A wonderful, humanistic story with lots of satire and a generous heap of touching lines, the Snagglepuss Chronicles are a prime example of the theory that DC Comics still has the potential to make good stuff, even if it's done as part of yet another multi-universe deal taking advantage of old cartoons. Great art, good writing, a bittersweet journey, what more could you ask for?

Heavens to Murgatroyd...the best comic that I've read in ages.


Whoever thought up the concept of the DC/Hanna-Barbera adaptations should get a raise, ASAP. I've only read three, so far, but they've all been outstanding. Oddly enough, all three (Two volumes of THE FLINTSTONES and now EXIT STAGE LEFT: THE SNAGGLEPUSS CHRONICLES) have all been written by Mark Russell, who DC needs to lock down to an exclusive contract immediately. This guy is good.


I have never seen a SNAGGLEPUSS cartoon. All I know about him is that he says "Heavens to Murgatroyd!", and "Exit, stage left!". That is the extent of my Snagglepuss knowledge, aside from one cartoon that I watched for five seconds on YouTube so I could get a feel for what his voice sounded like before I started reading this comic. Luckily, no prior knowledge is needed, since Snagglepuss was not a closeted gay southern playwright in the cartoons. Snagglepuss is the toast of Broadway, but his closeted lifestyle is taking a toll on hm, and the shadow of the McCarthy hearings looms large over his life, as he is called back to testify for a second time, where he must make a terrible choice between saving the life and reputation of his lifelong friend or being outed and ostracized himself.


How in the hell someone like Mark Russell can get a gig on a book like this and think "OK, Snagglepuss would make a great soapbox to tell a story about McCarthyism, communism, gay rights, racism, bigotry, the arms race, fathers and sons, and the Hollywood blacklist." A more outlandish vehicle for social commentary you could not find, but Russell makes all of the pieces come together perfectly, leading the characters through a minefield of social and career terrors while steering readers towards the inevitable showdown between Snagglepuss and the Government.



This book is not anything that anyone but Russell could possibly dream up, and that in and of itself is the highest praise I can think of. I could go on and on and tell you how many times I laughed out loud while reading this book, how many times I felt tears welling up in my eyes, how many times I had to stop and ponder some of the issues that the story brings up, but what I really need to convey to you is how important it is that you read this book. In the long run, a SNAGGLEPUSS story is never going to be thought of as being in the same league as MAUS and WATCHMEN, but...it should be. This is a beautiful, emotionally wrenching story about America's past and possible future, and stands as one of the best comics that I've read in years, an achievement that DC Comics should be proud to have published.


EXIT STAGE LEFT: THE SNAGGLEPUSS CHRONICLES earns a whopping nine out of ten Snaggleteeth (Read the story, you'll get it then.):🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁


DC Comics provided a review copy.

This is another example of making depth and humanity and social commentary from the flat object of nostalgia. Beautiful in its execution, an execution which becomes even more powerful as life is breathed into something I loved as a child.

As part of DC’s crossover with Hanna-Barbera, one character to get his own book was Snagglepuss. Exit Stage Left covers the six-issue run of the series.

If you’re expecting the silly, light-hearted mountain lion of the cartoons, guess again – Chronicles takes things seriously. Set in 1950s America, in a world where anthropomorphic animals are simply part of society, Snagglepuss is a gay playwright who, because of the times, is in the closet. He does, however, have a close circle of friends and colleagues who know, including his wife (also a mountain lion) and his good friend Huckleberry Hound, who re-enters Snagglepuss’ life after being outed and forced to leave his wife and child.

The story is treated with the gravity that the setting deserves and does not ignore historical elements. Because he is well-known and there are rumors about his lifestyle, Snagglepuss is called before the House Committee on Un-American Activities to testify and officials attempt to coerce him into creating patriotic plays for “good Americans”. Events of the time are shown, such as the execution of the Rosenbergs, and celebrity relationships are depicted, like that of Marilyn Monroe, Arthur Miller and Joe DiMaggio. (There is even a Historical Glossary at the end of the volume that explains some of the events and figures depicted.)

Chronicles is a well-written, well thought out and engrossing piece of writing that won’t get the attention it deserves because it’s “just a comic”. But it is worth reading for the parallels in the world today and seeing how things may not have come as far as we hoped. There’s also an interesting twist at the end that actually ties the story directly into the Hanna-Barbera cartoons. It’s a shame that it took a big pink lion to make a statement of this magnitude and that there are so few issues in the series to get the message out.

While the rest of DC is writing about people fighting crime in their underwear, Mark Russell is over in his own corner reinventing our childhood cartoons as sociopolitical diatribes. Snagglepuss is our way into some real life drama, now a gay playwright based in 1950's NYC and loosely based on Tennessee Williams. McCarthyism is in full swing and those in entertainment circles are afraid of being outed and blacklisted by the House Un-American Activities Committee. This was a truly dark time for America and the book doesn't pull any punches. Huckleberry Hound, Quickdraw McGraw and a few others also appear in this gloomy story. There's also a message here that still applies today, to stand up for what's right no matter what the cost or fascism will take over. I did like how Russell tied the end of the book into the original Hanna-Barbera creations. I also liked the commentary at the end talking about how the book tied into real life. I can't say you'll feel uplifted after finishing this but if you like well-written dramas, this is certainly worth a read.

'Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles' by Mark Russell with art by Mike Feehan is another in the DC line of remakes of old cartoons. After reading The Flintstones by Mark Russell and not especially liking it, I was a bit hesitant to dive in to this title. I was pleasantly surprised.

Playwright Snagglepuss is a playwright in the 1950s in America. He is on trial for being possibly communist. He also has a secret life that is dangerous at this time. The story is told about the kind of bravery and tragedy that it sometimes takes to create your art and live your life.

Along with the real people of the time, like Dorothy Parker and Marilyn Monroe, classic characters like Quick Draw Mcgraw and Huckleberry Hound appear. A short appendix gives some of the real events of the time, and who some of the characters were based on.

While I don't personally wholly agree with the opinions being voiced, they are done in a fierce and beautiful style. The prose shines as does the art. This may not be for everyone, but it is worthy of 5 stars from me.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from DC Entertainment and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.

I requested this title because I am a childhood fan of the campy Snagglepuss. Then I read the description of the book and I had to see how the author could possibly invest an the top cartoon character with such a serious storyline. Well reader, I cried at the end of this book. Snagglepuss made me cry. This was an amazing, intelligent, and sensitive look American history, literature, art, and the history of LGBTQ movement. I know, I know. That sounds insane, but it's all true.

Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles
Mark Russell, Mike Feehan, et al., 2018

New Release! I received a copy of this book from NetGalley for the purpose of review.

Premise: In the 1950s, anthropomorphic animals and humans alike struggle with McCarthyism, censorship, and homophobia. One flamboyant pink-furred playwright is caught between all three. Collects Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles #1-6 and the backup story from Suicide Squad/Banana Splits Special #1.


I'm only passingly familiar with most of the Hanna-Barbera characters from this era, but I think this reimagining does some fascinating things by extrapolating out from basic character traits. The core is, of course, taking the extravagant and theatrical mannerisms of Snagglepuss and making him a closeted Southern playwright working in the style of Tennessee Williams. The whole piece has the heightened language and high melodrama that I associate with Williams' work, in fact.

The story is serious and dark, reflecting the paranoia and hatred of the time as well as reflecting into today's culture. Snagglepuss is persecuted by the House Committee on Un-American Activities, and although his success protects him a little, it protects others not at all. He struggles with the balance between cowardice and pragmatism. Between convictions about the purpose of art and the reality that crossing certain lines means you don't get to make art at all.

The art is lovely, and the realism and detail match the writing well. I couldn't quite get over the no-pants thing, though. It was just so weird! Animals live like humans, look very humanoid, have sex with humans, but don't wear pants.

I appreciated that the collection includes a few pages in the back that explain which elements are taken directly from history and which are adapted or adjusted to fit the story. For example, having the Stonewall Inn exist in the 50's the same way it did in the 60's is a blow to historical accuracy, although I understand why the choice was made for narrative impact.

I didn't love everything about this story - I think the emotional beats and climactic speeches land well, but some of the exposition meanders in the middle issues. Overall, though, it's a strong, fascinating piece.

4 Stars - A Very Good Book

A great ear for the fine, witty line spurs on this comic, that manages to cover hidden homosexuality, the Red Threat and the HUAC scandals – all in a world where big pink cats write plays like Tennessee Williams. It's a patently bizarre book, but a brilliant one (except the artist really cannot manage a Marilyn Monroe). If DC have published anything near this quality in the last ten years, then it's passed me by.

This was an amazing first volume. I haven't really been interested in the Hanna-Barbera comics line or a fan of Snagglepuss, but this was brilliant. I loved that it was set during the McCarthy Era and how dangerous it was for everyone during that time. I am really eager to get my hands on more Snagglepuss chronicles!

I can not praise this book enough. Simply put, I love it. It will absolutely be purchased for my library!

I received this book in exchange for a honest review from NetGalley.

This graphic novel is so very good. You would never expect Hanna Barbara cartoons to be the perfect vehicle for interesting and innovative political commentary but as the Flintstones comic proved last year it truly is. Snagglepuss uses the backdrop of the Red Scare to perfectly reflect problems the author sees with modern politics and politicians. It turns a adorable pink lion from the hey day of cartoons into a gay playwright in a time when being such was sometimes quite literally a death sentence. Overall this comic was a interesting and innovative work and will make you think.

Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles is set in 1953 but feels as though it could be written for today. Snagglepuss is under investigation by the House Committee on Un-American Activities for involvement with Russian spies. Married to a woman but secretly in love with a man, Snagglepuss hides his true identity from the public and all but his closest of friends. Secrets, lies, and betrayals are revealed through court hearings, flashbacks, and an autobiographical play produced by Snagglepuss.
An engaging story paired with incredible artwork made for a memorable reading experience.

This was so not what I was expecting. I remembered Snagglepuss from my childhood as a rather vain and silly cartoon character. Now I will remember him in a completely different way. Mark Russell has used S.P., Huckleberry Hound, Quickdraw McGraw and others to create a world in which anthropomorphic animals and humans live together. It is set during the McCarthy hearings and the tale is definitely for grown-ups. There is such depth to the writing. So many lines that made me think. So many that made me so very sad. There are many scenes that the homophobic wouldn't care for, but the hypocrisy uncovered via that storyline and the exploration of what love is makes me feel bad for those who won't read it because of that. I cannot recommend this book strongly enough.

Having watched the cartoon as a kid from time to time, i was unsure how this modern take was going to turn out. Turns out, it was much better than I was anticipating. The humanistic and personal story told here was something i wasn't expecting, especially from none other than the goofy, stuttering Snagglepuss. I am unfamiliar with Mark Russell but this story was quite fresh for something presented in a comic book form and really shows what the comic book medium can truly do. The artwork complemented the story perfectly and all of the appearances from various other Hanna-Barbera were a complete joy to see.

Disclosure: Thanks goes out to DC and NetGalley for gifting me an ARC copy of this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review.

Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles is a clever reinvention of an iconic 1960s cartoon character.

Snagglepuss was originally a pink swishy wannabe actor and actual mountain lion in the Yogi the Bear cartoons beginning in 1959. This comic, set in 1953, casts Snagglepuss as a successful playwright caught up in the McCarthy Congressional hearings looking for communist sympathizers within the show business community.

I wasn’t expecting such a serious comic based on such a silly character from my childhood. However, Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles won me over. Even though this is set during the 1950s, it brings with it the more accepting mindset of 2018. Snagglepuss is married to Lila Lion, who both has a beard and is a beard for Snagglepuss’ gay lifestyle with boyfriend Pablo. Pablo escaped from Baptiste’s Cuba after his friend is murdered by government thugs for being openly homosexual. Many famous icons from the 1950s appear: Dorothy Parker, Marilyn Monroe, Lillian Hellman, Joe Dimaggio, Clint Eastwood and Arthur Miller. Huckleberry Hound is also out of the closet and a novelist. Even the iconic Stonewall club is featured.

Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles is not a comic for everyone. It is a deep dive into mid-century politics from a modern viewpoint. I would recommend it to readers of historical fiction and fans of thoughtful movies like Hidden Figures and the Imitation Game. Since I embrace both of those categories, 5 stars!

Thanks to the publisher, DC Comics, and NetGalley for an advanced copy.

If anyone else had been writing Snagglepuss, I am not sure I would have picked up this comic. I love Mark Russell, which was enough for me to pick this comic.

Snagglepuss fits in perfectly during the 1950s. He's bold and colorful and perfect for NYC. This book is heartbreakingly real in every single twist and turn. The last two issues had me sobbing, to the point I needed to put the book down and regroup.

If Mark Russell wasn't already on my list of "if he writes it, I'll read it," then this book would put him there.

If you had told six year old Kate that one day she would weep openly over Hanna-Barbera character Snagglepuss, she would look at you like you were nuts. And yet here we are. EXIT STAGE LEFT: THE SNAGGLEPUSS CHRONICLES is a poignant and powerful examination of McCarthyism, homophobia, and political corruption and hypocrisy at the expense of innocent lives, all through the eyes of closeted playwright Snagglepuss. With clear inspiration from Tennessee Williams and perhaps Truman Capote as well, Snagglepuss is a complicated character who doesn't wish to become involved in political turmoil, but is forced into it when he becomes the target of zealous ant-Communists in the government. What I liked best about his character was that he is absolutely a reluctant symbol of rebellion, who would be more interested in living his life and ignoring the House of Un-American Activities Committee rather than standing up to them. You see other familiar Hanna-Barbera characters here as well, from Quick Draw McGraw to Squiddly Diddly to a very tragic, Faulkner-esque Huckleberry Hound, and all of them fit into the story seamlessly. This story also has a lot of references to relevant people and moments from that time period, from the Execution of the Rosenbergs to the upheaval in Cuba to Stonewall. Stories like this remind me that DC still has amazing stories to tell, and that they can remain incredibly relevant to what is going on today in modern American society.

I loved this book. Best graphic novel of the year so far.

This re-imagined collection of childhood favorites takes Mark Russell's political commentary up a few notches. This time we see Snagglepuss, Augie Doggie, Huckleberry Hound and other favorites as characters in 1953 who are all under the eye of the House Committee on Un-American Activities. Several of them get caught up in the Stonewall raid, and their lives are never the same. Throughout we see historic happenings and characters; Marilyn Monroe, Joe Dimaggio, Arthur Miller and Fidel Castro all help complete the story of America under fire and fighting for its soul. If you liked The Flintstones or remember these characters from your childhood, you'll love what Russell has done with Snagglepuss.

In "Exist Stage Left" class cartoon character Snagglepuss is transformed into a closeted gay playwright trying to manage the Red-Scare era of the early 1950's. Through its themes of sexuality, art, censorship and "national safety," this is more than a speculator read. It feels like an absolutely perfect work for these current turbulent times. Once again, Mark Russell has absolutely hit it out of the park with his latest reimagining, and has given iconic but also very one-note Hanna-Barbara characters and successfully managed to given them extra dimension and weight beyond what one would reasonably imagine possible.