The Complete Wendel

The Complete Wendel collects Howard Cruse's groundbreaking comic strip series that ran in The Advocate magazine from 1983-1989. The strip follows Wendel Trupstock, a gay man navigating life, love, and politics in Reagan-era America. Through interconnected stories, the series documents Wendel's relationships, friendships, and activism alongside a diverse cast of LGBTQ characters. The strip addresses both personal matters and major social issues of the 1980s, including the AIDS crisis, coming out, discrimination, and the growing gay rights movement. The collection presents the complete run of strips chronologically, preserving their original black-and-white format. Cruse's distinctive artistic style combines realistic character designs with moments of cartoon exaggeration. The series stands as a vital chronicle of gay life in the 1980s, balancing humor with social commentary. Through its mix of everyday situations and broader cultural struggles, Wendel captures both the challenges and joys of building community during a transformative period in LGBTQ history.

Readers appreciate The Complete Wendel as a chronicle of gay life in the 1980s, capturing both everyday moments and major social issues of the era. Multiple reviewers noted the strip's humor and warmth in dealing with relationships and community. Readers liked: - The authentic portrayal of gay characters and relationships - The balance of politics with personal stories - The detailed artwork - The strip's progression over time Common criticisms: - Some found early strips less polished - A few readers felt certain storylines dragged - Period-specific references can be hard to follow now Ratings: Goodreads: 4.3/5 (38 ratings) Amazon: 4.8/5 (6 ratings) One reader on Goodreads called it "a time capsule of gay culture during the Reagan years." Another noted how the strip "documented our community's response to AIDS with sensitivity." A LibraryThing reviewer highlighted the "rich character development over the series' run."

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🌈 "Wendel" began as a groundbreaking gay comic strip in The Advocate magazine in 1983, running for seven years and chronicling LGBT life during the height of the AIDS crisis. 📚 Howard Cruse was known as the "Godfather of Queer Comics" and helped establish the genre of LGBTQ+ comic art through his pioneering work in underground comix. 🎨 The collection captures significant historical moments in gay rights history, including the 1987 March on Washington and the emergence of ACT UP activism. 💑 The character Wendel Trupstock and his partner Ollie represent one of the first long-term, committed gay relationships depicted in mainstream media. ✍️ Before creating Wendel, Cruse founded and edited Gay Comix in 1980, which provided a platform for LGBTQ+ cartoonists to tell their authentic stories without censorship.