Doonesbury: Washed Out Bridges and Other Disasters

Doonesbury Annuals #39

by G.B. Trudeau

"Humor is wry, partisan, and caustically combative. The satirical eye behind the comic strip "Doonesbury," Garry Trudeau is America's most mirthful, cutting chronicler of these times." "Esquire""Trudeau has brilliantly vivisected The Bridges of Madison County." "New York Daily News"

Only in the fertile mind of Garry Trudeau would two events look like a cosmic convergence. For one, the Midwest suffered record floods, washing out riverbeds, roads, and rafters. The other? A bestseller chronicling the brief and unlikely love affair between an Iowa farm wife and a renowned photographer. Viola Trudeau's masterpiece of literary adaptation: "The Washed-Out Bridges of Madison County."

Boopsie stars in this satirical series, which opens as she hangs out laundry in a farm field swamped waist-high in floodwater. Photographer Robert Kincaid arrives to shoot his photo essay on the washed-out bridges and suddenly Boopsie is in over her head. "His body seems hard, lean, insistent, even though he appears to be over 50 " she thinks. "Look at him move...no, no, a gazelle No, a dolphin No, that's not it."

This hilarious collection also features other seminatural disasters that befall Trudeau's witty characters. Look in on Duke and Sid, who stage a Colorado avalanche so they can make a killing on the expected movie rights. (Duke waits it out in the tropics and makes it back just in time for the daring rescue.) Or check in with Mark, who discovers--via a dream in which AIDS casualty Andy Lippincott appears to him--that he's gay.

Throughout Trudeau's collection, "The Washed-Out Bridges of Madison County," the artist's incisive views on current events provide entertainment in its highest--and sharpest--form. From politics to virtual reality to literature, no subject is safe from Trudeau's eagle eye. Everyone will find something in this talented pundit's take on American life.

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

96 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1994

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

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the Doonesbury annual where my man Mark discovers his sexual orientation. Due to a run-in with spoilers before I started reading the annuals, I knew that this piece of character development would be coming, but I'm intrigued that it happened in the early 90's. I think Trudeau handled the subject matter with the satirical edge that would expect from Trudeau (and comedy of the 90's), meaning I wouldn't say that the issue was handled sensitively. In fact, I think I feel sensitively about this piece of Mark's character because I see so much of myself in him. I like the fact that he is left-leaning and queer because I see myself reflected in these details. So, it feels less than satisfying to see his orientation used for the sake of humor (though, really, how else would Trudeau have spun it?).

I'm curious to see how Mark's character continues to develop over the remaining annuals.

[David]

We are not worthy! Boopsie is "Francesca" in this Robert Waller parody, "trendy lit" and its discontents. All the usual suspects are along for the ride, including the long-since-stained Clinton administration.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coming out in 1994, strips from early 93 through September or so of the same year. There are laughs to be had here, Trudeau’s take on “Bridges of Madison County” definitely supplies a few. Major plot development, Mark figures out he’s gay. All in all a good run.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining as always.

[Shoshanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

IDK, less politics that normal. Funny take down of "Bridges of Madison County." :p

[Craig Werner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Joanie goes to work for the Clinton White House; Mike stays un and underemployed; Mark comes out (first to himself); Duke stages his miraculous escape. Solid collection at the start of a new political era.

[Karen-Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Floods in '93. Mark realizes he is gay. Mike doing temp work that is beneath his dignity. Black students at Walden want full segregation right down to separate drinking fountains. Not much Clinton.

[Knut Sigurd · Rating 1 out of 5]

Innmari topical, og sikkert ikkje så moro i 93 heller.

[Jrethree · Rating 3 out of 5]

in the future, historians will read doonesburry to find out what was really going on here in the good old USA

[David]

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