My Resolutions, by Buster Brown - Softcover

Outcault, R.F.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1595833919 ISBN 13: 9781595833914

Publisher: Laughing Elephant, 2010

Synopsis

 

My Resolutions, By Buster Brown Buster Brown, the creation of comic pioneer R.F. Outcault, is preternaturally modern in his style and outlook.  A beautifully dressed child of angelic mien he sailed through the first two decades of the twentieth century with his faithful dog Tige (the first talking pet in American comics).  Buster misbehaved constantly and was generally caught and punished, but like a modern sitcom child responds not with tears or remorse but a snappy comeback.  In Buster’s case this took the form of the resolutions which ended every Buster Brown strip.  The resolutions are little gems of comic writing, skewering parental piety at every opportunity:

 RESOLVED: That if you are going to insist on being truthful, learn to hold your tongue.  The truth is a dangerous thing and must be handled by a master.  ‘Truth is mighty and will prevail’ it doesn’t need your assistance.  Just let it alone.  Tact will help you a great deal & extreme  kindness will help you to keep unwelcome truths to yourself.  Don’t let anyone know you are honest.  They will think you are a ‘come on’ and will take advantage of you.”

 

About this title

About the Author

Richard Felton Outcault (1863 -1928) was a pioneer of the comic strip.  He began his career as a technical illustrator for Thomas Edison but soon moved on to magazine work.  Outcault worked first for Joseph Pulitzer and then for William Randolph Hearst, a career move that because Outcault’s comics were so popular resulted in a lawsuit. His most famous creation, Buster Brown, was among the first to use multiple panels and speech bubbles now standard in comic books. 

Edition details

• Publisher: Laughing Elephant
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 1595833919
• ISBN 13: 9781595833914
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 64