11. An Especially Tricky People (1977)

This collection overlaps with the previous book and reprints 124 daily strips from:
Dec 22 1975 to Jan 24 1976
Feb 16 1976 to June 25 1976
19 strips from these blocks are not included (see comment for list).

There are two major storylines in this book, the first dealing with Uncle Duke’s time as ambassador to China, where he meets Honey Huan on January 22 1976. Honey hasn’t quite fallen hopelessly in love with Duke yet, and is at present the only person in China who can understand what the heck Chairman Mao is saying.

The second major storyline deals with Ginny’s campaign for the US Congress. She has able assistance from Joanie, Andy, Clyde and Zonker, who flies out to help the campaign, and from Jimmy Thudpucker, who plays a benefit concert, but she’s annihilated in the primary by the incumbent congressman Ventura, only taking 4% of the vote. At the end of the book, she’s considering her options as an independent candidate.

In current events, Ginny also takes over Mike’s position as the character who watches public figures make idiots of themselves on television, in this case California governor Jerry Brown, and Stephen Weed, the former fiancee of Patty Hearst. While mostly forgotten today, Weed spent most of 1975-76 giving one press conference or another, and is probably more responsible than any one person for informing the stereotype of laid-back Californians needing haircuts, media attention, and a break from those bad vibes, man.

Kim Rosenthal, now about 18 months old, is in the meantime channeling the sound bites of Georgia governor Jimmy Carter, and driving her parents to distraction with one down-home homily after another.