Spiegelman was born in 1948 in Sweden to survivors of the holocaust. Family moved to U.S. in the early fifties, first to Pennsylvania, then to the Queens. Spiegelman had early interest and aptitude for comics and illustration. Began drawing comics at age 12, began illustrating for the sports page of a local newspaper at age 15. Went to a high school specializing in the arts, graduated at age 16. Went to university in Binghampton, left at age 20 following a psychotic episode. Went to work for Topps. Began doing underground comics in the early 60s. Very intellectual and analytical guy. Was fundamental in 're-conceptualizing' comics as an art form and literary form. Married at age 29. Wife Francoise Mouly published RAW magazine, now classics. Penguin re-printed in smaller format a few years later. Early 80s had a show at MOMA, won Pulitzer prize (I think - need to check), twice, won an award from Guggenheim foundation (I think - wow! it's as if I didn't actually just read this yesterday!). Went to work for the New Yorker. Several brilliant covers, several 'controversial' covers (meaning bigots, fundamentalists, and right-wingers got twisted about some of them). Left the New Yorker fairly recently because of political and attitudinal differences. Recently published 'In the Shadow of No Towers' about 9/11.
The book is a collection of interviews with Spiegelman from various publications from the 70s to near the present.
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