A Little Character Goes a Long Way: A 35-Year Collection of Ziggy Favorites

By Tom Wilson

"Ziggy must be part of me, because he feels as if he's been with me all my life." --Tom Wilson

No matter where you are, no matter what's going on in your life, Ziggy has been there. For the past 35 years, readers around the world have picked up newspapers, opened greeting card envelopes, or caught sight of T-shirts and there's Ziggy, unfailingly showing how to appreciate life and find the silver lining in any cloud. 

Tom Wilson's character--an admirable mix of Ben Franklin, Dale Carnegie, and Forrest Gump all rolled into a little bald icon--strikes a chord in everyone. And that's why so many will cherish A Little Character Goes a Long Way, a celebration of Ziggy himself. After all, it's the character of this character that's earned Ziggy such a special place in our hearts.

This treasury includes many classic Ziggy frames and strips, each highlighting the traits that make Ziggy the upbeat, hopeful, and unflappable optimist that he is. There's Ziggy generally making molehills and wrinkles out of life's highest mountains and lowest valleys; Ziggy and his menagerie of pets; and Ziggy taking the time to appreciate nature's beauty at its best. This little Everyperson reminds us all of what's really important, and this treasury will undoubtedly do the same.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: May 1, 2011
• ISBN: 9780740799341

Book preview

Chapter I

1971-1975

My husband, Rod, and I were in Cleveland to see the folks at American Greetings, and we called up Tom Wilson to see if he had time for coffee. Generous as always, Tom put aside a day to show us around and told us he’d pick us up at the hotel in his new car. He described it as being a black Mercedes and he was excited to show it off.

It was a sunny day. He apologized for being late (due to some unforeseen family circumstances), and climbed out of a rusting red Peugeot. The doors jammed badly. We seated ourselves and he grimaced as he closed them from the outside. His daughter had taken the new car and Tom was left with hers. Stones rattled in the hubcaps as we rumbled along the highway toward his