Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Just a French Major from the Bronx

1972, possibly first edition, from Popular Library
G. B. Trudeau
Just a French Major from the Bronx
Original price 95 cents, purchase price 75 cents
Slightly worn paperback
B-

Very early look at Mike Doonesbury and friends, although not the earliest, as these are from the first syndicated newspaper strips rather than The Yale Daily News.  This means that there's no nudity, and the drug humor has been toned down.  There's of course quite a bit of political humor, including Mike meeting Nixon (not shown) and Humphrey (illustrated).  There's also a higher proportion of black characters than later, most prominently radical Calvin and Mike's ghetto teen tutee Rufus.  Female characters are only in a strip or two each, no Joanie or Boopsie yet.  The title comes from a hockey game Mike plays.  Overall, a mildly amusing slice of its time, the still-very-'60s early 1970s.  I'll say more when we get to the lengthier collections.

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