A continuation of the Gasoline Alley early days. Well preserved. A good buy for comics junkies like me.

When people long for the good-old-days, usually they're dreaming of an idealized time that in actuality only looks good in hindsight. However, when it comes to newspaper comic strips, I do long for the good old days. While there are still a few good strips in existence nowadays, there is also a lot of garbage. While I suppose that was probably always the case, at least newspapers respected the comics then, as opposed to nowadays, when they are crammed all onto a page or two.

Frank King's Gasoline Alley was one of the gems of the early half of the century and was especially notable for being a real-time strip: for each comic strip year, the characters also aged a year. As evidenced in the title Walt and Skeezix, 1923 and 1924, Gasoline Alley had two central characters: Walt, a large, amiable fellow and Skeezix, his adopted son. In the first collection (comprising 1921 and 1922), we first met Skeezix as a newborn left on Walt's doorstep.
As this second volume begins, Walt is on the brink of finalizing Skeezix's adoption, but someone representing the real mother throws a temporary wrench into the proceedings.

Among the other people who occupy the Alley are Bill, Avery and Doc, Walt's best friends, and the mysterious Mrs. Phyllis Blossom, who Walt is slightly romantically involved. Among the features in the 1923 strips is the appearance of Mr. Wicker, a wealthy older man who becomes a denizen of the alley (and a potential rival in Walt's pursuit of Phyllis). The highlight, however is a cross-country race between Avery and Walt: if Avery loses, he needs to buy a new car (a particular hardship for the stingy Avery); if Walt loses, he has to propose to Phyllis.

In the 1924 strips, the biggest storyline is the revelation of Skeezix's mother and a subsequent kidnapping of the four-year old by that mother. Of course, Walt and Skeezix will be reunited, but the two will take a trip out west to avoid future problems (and are soon joined by Walt's friends).

Well-drawn and well-written, Gasoline Alley was one of the top comic strips of its era and is one of the all-time best strips. It actually still exists, making it one of the longest running strips ever (although it has a limited circulation and is a pale shadow of its former self). For a good look at what the comics used to look like - and how good they could be - this is a great read.

I have ordered but not yet received book 2 in this series. However, I expect it to be even better than book 1. This is a well-bound large volume of the history of the cartoonist along with many pictures. This also includes the beginning of the Gasoline Alley comic strips. I am assuming book 2 will begin where book 1 left off.
As a child I loved reading this strip up until I was an adult when it ceased to be carried in our Roanoke Times (VA) newspaper. Many times when I have a good remembrance of something it falls short when viewed a second time, but I was not disappointed in this book.

I used to think there were only four classic comic strips - Lil Abner, Krazy Kat, Peanuts and Calvin and Hobbes. Gasoline Alley is as good as any of them, especially in its early years. Frank King's work can only be described as "gentle humor" and is as American as Will Rogers, Meredith Willson's Music Man and mom's apple pie. Oh, to be able to live in the world of Walt and Skeezix.