The roots of Crockett Johnson's Barnaby

The Comics Journal recollects the origins of "Barnaby," an underrated but beloved comic strip by Crockett Johnson, creator of the classic children's book "Harold and the Purple Crayon."

Fantagraphics, which publishes the Journal, is collecting the complete strip in a series of hardcovers, the first of which comes out in June.

Barnaby’s fans have included Peanuts creator Charles Schulz, Family Circus creator Bil Keane, and graphic novelists Daniel Clowes, Art Spiegelman, and Chris Ware. It had many fans beyond the world of comics, too. Dorothy Parker compared Barnaby to Huckleberry Finn, and said: “I think, and I am trying to talk calmly, that Barnaby and his friends and oppressors are the most important additions to American arts and letters in Lord knows how many years. I know that they are the most important additions to my heart.”

 

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