Call Me When You Find America

Doonesbury Annuals #4

by G.B. Trudeau

rare

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

128 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1973

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

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Join Mark Slackmeyer (great name) and Michael J. Doonesbury as they go 'On the Road' in a very 'Easy Rider' way to try to find American. In Nixonian times that is hard to do; our boys soon find out that things are not always as they seem. Great 'time capsule' book that is (strangely) still relevant today.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

The one that started it all...Why did I ever get rid of them???? This was the only early one I never had. When I saw it at Jane Addams, I knew that I had to start collecting them again...

[Garrett Zecker · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting look at a time capsule of America going through one of its most political and social upheavals. It is a dated text that did something very interesting to me - while much of our perspective of the era is based on popular culture (and this counts), this somewhat autobiographical investigation is a stark contrast to the news cycle/hollywood movies/news cycle of the era. What it truly shows is the confusion and itchy palms of the generation that seemingly have ill-defined borders and identities as they struggled to figure out where they

Let me take a moment to attempt to explain what I mean in the context of this book. The characters seem to be both hippies and suits, liberals and conservatives, naturalists and fuel-burning cross-country motorcycle-driving adventurists, feminists and patriarchs, commune members and lone families, and throughout the whole text I was wondering what the message actually was that trudeau was trying to communicate through these strips that wasn’t contradicted later on. I did enjoy reading them, but boy, what a complicated era!

My favorite comic was one about education - where a boy is whining about not wanting to do homework and not needing help. When the main character turns around and gives up, and then the child giggles at effectively having the adult give up so that he no longer needed to be harassed to do the schoolwork.

This showed me how honest these strips were, and the fact that this was a document about a time that will never be again - except that the only thing that remains the same is we are still confused at times, and that times really haven’t changed at all.

[Craig Werner · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite of the Doonesbury collections. I'm a sucker for road stories, so Mark and Mike's epic journey across America was what solidified my love for the strip. It was fun to revisit Joanie's first appearance as she leaves her male chauvinist pig of a husband and settles in at the commune. Zonker's stint as quarterback when BD spends Christmas vacation with Phred in Vietnam is a hoot. Just a really good run.

[Oriana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whoa, I though my collection started in '89, but this volume is from 1971. Good lord! Trudeau didn't even know how to draw yet!!

[Michael P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Typical, that is to say, smart and entertaining Dolonesbury collection. Badly drawn, of course, but excellently written.

[Poornima · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was really a great fun to read !

[Dave Peticolas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doonesbury. Funny.

[Lise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably the first Doonsbury book I read.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining as always.

[Mitchell Friedman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Joan. Feminism. Boopsie working for the McGovern campaign. B.D. going back to Vietnam to visit Phred. High art? no. But readable and vaguely educational. Not great, but pretty good. 3.5 of 5.

[Regan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this classic in the 80s.

[David]

5th read ... never gets old

[Jeremy J. Freeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never understood Doonesbury as a kid, but now as an adult this strip makes sense. Sure, some of it is heavy with dialog, but Trudeau's wit and commentary on the state of America during the '70s, at least from the perspective of his characters, really gave me a different perspective. This book in particular really shows how culturally significant and important this strip was back then, and still is today!

[Kenneth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mine Doonesbury & Mark Slackmeyer are travelling around America, Joanie Caucus debuts. The setting is the early 1970's. George McGovern is the Democrat running against Richard Nixon for President. A reflection of the era.

[Joe Stinnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another short book in my shameless quest to boost my total books read for the year. First read this so long ago, 1974 or so, and is still as good and relevant as ever today. A comic that transcends comics.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coming out in 1973 with strips from 71 and 72 – Trudeau’s art work continues to improve, the scenes frequently have a background to them, something that seemed beyond his abilities in the early days. Joanie Caucus joins the commune, and we get Henry Kissinger’s first appearance.

[Shoshanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had never heard of McCloskey!

[G. Salter · Rating 4 out of 5]

It may not have the polished artwork of the later Doonesbury comics, but the classic style and characters are all here.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very Good.

[Earl Truss · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not his best work but it was an interesting flash back.

[Gregory Knapp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peerless Pandemic Distraction Reading.