Your Favorite...Crab Cakes

He blusters and grumbles. He rants and raves. He tries to outgun the school kids chasing after the bus on his route. But in his heart, Ed Crankshaft has a decent streak a mile wide. Patiently explaining death to his grandson Max. Comforting his friend Ralph as Ralph's wife descends into Alzheimer's. Thrusting flowers and candy at his son-in-law on a nearly forgotten wedding anniversary. The star of the hit comic strip Crankshaft is a gentle soul stuck in a cantankerous mood. With a supporting cast that includes Ed's two daughters, Chris and Pam; Pam's husband, Jeff; and their kids, Max and Mindy, Crankshaft appeals to families everywhere who steadfastly deal with intergenerational cares and conflicts. As one critic said: "Crankshaft is a witty, thoughtful commentary on the trials and tribulations of today's senior citizens." But, of course, Crankshaft is so much more. The strip's approach to Alzheimer's generated countless letters and e-mails, as did Crankshaft's near-death illness. Hilarious and clever, honest and moving, Crankshaft both keeps readers laughing at the curmudgeon's pranks and pondering life's real meaning in this collection, Your Favorite...Crab Cakes! It's a balancing act that's rarely attempted in the comics--and with Crankshaft, it works admirably.

Born in Akron, Ohio, Tom Batiuk first had his cartoons published in his elementary school newspaper. After graduating from Kent State University, Tom taught junior high school art. During this time, he conceived the popular comic strip Funky Winkerbean. Tom lives in Medina, Ohio. Like Batiuk, Chuck Ayers was born in Akron and graduated from Kent State. He launched his cartooning career as a staff artist and later editorial cartoonist at the Akron Beacon Journal. His work has been showcased in the New York Times, the Washington Post, Forbes, and various school textbooks. He lives in Akron.