Aiming to satisfy the countless fans of the longest-running prime-time show in television history, this summer HarperCollins is publishing three Simpsons titles to coincide with the release of the show's first feature film, slated to open July 27.
"As a cartoonist, it's fun to play in every medium I can," admitted Simpsons creator Matt Groening in a phone interview with PWCW. "The books appeal to all ages, and are"—he paused for comic effect—"relatively sophisticated."
The first Simpsons publishing venture was a simple calendar with Pantheon (who published Groening's Life in Hell books) in 1989. The next year HarperCollins took over, and since then more than 14 million copies of Simpsons books have been printed worldwide. According to Groening, this latest batch, made in conjunction with the movie, "actually rewards the dedicated fan."
Just released, The Simpsons Handbook: Secret Tips from the Pros is a hardcover guidebook detailing exactly how to draw Homer, his family and many of the most popular characters of Springfield. "The Handbook is the most ambitious project we've ever done," Groening said. The full-color book reveals all the trade secrets, like the ones behind Homer's sparse hair (it's drawn like two croquet hoops), gaping mouth (he's got an overbite) and prodigious belly (his body is shaped like a giant inverted lightbulb). With gatefold pages and tracing paper overlays, the extensive tutorial presents all of "the nitty-gritty details on the art underlying the doodles,” said Groening.
The remaining two titles (which have also just been released) are a contrast, not in style but in size. The first, The Simpsons Masterpiece Gallery, is an oversized poster book, while the second is a small book of postcards entitled Greetings from the Simpsons. Described by Groening as one of his "dream projects," the Gallery offers 50 11”x14” illustrations fit for framing, while Greetings contains 32 detachable standard-sized postcards.
"We're a bit like Bart and Milhouse," says Hope Innelli, v-p and associate publisher at Harper, describing the publishing relationship with the Simpsons. "We think they're larger than life. We bask in their creativity and laugh at all of their antics. It's been an enormous success for us."
Having just celebrated the 400th television episode and gearing up for the film premiere, Groening was asked about his long-term hopes for the series. "The daunting goal throughout the last 20 years has always been to surprise the fans who dig our stuff. I like to think the Simpsons will keep on rewarding you for your enthusiasm."
