Milton Caniff (1907–1988)

If the unevenness of volume 1 left you wondering how Milt Caniff earned his exalted reputation, volume 2 (1937 to 1938) removes any doubts. The characters have become more layered and the narratives more intricate. This is an artist and writer reaching full mastery of his medium. The Sandhurst plot and the introduction of Big Stoop and Judas are highlights, but it's the long section with Burma (including close to a year of strips without Pat Ryan) where this strip really sends off sparks. It's one of the best runs on any adventure strip ever. This is Caniff--"the Rembrandt of the comic strip"--firing on all cylinders.… (more)

Steve Canyon himself is a little too perfect to be as interesting as Caniff's sidekick gallery, but there are times when the jut-jaw is shaken. There are some moving stories here involving long-established characters, including Summer Olsen, Copper Calhoun, Poteet Canyon, Convoy and Holly Hall. Most of the suspense is derived from cold-war plotting by the Reds, but the human interest more than balances out the tension. Caniff's art and writing are still up to snuff, but there are times when it would be refreshing to have a new female lead introduced who did not fall for Steve so readily... or at all.… (more)