hoest

A relatable and hilarious one-panel comic about love, marriage, and everything in between, THE LOCKHORNS reaches millions of readers every day with some of the sharpest one-liners in the history of the funnies. This giftable hardcover book showcases hand-picked one-panel comics from the past twenty years and also includes an interview with the writer of THE LOCKHORNS, Bunny Hoest.

The Lockhorns gently (and sometimes sharply) pokes fun at the antics of Loretta and Leroy Lockhorn. The panel finds laughs in the foibles of both partners, but their snappy repartee and witty banter belies the couple’s deep love and commitment to one another. Readers recognize the dialogue and illustrations as completely relatable--a window into their own lives or the lives of their family and friends. No matter what problems come their way, through thick and thin, through couples counseling and trips to the bar (for Leroy) or the mall (for Loretta), the pair realizes that they’re together ＂’til death do us part.＂ And they wouldn’t have it any other way!

Bunny Hoest is one of the most widely read cartoonists today, reaching nearly 200 million diverse readers around the world every week. In addition to The Lockhorns, she has produced Laugh Parade and Howard Huge (based on a beloved family pet), Bumper Snickers, and the newspaper features Agatha Crumm, What A Guy!, and Hunny Bunny’s Short Tales. Assisted by artist John Reiner, Bunny handles the writing, editing, layout selection, organization, business and promotion of her studio’s features. Known as The Cartoon Lady, the dynamic and versatile talent has 25 bestselling anthologies and a host of exciting new projects in the works. In 2013, Bunny Hoest and John Reiner were honored with the Golden Key Award and inducted into the National Cartoonists Society Hall of Fame. Bunny has recently donated her archived original artwork to her alma mater, Adelphi University, on Long Island, where you can research the 50+ years of the extensive and brilliant work of the Hoest studio.

John Reiner, who started out as an assistant to the late Bill Hoest, is the illustrator and collaborator-in-chief with Bunny in the production of Hoest’s classic comic panel, The Lockhorns. Born in 1956 in New York City, Reiner was raised on Long Island, graduating from the State University of New York at Stony Brook in 1978. In 1974, he met MAD magazine artist Mort Drucker, who encouraged him to pursue cartooning as a career. The next year, Reiner was hired by Captain America creator Joe Simon to work on his humor magazines. He also worked for Marvel Comics and did freelance advertising art, humor illustrations and political caricatures. In 1986, Bill Hoest hired Reiner, and by 1988, Reiner was working on all the Hoest features. Reiner won the 1994 National Cartoonists Society award for Best Gag Cartoons.