An Especially Tricky People

Doonesbury Annuals #11

by G.B. Trudeau

Relates the experiences of Uncle Duke when he becomes America's envoy to China and follows Virginia Slade's campaign for a Congressional seat from California.

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

128 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

[Sage Buchanan · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read that covers multiple political topics. A bit dated, but what can you expect from something published in the 70's?
Plus I still love the classic comic strip art style.

[Craig Werner · Rating 3 out of 5]

The majority of this collection is devote to two narrative lines: Duke leaving Samoa to become the Ambassador to China; and Joanie's roommate Ginny's campaign for congress. There a few side nods, most notably to Jimmy Carter's specifics-free campaign for the presidency. Favorite bits include "Honey," Duke's Chinese liaison "translating" for the vegetal Chairman Mao and Ginny's hustler boyfriend Clyde canvassing a white neighborhood. Nothing spectacular, but sharp as always.

[Michael P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

People who complain that DOONESBURY is too political, meaning they do not agree with the politics, do not understand how character driven is this comic strip. That is on full display in this collection of comics from 1975-6.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful old Doonesbury Book! Great political satire; the usual Trudeau brilliance.

[Lise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uncle Duke in China. Love it.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Duke goes to China and meets Honey for the first time - superb stuff.

[Shoshanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

The parts that take place in China really dragged this volume down, but the rest of the book was much better!

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coming out in 1977 with strips from January 76 through June of the same year. Lotsa good clean fun here, Duke goes to China as an envoy, Ginny Slade runs for Congress with Joanie Caucus as her campaign manager and Kim has seen enough of Jimmy Carter’s presidential campaign to start doing Jimmy impressions.

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is particularly focused on the US/China relations at the time of the Nixon Administration. It is very interesting; you can actually see the 'seeds' of some of the problems we are having today planted here. Another aspect of this book deals with how different canvasing for politicians is interpreted in neighborhoods. This series continues to impress me with each book I read.

[Robert Recotta · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well what do you know? Fifty year old serialized political satire does not hold up.

[Marko]

I have the german edition.