And if anyone out there is mildly interested in reading an adventure newspaper strip there's not many better than Milton Caniff's Terry and The Pirates. The first volume clearly shows a developing artistic talent that was to set standards that others would be measured by. Truly a classic.
Volume 1 is a truly lovely object. Cracking reproduction, and high production values make it a visual and tactile treat. Hmmm. Rip-snorting two fisted manly action set in exotic locales with ladies as feisty as they are alluring. Features an obligatory racial caricature that has to be apologised for in the indicia and an intrepid manly journalist whose pipe is never far from being clenched between his strong white American teeth. It’s not cheap but you get your money’s worth, darn tootin’. And it gets better in later volumes? The Devil, you say, sir!
I have dipped into other newspaper strips lately; Star Hawks by Ron Goulart/Archie Goodwin & Gil Kane (with sick day assists by Ernie Colon and some guy called Chaykin) and Sky Masters by Wally Wood & Jack Kirby. They are some kind of wonderful and a nice break from pamphlets.
I still don’t get Peanuts at all, though. Just can’t see it. Call me Philistine!
Hmmm, Peanuts. When I'm in cynical mode I tend to think that the strip is only good because some people who should know better say so. It is good but whether it deserves it's celebrated status is debatable. As a take on childhood I've always preferred Calvin & Hobbes a much more accomplished strip by Watterson, an artist who knew when to call it a day and finish the strip before it became an unintentional parody of itself.
With regard the IDW reprints it's worth noting that the Terry reprints are intended to be the first in a series of ongoing reprints of classic daily strips.
Is anybody reading the IDW Dick Tracy reprint books? Are they good stuff? I see they are released bi-annually which is more attractive than Terry's punishing quarterly schedule (altho' obviously Tel's worth it).
And it's not that I don't like Peanuts, obviously that's some sharp talent, I just don't "get" it.
