To millions of
daily readers spanning five decades, Al Capp was the man who made
them laugh as he injected "Lower Slobbovia," "the double whammy,"
and "Sadie Hawkins Day" into our popular lexicon. To Nobel-laureate
John Steinbeck, he was "very possibly the best writer in the world
today." This book proudly launches the first comprehensive archives
of Li'l Abner, with the Sunday pages restored to their
original beauty.
Li'l Abner Vol. 1: 1934-1936
by Al
Capp
Edited & Designed by Dean Mullaney, Essay by Bruce Canwell.
Introduction by Denis Kitchen.
Head for the hills! Next stop: Dogpatch, the sleepy little home of Pansy and Lucifer Ornamental Yokum and their 19-year-old son, Li’l Abner! Volume 1 of Al Capp’s comedy masterpiece starts at the beginning and includes all the full-color Sunday pages never before collected in book form. Li’l Abner moves to New York to live with his rich aunt and has to dodge both kidnappers and grasping socialites! Back home in Dogpatch, Marrying Sam works to get Abner and gorgeous Daisy Mae to the altar, while shiftless Hannibal Hoops schemes to split them apart! Then it’s a classic case of mistaken identity when Li’l Abner’s evil twin, the ruthless criminal Gat Garson, comes to town…
Oversized 9.25" x 12" full
color hardcover-with-dustjacket, 288 pp.,
$49.99.ISBN: 978-1-60010-611-8.
Li'l Abner Vol. 2: 1937-1938
by Al
Capp
Edited & Designed by Dean Mullaney, Essay by Bruce
Canwell.
The big news in the second volume of the
Complete Li'l Abner is Al Capp's creation of the first
Sadie Hawkins Day, in which the womenfolk chase the menfolk, and
whosoever gets caught is brought to the altar before Marryin’
Sam himself. Presenting the daily strips and color Sundays from
1937 and 1938.
Oversized 9.25" x 12" full
color hardcover-with-dustjacket, 288 pp.,
$49.99. ISBN 978-1-60010-745-0.
Li'l Abner Vol. 3: 1939-1940
by Al
Capp
Edited & Designed by Dean Mullaney, Essay by Bruce
Canwell.
We invite you to (g-gulp!) (chuckle), (sigh!!),
and (*moan*) like a real Dogpatcher at all the fun and excitement
in Volume 3 of The Complete Li'l Abner! Enjoy breakneck
comedy in these daily and full-color comic strips from 1939 and
1940, as Al Capp spoofs the movies Topper and The
Grapes of Wrath—sends Lonesome Polecat and Hairless Joe
to New York, armed with a fresh batch of Kickapoo Joy
Juice—gets Adam Lazonga, the world's greatest lover, to give
lessons in how to woo a gal "Dogpatch-style"—and stages a
battle for the ages as Mammy Yokum throws down against mean ol'
Mother Ratfield! In the introduction, Bruce Canwell continue to
examine this slice of pure Americana, including a look at Li'l
Abner's first appearance in the movies!
Oversized 9.25" x 12.5"
hardcover-with-dustjacket, 252 pp., $49.99.
ISBN: 978-1-60010-927-9.
Li'l Abner Vol. 4: 1941-1942
by Al
Capp
Edited & Designed by Dean Mullaney, Essay by Bruce
Canwell.
High-octane humor and cockeyed
characters—it’s the Cappian way! Sit a spell and
you’ll meet Available Jones (“Is yo’ available,
Available?”), Swami Riva, Big Stanislouse, Joe Btfsplk (the
world’s greatest jinx!), Dorothy Lamour (yes, that Dorothy
Lamour), Lorna Goon, Orville Wolf, Cherry Blossom, the parents of
Gat Garson, Sadie Hawkins V, Dinsmore Jerque, J.P. Fangsby, Tiny
Mite, and that hog-wallowin’ bundle of pulchritude, Moonbeam
McSwine! They help make 1941 and 1942 fast, funny, and
unforgettable!
Oversized 9.25" x 12.5"
hardcover-with-dustjacket, 252 pp., $49.99.
ISBN: 978-1-61377-123-5.
Li'l Abner Vol. 5: 1943-1944
by Al
Capp
Edited by Dean Mullaney and Bruce Canwell.
In the darkest hours of World War II, why were
millions of people laughing? Because they were reading Li'l
Abner, that’s why! The fifth volume of this series
features daily strips and full-color Sundays from 1943 and 1944,
with a zany cast of characters that includes Shadrack Throwback,
“The Monster,” Madame Lazonga, and Joan L. Sullivan,
plus returning favorites like Moonbeam McSwine, Swami Riva, and
Available Jones. Capp also aims his satirical barbs at teen idol
Frank Sinatra (yes, Frank Sinatra!), as a starving Li’l Abner
Yokum croons his way into female hearts. Meanwhile, the hilarious
take-off on Dick Tracy, Fearless Fosdick, is like
getting two comic strips in one!
Oversized 9.25" x 12.5"
hardcover-with-dustjacket, 272 pp., $49.99.
ISBN: 978-1-61377-514-1.
Born in New Haven, Connecticut in 1909, Al 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.