The Night of the Mary Kay Commandos

The Night of the Mary Kay Commandos is Berkeley Breathed's seventh collection of Bloom County comic strips, published in 1989. The compilation features unique "smell-o-toons" that integrate scented elements into the storyline at specific moments. The collection follows multiple interconnected plotlines involving the main characters of Bloom County. Central stories include Opus's reluctant role as a vice-presidential candidate, Bill the Cat's romantic entanglements, and various political satires involving figures like Spuds MacKenzie and Jesse Jackson. The strips incorporate commentary on late 1980s American politics, media culture, and social issues through absurdist scenarios and character interactions. Steve Dallas, Binkley, Oliver, and a new character named Milquetoast the Cockroach all feature prominently in various storylines. The collection uses humor and satire to examine themes of political corruption, media manipulation, and personal identity in American society. These themes emerge through both the main narrative arcs and smaller character moments throughout the compilation.

Readers enjoy this collection of Bloom County comic strips for its satirical take on late 1980s politics, popular culture, and social issues. Many note that it represents Breathed's work at its peak, with memorable storylines about Bill the Cat, Opus, and other characters. What readers liked: - Sharp political commentary that remains relevant - Character development, especially Opus and Bill the Cat - Balance of absurdist humor with social satire What readers disliked: - Some cultural references feel dated - Not as consistently funny as earlier collections - Print quality in some editions makes text hard to read Ratings: Goodreads: 4.28/5 (521 ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (32 ratings) From reviews: "The Mary Kay story arc is hilarious and spot-on." - Goodreads reviewer "Political jokes hit harder now than they did in the 80s" - Amazon reviewer "Paper stock isn't as good as the original newspaper prints" - Amazon reviewer

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🌟 Berkeley Breathed won the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning in 1987, just before creating this collection. 🌟 The title references Mary Kay Cosmetics, poking fun at the company's reputation for having an enthusiastic sales force often described as cult-like in their dedication. 🌟 The "smell-o-toon" concept was revolutionary for comic books in the 1980s, predating the widespread use of scratch-and-sniff technology in children's literature. 🌟 Bloom County, where these stories originate, ran from 1980 to 1989, and was syndicated in over 1,200 newspapers worldwide. 🌟 The character Opus, who features prominently in this collection, was inspired by a stuffed penguin Breathed received as a gift, and became the strip's most beloved character.