Math, Science, and UNIX Underpants

by Bill Amend

Jason Fox's perpetual obsession with being the ultimate science and math nerd is an ongoing story line in FoxTrot and one of its most popular themes. In this first ever FoxTrot themed book, the best math, science, and other geek-worthy cartoons are collected for all of FoxTrot's many fans.Book PaperbackPublication 10/20/2009 144

Genres: Comics, Humor, Comic Strips, Graphic Novels, Science, Graphic Novels Comics, Mathematics

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Bill Amend is an American cartoonist, best known for his comic strip FoxTrot.
Born as William J. C. Amend III, Amend attended high school in Burlingame, California where he was a cartoonist on his school newspaper. Amend is an Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America. He attended Amherst College, where he drew comics for the college paper. He majored in physics and graduated in 1984.
After a short time in the animation business, Amend decided to pursue a cartooning career and signed on with Universal Press Syndicate. FoxTrot first appeared on April 10, 1988.
Amend currently lives in the midwestern United States with his wife and two children, a boy and girl.

Reviews

[Kevin Hogan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much as I like Foxtrot, this collection serves as proof that the science/geeky cartoons are best when interspersed with others. Or to put it another way, the concentration in the solution is too high. That's just basic math.

[Kevin Magpoc · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings on the themed-set idea for comic collections. The geeky comics do tend to be Amend's best work, but reading through all or most of the book in one sitting can leave one desiring at least an occasional non-nerdy comic just to cleanse the palate, as it were. And it does pose the problem of making repetition seem more obvious - I couldn't help but notice there were two comics on opposite-facing pages that both revolved around the pi/pie pun.
But on the other hand it is nice to read a collection that spans most of the comic's life, as a sort of timeline that reminds you of those late 90s-style iMac computers, and Jurassic Park, and so on.

And if anything, the mathematical number search puzzle comic totally deserved to be immortalized in bound print.

[Mark Smiley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was looking for a particular strip and discovered our library only has one Foxtrot book in its entire collection! Boo, I say! So, even knowing my desired comic would not be in it, I checked this out for nastalgia's sake.
I enjoyed it very much. Thank you, Mr Amend.

[Nathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I figured out most of it.

[Gary Mcfarlane · Rating 5 out of 5]

First read in 2009. Many of the cartoons were create for humour in math and science classes when I was still teaching.

[Kent Archie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent collection of nerd humor. I lie these kinds of jokes because I laugh and then I feel superior because I got the joke

[Ashwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Crossposted from my blog: https://daariga.wordpress.com/2016/03...)

FoxTrot is a fun comic strip that I have been reading for years in the random newspaper or website. Being a family-centric heavily-syndicated comic strip, I had no idea it had geek credentials. Imagine my surprise when I ran into a Foxtrot collection of strips titled Math, Science, and Unix Underpants! I simply had to read it!

Going by the strips in this collection, Bill Amend does not water down the nerd quotient of Jason Fox and his geeky adventures in the strip. There is no holding back, it is full of math formulae, trivia and lots of computer references. The author has a degree in physics and it really shows in the physics strips. I had a great time with this book. If you are looking for an excellent way to relax, do not miss this one. Also, if you are looking for some great math/science/computer strips to share with school students or fellow geeks, this book is a goldmine.

PS: Switch off the lights and you have a surprise waiting for you on the book cover in the darkness! ;-)

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unlike most of Amend's collections, this cartoon anthology is based on theme--as the title suggests--rather than chronology. It is especially interesting because it allows the reader to note the evolution of Amend's drawing style; for instance, compare the art on page 7 with the art on page 4 1.

[Alli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the Foxtrot comics, and I'm not afraid to admit it. And then he comes out with a collection of some of his best geeky math and science comics! Awesome!

19 Mar 10
17 Jun 12
1 Jan 13

[David Schwan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mostly math jokes, some science and some programming jokes in this collection of FoxTrot comics. There are three primary characters, and they show their intelligence in different ways.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this one!

[Elevetha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy smokes, I giggle so much while I read these. By far, the best comics out there.

Jason being a geek is the main theme of this one. Geekdom is pretty darn funny.

[Alli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Created due to goodreads not counting repeated readings of one edition in the yearly challenge.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious......even if I didn't always understand all of the math and science jokes.

[Sarah Durkee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love foxtrot and have read all these books several times.

[tatiana · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not funny and not sequential. A bunch of comic strips from daily funnies section of newspaper.