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unladylike's review against another edition
4.0
Another win for leftist socio-political commentary via children's cartoon characters from Mark Russell. Not as good as [b:The Flintstones, Vol. 1|32273168|The Flintstones, Vol. 1|Mark Russell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1486622526l/32273168._SY75_.jpg|52898165] or [b:Prez, Vol. 1: Corndog-in-Chief|26067594|Prez, Vol. 1 Corndog-in-Chief (Prez, #0.9, #1-6)|Mark Russell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1453057305l/26067594._SY75_.jpg|46003312] but Snagglepuss frames queer, dramatically femme struggle squarely within the historical context of the character's original creation.
adastraperlibris's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
billywraithcyrus's review against another edition
3.0
There was a lot to unpack in this comic book trade. I've read some people on here are griping with the "Why would you take something old and apply this new thing to it that never existed?" boorishness. And then the "It's not even an LGBT thing. It just doesn't work with this character" feint. Like, c'mon. Are you so bereft of imagination that it's beyond you to even concede that somebody else might actually have a new idea?
People are just dicks.
Anyways.
There was a lot to unpack in this comic book trade. Although set in the 1950s, at certain points I wondered if this were a story about a post-race society? I dunno, did you see the sexual partnering of human and humanimal (what am I supposed to call Snagglepuss and Huckleberry Hound?) in this book? And it was also really striking to me how in Snagglepuss' play, humanimals would wear masks of different humanimals similar to the masks that the humans wore. It was really a lot to take in. Also, it can't really be a post-race society story when it very clearly highlights the real, present racism that exists in the society. So it's just fucking weird. People and humanimals are together and sexing and having kids and nobody seems to care, but as soon as two of the male identified humans or humanimals start to screw each other... now we've got a problem? Again, it was just weird.
In the historical glossary at the end of the book, Snagglepuss and Huckleberry Hound are described to be based on Tennessee Williams and William Faulkner, respectively. I don't know enough about either character's life to say that's accurate, but I will say that Snagglepuss' dilemma of whether or not to testify in a court hearing or risk being outed as homosexual reminded me a lot of the trials of Oscar Wilde. Being more familiar with Wilde, Snagglepuss' quips and maxims rang more similar to Wilde for me than they did with Williams or Faulkner. But while I think Snagglepuss is more reminiscent of Wilde, I think the actual writing of this book resembles a Tennessee Williams play.
And strange as this book was for me, I can't deny the rise of sadness I felt in the final two issues. I won't spoil anything here, but.. I think it's a feat that despite the continually oddity of confusing character relationships throughout the book, the writing delivers a heartfelt blow by the penultimate issue.
People are just dicks.
Anyways.
There was a lot to unpack in this comic book trade. Although set in the 1950s, at certain points I wondered if this were a story about a post-race society? I dunno, did you see the sexual partnering of human and humanimal (what am I supposed to call Snagglepuss and Huckleberry Hound?) in this book? And it was also really striking to me how in Snagglepuss' play, humanimals would wear masks of different humanimals similar to the masks that the humans wore. It was really a lot to take in. Also, it can't really be a post-race society story when it very clearly highlights the real, present racism that exists in the society. So it's just fucking weird. People and humanimals are together and sexing and having kids and nobody seems to care, but as soon as two of the male identified humans or humanimals start to screw each other... now we've got a problem? Again, it was just weird.
In the historical glossary at the end of the book, Snagglepuss and Huckleberry Hound are described to be based on Tennessee Williams and William Faulkner, respectively. I don't know enough about either character's life to say that's accurate, but I will say that Snagglepuss' dilemma of whether or not to testify in a court hearing or risk being outed as homosexual reminded me a lot of the trials of Oscar Wilde. Being more familiar with Wilde, Snagglepuss' quips and maxims rang more similar to Wilde for me than they did with Williams or Faulkner. But while I think Snagglepuss is more reminiscent of Wilde, I think the actual writing of this book resembles a Tennessee Williams play.
And strange as this book was for me, I can't deny the rise of sadness I felt in the final two issues. I won't spoil anything here, but.. I think it's a feat that despite the continually oddity of confusing character relationships throughout the book, the writing delivers a heartfelt blow by the penultimate issue.
jpitts's review against another edition
4.0
What can I say? They made Snagglepuss a gay playwright in the 1950's during the second red scare, and it's fucking powerful. That kicks ass.
xsleepyshadows's review against another edition
3.0
The red scare turned pink with this re-imagining of Snagglepuss. It works really well because I can hear snagglepuss' voice and easily imagine him as a Oscar Wilde/Tennessee Williams type of play-write. He blends really well into the red-scare with artists being blacklisted and unable to find work, the cold war (atomic bomb), along with history of LGBT+ doing a bit of a feature on stonewall at that time, and just some interesting bits on hanna-barbera cartoons. That's why I put it also in the historical fiction - it also has some nice details at the end of the book.
It was just a really interesting idea that I think could have worked if the art was better to portray the story.
The story I thought was pretty dramatic and ok. The art really did not keep my interest - I was disappointed that the entire graphic novel was in this style - truly everyone looked pretty creepy.
The cover art style was so good and unique- vibrant with the colors and such a great stylistic take. I was glad the art from the covers were included.
It was just a really interesting idea that I think could have worked if the art was better to portray the story.
The story I thought was pretty dramatic and ok. The art really did not keep my interest - I was disappointed that the entire graphic novel was in this style - truly everyone looked pretty creepy.
The cover art style was so good and unique- vibrant with the colors and such a great stylistic take. I was glad the art from the covers were included.
erincataldi's review against another edition
4.0
Unlike the Flintstones and the other Hanna-Barbera imprints at DC, this comic was super bad-ass (wait I forgot about Scooby Apocolypse, that too was cool). The Snagglepuss Chronicles was unlike anything I expected. It's set in the 50s at the heart of McCarthyism and Snagglepuss is a playwright who isn't playing by the government's rules. He'll give them sass but not the list of names they want. He has just as much to lose as everyone else, Snagglepuss is gay and like his friend the esteemed author, Huckleberry Hound, he has to hide that, because to the American public it's almost worst then being a communist. Inventive, wonderful storyline. Nothing at all like cartoon, yet... dare I say.... better?
g_crabtree's review against another edition
5.0
Who knew a comic about some Hanna-Barbera characters could be so thought provoking and insightful. It truly is one of the greatest comics created.
ogreart's review against another edition
5.0
This was so not what I was expecting. I remembered Snagglepuss from my childhood as a rather vain and silly cartoon character. Now I will remember him in a completely different way. Mark Russell has used S.P., Huckleberry Hound, Quickdraw McGraw and others to create a world in which anthropomorphic animals and humans live together. It is set during the McCarthy hearings and the tale is definitely for grown-ups. There is such depth to the writing. So many lines that made me think. So many that made me so very sad. There are many scenes that the homophobic wouldn't care for, but the hypocrisy uncovered via that storyline and the exploration of what love is makes me feel bad for those who won't read it because of that. I cannot recommend this book strongly enough.
I received a free electronic ARC of this graphic novel through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
I received a free electronic ARC of this graphic novel through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
onespaceymother's review against another edition
5.0
I’ll be honest, I did not expect the Hanna-Barbera Sangglepuss reimagining to be thoughtful political commentary full of modern nuance. The story follows a southern gay playwright (Snagglepuss) and his creative, entertainment industry friends (including Huckleberry Hound) through the 1950s “red scare” and the congressional hearings. It was really, really good. It also remind me in tone (and in depressed personified animals) of Bojack Horseman, so if you’re a fan of that show I would recommend picking this up. It is, however, much more political and historical than Bojack. Thanks to my brother James Pelter for suggesting this to our book club - I may have missed the meeting but I definitely went back to read this one! #nowreading #comics #snagglepuss #snagglepusschronicles
kirkreads's review against another edition
5.0
I found this book to be engaging, heartbreaking, timely, and a picture of resilience. Imagine the Hanna Barbara character as a gay playwright at the height of the McCarthy Era and the House Un-American Activities Committee. Other of the characters play roles in the story, along with the appearances of various real people of the era, such as Marilyn Monroe, Richard Nixon, Arthur Miller, and others. This story sheds a light on a shameful period of American history, while addressing the meaning of art and making a statement of standing one's ground and refusing to hide in the shadows. I highly recommend this graphic novel. I had anticipated that it would be good, but it is so much more than I expected. This is an important work.