Since I previously reviewed the middle book (Derby Dugan’s Depression Funnies (my review)), I decided that I should review the first book, Funny Papers. Where Derby Dugan’s Depression Funnies showed the high point of newspaper comic strips during the 1930s, this book shows their beginning during the 1890s. We get to see the introduction of photographs and the start of comic strips as a differentiator among the newspapers. We brush past Hearst and Pulitzer and we see the beginning of a phenomenon. So, let’s head back to the roaring ’90s and the newspaper wars to see the beginning of the wars in the Funny Papers.

George Wreckage is a news artist. In the times before newspapers could print photographs, a news artist would be hired to draw the visuals for the news events of the times and George is one of the best. The news artists are aware their career is drawing to a close, since the technology to print pictures is right around the corner. One day George draws a picture of a strange man Pinfold, who wears a derby hat, who has a talking dog named Fuzzy after Fuzzy gets shot. This picture will change his life. The public loves the little man and the talking dog. So George moves from new artist to a brand new occupation, comic artist. He starts a new comic centered around Pinfold and Fuzzy called Awful Alley.

Walter Geebus is the son of a wealthy doctor. Walter wants to be an artist, but his father is very much against it. When Walter meets George, he is in awe of the Awful Alley artist and soon pushes his way into being George’s assistant. Walter starts doing more and more for George, even though George keeps insisting that Walter is just some kid he allows to hang around him.

Then George gets a meeting with the man himself, William Randolph Hearst. Hearst makes George and offer he can’t resist, move Awful Alley over to the Hearst paper. George mentions copyright and contracts, but Hearst says he will take care of the details. When the dust from the lawsuit settles, George is free to work for Hearst, but he needs to rename everything (comic, characters, etc.). And then, to everyone’s surprise, Walter bluffs his way into taking over the original Awful Alley strip. And the battle for Pinfold and Fuzzy (among other things) starts up. There is also a love triangle in this book that is similar to the one in Derby Dugan’s Depression Funnies.

The book is a wonderful meandering look at the newspaper industry in the 1890s. It’s  bit wordy and unfocused as it brings in a bunch of characters, such as Clarky the shoeshine magnate, who don’t fit into the main storyline very well. The story does a wonderful job showing the manic energy around this era of the newspaper industry and it’s apparent that De Haven not only did a bunch of research, but loves this era in the industry. After having read the middle book, I can see how some of the threads are kept moving through the years. I recommend this book heartily, but do recommend you read the sequel(s) also.