THE NEW ENGLAND LIFE OF CARTOONIST BOB MONTANA by Carol Lee Anderson

Here's a new book about Bob Montana, the creator of Archie, and his life in the Lakes region of New Hampshire. But there's no Archie inside the book.


THE NEW ENGLAND LIFE OF CARTOONIST BOB MONTANA: BEYOND THE ARCHIE COMIC STRIP by Carol Lee Anderson chronicles the life of Bob Montana in New Hampshire.

From NewHampshireLakesAndMountains.com: 

"What surprised me the most," said Anderson, "wasn't the fact that people don't know that local people and places were drawn into the Archie strip, but the fact that they aren't aware that Bob Montana had been a permanent, year-round resident of Meredith for thirty years. He raised his family there and drew the strip at his home on Meredith Neck." 

The book describes the development of the Archie comic, but Anderson feels that what will amaze readers the most is learning how much Montana contributed to Meredith, but to the state and the country as well. Surprisingly, little has been written about his life in the Lakes Region.

In an interview with The Cocheco Times, Ms. Anderson thanks Bob's daughter Lynn, who works in the area, for her invaluable assistance. Ms. Anderson also cites that there will be no Archie art in the book. The book has 79 photos and art -- but no Archie. (Note: the link takes you to a PDF of the entire issue.)

"Bob didn't want his friends to think he was all about the comic strip," said Anderson. "One of his friends told me that he used to say, 'What kind of person would you think I was if my ego and self worth were wrapped up in a comic strip?'"

THE NEW ENGLAND LIFE OF CARTOONIST BOB MONTANA: BEYOND THE ARCHIE COMIC STRIP is published by History Press.