Garry Trudeau and 'Doonesbury' Analyzed in New Book

By: Dave Astor A book called "Garry Trudeau, Doonesbury and the Aesthetics of Satire" has been published by the University Press of Mississippi.

Kerry D. Soper's 224-page study includes a history of "Doonesbury," an analysis of Trudeau's satiric methods, a discussion of how the cartoonist challenged the business practices of the comic-strip biz, an examination of his significance as a social chronicler, a look at how Trudeau himself has kept a low profile, and more. There are also 37 illustrations.

"Doonesbury" runs in about 1,400 newspapers via Universal Press Syndicate, which introduced the comic in 1970. The 1948-born Trudeau created the first version of the strip in 1968 while at Yale University.

Soper is director of the American studies program and associate professor of humanities, classics and comparative literature at Brigham Young University. His work has appeared in the International Journal of Comic Art, INKS: Cartoon and Comic Art Studies, and other publications.

The new "Doonesbury" book arrives after the 2007 biographies of two other major cartoon figures -- "Peanuts" creator Charles M. Schulz (1922-2000) and "Terry and the Pirates"/"Steve Canyon" creator Milton Caniff (1907-1988). The first book was written by David Michaelis and the second by R.C. Harvey.