Comic Strip Stamps! Also other stuff.

Hey there, cats and kittens. I usually write these little blurbs after I write the rest of the post, and well, today's post is rather long because I spend a lot of time ranting about stamps. And before then, I rant about Batman and an old television show. So lots of ranting today. No ranting at the Meekrat Entertainment Group, though. So if my ranting makes you want to yell at me or whatever, go there and do it. Now then, on with the rants:

Brilliant Mind of Edison Lee

Today, Edison Lee makes a reference to a show that ended twenty years ago. This isn't really an anomaly, and the last time I pointed it out we were deluged by angry commenters. Is there some sort of fandom for this show I don't know about? I mean, yes, it was a good show. I remember it fondly, and remember the joke Bioware made in the first "Baldur's Gate" game which was pretty much this joke. What's more is that at least the "Wild Wild West" thing had jokes you could get without knowing the show being referenced. This joke? It's just a direct reference. If you've never seen the show, or don't remember it at all, then this guy saying he's Larry with two brothers named Darryl will mean absolutely nothing to you.

Now then, who knows what show is being referenced? No fair Googling it. I want straight-up knowledge.

Frazz

Do you know anything about Batman, you little cretin? He doesn't have the powers of a bat, he dresses as one to strike fear into the hearts of criminals. Your argument is stupid! Besides, I'm sure if Batman were more bat-like, he'd be able to consume ninety pounds of any food, not just insects. This comic just infuriates me

Archie, Beetle Bailey, and Dennis the Menace

These... I have nothing to complain about with these. I just like it when a bunch of comic strips do a theme. This one advertises the fact that these three comic strips have (rather boring) stamps made of them. In addition to these three, there's also one for "Garfield" and one for "Calvin and Hobbes", which is surprising due to Bill Watterson's aversion to such things. Is this the first non-book official "Calvin and Hobbes" merchandise?

I don't know why I think they're so boring. The ones made in 1995 weren't much different.

Out of the five of them, I think all of them use the standard syndicate promo art. I know I've seen all of those pictures before, elsewhere. The only one I like on its own is the Beetle Bailey one, because it seems like they were at least trying a little bit. All the others are just... meh. Perhaps it's the gradient backgrounds coupled with the lackluster images. No idea.

Here's the 1995 stamps for comparison. And look, it's a rare Barney Google appearance! These are actually much more dynamic. Perhaps the new stamps aren't so good because they're vertical, and therefore had less space to work with. Here, we have actual backgrounds for many of them and, perhaps more telling, the images tell us what the comic strip is actually sort of about. The 2010 stamps, I look at them, and here's what I'd probably think if I was an unfrozen man from the late 1800s:

Beetle Bailey - I say, wot? That rotund man is shouting at that other one, shouting something about a Beetle Bailey? Why, that must be the thin chap's name! This strip of comedy must feature an antagonistic relationship between the rotund fellow and Beetle Bailey.

Calvin and Hobbes - That child and tyger are making rude faces. They must be delinquents of the highest order. How inappropriate! (Hypothetical fix: Show Calvin and Hobbes sledding. WHY DIDN'T YOU SHOW THEM SLEDDING? That would have been the best thing.)

Garfield - Oh my, no! 'Tis the Island of Doctor Moreau, come to life straight from the pages of the tome by Mister Wells! They also look like ruffians. What a terrible place this future must be! (Hypothetical fix: It's called "Garfield", not "Garfield and Odie". If you must show Odie, show Garfield kicking him off a table. Alternatively, have Garfield eating something, as he is known for eating.)

Dennis the Menace - I gather from the title that this must be the menacing Dennis, but he looks only like a workman. I am bored. (Hypothetical fix: Dennis... I don't know. I honestly don't know. There's really nothing you can do with this to make it more eye-popping in the space provided. Then again, it is a single panel strip. I'm sure you could go look at ones where he's actually menacing and adapt something. Besides, what if a British person got this stamp? I gather their Dennis the Menace is sort of a jerk.)

Archie - That lad is sharing a malt with two ladies! Oh my, how scandalous! Surely the clergy must have something to say about this? No? What sort of mad world have I awoken into? (Hypothetical fix: ...okay, this one is actually pretty okay.)

As for the stamps from 1995, well, all of them do a pretty good job of establishing things and catching the eye. I actually don't know a thing about the Yellow Kid, "Bringing Up Father", or "Toonerville Folks". Well, I know the Yellow Kid had one of the earliest comic books. The others? Guessing two girls have to keep their father out of trouble, and the other... some crazy small town hi-jinks. The only stamp I think could use some work is the Little Nemo one (it's good, but maybe show him in Slumberland instead of just waking up?) All the others are just fine.

Now, because this post hasn't gone on for long enough, maybe they'll make more stamps in a few years. What comic strips will get them? Perhaps Funky Winkerbean will get one, and it'll show Funky and Les Moore with the grim shadow of that Masky McDeath fellow hanging over them. Peanuts, maybe? I think Peanuts had some stamps. No, they just had one, with Snoopy flying his dog house. Which is good. I'd go for Charlie Brown missing the football, but Snoopy flying his dog house is good. Family Circus? Just put the family in a circle. Not much you can do there. Ooh, what about Far Side? Just have Gary Larson whip something up, it'd be great. Maybe Marmaduke can get one, too.

Okay, I've now spent entirely too much time rambling about comic strips and stamps. I'm going to go re-evaluate my life choices and see you people here next week.