Akbar and Jeff's Guide to Life

Life in Hell #6

by Matt Groening

A peek at Akbar & Jeff's private lives--are they or aren't they? (And what's up with Ernie and Bert?)

Genres: Comics, Humor, Cartoon, Fiction, Graphic Novels, Comic Strips, LGBT

48 pages, Paperback

First published October 21, 1989

About the author

Matthew Abram Groening is an American cartoonist, television producer and writer from Portland, Oregon.

Groening is best known as the creator of The Simpsons. He is also the creator of Futurama and the author of the weekly comic strip Life in Hell. Groening distributed Life in Hell in the book corner of Licorice Pizza, a record store in which he worked.

He made his first professional cartoon sale to the avant-garde Wet magazine in 1978. The cartoon is still carried in 250 weekly newspapers.

Reviews

[Megan Kirby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was crazy about this book. The way Groening plays with repetition and simplicity is really perfect. I'm not a huge Simpson's fan, but you can definitely see the through-line from these early comics to the show. I had a blast reading them, and often laughed out loud. We should all talk about early att Groening comics more!!!!!

[Lisa Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was first introduced to Akbar & Jeff in 1996 by my high school drama teacher. Along with School Is Hell, Life Is Hell, and Work Is Hell, Akbar & Jeff's Guide to Life provides us with a glimpse of Matt Groening's genius in the pre-Simpsons days. In fact, some of the characters are clearly the nascent versions of America's favorite yellow family. And as a bonus, the fez-wearing, Ziggyesque pair are homosexual partners. Sold!

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

As Matt Groening goes, I find Akbar and Jeff the hardest to laugh at. Not that it isn't funny, there's just way less to the humor than the other things Groening has done. Go for the "xxx is Hell" series instead.

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, mindless fun.

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I <3 Akbar! I <3 Jeff! Hadn't thought about this book in ages but I'm going to pull it off the shelf and read it again.

[Shanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Childhood favorite revisited.

[SmarterLilac · Rating 4 out of 5]

Akbar and Jeff were the first fictional same sex couple I can remember encountering in life. Thanks, Mr. Groening!

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this in college.

[Ivy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I only knew about The Simpsons, Futurama and Disenchanted as Matt Groening's works. Akbar and Jeff is my intro to Life in Hell (I have not read Life in Hell yet.) It's a good light read and a collectible IMHO because Groening does not make their books anymore. The slice-of-life comics stories are different from The Simpsons. It tells simple stories of Akbar and Jeff's life.

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great stuff, what’s not to like?