Doonesbury Nation

Doonesbury Annuals #41

by G.B. Trudeau

"Trudeau finds angles." --Jerry SeinfeldWhile millions of pilgrims flock to upstate New York for the 25th anniversary of Woodstock, Zonker flashes back to the original (acid triage, the bummer tent, Hendrix eating his guitar) with memories made all the more poignant by the fact that they're hallucinatory. His response to this revelation: "Whoa Do you suppose I wasn't at the moon landing either?"

While Zonk wasn't there, he "is" here, and here is surreal enough. Tobacco executives swearing under oath that smoking is as safe as eating Twinkies; Ollie North wrapping himself in a Confederate battle flag; and the president devolving into a flying waffle--who said the sixties had the corner on weirdness? As refreshing as a full pitcher of Kool-Aid, this mind-altering collection from G.B. Trudeau, "Doonesbury Nation," is only the latest to pose the question: Is it real--or is it Doonesbury?

Genres: Comics, Humor, Comic Strips, History, Graphic Novels, Graphic Novels Comics, Cartoon

96 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1995

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

[Craig Werner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bill Clinton, more Mr. Butts, Newt, O.J. Moving on....

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coming out in 1995 with strips from about mid 94 through early 95 – to my mind, this run continues the trend of less directly political strips, more social. Boopsie is an alternate juror for the O J Simpson trial, somehow that seems like a perfect fit.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Duke sets up an orphanage , what could possibly go wrong?

[Shoshanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clinton, Wal Mart, Newt, OJ

[Karen-Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Duke works for Ollie North, then gets money from speaker Newt Gingrich to start an orphanage. Huffington trying to buy a senate seat. OJ trial starts with jury selection. I feel like I missed a book in here somewhere. Mike voted Republican. |Zonker visits alternate Woodstock. Unclear if new denizen in White House yet.

[David]

On the 5th tour through the entire Doonescape. It never fails. From Woodstock to Nothin' But Orphans, nothing escapes Trudeau's eye, not even that flaming Nazi gasbag (not the Hindenburg).