An editor’s guide to comics
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With the latest discussion of the News and Observer comic poll and the features editor jumping into our discussion, I found this column by the Cincinnati Post editor Keith Herrell interesting. Herrell was the Living editor at the Post back in the day when the comics were delivered by mail.
I was The Post’s Living editor, with comics as part of my empire, when Schulz died. I remember then-Editor Paul Knue telling me that “Classic Peanuts” would probably run for a year or so, then fade away. As it turns out, “Classic Peanuts” will still be going strong when The Post prints its last edition Dec. 31.
Is that such a bad thing? That depends on the strip, and the situation. I find “Classic Peanuts” to be very much a product of the times in which it was written – few things say “1960s” like Snoopy in full World War I Flying Ace mode, with his doghouse standing in for a Sopwith Camel – so continuing it strikes me as out of synch. “For Better or For Worse,” meanwhile, deals with universals such as child-rearing and aging parents, and I’ve enjoyed revisiting the old strips.
My favorite part of being Living editor came at the end of the week, when a clerk would deliver page proofs for all six days of the next week’s comics. I would grab a cup of coffee, retreat to my office and settle in to get a sneak peek at what was new with Sally Forth, Dilbert and the rest of the gang. I also played a role in comic strip selection, butting heads with Knue and invariably coming out on the short end of any disagreement. I remain convinced that, while he faithfully asked me for my opinion whenever it was time to replace a strip, the first thing he did when I recommended one was eliminate it from consideration.
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