IDW Publishing; $39.99

Okay, it’s not as well known as Terry and the Pirates. Or Dick Tracy. Or Little Orphan Annie. Or Bringing Up Father. Or Rip Kirby.  

So, why is King Aroo now in the company of those august examples of what the comic strip has been and can be? Why is it now part of The Library of American Comics imprint at IDW Publishing? And why does editor Dean Mullaney suggest that this might be the best strip today’s audience has never read?

“The child-like king presides over the postage stamp-sized kingdom of Myopia,” he told Newsarama. “King Aroo has a one-man retinue (and prickly yes man) Yupyop. There’s the Beautiful Princess From the Kingdom Next Door; Drexel Dragon, who makes it hot for everyone whenever he loses control of his fire breathing; Prof. Yorgle, who thinks he knows everything—and doesn’t!; a kangaroo mailman, Mr. Pennipost; the forgetful Mr. Elephant; and Wanda, the first witch to specialize in misspelling.”

We haven’t made it all the way through the volume yet, but this one has definitely taken us by surprise…though, seriously, with their track record to date, when has the Library of American Comics ever steered us wrong? Thus far, it’s a gem, and we wish the second volume was here now so we could roll right into when we finish this one!