The Boondocks: Public Enemy #2

The Boondocks #4

by Aaron McGruder

Here’s the next big collection of Aaron McGruder’s The Boondocks, the most subversively funny, controversial, and politically engaged strip to be found in America’s comics pages. Featuring Huey Freeman, a radical preteen conspiracy theorist, and his little brother Riley, a desperately cute thug-in-training, The Boondocks skewers targets from George W. Bush and Ralph Nader to Queen Latifah and Bill Cosby. With more than 500 previously uncollected strips—including strips banned from newspapers around the country—Public Enemy #2 is a must-have collection of the sharpest satire being crafted today.

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

174 pages, Paperback

First published April 26, 2005

About the author

Aaron McGruder is an American cartoonist best known for writing and drawing The Boondocks, a Universal Press Syndicate comic strip about two young African American brothers from inner-city Chicago now living with their grandfather in a sedate suburb. Through the leftist Huey (named after Huey P. Newton) and his younger brother Riley, a young want-to-be gangsta, the strip explores issues involving African American culture and American politics.

Reviews

[Markus · Rating 4 out of 5]

These just keep being amazing

[B. P. Rinehart · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Huey: How will future generations remember this current era of black history?

Huey: Will there be anything to speak of aside from slain rappers, circus trials of spoiled celebs, and lackluster, co-opted leadership?

Caesar: There's always Wayne Brady, I guess...

Huey: Maybe they'll just shorten it to 'Black History Afternoon...'" - from February 1, 2004 comic-strip


To paraphrase James Baldwin: we often hear how it was better back-in-the-day, which isn't true for those who had to live through it. Hearing of the news that this series was returning back to television reminded me that I had this trade paperback, but hadn't read it yet. This collects the comic-strip thru the years 2003-2004. I was reminded of how crazy those years were—and disturbingly familiar in certain respects certain celebrities were in the news for sexual assault, but the main focus in these times was the Bush-era politics. It is tempting to look back nostalgically at those years in the Trump-era, but a quick read of this book reminds you that folks were as miserable at the beginning of the Iraq War as they are now. Certain jokes in this comic-strip have not aged well, but this very valuable as a historical artifact of those times.

I have to confess that I was am much bigger fan of the tv show (the first 3 seasons that McGruder worked on), but I do have fond memories of going thought my mom's copy of The Washington Post to see what these guys were up to or commentating on.

[Hilary "Fox" · Rating 4 out of 5]

The final collection of The Boondocks that my library system carries...

This collection was even better than the last. The jokes are more cutting, the satire more real. Aaron McGruder has as sharp a pen as ever as he turns his attention to the war in Iraq, the elections, UPN, Michael Jackson and R. Kelly. The humor is laugh out loud funny, and it just doesn't get old. Anyone who lived through that era will likely find something to laugh about over the course of reading these strips.

The Boondocks is a cultural force, both in comic strips and in television. While I initially got into it thanks to the show, I have to say that the comics carry a charm that was lost in translation to television. Both are good, but man do I wish the strips were still happening. I can't imagine what Aaron McGruder would have to say about the state of things now.

Though I guess I won't need to imagine since the show is coming back this year. Well. It's about damn time.

[chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, now I have read all of the Boondocks strips. There are no more to read. COME BACK AARON McGRUDER!!! TELEVISION DOESN'T DESERVE YOU!!!

[Michael P. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't always agree with McGruder's politics, though I do more than 90% of the time. When I do not, these strips seem like cheap shots without substance. Does that say more about McGruder's lack of substance or mine? Something for me to think about. While I usually like the writing in this strip, I have long thought the art was pretty bad which is why I am amazed at McGruder's introduction admitting that he has assistants who do much of the drawing but emphasizes that he worked over the art on every strip in this collection. Hey, Aaron, better to blame others while you have the chance. I found this collection enjoyable but not hugely enjoyable. I am astonished at how prescient a few of the strip have become.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first Boondocks experience.... incredibly funny stuff. I'll have to look into buying a few more collections of McGruder's work. Satiric, smart, vulgar, and hitting all kinds of targets (politics and race being the two most abundant targets, obviously), this is what more comic strips should be!

[Ianju Gytnnrq30 4y3 · Rating 5 out of 5]

wonderfull

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a fan of Aaron McGruder, I read most of these comic strips when they originally came out and the strip was syndicated. The majority of the comics in this book are time-specific with references to Dubya (George W), the Iraq War, and other political personalities from the time. It is outrageously funny, though. - Okay, I admit it was funnier in the mid-2000's, but it was so fun to read the comics again. I specifically sought out this book, because there is a long sequence of comics about Condoleeza Rice that had me in stitches the first time around. It had the same effect now.

[Matt Sautman · Rating 5 out of 5]

My experience with the Boondocks is a gradual process of going backwards in time. That being said, it's incredibly easy reading in this order. Like All the Rage, the political commentary in this volume is fresh and fantastic. Elements from the 2000 election cycle feel just as if they could apply to today's, with minor alterations of course. The ad campaign for George W. Bush in it might be my favorite of all the Boondocks joke arcs.

[Addon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very funny and offensive but thats what makes it funny.If you cant take a few offensive remarks go ahead dont get this book, but while your not reading this book ill have fun reading it and others will to.

[Maxine · Rating 3 out of 5]

#2 isn't as funny as "A Right To Be Hostile," but it's still interesting. For instance, Huey makes a lot of gripes in this one about how we'll never see a black president in our lifetime. It makes you want to do more research into Mcgruder's work since Obama's inauguration.

[Shacoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is by far the best comic strip ever in the newspaper. I love the Boondocks and I realize that it's a political cartoon, but sometimes it gets a little too political and then it just feels like unnecessary cheap shots are being taken, so it's not as funny sometimes.

[Jenn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really used to enjoy the Boondocks, but unfortunately this collection didn't age well, for me anyway. Unlike Bloom County or Doonesbury, the political content seemed dated, but maybe that's because it was so recent--perhaps ten years down the road I'll be able to enjoy it again.

[Brynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Boondocks is my favorite comic. I wish that Aaron McGruder still drew it. I miss it.

[HeavyReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

These comics are hilarious and edgy (and much better than the two or three episodes of the Boondocks television show that I watched). I want to read all the Boondocks collections.

[Tatiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aaron McGruder is fantastic. the boondocks is a perfect blend of politics and humor in newspaper comic form.

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

BEST COMIC EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ramon · Rating 5 out of 5]

one the funniest book i think i have read
some racial commments but funny

[Samori705 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious

[Mateo 709 · Rating 5 out of 5]

this #*#^ is funny

[Kyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

i liked it i think that this book is one of the funniest books ever

[Dorian Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE!

[Dean Anderson · Rating 2 out of 5]

The topical humor, not surprisingly, does not hold up as well as the character humor.

[Tasha]

June 2013

[Mills College Library]

Fiction M1479p 2005