Rating: 
Summary: a little dissapointing
Review: I had expected a collection of girl comics when I ordered this book -- pages after pages of comics like a "Best of..." digest, but instead, it was mainly writings by the author with a frame or two of a comic used as an example for her point. I would have liked it better if it was more comic than commentary.
Rating: 
Summary: I love comics!
Review: I really like this book! I'm 16, and I've been reading comics since I was little. I got some teasing for liking a "boy" thing, but this book proves that comics aren't just for guys. It's interesting to see how comics for women have changed so much, too!
Rating:
Summary: Shows that comics aren't just for boys
Review: I was one of those people who thought that comics were all superheroes with overdeveloped muscles. I saw this in a bookstore and flipped through it, amazed at what a rich girl-comic world I had been missing. Makes me sorry I wasn't into comics when I was younger.I agree with the Amazon review that states the author suffers from a bit of tunnel vision, but someone who was more periphery probably wouldn't have had the love to put this together. As the title states, it is a "history of" comics for women so don't expect to see any comics fully reproduced. You will get a timelined commentary that will probably educate even the most knowledgeable comic reader. Check out what you've been missing in comics for us gals.
Rating:
Summary: A Tough One to Peg
Review: In Trina Robbins' Afterword, she concedes, "This is not a book about women cartoonists -- I've already written that book..." Then what the heck IS this? Robbins' book "From Girls to Grrrlz" does -- in a fantastically broad sense -- chronicle the changes in women's moods from the 1940s to the present day by examining the comics produced during each era, with a feminism that is, at times, downright suffocating. But good luck if you expect to find a real focus in this book; maybe Robbins thought she didn't need a real subject, since she'd "already written that book." Nonetheless, this book is well-researched, sometimes delightfully slanted, deliciously illustrated, and in the end, hopeful for the future of alternative fiction. While Robbins never seems to step in the poo of a real live topic, this book is nonetheless a glorious, helpful sampling of the comics of yesterday. Just don't wait around for the Point of it All to be handed to you on a platter.
Rating:
Summary: A Tough One to Peg
Review: In Trina Robbins' Afterword, she concedes, "This is not a book about women cartoonists -- I've already written that book..." Then what the heck IS this? Robbins' book "From Girls to Grrrlz" does -- in a fantastically broad sense -- chronicle the changes in women's moods from the 1940s to the present day by examining the comics produced during each era, with a feminism that is, at times, downright suffocating. But good luck if you expect to find a real focus in this book; maybe Robbins thought she didn't need a real subject, since she'd "already written that book." Nonetheless, this book is well-researched, sometimes delightfully slanted, deliciously illustrated, and in the end, hopeful for the future of alternative fiction. While Robbins never seems to step in the poo of a real live topic, this book is nonetheless a glorious, helpful sampling of the comics of yesterday. Just don't wait around for the Point of it All to be handed to you on a platter.
Rating:
Summary: A Tough One to Peg
Review: In Trina Robbins' Afterword, she concedes, "This is not a book about women cartoonists -- I've already written that book..." Then what the heck IS this? Robbins' book "From Girls to Grrrlz" does -- in a fantastically broad sense -- chronicle the changes in women's moods from the 1940s to the present day by examining the comics produced during each era, with a feminism that is, at times, downright suffocating. But good luck if you expect to find a real focus in this book; maybe Robbins thought she didn't need a real subject, since she'd "already written that book." Nonetheless, this book is well-researched, sometimes delightfully slanted, deliciously illustrated, and in the end, hopeful for the future of alternative fiction. While Robbins never seems to step in the poo of a real live topic, this book is nonetheless a glorious, helpful sampling of the comics of yesterday. Just don't wait around for the Point of it All to be handed to you on a platter.
Rating: 
Summary: More of an overview than a history
Review: Subtitled "A History of [Female] Comics from Teens to Zines", this colorful and attractive book attempts to chronologically plot the development of "girl" comics from 1941 into the '90s. Stuffed with page and cover reproductions, this is a history in which girl's consumed more comics than boys until the 1960s, ranging from preteen fare like Archie to more advanced romance and morality tale comics. In the '60s superheroes began to dominate the market, and the mainstream female comic largely faded into the background. Thus, the late '60s gave rise to "underground" women's comics scene that blossomed in conjunction with the feminist movement. Which eventually begat the full on "grrrlz" comics of the '90s. This makes for fairly quick and simple reading under Robbins' pen, although one that could use a great deal more perspective and analysis. She is more interested in documenting the names or artists, and the plotlines of various comics than she is in a broader discussion of what it all means. She does touch on it from time to time, but these are more interjections (often a little whiny in tone) than a coherent theme. As with most Chronicle books, the production (design, layout, color, quality of reproductions) is outstanding. It's a breezy overview of the subject, but hardly a comprehensive history. I also found myself wishing for information on women's comics from other countries, for comparison.
Rating:
Summary: Fun, Informative and even a bit kitschy
Review: This book is a great introduction the the world of "girls comics". I think some of the most fun in this book are the really backwards "girls comics" of the 50's that dealt morality on a black/white basis. It is fascinating to see the metamorphosis of the comics as they coincide with the women's movement, and the restrictions of femininity are broken. Trina Robbins is also one of the best people to write this book as she has been an illustrator for many years. One of the best selling points of this book is that it is in full color, on glossy paper. You are definitely getting your money's worth with this book. Enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: Fun, Informative and even a bit kitschy
Review: This book is a great introduction the the world of "girls comics". I think some of the most fun in this book are the really backwards "girls comics" of the 50's that dealt morality on a black/white basis. It is fascinating to see the metamorphosis of the comics as they coincide with the women's movement, and the restrictions of femininity are broken. Trina Robbins is also one of the best people to write this book as she has been an illustrator for many years. One of the best selling points of this book is that it is in full color, on glossy paper. You are definitely getting your money's worth with this book. Enjoy.
Rating: 
Summary: A cotton candy book: cute, pink and you'll get a stomachache
Review: This book is poor. It suffers from an overdose of "hip", cloying design and a severe lack of info and worthwhile opinions. The author does not look critically at any comics but seems the attitude of "I used to like Archie, uh...girl comics forever!". Info about individual comics is limited to plot descriptions. It reminded me of the local newspaper's "Kids Reviews"..."I liked this comic because she came out! Awesome! And there's girls in it!". The examples from comics could have been selected to better match the content, instead she seemed to be flaunting her collection ("this comic had a print run of forty! And I own one!"). It was a "design" issue, but many pages were half white space, which could have been filled with interesting clips from comics. Also, certain passages were in enormous letters of a different color and typeface, and looked as though they were not part of the text, which made for a confusing, choppy read. The author talks about herself far too much. She was a comic artist in the '70's and there is a very amusing couple of paragraphs where a higher-up criticizes a comic of hers about a young girl coming out. Her reaction: "Geez!" Many important girl comics were excluded. (Some may disagree but I thought it was awful that "The Sandman", with so many powerful, clear-thinking women was left out.) In short, this book is for people who need to buy things to affirm their hipness. For a good book on comics, read _Comics, Comix, and Graphic Novels_ by Roger Sabin, which includes any useful info from this book plus coverage of many wonderful comics.
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