Barnaby HC (2025)

"Fantagraphics introduces Barnaby, with it's playful mix of fantasy, wit and elegantly spare images, to a new generation of children and parents. Created by Crockett Johnson (Harold and the Purple Crayon) in the 1940's, this five-volume series, with art direction by graphic novelist Daniel Clowes (Ghost World), will collect the entirety of the original newspaper strips."

"The second in a five volume series collecting Crockett Johnson's comic strip masterpiece features the years 1944-1945. In this volume, Barnaby and his Fairy Godfather, J.J. O'Malley, take a trip to D.C. to serve in Congress, and Launcelot McSnoyd, the invisible leprechaun is introduced. Also, O'Malley enlists Barnaby on a seaside treasure hunt. Plus Ermine hunters, soap salesmen and more! Foreword by Jules Feiffer and designed by Dan Clowes!"

"The third volume of Crockett Johnson's comic strip masterpiece continues the misadventures of Barnaby Baxter and his Fairy Godfather J.J. O'Malley. The magic of Barnaby is its mix of fantasy and satire paired with Crockett Johnson's clean, spare art. This volume features an introduction by Jeff Smith (Bone) and is designed by Barnaby superfan Daniel Clowes (Ghost World)."

"Volume Four collects the post-WWII years, continuing five-year-old Barnaby Baxter and his Fairy Godfather's misadventures. In its combination of sly wit, a child's feeling of wonder and a keen eye for the ridiculous, Barnaby expanded our sense of what comics can do. The magic of Barnaby resides in its mix of fantasy and satire, amplified by the elegance of Crockett Johnson's clean, spare art. Designed by Daniel Clowes, this volume features a foreword by cartoonist Trina Robbins, and essays by comics historian Jared Gardner and Johnson biographer Philip Nel."

The final volume collecting "the last great comic strip," by the creator of Harold and the Purple Crayon. The long-lost comic strip masterpiece by legendary children's book author Crockett Johnson, is finally collected and designed by acclaimed graphic novelist and Barnaby superfan Daniel Clowes (Ghost World). Volume Five collects the final two-plus years of the strip, including the rarely-if-ever-seen conclusion of the strip, as five-year-old Barnaby Baxter says goodbye to his Fairy Godfather, Mr. O'Malley. Unlike most comic strips, Barnaby ended its ten-year run with an emotionally satisfying ending that broke the hearts of fans when first published in newspapers. The magic of Barnaby resides in its canny mix of fantasy and satire, amplified by the understated elegance of Crockett Johnson's clean, spare art. Barnaby expanded our sense of what comics can do through its combination of Johnson's sly wit and O'Malley's amiable windbaggery, illustrating a child's feeling of wonder and an adult's wariness, highly literate jokes and a keen eye for the ridiculous. This volume also features essays by comics historian Susan Kirtley and Johnson biographer Philip Nel, as well as an introduction by filmmaker Ron Howard, whose acting career was launched in 1959 at the age of five, when he was cast as Barnaby in a 1959 adaptation for General Electric Theater, hosted by Ronald Reagan. The book includes rarely-seen stills from the 1959 production - which also featured Wizard of Oz alum Bert Lahr as Mr. O'Malley!