I wish LoAC (or Fantagraphics or another publisher that lavishes TLC when reprinting comic strips) would consider Rick O'Shay or Latigo, the two western strips by Stan Lynde. I've seen one volume of Latigo reprints (I have the second. The first volume is rare and not something I can afford). Rick O'Shay reprints have been sporadic over the years. Neither series has ever gotten the high-quality reprint attention they deserve.

There would be a few challenges to reprinting these works. Rick O'Shay began as much more of a funny western strip set in contemporary times. It wasn't until it had been around for almost a decade, in the late 1960s, that the time frame settled into the old west. During that period the artwork lost most of its "cartoony" look and consistently looked much more realistic. And while it could still bring a smile, the emphasis wasn't on a gag-a-day anymore. I recall it wasn't until the decision was made to settle the story in the late 19th century that the quality of both story and art really improved. Personally, I wouldn't mind a high-quality collection that began at this point and skipped the early years. But I understand some collectors might howl at such a decision. To me, it would be similar to the decision to begin the Superman collection LoAC is preparing with the Silver Age Superman.

I recall reading in an interview a few years ago that much of Stan Lynde's early work was destroyed in a house fire. Would the materials to even assemble a Rick O'Shay or Latigo collection even survive?

Lynde's artwork is terrific. Daily continuity was separate from Sundays. On that day he produced works that often included beautiful vistas and meticulously rendered scenes of daily life. His work is not as well remembered as many of his contemporaries, which is a shame. Lynde is a heck of an artist. He currently writes books (westerns, of course). They're great, but I'd love to have several volumes of his comic work on my bookshelf.