Now Reading
‘The Snagglepuss Chronicles’
Slut for Slicha
A Very Jewcy Rosh Hashanah
Snipped and Satisfied
Schtupless in Seattle
Gefilte Guilt
Messy Meshugane. Again.

‘The Snagglepuss Chronicles’

DC Comics has a new star of his own comic, and instead of going the superhero route, they’ve launched a historical fiction title, exploring homosexuality, art, and political oppression in 1950s America. But the lead character may be familiar to you: It’s Snagglepuss.

That’s right, Snagglepuss, the pepto-bismol colored Hanna-Barbera property most known for exclaiming, “Heavens to Murgatroyd!” now features (following a one-off special last year) in Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles. Here, he’s a star playwright, the darling of the theatre scene and an adoring public. But Snagglepuss has a secret— he’s gay (he’s clearly based off of Tennessee Williams), and in 1953, being outed would mark the end of his career and respectability. With so much at stake, how is he supposed to weather the increasingly stormy political climate? The renowned wit is used to keeping his head down when it counts, but McCarthyism may be moving in…

Because of the artsy New York milieu, Snagglepuss (his close friends call him S.P.) constantly rubs shoulders with Jewish intelligentsia— in the first issue alone, he comforts Lillian Hellman after a harrowing testimony before HUAC, he drinks with Dorothy Parker at the Algonquin Hotel (did you know she had Jewish ancestry?), and he introduces his friends to Peggy Guggenheim. (For the record, these characters aren’t rendered as animals; it’s a world of many species. For example, Snagglepuss’s wife is a lion like him, but his lover is a Cuban human emigre who fled his country when police violence against homosexuals worsened.)

Plus, another running thread throughout the issue is the execution of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg. As in, you even see them strapped to the electric chair, raising the stakes for raising the ire of the government. This may legally be a Hanna-Barbera story, but there’s a reason it’s rated T for Teen.

The writer of this series is Mark Russell, whose other works include comic retellings of the Bible, and a Flintstones comic similar in subversive concept to The Snagglepuss Chronicles. And what’s remarkable about the comic is how earnest it is— the reader is immediately told to accept that 1953 New York has both capital punishment and Huckleberry Hound (yes, the blue dog makes an appearance). In fact, the more absurd elements of the anthropomorphic animals balance out the grim subject matter— if Snagglepuss were human, the comic might be heavy-handed (and the realistic, if slightly uncanny valley art-style helps).

Half-nostalgia, half-critique, Snagglepuss functions in an important locale for American Jewish history. That may not be the point of the comic, but it’s certainly present, intended or no. We can only hope Arthur Miller shows up next.

Issue 2 of Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles hits stands early February, so catch up, and get ready.

Cover art by Ben Caldwell

View Comments (64)
  • Hey! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a team of volunteers and starting a new initiative in a community in the same niche. Your blog provided us valuable information to work on. You have done a extraordinary job!

  • That is a good tip particularly to those fresh to the blogosphere. Simple but very accurate info… Many thanks for sharing this one. A must read article!

  • Do you have a spam issue on this website; I also am a blogger, and I was wondering your situation; we have developed some nice practices and we are looking to trade strategies with other folks, be sure to shoot me an email if interested.

  • The other day, while I was at work, my sister stole my iPad and tested to see if it can survive a 40 foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation. My iPad is now broken and she has 83 views. I know this is completely off topic but I had to share it with someone!

  • Simply wish to say your article is as amazing. The clearness on your post is simply cool and i could suppose you’re an expert in this subject. Well with your permission let me to take hold of your feed to stay updated with imminent post. Thanks one million and please continue the rewarding work.

  • I’m curious to find out what blog system you happen to be working with? I’m having some minor security problems with my latest website and I’d like to find something more secure. Do you have any suggestions?

  • An intriguing discussion is worth comment. I do believe that you should publish more about this issue, it may not be a taboo subject but usually folks don’t discuss such subjects. To the next! Best wishes!!

  • A person essentially assist to make significantly articles I would state. This is the first time I frequented your web page and up to now? I surprised with the research you made to make this particular submit amazing. Excellent job!

  • Awesome site you have here but I was wanting to know if you knew of any community forums that cover the same topics discussed here? I’d really love to be a part of online community where I can get feedback from other knowledgeable people that share the same interest. If you have any recommendations, please let me know. Kudos!

  • Undeniably consider that that you said. Your favourite reason appeared to be at the net the simplest thing to take into accout of. I say to you, I certainly get annoyed even as other people consider concerns that they plainly don’t understand about. You controlled to hit the nail upon the top and defined out the entire thing with no need side-effects , other folks can take a signal. Will likely be back to get more. Thank you|

  • Wow, marvelous blog layout! How lengthy have you ever been blogging for? you made running a blog glance easy. The overall look of your site is great, let alone the content material!

  • An impressive share! I’ve just forwarded this onto a friend who had been doing a little homework on this. And he actually ordered me breakfast due to the fact that I found it for him… lol. So allow me to reword this…. Thanks for the meal!! But yeah, thanks for spending some time to talk about this issue here on your site.

  • I don’t know whether it’s just me or if everyone else encountering problems with your blog. It appears as if some of the text in your content are running off the screen. Can somebody else please comment and let me know if this is happening to them as well? This may be a problem with my browser because I’ve had this happen previously. Many thanks|

  • you are truly a excellent webmaster. The website loading speed is amazing. It seems that you’re doing any unique trick. Also, The contents are masterwork. you’ve done a fantastic activity on this matter!

  • Today, I went to the beachfront with my children. I found a sea shell and gave it to my 4 year old daughter and said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She placed the shell to her ear and screamed. There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear. She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is entirely off topic but I had to tell someone!

  • Its like you read my mind! You seem to know a lot about this, like you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you can do with a few pics to drive the message home a little bit, but other than that, this is great blog. An excellent read. I’ll certainly be back.

  • Hello very cool website!! Guy .. Excellent .. Amazing .. I’ll bookmark your web site and take the feeds additionally? I’m happy to seek out so many helpful information here in the publish, we want develop extra strategies in this regard, thank you for sharing. . . . . .

  • Hmm is anyone else encountering problems with the pictures on this blog loading? I’m trying to find out if its a problem on my end or if it’s the blog. Any responses would be greatly appreciated.

  • I just couldn’t leave your web site prior to suggesting that I extremely enjoyed the usual information a person supply on your visitors? Is gonna be again often to check up on new posts|

  • Hello would you mind sharing which blog platform you’re using? I’m going to start my own blog in the near future but I’m having a tough time making a decision between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal. The reason I ask is because your design and style seems different then most blogs and I’m looking for something unique. P.S Sorry for being off-topic but I had to ask!

  • Fantastic beat ! I would like to apprentice at the same time as you amend your site, how can i subscribe for a weblog website? The account aided me a appropriate deal. I were a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast provided vibrant clear concept|

  • I used to be recommended this website through my cousin. I am not sure whether this submit is written through him as no one else recognize such exact approximately my problem. You are amazing! Thank you!

  • Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally, it seems as though you relied on the video to make your point. You definitely know what youre talking about, why throw away your intelligence on just posting videos to your weblog when you could be giving us something informative to read?

  • Wonderful blog! I found it while surfing around on Yahoo News. Do you have any tips on how to get listed in Yahoo News? I’ve been trying for a while but I never seem to get there! Thank you|

  • I just like the helpful information you provide for your articles. I’ll bookmark your blog and check once more here regularly. I am somewhat sure I’ll be told many new stuff proper right here! Good luck for the next!

  • Hello There. I discovered your weblog the usage of msn. That is a very smartly written article. I’ll make sure to bookmark it and come back to learn extra of your helpful information. Thanks for the post. I’ll certainly return.

  • Your mode of describing the whole thing in this paragraph is really pleasant, every one be able to easily be aware of it, Thanks a lot.

  • Right here is the perfect webpage for everyone who would like to find out about this topic. You realize a whole lot its almost hard to argue with you (not that I actually would want to…HaHa). You certainly put a fresh spin on a topic which has been written about for decades. Wonderful stuff, just excellent!

  • Necati CEMALOĞLU **. Özet: Bu araştırmanın amacı, okul yöneticilerinin liderlik stillerinin örgüt.
    sağlığı üz erindeki etkisini saptamaktır. Bu amaçla ilköğretim ve ortaöğretim.

  • Biyofarmasötikler olarak da adlandırılan biyoteknolojik ilaçlar sitokinler, enzimler,
    hormonlar, kan veya plazma ürünleri, immünolojik ürünler, monoklonal
    antikorlar, gen ve hücre tedavisi ürünleri ve peptit terapötikler olarak gruplandırılabilir (1-3).

  • With every little thing which seems to be building within this specific subject matter, many of your opinions are fairly refreshing. Having said that, I appologize, because I can not subscribe to your whole strategy, all be it refreshing none the less. It looks to everyone that your remarks are not totally justified and in fact you are generally your self not even totally certain of the argument. In any event I did take pleasure in reading through it.

  • Do you have a spam issue on this site; I also am a blogger, and I was curious about your situation; we have created some nice methods and we are looking to exchange strategies with other folks, please shoot me an email if interested.

  • Howdy! Someone in my Facebook group shared this website with us so I came to give it a look. I’m definitely enjoying the information. I’m book-marking and will be tweeting this to my followers! Excellent blog and wonderful style and design.

  • Thank you for the auspicious writeup. It in reality was once a enjoyment account it. Glance complex to more delivered agreeable from you! However, how can we communicate?

  • You made some good points there. I checked on the web for additional information about the issue and found most individuals will go along with your views on this web site.

  • When someone writes an article he/she maintains the thought of a user in his/her brain that how a user can know it. Therefore that’s why this paragraph is perfect. Thanks!

  • Hi fantastic blog! Does running a blog like this require a large amount of work? I have absolutely no knowledge of computer programming however I had been hoping to start my own blog in the near future. Anyhow, if you have any recommendations or techniques for new blog owners please share. I understand this is off subject nevertheless I simply needed to ask. Kudos!

  • Hi, I think your website might be having browser compatibility issues. When I look at your blog site in Ie, it looks fine but when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping. I just wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other then that, excellent blog!

  • hello there and thank you for your information – I have definitely picked up something new from right here. I did however expertise a few technical points using this site, as I experienced to reload the web site lots of times previous to I could get it to load correctly. I had been wondering if your web host is OK? Not that I am complaining, but sluggish loading instances times will sometimes affect your placement in google and can damage your high quality score if ads and marketing with Adwords. Well I’m adding this RSS to my email and could look out for much more of your respective interesting content. Ensure that you update this again soon.

  • Wonderful beat ! I would like to apprentice while you amend your site, how could i subscribe for a blog website? The account aided me a acceptable deal. I have been tiny bit familiar of this your broadcast provided bright transparent idea|

  • What’s up, every time i used to check webpage posts here in the early hours in the daylight, because i enjoy to gain knowledge of more and more.

  • Thanks for the marvelous posting! I seriously enjoyed reading it, you might be a great author. I will make sure to bookmark your blog and may come back in the foreseeable future. I want to encourage you to definitely continue your great writing, have a nice weekend!

  • Nice post. I learn something harder on various blogs everyday. It will always be stimulating to read content off their writers and practice something at their store. I’d want to use some while using content on my own blog regardless of whether you don’t mind. Natually I’ll offer you a link on your own internet weblog. Thanks for sharing.

  • Hi there, just became alert to your blog through Google, and found that it’s really informative. I am going to watch out for brussels. I’ll be grateful if you continue this in future. A lot of people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!

  • Hey! I know this is kinda off topic but I’d figured I’d ask. Would you be interested in trading links or maybe guest writing a blog post or vice-versa? My blog addresses a lot of the same topics as yours and I believe we could greatly benefit from each other. If you happen to be interested feel free to shoot me an email. I look forward to hearing from you! Excellent blog by the way!

  • The the very next time Someone said a blog, I hope it doesnt disappoint me as much as this place. Come on, man, Yes, it was my choice to read, but I actually thought youd have something interesting to express. All I hear is actually a few whining about something that you could fix when you werent too busy in search of attention.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Scroll To Top