Best of Li'l Abner Reprint Strip Debuts

Pop open that Kickapoo Joy Juice: Li'l Abner Yokum's back again!

The Best of Li'l Abner reprint series reintroduces Al Capp's honored hillbilly heartwarmer to more than 600 newspapers October 3. The strip -- offered by Newspaper Enterprise Association as "a combination of ice pick wit, social satire, and a New Deal liberalism that often bordered on the provocative" -- ended its original run in 1968, after 34 years.

Kitchen Sink Press is also collecting the strip, in a series of high-quality books reprinting the entire run from its inception on Aug. 13, 1934.

Li'l Abner won international fame for its fetchingly stylized characters and superbly crafted black-and-white compositions which came to life under the antic, heart-palpitating mishaps of its gullible 19-year-old, six-foot-three star, and his pursuit by the ever-hopeful Daisy Mae Scragg. Whether she'll catch him this time on Sadie Hawkins' Day remains to be seen (again).

At the height of its popularity in 1959. Li'l Abner appeared in some 1,000 newspapers worldwide, according to NEA. Capp ended the strip in 1968 and died in 1979 after a prolonged illness.

The feature will apparently begin with Capp's famous Shmoo sequence, included in NEA's promotional package.

Shmoos, according to the hair-befogged shepherd who keeps them, "is th' greatest menace to hoomanity th' world has ever known!!"

Why? "Because they're so good!! They lays aigs at the slightest excuse!! They also gives milk!! -- And, as fo' meat -- broiled they makes th' finest steaks -- fried, they come out th' yummiest chicken, an' all white meat, mind yo'!! -- And, as fo' upkeep, there is none. They don't eat anything!!" So, you (and Abner) ask, "Then -- why is they sech a menace?"

See you October 3!

[This feature only lasted a year.]