Searched for a thread on this and didn’t see one.
What will happen to Duke, now that Hunter is no more?
Duke and Hunter S. parted ways a long time ago. I’ve never seen a Duke plot mirror Thompson’s actual life, although of course the personality traits are there.
I don’t think Duke’s personality will change. In fact, this may be the only reference Trudeau will make to Thompson’s death. It was very nice of him to do it.
I used to have the Duke Action Figure. I always treated it as a Hunter S. Thompson action figure.
Very cool, non verbal. Those who know and associate Steadman’s art with his books will get it, for the rest they will just think it’s another hallucination by Duke.
On the cover of one of the last Doonesbury anthologies there is a quote from HST about how much he hates the character of Duke and Trudeau. (I’m at work not home in the stacks to look it up.) I wonder about the quote, is it true, sarcastic, out of context?
The Steadman-esque panel was definitely cool.
Doonesbury has several characters who were originally modeled after real people, but who have since evolved quite independently of the people who inspired them, so there’s no reason why the character should die when the person dies.
How many can we name?
B.D. was inspired by Yale QB Brian Dowling.
Mark Slackmeyer (“Megaphone Mark” in his younger days) was inspired, IIRC, by 1960s radical Mark Rudd.
Michael J. Doonesbury himself was modeled after aspects of two of Trudeau’s Yale classmates whose names I’ve forgotten. (But IIRC, “Doonesbury” is an amalgamation of their last names.)
Rev. Scot Sloan (“The fighting young priest who can talk to the young” in his early magazine clippings) was inspired by 1960s radical priest Rev. William Sloane Coffin.
President King was modeled after Yale President Kingman Brewster.
Lacey Davenport was inspired by New Jersey congresswoman Millicent Fenwick.
And Duke, of course.
And in fact, in Doonesbury: A Music Comedy, during the graduation ceremony, everybody’s full name is given. B.D. is announced as “B. John Dowling.” (And Zonker is “Edgar Zonker Harris”…scary.)
Also, Trudeau has been quoted as saying, “Yes, dammit. I’m the model for Michael.” (Quoted in the “Flashbacks” book.)
Very classy of Trudeau to do it that in a subtle manner. I was wondering how he’d do it…quite impressed.
I’m a HST fan, and sad about his passing. Know the divisive impressions of the way he chose to do it, but, from reading about his physical condition, he was in a whole lot of physical pain; I ain’t gonna judge.
I hope Trudeau continues with Duke; as said, the character stands apart from the original inspiration. And, hell, now, it’s all we’ve got. Hope Trudeau’s Duke stands up and is at least a bit of that Gonzo trajectory in the world.
I loved the bats in the background.
Thompson hated Duke at first. As the years went by, however, he came to accept it because the character Duke had become had little to do with what Thompson had become.
Some of the funniest strips from the mid 70’s were of Duke’s many hallucinations.
The tip of the hat to Ralph Steadman’s HST illustrations was perfect. I got all dewy-eyed. Trudeau is unique in his short deadlines, so his social commentary can be current.
Speculation question: Does this mean that Trudeau’s drawing arm is back up to speed, or is it more likely that he had this strip on file (periodically updated, of course) in anticipation of outliving HST?
Discuss.
Bleat!
Duke: “What does my appointment book say?”
Honey: “10:45am. Field trip to the frontal lobes.”
Duke: “Ah, yes. I left half an hour ago.”
I know Honey is also based on a real person, but I can’t remember her name.
Tang Wensheng.
Ick. You know, in light of the specific manner in which Thompson killed himself, images of Duke’s head exploding are really, really not cool.
Thompson’s death was not cool. Duke’s exploding is realistic, in light of that. It would be quite strange to maintain a character based on a now-dead human. If Duke is dead, I think it is fitting. RIP Thompson, RIP Duke. I will miss them both.
When is it black humor and when is it simply not funny? I don’t know. I think Trudeau could have handled this better.
On the other hand, HST didn’t try to avoid offending people.
I hadn’t really thought of today’s strip in terms of HST’s death. This was a lot like old strips where odd things would happen to Duke. That said, I would have preferred just one strip (yesterday’s) and then get back to Doonesburyland.