Relive classic newspaper strips with collected editions
WORD BALLOONS
Comic strip fans had much to choose from in 2008. Several classic strips have been reprinted in new formats, many for the first time. While all the news for the future of the newspaper comic strip isn’t good – comic strip space in newspapers continued to be at a premium, and several editorial cartoonists were laid off in 2008 – the year did provide a window into the past with several top-notch collections.
Two of the reprint projects have Oklahoma connections – IDW continued its comprehensive “The Complete Dick Tracy” reprints, and Fantagraphics reprinted almost all of Bill Mauldin’s “Willie and Joe” panels.
Willie and Joe: The World War II Years collects 600 cartoons, many never-before reprinted, of Bill Mauldin’s cartoons from the front lines. Bill Mauldin’s early cartoons were published in The Oklahoman. Mauldin served with the 45th Infantry Division, and more than 200 of his cartoons are collected at the 45th Infantry Division Museum, 2145 N.E. 36th Street.
“The Complete Chester Gould’s Dick Tracy” volumes 4 and 5 were released in 2008. Volume 4 contains comic strips from July 1936 through January 1938. Storylines in volume 5 include “Chief Shellberry,” “Karpse,” “Scardol” and “Whip Chute,” which ran January 1938 through July 1939. Gould was born in Pawnee, and his hard-bitten police detective Dick Tracy is one of the world’s best-known comic-strip characters.
If you want a broader overview of the history of the comic-strip, “The Comics: The Complete Collection,” a Borders-exclusive book from Brian Walker, will do just that. The book is a compilation of his two previous books, “The Comics: Before 1945″ and “The Comics: Since 1945.” This book is lushly illustrated. Early color Sunday comic strips like “Flash Gordon” receive full-page reprints; the oversized trim of “The Complete Collection” gives readers a feel for what these comic strips looked like to readers of the time. Covering “The Yellow Kid” to “Zits,” Walker’s book is an excellent primer to learn what’s been great about comic strips through the years.
By Matthew Price
From the Dec. 19 edition of The Oklahoman
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