Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles

Maybe. I dunno. I was blown away by those volumes, but this one affected me emotionally, even more so than those two.It's at once alternate history,an anthropormics comic, a character study, a meditation on the role of the arts in creating and reflecting society...and more . WAY more. To call this "layered" or "textured" does not do it justice.I really do not want to get to specific about the plot. Describing scenes removed from context cannot convey why they are so powerful, but being pre described can ruin them for other readers, who read reviews to decide on what to spend their limited dollars. I will say that I wholeheartedly recommend this book.Some great one-liners ; here's just a (very) few I especially liked :"...an enemy is what we call people who get in our way""...you do not fight battles because you expect to win. You fight them merely because they need to be fought.""A man can't pretend forever. ..He must be the man he is or forever become the mask assigned to him"."Keep a relationship in a box and it becomes a coffin"."In the end , any culture worth a damn is made by subversives. Because art is telling the world that it needs to change. Power merely redecorates it.""There is no greater tragedy in life than to die a stranger to yourself".Some nice little touches, like the claw polish on Lila's claws. Or the look on McGraw's face when he meets Hound jr. Or the Garst Cornfield War.Gorgeous clean realistic art, good portrayal of fifties fashions and interiors.There is a scene towards the end of the book, set in a hospital room, in which we see an old black and white photgraph. That page is now the second-greatest page of comic art from the 21st century that I've seen. (*And the very greatest coincidentally also stars a large talking cat.) But the very greatest scene, wonderful though it is, did not make me drop the book in shock and make my eyes sting.Minor criticisms: Some of the real historical people I didn't find recognizable. Marilyn Monroe didn't look much like her, IMO. I guess Clint is Clint Eastwood, but is Marion someone I should recognize? Or those people in the photograph Allen shows Snagglepuss at the Algonquin meeting? And I do NOT like Officer McGraw's design : I think just giving him hands a la Bojack would have worked better.In the end, the book leaves me with a sense of melancholy and disquiet . Not just because of what happens to Snagglepuss and Huckleberry Hound and Officer McGraw, because of the choices they made. Russell gives Snagglepuss the best one-liners on the role of the arts and of artists. And the USSR's attempts to propagandize its people via "socialist realism" didn't exactly create masterpieces. But Gigi Allen is not a fool or a caricatured villian. She raises important questions : CAN a country survive without a shared culture? What if "subversive elements" are deliberately holding a country's culture up to ridicule? Look at the online comments on any news site for a possible answer. I see nothing there any more but mutual loathing and contempt. What if anything can do done is for each individual reader to decide for him- or herself.On a personal note: As a child, I never was a big fan of Huckleberry Hound, Snagglepuss, or Quickdraw McGraw. I watched them because I watched anything animated, but I was more into the Warner Brothers classics, the Flintstones, and the Jetsons . (I also watched Scooby Doo even though I hated it, because I convinced myself that sooner or later they would throw in a show with a REAL ghost, or vampire, or werewolf, or whatever.) But I recall getting into an argument back in 1971-1972/ 2nd grade, over the burning question : Is Snagglepuss an African lion or a mountain lion? I held out for mountain lion, despite cogent arguments for him being a maneless African lion ("You're stupid!" "No, YOU'RE stupid!") But early in the book, Snagglepuss describes his childhood self as a kit, not a cub. That settles it : He's a mountain lion. But since he was born in Mississippi, that means he's most likely a Puma concolor cougar, a Florida panther. Which means he's LITERALLY a pink panther!*(The very greatest scene in 21st century comic art-? The one in Saga (issue 14) , in which Sophie discusses her past with Lying Cat. )

This comic was recommended by Casually Comics on YouTube, hosted by Sasha. The script is excellent, taking a "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" approach to the Red Scare and House of Un-American Activities Committee investigation of "subversive elements" in the world of arts and entertainment. Snagglepus is a Tennessee Williams inspired playwright whose gay lifestyle lands him in front of the committee. Drama and intrigue abound in a thoughtful script. However, the artwork leaves something to be desired. The artist is great at bringing anthropomorphic cartoon animals to life, but my God, he's bad at human faces, unless it was his intention to make every woman look like a transvestite. Seriously, if you can't draw Marilyn Monroe in all her feminine glory, don't put her in your story! My only other comment is that for some reason, people in 1953 are using the moniker "Ms." when addressing women. "Ms." didn't fall into common usage until the 1970s. The fact vs. fiction essay at the end reminded me of my own historical mystery novels and my summary of what was and wasn't fictional. All and all, I recommend this graphic novel for the story and dialogue. The artwork on women, not so much.

Funny, insightful, and overall a great idea for a magasine.I loved the cartoon Snagglepus and this magazine really puts a different spin on a once "humourous" character trope, which has led to an interesting concept. I learned in depth about McCarthysm, early LGBT rights in the USA and how people of that era lived.I think this comic book should be put into schools, simply because it's a fun read and accurate representation of controversial time.It could be the next animal farm, if given the much deserved publicity of a beautiful book!

I had to stop reading to come write this review. This is one of the best graphic novels I have read to date. I'm a really big fan of both DC and Hanna-Barbera, including the original Snagglepuss cartoons. This take on Snagglepuss is so true to the original character yet absolutely nothing like him at the same time. The dialogue is a pleasure to read and the art is provoking and so deeply emotional. There is a soul behind Snagglepuss's eyes. This is a story that begs to be read.

This was INCREDIBLY written. Of all the Hanna Barbera (I hope I spelled that right) DC remakes or retellings, this is the best of them all. The illustrations are amazing and it's both hilarious and thought provoking to think about famous cartoon characters lives before they were... well... famous cartoons. Unapologetically picks are social issues of both the time it takes place and how little things have changed in terms of the justice system, freedoms, and identity. Buy it. Read it. Love it. You won't regret it.

Mark Russell's attempt to place Snagglepuss, Huckleberry Hound, Augie Doggie, Peter Potamus, and Quick-Draw McGraw, among others, in a real socio-political context of the years prior to their cartoon debut on television works surprisingly well. The artist walks that fine line of mixing anthropomorphic characters with regular humans and keeping it from being too cartoony or too fetishy.

I don't usually go for crossovers, but I kept reading about how good this book was. So I decided to pick it up. I wasn't expecting much deep emotion from something Hanna Barbara related, but that's exactly what I found. I was also pleasantly surprised at how characters were intertwined with real life events.

My first graphic novel, as I’ve never been into comics even as a kid. But wow, a great book beautifully illustrated and surprisingly well written. If you happen to be of an age when Snaggle Puss was a current cartoon, and especially if you happen to be a gay man of a certain age, this hits home. Highly recommended.

Being a huge cartoon buff and having read a few of these new Hanna-Barbera comics I’m shocked to find out how much of a beautiful masterpiece this comic is.Confession here, I hated Snagglepuss! I hated the cartoon character! But I bought this on impulse and it was well worth it! Strongest of the series.It’s a strangely emotional story which touched me in a way that hits you in the face.If they could continue these very adult and beautiful series as they have with Snagglepuss, I’d be so happy.This is probably one of my favourite comics I’ve read this year, hell maybe the last five years!

Definitely the finest read in the Hanna Barbera Beyond range, Snagglepuss Chronicles imagines our favourite pink lion (though I challenge you to find another) transported back to the 1950s as a writer during the McCarthyite era, challenging the prejudices and trials of the time. Also supporting in the story is Huckleberry Hound, Augie Doggie & Quickdraw McGraw. The novel is beautifully drawn with the animated characters fitting in to this alternative New York flawlessly and the subject matter is provocative and highly relevant to today. A must-purchase for any fan.

Like it was used to say comparisons are awful for both parties but in this case given I wholly recommend this COMIC it is more about whether or not is your type of story and humor.I really do no wish to spoil anything.SO I suggest you watch,eh, the first episode of bojack horseman if that is of your liking I AM sure this Comic is of your liking.Also the product arrived (most important part) and it was in perfect condition.

This book told the story of queer persecution and history so oddly accurately for a tale about anthropomorphic cartoon characters in a mundane real world New York at the height of the Red Scare. Beautiful, heart-breaking, this was a story that NEEDED to be shared and is done so expertly by a talented and thoughtful creative team that knew the weight of what they were working with and handled it with care and love. This book will make you hopeful, make you laugh and make you cry. You MUST read it.

Well this is lovely and moving and beautiful and if it is in the finest tradition of story-tellers telling stories about how story-telling is the most true and beautiful activity there is we'll let the self-congratulatory scamps off just this once because it is after all lovely and moving and beautiful