance, between a celebration of human achievement and a blunt acknowledgement of human savagery.
In addition to being a straight (though unusual) history, The Cartoon History helps readers understand historical cause and effect—how the past relates to the present. It explains the motivations behind human beings’ discoveries, inventions, explorations, wars, triumphs, and mistakes. Gonick’s editorial aim seeks to do justice to every point of view, though he is inclined toward historical revisionism.
Humor
Gonick consistently uses elements of satire and juxtaposition to find the most humor in every situation. For example, one cartoon panel depicts the barbarism of a group of Huns who had elephants herded off a cliff for their sadistic enjoyment. One Hun exclaims with an oafish grin, "My emotions are valid!"—juxtaposing the Hun’s brutal barbarism with an anachronistic, post-modern view of his own cruelty [3].
Also noteworthy is Gonick's use of caricature. For example, he depicts the weaselly Robert Guiscard, the 11th-century Norman adventurer, as an anthropomorphic weasel, a reference to the latter's last name and cunning nature.
Unorthodox citations
Consistently enthusiastic in tone, Gonick uses each collection's bibliography to promote historical literacy. At the end of each published collection, Gonick thoroughly cites his sources. But rather than relying upon an ordinary, typeset bibliography, Gonick sustains his unorthodox style and exuberant tone as the Professor takes the reader through a cartoon tour of his sources.
Because much of The Cartoon History covers evolutionary science, physics, astronomy, and ancient history, Gonick has referenced original writings on these subjects, rather than relying on secondary sources or anthologies. Some of these primary sources are national epics, cultural writings, or holy scriptures, such as Homer's Iliad, the Rig Veda of India, and the Bible. Others are fat history or science books that would intimidate most readers by size alone. Throughout, the Professor exhorts his readers to expand their knowledge and plumb the depths of these sources.
Trivia
While seeking a publisher, Gonick received early support from Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, who worked as an editor at Doubleday and championed The Cartoon History of the Universe's publication.
When Gauls are depicted, they often look suspiciously similar to the René Goscinny characters Asterix and Obelix. When Gonick treats the Gallic invasion of Italy (390 BCE - 387 BCE), the characters, along with Vitalstatistix, appear unmistakably (Vitalstatistix is transported on a shield, Asterix pummels a Roman soldier, etc.), and as they trudge off into the sunset, the speech balloon says "Come on, Obelix! Let's get our own comic book."
The series
Beginning with its original comic book Volume 1 in 1977, the entire series is expected to cover world history through the present day.
- The Cartoon History of the Universe - From the Big Bang to Alexander the Great (Volumes 1-7), (1990)
- The Cartoon History of the Universe II - From the Springtime of China to the Fall of Rome (Volumes 8-13), (1994)
- The Cartoon History of the Universe III - From the Rise of Arabia to the Renaissance (Volumes 14-19), (2002)
- The Cartoon History of the Modern World, Volume 1: From Columbus to the U.S. Revolution, (2007)
Bibliography
- [1]. Gonick, Larry (1990). The Cartoon History of the Universe. Doubleday. p. 368. ISBN 0393324036.
- [2]. Gonick, Larry (1994). The Cartoon History of the Universe II. Doubleday. p. 305. ISBN 0385420935.
- [3]. Gonick, Larry (2002). The Cartoon History of the Universe III. Doubleday. p. 300. ISBN 0393324036.
- [4]. Gonick, Larry (2006). The Cartoon History of the Modern World. Collins. p. 272. ISBN 0060760044.