ALLEY OOP AND THE ISLAND OF DINNYS 1973 Dave Graue

This new release jumps back in time to some of Dave's earliest solo work! Alley Oop takes a trip to ancient Loch Ness with his own monsters in tow! Then it's an accidental journey to an island of dinosaurs with a strangely familiar look on each and every one! There is also a fun Viking sequence with Oop helping one faction defend against an invasion by Eric the Red. Featuring a fascinating 7-page  introduction by Pete Malik. This real-life fan of the strip was written into the story as two different characters and he suggested the idea of Dinny getting caught in the time machine and becoming the Loch Ness monster. He writes an interesting introduction about meeting V.T. Hamlin...a letter started it off, then Hamlin replied and sent him two original strips. Next Pete's mother drove him 18 hours to Florida and they met with V.T. and had a long afternoon with him. This was just as V.T. was going to retire and doing his last story sequence, which is why this Dinny story ended up being drawn Graue. Includes V.T.'s conversation, it's a wonderful intimate glimpse in the artist and his life-long love of Alley Oop.