Milton Caniff's Steve Canyon: 1947

The Washington Post

All of Caniff's other powers are on full display here: the sharp draftsmanship, heavy on the chiaroscuro; the vivid characterization, including the smitten female secretary who pines away for Steve while he remains oblivious of her interest; the slangy dialogue; the tantalizing way with a story line. "Steve Canyon" remains about as satisfying as an adventure strip can be. — Dennis Drabelle

Publishers Weekly

Any reader interested in graphic storytelling would do well to pick up this collection of all the daily and Sunday installments from the first year of Caniff's legendary adventure comic strip. After developing his skills as a writer and artist on Dickie Dare and Terry and the Pirates, which were owned and controlled by big syndicates, Caniff launched Steve Canyon right after WWII to show what he could do solo. The eponymous strapping blond hero is a an ex-Air Force pilot who just wants to start an independent air freight company along with some fellow vets, but it seems that every business contract leads to a romantic adventure in an exotic locale. These first few episodes show Caniff finding his way as the strip's sole proprietor, with an overabundance of quirky supporting characters at the beginning before salty old Happy Easter becomes Steve's permanent sidekick. Still, even from the strip's start, Caniff was at the top of his storytelling form. The dialogue is top-grade snappy patter, the pacing gripping, and the lush brush-and-ink washes are marvelous. Caniff knew how to move the reader's eye from panel to panel, moving, for example, from long shots to close-ups (in fact, Steve Canyon has more cinematic technique than many movies). Alas, the publishers have had to squeeze the strips into less space than they were intended to fill, which means less fine detail. At 6" x 11.5", the dailies are almost as small as today's papers' dreadfully cramped strips. This makes the book both tantalizing and frustrating to read, but it is nevertheless an essential work. (Sept.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Library Journal

Collecting the first year of this celebrated adventure comic strip by renowned artist Caniff (Terry and the Pirates)-a true classic of the form, full of action, intrigue, and humor. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.