American Presidents #[nn]

A wonderfully deadpan cover sets the tone for this 2008 Fantagraphics volume — a lone playing-card figure, dressed in a top hat and clutching a broom, stands small against a vast expanse of white, rendered with David Levine's characteristically wry linework. The contributors listed — Harvey Kurtzman, Jack Davis, Will Elder, Russ Heath, Al Jaffee, Arnold Roth, and Wallace Wood — represent a remarkable gathering of satirical cartooning talent. It's a collection that wears its wit lightly but carries real comedic weight.