Calling Dr. Whoopee!: A Doonesbury Book

"Calling Dr. Whoopee" takes us back in history to the beginning of the AIDS epidemic when the idea of actually advertising condoms on television (horrors!) was first broached as a way of dealing with a grave public health crisis. Yes, these daily Doonesbury strips from 1986-1987 actually go back to a time when condoms were thought of in terms of preventing pregnancy and not in terms of preventing the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. Of course, once again G. B. Trudeau created a furor and there were newspapers (e.g., the Carlsbad "Current Argus") that refused to publish the strips and as usually in the case that are more offensive strips in this collection from those who feel obliged to be offended. For starters, how about "The Return to Reagan's Brain," where intrepid reporter Roland Hedley tries to get to the bottom of the President's attempt to remember his role in the Iran-Contra affair. Actually, it was just known as the Iranian affair at that point, or Iran-scam as in the Iran-Scan Puzzle (use scissors and x-acto knives to put this together, kids!). Toss into the mix the Oral Robert death watch (remember when the televangelist told us God was going to call him home if he did not raise $4.5 million?) and there is plenty to offend without even getting to Dr. Whoopee distribution "condos" to kids.As always with Doonesbury the mix is between the political and the personal. Political scandals might come and go, but the Doonesbury cast is forever. Actually, that proves not to be the case as Clyde runs as the sacrificial lamb against Congresswoman Lacey Davenport on the issues of drugs (does Lacey have a dependency problems?) and Dick suffers a massive coronary as he sights a Bachman's Warbler (the Garbo of birds). If this episode does not move you, then ask yourself what is wrong with you. Then Mike and J.J. have a reconciliation (of sorts), while Joanie has Rick watch the kid (sort of). We also have an attempt on Duke's life in a jailhouse altercation in which his life flashes before our eyes, which is the first treat in this above-average Doonesbury collection. There is nothing like editorial cartoons for remembering the foibles of the past, and as lots of people have pointed out, Doonesbury is nothing like an editorial cartoons. It just wins Pulitzer Prizes like one.