"What Do We Have for the Witnesses, Johnnie?"

Doonesbury Annuals #6

by G.B. Trudeau

Mike Doonesbury, Viet Cong Phred, and Zonker continue their private struggles with the shortcomings of American society

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

136 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1975

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

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like going back to the 70's in a comic time machine - really is 'embedded' in the turmoil that was post-Watergate. I was a little boy at the time; I remember we were all making fun of Nixon - making the double peace sign and saying "I am not a crook!" G.B. Trudeau really takes you there; all the problems that were starting to 'bubble up' once 'flower power' wilted!

[Michael P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I still marvel at those idiots like my mother-in-law who claim that DOONESBURY should be in the editorial section because it is just an editorial cartoon. Dumbasses, editorial cartoons to not have a group of rich characters who grow over time; they just make political points and depart. It is the depth of Trudeau's characters in addition to the witty political commentary that sets DOONESBURY above such sad imitators as MALLARD FILMORE. Even characters such as Phred, heavily featured in this book, who do not last have a depth lacking in editorial cartoons. Trudeau should be credited for accomplishing more that most people realize.

[Rex Hurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lot of this would be considered a ancient history by the younger generation now, a lot of it would be events they never heard of. So, these strips might be looked on as satire or sociological commentary of events going on during that time-period. The art has certainly improved in this volume, the characters are solidified in personality, and he does tackle a wide-range of Doonesbury never seems to be one-note. From drug-dealing, to Skylab, to alcoholism, to race relations, to the secret Cambodian bombings.

[Mitchell Friedman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another pleasant read. Less Watergate. Instead we have Zonker getting arrested for marijuana and Phred leading a bunch of Cambodian refugees to testify in front of Congress. And an early "and that little girl was me" story - wow that meme is clearly old. And a "Baby Woman" being born right a the end. Again not high art. 3.5 of 5.

[寿理 宮本 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume is more of what I expected from Doonesbury! A political slant, but just enough "everyday" humour to generate some chuckles even without NECESSARILY being current on all the political stuff!

I mean, it's not FUNNY that Mike is SHOT AT instead of getting pulled over normally, and Zonker gets arrested for possession of *a few seeds* (that he thought he had gotten rid of), but—situationally—it's comedic in tone while still being social commentary. I mean, it's less relevant NOW, since (medical) marijuana is legal in... a LOT of states, anyway, if not all of them, regardless of my being less than interested in fact-checking exactly how many, and Zonker (being white) would have gotten off the hook yesterday if not sooner in today's court.

The parts I like most are, for instance, the refugee hearings where they try to talk down to an old Vietnamese lady, and she very specifically names the exact craft that destroyed her village. That's my favourite kind of punchline, where the "ignorant" person can produce suspiciously detailed information on request!

The parts I like least... well... I'm not really sure I like the jab at how much Skylab cost. NASA costs very little for what we get from their research! (Compare that to what the U.S. military costs for what we get from THAT.) It *may* be a little bit of funsies, but I already feel like space exploration gets a bad rap, especially with the privatised version making things worse by having much less oversight.

Still not perfect, but I'd be amazed at anyone who could produce comics for THIS long, while working from and around current events, while also still being pretty funny in the process. I mean, politics doesn't tend to be funny (in particular with the incoming resurgence of policies designed to hurt exactly the people who voted for them), so it's a bit of a "finding the humour in the darkness" sort of thing.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This catches Trudeau and the strip during an excellent period. Coming out in 1975 and finishing the run of strips from 73, picking up in late June and ending around Christmas of that year. Unless I’m mistaken this would be the first year for which the paperback collections printed the majority of the daily strips, a trend I hope continued through the rest of Doonesbury’s run.

[Michael P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection is less about the politics and more a out the social values of the seventies. Interesting and fun.

[Kest Schwartzman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel really bad for Trudeau who probably thought that following current events would allow him to write new jokes as progress happened. These don't feel nearly as dated as one might hope

[David]

5th read ... never gets old

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very Good.

[Maria L · Rating 4 out of 5]

My dad got me from a book store knowing i like to read so that alone made me have to read this lol..not my usual tho but it was different

[Craig Werner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zonker gets busted for possession; Mike makes a liberal excursion to the "black table"; Joanie sets off a Billie Jean King frenzy among the (very) young women in the daycare center; and Phred brings 300 Cambodian refugees to Washington for hearings on the not-particulary-secret (for those on the ground) bombing. Good solid Doonesbury from the days Trudeau had hits his stride.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

They get funnier the more you read them...Zonker gets busted for drug possession and dealing, Skylab goes to outer space, Ms. Caucus gets a divorce, and Phred gets sent to Laos and takes a vacation to Cambodia, which ends with his bringing refugees to the U.S. to lobby.