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AL CAPP
AL CAPP (1909–1979) was born Alfred Gerald Caplin in New Haven, Connecticut. In 1932, he became the youngest syndicated cartoonist in America, drawing Mister Gilfeather, a daily panel for the Associated Press. The following year found him ghosting the popular boxing strip Joe Palooka for Ham Fisher, in which he created a memorable sequence about a hillbilly named Big Leviticus. In 1934, Capp headed for the hills, leaving Fisher behind, to launch a strip of his own—Li’l Abner.
n the h volume—Ab frantic Sadie a is th te Introducing a e in r c o l ls a A e Pig G ustrations! and tours th wk Gal, and n a o H s r l, a a C the world’s fr G n lf u o eW ree-G oodnik, whil search of Th all the way ls in e t v s a e tr w t y u m o Battlin’ McN Mam goes t’s nothing— Then Abner a . y th a t D u s B . in hs! k to Haw l Passiona on and laug E ti f c o a c ld li r b o u p w e er f this sights in th en! It’s out o v e S r e b m u cus N to Planet Pin
LI’L ABNER
” ! t h g i f a d i o v a d n a y elieve m g i K in order to r d e k a ic k e k b …kic ilarious Kigmy, the critter that loevretas tokes on Evil-Eye Fleagle and
In addition to the enormous popularity of his comic strip, Capp was arguably the most famous cartoonist of his generation. He was a frequent and outspoken guest on NBC’s Tonight show, spanning hosts Jack Paar, Steve Allen, and Johnny Carson. He was also a guest, panelist, and sometimes host on late ’40s and early ’50s television programs and even briefly had his own show. The prolific satirist also wrote a syndicated newspaper column, had his own syndicated radio show, and was a frequent guest lecturer at campuses nationwide, a sideline that created a firestorm late in his career. Capp retired Li’l Abner in 1977 after a 43-year run, and died two years later.
MORE THAN 700 SEQUENTIAL COMICS FROM
1949—1950
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VOLUME 8
1949-1950
I
t’s amoozin’, but not confoozin’—it’s the complete Li’l Abner! This important series continues the first-ever comprehensive reprinting of the comic strip—including both dailies and meticulously restored full-color Sundays. Al Capp’s comedy masterpiece introduced many outrageous concepts, among them Sadie Hawkins Day, the Shmoo, the Double-Whammy, Lower Slobovia, Lena the Hyena, the Bald Iggle, and General Bullmoose—and the inventions continue in this volume when the world meets the loveable and eminently kickable Kigmies. Li’l Abner became “must” reading, a sensation not just in America, but throughout the world, with a total readership exceeding 60,000,000, among them celebrity admirers such as Charlie Chaplin, John Steinbeck, Harpo Marx, John Updike, John Kenneth Galbraith, and even Queen Elizabeth. The comic strip spawned a long-running Broadway musical, as well as two films. The Eisner and Harvey Award-winning team of Dean Mullaney and Bruce Canwell place the strip—and Capp himself—in perspective, providing context to the barbed satire, outlandish fantasy, and beautiful mountain gals of Li’l Abner. Dogpatch has plenty of pork chops, turnips, and Kickapoo Joy Juice for all, so it’s time to head for the hills and enjoy this latest entry in the complete Li’l Abner!