Cartoonist Chris Browne was inspired by Godzilla in the creation of his first illustrated book for children, The Monster Who Ate the State. The book is published by the South Dakota Historical Society Press and tells the story of a hungry dinosaur named Soozy who travels across South Dakota, from the Black Hills to Sioux Falls, looking for something to eat and a new place to call home.
Browne is best known for drawing the daily Hagar the Horrible comic strip created by his father, Dik Browne. Chris Browne took over the strip with his father’s retirement in 1988. Browne grew up in Connecticut and lived in Florida before moving to Sioux Falls. He says The Monster Who Ate the State is a love letter to his new home.
Browne has a reading and signing at Zandbroz Variety in downtown Sioux Falls on Saturday, December 13 at 12:30 pm. He joined Dakota Midday and discussed the new book and drawing Hagar the Horrible.