Nancy Loves Sluggo: Complete Dailies, 1949–1951

Nancy: Complete Dailies #3

by Ernie Bushmiller

Many connoisseurs — including Art Spiegelman, Daniel Clowes, Scott McCloud (creator of the “Five-Card Nancy” card game), Joe Brainard, and Andy Warhol — have recognized that Bushmiller’s often-corny Nancy approached its own kind of zen-like cartoon perfection. In its own way, it turned out Nancy was in fact the most iconic comic strip of all; The American Heritage Dictionary actually uses a Nancy strip to illustrate its entry on “comic strip.” Fantagraphics’ beloved Nancy series finally packages Nancy with the reverence it deserves. Our third volume contains another full three years of daily Nancy strips, from an era many regard as Bushmiller’s finest.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Comic Strips, Humor, Art, Childrens, Fiction

336 pages, Paperback

First published October 20, 2014

About the author

Ernest Paul "Ernie" Bushmiller, Jr. (1905 - 1982) was an American cartoonist, best known for creating the long-running daily comic strip Nancy. Bushmiller's work has been repeatedly addressed by other artists: Andy Warhol made a 1961 painting based on "Nancy"; the artist and poet Joe Brainard made numerous works based on Nancy; and many cartoonists have produced work directly inspired by or commenting on Bushmiller's art, including Art Spiegelman, Bill Griffith, Mark Newgarden and Chris Ware. The American Heritage Dictionary uses a Bushmiller "Nancy" strip to illustrate its entry on "comic strip."

Reviews

[Rob Sevier · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best Nancy collection that exists (and i’ve read them all)

[Carl Waluconis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nancy, as with many comics strip kids from that era, has no visible parents. She lives with her attractive Aunt Fritzi. The humor is almost entirely visual, with "punch lines" being only a drawing, or a drawing with a few words. For instance, the cover drawing of Nancy had Sluggo's nose ("Nancy Loves Sluggo" - get it?) Sluggo is a very different child, living in a very rundown house with collapsing furniture, cracked-plaster walls, and broken windows. (If anyone knows Sluggo's last name, please tell me - I really would like to know it.) These strips were also reprinted in comic books in the 40's and 50's, where many children were introduced to them. The introduction by Ivan Brunetti in this volume has many insights into Bushmiller's striking graphics. Admittedly, reading huge chunks of the book at a time may become mind-numbing, sort of like watching hours of old cartoons back-to-back. I find reading newspaper strips the way publishers and creators meant them to be read, a few at a time, is a more satisfying reading experience. In any case, it is interesting fun to follow this young couple as they make their way through great graphics and never-ending gags to solve problems in their own unique ways while becoming American icons.

[Ruz El · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is volume three of the Fantagraphics series and not much to say other than it's just as good as the previous three. It's pretty much perfect gag cartooning, and I never tire of Nancy's "bitch face".

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nancy is the best daily comic strip ever. Sean Roger's review of the collection at the Comics Journal is well written. http://www.tcj.com/reviews/nancy-is-h...

[Heather McC · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's plenty to love about this collection of Nancy antics. Nancy's big heart (and bigger appetite) make her an appealing character study as she makes her way through life with her antics and shenanigans (even when they blow up in her face).

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apart from enjoying Bushmiller's visual jokes, it finally occurred to me that Sluggo is a parentless 10-year-old living by himself, yet able to afford food, electricity, and a phone (he's often at one new job or another in these strips).

[Acton Northrop · Rating 5 out of 5]

I only gave Moby-Dick 4 stars what the hell is wrong w/me