Phil Frank (1943–2007)

In 1986 the late Phil Frank, one of my favorite cartoonists, gave up national syndication of his two comic strips to concentrate on local issues in the San Francisco Chronicle. This book is a collection of his "Farley" strips featuring "His Williness", San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, who was an iconic figure (at least in his own mind) in San Francisco for many years. Some wickedly funny and pointed strips here that must have been even more so for the local readers. And always with Frank's trademark horrible puns between the panels.… (más)

In 1985 Phil Frank took the unusual step of taking his successful strip, "Travels With Farley", out of syndication to focus on the local San Francisco mileau through the "San Francisco Chronicle". This allowed Frank to make the strip more topical, frequently responding to breaking events with a strip the following morning. And the strip still retains its charm, gentle humor and quirkiness. The bears are still around, and Farley actually manages to get into one or two relationships. This is a funny, affable, intelligent strip, and I only regret that Frank's decision has taken a wonderful work further from the public eye. Our loss, San Francisco's gain. Do not miss the horrible puns Frank has inserted before the last panel of every strip.… (más)