Doonesbury: You're Smokin' Now, Mr Butts!

Doonesbury Annuals #34

by G.B. Trudeau

This collection of "Doonesbury" begins with the long-awaited, never-expected marriage of Honey and Duke: hardly the social event of the season, it takes place in the American Embassy in Beijing and involves a groom who is only in it for the money--the $1 million offered by Donald Trump for the rescue of Ms. Huan, China's "No. 1 hooligan."The plot thickens...and thickens. Bad enough that eight friends are all cramped out in Mike and J.J.'s living room. When even Mr. Butts starts bringing home houseguests (like his old pals Mr. Jay and Mr. Caffeine) it's time for Mr. Doonesbury to see a psychiatrist. We meet the Divine Miss N, a pack of nicotine gum whose affair with William Bennett supplies him with 40 mgs a day. Buttsy clarifies the issue. "C'mon Billy Boy, wake up and smell the smoke We have a drug czar who's a drug addict."

"You're Smokin' Now, Mr. Butts " is primo Trudeau--provocative, inimitable, and indispensable reading.

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

96 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 · Rating 3 out of 5]

These strips are from George Bush's term as president (1988 etc) and this mostly deals with the aging of the Doonesbury characters and their moral dilemmas, but the parts about Donald Trump are so sadly comical and prescient. A hollow greedy sociopathic figure to ridicule and who is now in charge and ruining democracy.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

I needed a funny escapist, read after my last book and picked up this one, hoping to avoid current affairs.

Mistake.

In addition to poking fun at the DEA, 'W' and others, he also roasts Trump, Donnie hasn't changed much in thirty years.

[David]

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

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the Honey, Duke & Trump plot and Hunk-Ra is back - yay! The Andy strips manage to be very funny and totally heartbreaking at the same time.

[Alex Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A daily strip from Trudeau would be just the ticket right now.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coming out in 1990, strips from mid 89 to early 90, and there are some good laughs here. I particularly like seeing the Sunday strips in context, unlike some comic strips Trudeau’s Sunday offerings were just as good as the dailies.

[Aspry Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is pretty much all about Mr. Butts, Doonesbury's answer to the times' obsession with smoking and kids who smoke. He was nothing more than a giant cigarette with an otherwise amiable face. He started out as a figment of Mike Doonesbury's imagination during his bout with smoking. This being turned into something much bigger as his friends Ms. N, a pack of nicotine gum - Mr. Jay, a weed smoke and Baby Tar, another smoke, came into being. I might add that Baby Tar is one of the worst rappers in the history of music.

To be honest, other things starring major Doonesbury characters happen in this piece, but the smoking stuff is all that really matters. And it's all the best.

Oh yeah, Duke gets wasted on booze and controlled substances while Honey stands by oblivious.

[Karen-Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honey and Duke marry and divorce. JJ and Mike growing further apart. Zonker still babysitting Alex. Keating Five included John McCain and John Glenn took a bribe to keep a failing S&L open and cost tax paying citizens billions.

[Craig Werner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Donald Trump, the amazing invisible president (what's his name the First), Boopsie pursues her career, Mike stumbles through the ad world and fatherhood. Decent enough, forgettable, collection from a mostly forgettable era.....

[Apocalypse Books · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dated but some funny panels

[Kaethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've long been a fan of Doonesbury, and I think the Mr. Butts series is particularly amusing.

[Lise · Rating 4 out of 5]

More Doonesbury! Great!