I really enjoyed an American comic????? The writing in this was so good. ( )

This was utterly brilliant. Snagglepuss as Tennessee Williams, fighting the red scare. The theatre person in me loved all the commentary on theatre vs film vs TV. I just can't say enough about the writing. The art matches, the palate fitting perfectly. A must read, especially for those who remember the Snagglepuss cartoons. ( )

DOROTHY PARKER IS IN A COMIC BOOK! Kind of fangirling here for a moment, but I love the fact Parker and the Algonquin Round Table are in this book. Only for a brief cameo, but they kid of set the stage for what this comic book is about.

If you liked the Flintstones comic book, you'll probably like this just a much. Mark Russell is good with satire and cartoons. Exit Stage Left is a satire on the early 50s during the Red Scare. Of course, it has cartoon characters like Snagglepuss, Huckleberry Hound, and Quick Draw, but it also has a bunch of historical characters as well.

You could say this comic book has a ton of things going on at once, but take a look at the time period it was set in, a ton of things were gong on at once. Besides the Red Scare, this also deals with homosexuality during the 50s They make SP, HH, aand QD all gay which fits for this comic book. This comic has a ton of witty (Dorothy Parker, even) comments, but it also has a lot of tragic moments I wasn't prepared for, unlike the Flintstones were it was mostly a fun ride.

This comic book does get into politics, but thank God it's not party based of favored. They have Snagglepuss mention in the beginning and end he's not about politics and he not a party person. I think for this type of comic book based on a cartoon that was a smart decision. All we know is Snagglepuss isn't a Communist. Russell menages to write a political satire without mention any party names besides the Communist Party.

At the end they have a really nice write-up of some of the historical parts telling you what is what. I didn't realize beforehand that Snagglepuss and Huckleberry were loosely based on Tennessee Williams (SP) and William Faulkner (HH). Kind of helps making these cartoon character seem more then just fictional animals. There are somethings they don't explain to readers, like Dorothy Parker as I mentioned above. She's not really well know anymore unless you are into writing. I feel like they need a little more explanation.

There probably a lot more I can talk about with this comic book, but I won't because I might run into spoilers, which there is a few. If you're looking for something different, this is another must read I think. I'll be honest, not a Snagglepuss fan but this comic book might have changed my mind. I think I like this better then the Flintstones comic book too. ( )

I cannot believe how hard this comic went? McCarthyism. Cop raids on queer bars. The psychological effects of living in the closet. The subversive nature of the arts. This comic had so much to say and it looked you right in the face and said it. In a Snagglepuss comic. I'm not sure why or how this happened, but I'm so glad it did. ( )

OK we all know Snagglepuss, right? Pink Lion, upright, lace cuffs, prissy-pants "elegant" trick of speech? He was a second banana to Yogi Bear in the Saturday Morning Hanna-Barbara Cartoon Universe.

Or maybe he was a Southern playwright in the 1950's or so, writing smash hit after smash hit for Broadway, with a private life that was - (maybe) - none of your damn business. I mean, just because he's pink? (and how many ways were there to be "pink" in 1950's America?)

The author of Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles has the second guy in mind. Think Tennessee Williams in a velvet smoking jacket called up in front of the "House Un American Activities Committee" -- saying all the right things to the press but later taking a cab down to the Village for a drink with friends at the Stonewall Inn -- and you've got it.

Did I mention that this was a graphic novel? Don't run away!. The art will remind you not at all of the old H-B limited animation -- it's better, intricate, vibrant almost Addams Family Gothic. The writing is sly and funny but not afraid to dig deep down and got for a nerve now and then.

Augie Dogie ("my Son, my Son") and Huckleberry Hound and Quick Draw McGraw show up here too - but not at all how you would expect. The ending - well I dunno. Is it a victory? or a defeat? You'll have to read it.

Highly recommended. ( )