In the darkest hours of World War II, why were millions of people laughing? Because they were reading Li'l Abner, that's why! The fifth volume of this series features daily strips and full-color Sundays from 1943 and 1944, with a zany cast of characters that includes Shadrack Throwback, "The Monster," Madame Lazonga, and Joan L. Sullivan, plus returning favorites like Moonbeam McSwine, Swami Riva, and Available Jones. Capp also aims his satirical barbs at teen idol Frank Sinatra (yes, Frank Sinatra!), as a starving Li'l Abner Yokum croons his way into female hearts. Meanwhile, the hilarious take-off on Dick Tracy, Fearless Fosdick, is like getting two comic strips in one!

Author Biography

Al Capp (1909-1979) was born Alfred Gerald Caplin in New Haven, Connecticut. He created Li'l?Abner in 1934. In addition to the enormous popularity of his comic strip, Capp was arguably the most famous cartoonist of his generation. He was a frequent and outspoken guest on 1940s and '50s television. The prolific satirist also wrote a syndicated newspaper column, had his own syndicated radio show, and was a frequent guest lecturer at campuses nationwide, a sideline that created a firestorm late in his career. Capp retiredLi'l Abnerin 1977 after a 43-year run, and died two years later.