Planet Doonesbury

Doonesbury Annuals #43

by G.B. Trudeau

No matter what's occurring on the planet, "Doonesbury" has offered readers a parallel universe. Through the adventures of cherished characters like Mike, J.J., Boopsie, and B.D., "Doonesbury" has chronicled the course of time with humor and wit. Whether it was an anti-Vietnam march or the Cyber Valley of Seattle, "Doonesbury" has given readers a hip and happening place to be, if only for a few minutes every day.Created by master cartoonist Garry Trudeau, "Doonesbury" remains a dynamic force. Its political slant consistently amuses readers, sparks controversy, and frightens editors. Political characters appear frequently--humorously represented by time bombs or waffles--but the strip isn't entirely political. Trudeau deals with young love, broken relationships, and the raising of a few young kids, but the strip isn't really about warm-fuzzies either. For the millions of readers who turn to "Doonesbury" every day, the strip is simply a favored friend. Controversial yet always contemporary; familiar but rarely perfectly comfortable.

In this collection, "Planet Doonesbury" continues the adventures of all the regulars, from Father Duke and his recently revealed son, Earl, to the impending marriage of Mike and Kim. B.D. returns to Vietnam, and with Phred as host, discovers a war of sorts is still being waged--not over changing politics, but the race to make money in the now industrialized country.

Presented in an exciting format, the handsome "Planet Doonesbury" features large-size color Sundays.

Genres: Comics, Humor, Comic Strips, Cartoon, History, Politics

152 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1997

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

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coming out in 1997, strips from late 96 through early 97 – a particularly good run, I’m going with five stars here. I like the format for the annual collections at this point with collections of some of the full color Sundays included. And some Sunday strips are included in black and white in the run of dailies for continuity when they develop the plot.

[Billy Hogan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Planet Doonesbury was published in 1997, when Bill Clinton was President. The heart of the comic strip Doonesbury, though, is the group of characters trying to make it through life, giving us a special lens to look at the big news events of the day. B. D. puts some of the ghosts of the Vietnam War behind him by making a trip back to Vietnam. Mike Doonesbury lives through the job cuts of his tech company before striking out on his own and developing a new relationship. Zonker Harris becomes involved in the ground floor of medical marijuana, and Duke is hired as muscle by Donald Trump to convince a small business to sell their property so he can expand his casino. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

[Craig Werner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cover blur: "Trudeau is a jer. A total loser. A pathetic moron. A third-rate talent."

Thank you, President-in-waiting DT.

Really good late 90s collection. BD and Phred hook back up in Vietnam; Duke experiences the joys of fatherhood; Mike and Kim do the relationship thing with the (step) daughterly chorus; JJ's career takes off. Zeke zekes and Zonker Zonks.

[Shoshanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Veterans visiting Vietnam, 1996 Presidential election, marijuana, the tech industry, tenure, but honestly mostly I'm like really into the sweetness between Michael and Kim. I just always get into the romance element and I just want people to be happy and in love.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think Alex is my favourite character this time round.

[Karen-Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clinton second term. Bernie makes Mike fire 50 coders including Kim. BD goes to Vietnam and meets Phred. JJ starts making money with her art. Kim and Mike get married. Duke living and working in Vegas with his son. Mark gets a real boyfriend Chase and takes him home to dad.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the 5th tour through the entire Doonescape. It never fails. I love the Cu Chi tunnels sequence (as on the cover) especially the "all touristy" moment.