Baron Bean : a complete compilation, 1916-1917

One of George Herriman's several daily comic strips of the 1910s, Baron Bean is an excellent example of the cartoonist's unfettered and inspired comic imagination at its best. Baron Bean was always in rags, penniless, hungry, but kept his man Grimes, and Grimes did his dirty work. Grimes was the Baron's outlet; and Grimes, faithful retainer, held by bonds of admiration and respect, helped the Baron in his one great love affair. Like most of Herriman's people, they lived on the enchanted mesa by Coconino, near Yorba Linda. The Baron was inventive; lacking the money to finance the purchase of a postage stamp, he entrusted a love letter to a carrier pigeon; and his 'go my paloma,' on that occasion is immortal. The Complete first year of Baron Bean is reprinted in this collection.