C. Montgomery Burns’ Handbook of World Domination
Author: Matt Groening
Publisher: Insight Editions
ISBN-10: 1-6088-7320-X
ISBN-13: 978-1-6088-7320-3
Disclosure: A free copy of this book was furnished by the publisher for review, but providing a copy did not guarantee a review. This information is provided per the regulations of the Federal Trade Commission.
This 64-page cartoon “book” is a pop-up book for adults. For all fans of the mega-popular TV animated series, actually. “Celebrating 25 Years of The Simpsons™!”
In small type, Matt Groening is credited as the creator of the 1990-present “The Simpsons”. The actual producers of this book are two writers, ten artists, and several layout designers and editors of the TV staff.
Specifically, this is the third (of twelve) of the semi-annual “The Vault of Simpsonology” series of 64-page cartoon fun books for all-ages fans of America’s longest-running prime-time TV series, “The Simpsons”. It follows “Homer Simpson’s Little Book of Laziness” (September 2013) and “Bart Simpson’s Manuel of Mischeif (March 2014). This volume (September 2014) showcases the greed and nastiness of the TV series’ main villain, Charles Montgomery Burns, the hissable megaplutocrat who owns mythical Springfield, U.S.A.’s major business (the safety-negligent Springfield Nuclear Power Plant), the local bank, the TV station, the supermarket, and all other important establishments.
“Does power corrupt? Absolutely! Does the hunger and lust for absolute power course through your icy blue veins? Do you feel the need to rule the world with an iron fist? To subjugate the masses with a whimsical snap of your fingers? To rise above the insolent and unworthy with your superior intelligence and unlimited supply of cold hard cash? Have you ever wondered if there was a simple step-by-step guide for following your impulses and instincts toward world domination? You’ve come to the right place.” (publisher’s blurb) In this MAD magazine-style pop-up book, designed as though by the megalomanical banker himself, “diabolical Mr. Burns leads readers into his wicked world of wealth and power, providing foolproof tips and tricks for taking over the world.” (blurb)
In addition to cartoon-book features like a list of arrogant bumper stickers (“Billionaires Do It On The Backs Of The Poor”), there are removable stickers, inserts, flash cards, a hidden message decoder, a glued-in mock Springfield TV Guide (with programs designed by Mr. Burns) and a comic book (starring Fruit Bat Man, an idealized whitewash (NOT!) of Mr. Burns as a costumed super-hero), a foldout, and more. This “Handbook” looks superficially like a comic-book or humor magazine itself, but there are references in it, such as to Spiro T. Agnew (page 57), that today’s average comic-book reader would probably not get.
“C. Montgomery Burns’ Handbook of World Domination” is not so much a book for a library as a $24.99 gift item for the adult fan of “The Simpsons”.
