Originally anthologized in 1997 and 1998, The Search for Smilin' Ed
is the latest of Kim Deitch's graphic novels to showcase his obsessive burrowing
into the nooks and crannies of vintage American popular culture: it explores the
wacky world of children's TV shows. Launched on his latest investigation by a
remark from his brother, Deitch begins to uncover some truly amazing things
about the kiddie-show host and his malevolent sidekick, Froggy the Gremlin
(reminiscent of Krusty the Clown and Sideshow Bob!). Meanwhile, Deitch's muse
and nemesis Waldo the Cat abandons Deitch to hang out with some demon buddies,
and soon both Waldo and Deitch are closing in on the mysteries of Smilin' Ed and
Froggy.
Ranging across the entire 20th century, replete with flashbacks,
stories within stories, and guest appearances from other Deitch regulars, The
Search for Smilin' Ed is a narrative whirligig that shows Deitch at his
wildest and woolliest. For those whose heads have started to spin at the
complexity of “Deitch world,” Deitch scholar Bill Kartalopoulos
offers a lengthy essay on the ins and outs of this ever-evolving, ever-expanding
world where fantasy, reality, and satire combine, clash, and are sometimes
downright indistinguishable.
