In many ways, Sherman is a guy's guy. He eats everything in sight. His so-called smooth moves with his girlfriend sink like a stone. And his happy-go-lucky manner endears him to all of his friends. What makes Sherman atypical is the fact that he's a great white shark whose pals include a smart-aleck hermit crab named Hawthorne, an intellectual fish called Earnest, and a sensible sea turtle known as Fillmore. For more than a decade, the daily adventures of Sherman and his coral companions have delighted readers of Sherman's Lagoon across the globe. Now Sherman and his sea urchin buddies take us for another swim down memory lane with Surf's Up, bringing together Sherman's Lagoon strips from 1994 and 1995, many of which have never before been published in book form.This roll-back-the-clock collection picks up where the successful Greetings from Sherman's Lagoon collection left off, offering the strip's loyal longtime readers the opportunity to catch up on classic Sherman tales of yesteryear. Whether you are a faithful follower of the silly yet sophisticated strip or new to Sherman's underwater world, Surf's Up will be a book you can't put down. Once you've seen the world through the eyes of Sherman, you'll never look at marine life the same way again.

The latest collection of "Baby Blues" strips shows the harried parents Darryl and Wanda adding a third little one to the MacPherson household. Illustrations. 128 pp. Size C. 50,000 print.

A third collection of strips from the popular syndication follows the daily misadventures that mark the relationship between the temperamental cat Bucky, the sensitive dog Satchel, and their mild-mannered human companion, Rob Wilco. Original.

In another collection from the popular comic strip, the precocious Jason continues his torture of his parents and teen siblings with the help of his computer and pet iguana, Quincy. Original.

As 9-11 shakes the Doonesbury world, many of its denizens are drawn inexorably toward Ground Zero--Mike to attend a memorial service for a former employer; B.D., reactivated for crowd control and celebrity tourism; Marcia Feinbloom to hit on firefighters; and Zonker to deliver potent fruitcakes to weary rescue workers. Those on the home front are no less affected by events: ''I no longer care what Madonna had for breakfast,'' laments Boopsie, proof positive that Everything Has Changed. Half a world away, in Al-Qaeda Qountry, a burka-clad Roland Hedley is captured by a freelance warlord, then wounded by a can of Spam during a massive friendly food drop. Feyzabad Station Chief Havoc's effort to rescue the downed journalist speaks well for the new, improved CIA, which has somehow managed to parlay its ''massive'' intelligence failures into cult status on the nation's campuses. How else to explain Jeff Redfern's new internship with ''Acme Imports''--and his sudden affinity for shaken-not-stirred libations? Meanwhile, former inside trader Phil Slackmeyer watches from his deathbed as the effort to smoke out evildoers expands to include the entire management team of Enron. Prominent among them is ''Jimmy Jack Jumbo'' Andrews, head of over 400 Caymans-based businesses, who calls his old friend to ask the question on many an ex-exec's mind: ''What's prison like?'' And back at the White House pressroom, NPR attack-dog Mark has questions of his own, like, ''What time will you be launching the cover-up?'' and ''Will there be a lunch?'' Yes, excavating Enron's smoking crater will be a long and dirty job--even if the president barely knows ''Mr. Lay,'' the disgraced CEO with whom he exchanged 350 letters. As Dubya assures us, ''I did not have political relations with that man.''

The latest collection of "Close to Home" strips features more hilarious, absurdist adventures culled from everyday living, addressing such familiar topics as health care, parenting, shopping, dating, car repairs, and more. Original. 25,000 first printing.

Well on the day you were born, the nurses all gathered 'round. And they gazed in wide wonder, as my face hit the ground. The head nurse looked up, said, ''Leave this one prone.'' She could tell right away that I was Dad to the bone.'' --Sing to the tune of George Thorogood's Bad to the Bone If you read the job description in a want ad, you might think long and hard before responding. WANTED: A man willing to change diapers that could nuke the ozone, plop down on all fours and become a horsie at a moment's notice, arise from a deep sleep for an hour to calm nightmares, and part with a significant chunk of his hard-earned nest egg. There's only one explanation for why a man such as Baby Blues' Darryl MacPherson would accept such a challenge . . because he's Dad to the Bone. ''Now, when I coach your teams, I go out of my mind! Every holler and scream means I'm proud that you're mine! As the years go by, pretty baby, can't believe how much you've grown! I wanna' thank you for makin' me a Dad to the Bone!'' Of course, Baby Blues isn't only about fatherhood. This is a well-rounded family, with mom Wanda becoming more well-rounded every day as she heads into her third pregnancy. This collection of strips from the wildly popular feature Baby Blues, which is enjoyed by millions of parents and kids every day. Over the years, creators Jerry Scott and Rick Kirkman have perfected this family-centered strip that presents the joyful moments with the frustrating in a way that is hilarious and heartfelt without being syrupy sweet.

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.