Recycled Doonesbury: Second Thoughts on a Gilded Age

by G.B. Trudeau

Recycled Doonesbury allows readers to savor the uncompromising satire we have come to expect and admire from Garry Trudeau's Pulitzer Prize-winning strip. Recycled Doonesbury gives us a collection of daily and Sunday strips that underscores why Doonesbury is a must-read. Trudeau's remarkable gifts of observation both delight and instruct, entertain and outrage. Recycled Doonesbury showcases his peerless ability to deliver provocative satire with uncanny precision.

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

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

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

[James Swenson · Rating 4 out of 5]

These strips, from the end of the 80's, serve as a reminder that even thirty years ago, it was perfectly possible to recognize both Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump as buffoons.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I'm in the used bookstore (where I ran into John and Jeanine!)and I find the one book I took home. This is Doonesbury from the 80s.

I love Doonesbury. I feel like I know Mike and JJ and Kim. I love that there's this tangle of people. And even though I KNOW I've read these strips before (Boopsie as a B-maid at Hugh Hefner's wedding and catching the gown is a classic), I didn't have them at home.

I spent a couple hours reading all of them. It was like visiting old friends and finding out all the stuff you still have in common. I still don't like the Ron Headrest strips (Max Headroom take off). I still get sad at the failing of JJ & Mike marriage--though the way it was presented, not as anyone being evil, but painful (and funny) was really amazing.

Just some brilliant stuff. Boopsie and Hunk-Ra. Mike and his flirtation with Nicole. Zonker. It's escapist entertainment, sure, but it's also really good escapist entertainment.

[Darcy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I dithered on the 4 stars for this collection and that was due to the Ron Headrest and USA today runs. At the time, and still today, they both seemed totally off kilter for Trudeau and were frankly irritating to read. Having said that, I am all in favor of trying something different but am inclined to believe, that as he subsequently returned to more standard fare, that both concepts were flops. Neither story line dominates this collection so I was able to enjoy the rest.

This time out we are treated to a baby or two, the premonitions of everything Donald Trump would become, the New Age movement, Zonker's elevation to the peerage, a little infidelity in the Slackmeyer family, and more. Lots of fun and, overall, worth the price!

[David]

Enter Trump. Garry Trudeau was warning everyone about Trump years before he reached The White House.

[Karen-Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of this book is stuff I have already read this week, cherry picked from other publications. An overview touching base with all the topics. I was happy to see stuff I missed from books I don't have.

[David Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recycled Doonesbury by G.B. Trudeau (Andrews McMeel Publishing 1990) (741.5073). This is Doonesbury's take on the late 1980's. My rating: 7/10, finished 1991.

[Timothy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars.

[Michael Kitchen · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's Doonesbury. It's always amazing.