Doonesbury: Death of a Party Animal

Doonesbury Annuals #27

by G.B. Trudeau

In this "Doonesbury" collection, Zonker wins twenty-three million dollars, J.J. scores a coup in the fast-moving art scene with a commission to do the johns in a rock club, and Uncle Duke is sold into slavery

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

128 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1986

About the author

Garretson Beekman "Garry" Trudeau is an American cartoonist, best known for the Doonesbury comic strip. In 1970, Trudeau's creation of Doonesbury was syndicated by the newly formed Universal Press Syndicate. Today Doonesbury is syndicated to almost 1,400 newspapers worldwide and is accessible online in association with Slate Magazine at doonesbury.com. In 1975, he became the first comic strip artist to win a Pulitzer, traditionally awarded to editorial-page cartoonists. He was also a Pulitzer finalist in 1990. He was nominated for an Oscar in 1977 in the category of Animated Short Film, for A Doonesbury Special, in collaboration with John Hubley and Faith Hubley. A Doonesbury Special eventually won the Cannes Film Festival Jury Special Prize in 1978. Other awards include the National Cartoonists Society (NCS) Newspaper Comic Strip Award in 1994, and the Reuben Award in 1995. He was made a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1993. Wiley Miller, fellow comic-strip artist responsible for Non Sequitur, called Trudeau "far and away the most influential editorial cartoonist in the last 25 years." In addition to his work on Doonesbury, Trudeau has teamed with Elizabeth Swados and written plays, such as Rap Master Ronnie and Doonesbury: A Musical Comedy. In 1988, Trudeau joined forces with director Robert Altman for the HBO miniseries Tanner '88 and the Sundance Channel miniseries sequel Tanner on Tanner in 2004. In 1996, Newsweek and The Washington Post speculated that Trudeau wrote the novel Primary Colors, which was later revealed to have been written by Joe Klein. Trudeau wrote the political sitcom Alpha House, starring John Goodman and Bill Murray. The pilot was produced by Amazon Studios and aired in early 2013. Due to positive response Amazon has picked up Alpha House to develop into a full series.

Reviews

[S. Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Doonesbury's dry political humor is somewhat an acquired taste, one that I often struggle to acquire myself. However, fans of Hunter S. Thompson are more than aware of his being the inspiration behind his thinly-disguised (if at all) appearance in Doonesbury as Uncle Duke. This is a collection of some of the comic strips featuring this character, and all I can really say about it is that if you like Hunter S, Thompson, you'll probably enjoy some of the strips in this collection. That is all.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coming out in 1986 with strips from the latter part of 85 and first few months of 86. JJ launches her art career by decorating the bathrooms of a club, Zonker wins 23 million in the lottery and Duke is turned into a zombie slave – is it just me or are the plot twists a bit more bizarre since Trudeau came back from the strip's hiatus?

[David]

On the 5th tour through the entire Doonescape. It never fails.

[Shoshanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting to see the shift from early to mid eighties. Discussions of Grenada, culture shifting on college campuses, East Village art scene

['Nathan Burgoine · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a Canuck, I have to admit my entire early understanding of the US Political system began with reading Doonesbury cartoons on a daily basis in the paper. As I went to university, US policy was touched upon now and then, and I've watched it on the News, and various other forms of Media. I think G.B. Trudeau got it clearer in the strips.

This was fun to revisit - though I have to admit, I was a bit lost at parts (various political machinations and figures in the strip sailed right over my head).

[Craig Werner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mix of sequences I like a lot--Mike and JJ hunt for a cheap loft in Manhattan (yuck, yuck); the zombification of Duke--and a bunch of railing against the various excesses and hypocrisies of the Reagan era. The top sequences are definitely four star.

[Kyrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Doonesbury and I find Trudeau's liberal humor to be really funny.

[Michael P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sharp social satire in this Doonesberry book.

[Karen-Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

JJ and Mike move to New York, Zonker wins millions, Duke dies and comes back as Baby Doc's zombie servant.