The Daily Comics Review: Saturday Specials

by Hal Bent

Saturday Specials is where I envision a bit of a potpourri of comics: whatever strikes my fancy as Saturday is well-renowned as the weakest day of newspaper comics, often recapping the week, highlighting an event on Friday, or just mailing it in prior to Sunday.  With that, time to get to the Saturday Specials:

Bliss by Harry Bliss:

I had to include one from the funny pages: I hope one of my regular readers can help me out here with this one. I spent ten minutes reading it and had no freaking  clue what the heck was going on here. Phish shirt, hippie guy and gal, and a dog...all  hitch-hiking...in Vermont. I don't get it.  I really don't get it. It's well drawn, great depiction of the Green Mountains of Vermont, but I feel like either it is, or I am, missing something here. 


Off the usual track, where this was an unusual week, and instead of posting on Monday or Friday, I was glued to the news (online and television) with the horror in Boston with the Marathon bombing and all-day manhunt. That said, some editorial cartoons from this past week seemed to be appropriate here:

EDITORIAL COMIC: Attack Runners by Pat Bagley: 

EDITORIAL COMIC: Boston Tragedy by Christopher Weyant:

EDITORIAL COMIC: Inspirational Marathon Runners by Steve Breen

EDITORIAL COMIC: Boston Bombing by Michael Ramirez:

Read more...

The Daily Comics Review: Thursday Quickies

by Hal Bent

Yes, I know, its been a while since I posted. Thank you all for sticking with the site and coming back.  Between trying to get ready for vacation with a stressful week at the regular 9-5 job, and then being away with family time, I somehow had not posted in a few days.  Then, Marathon Monday happened. As you can see from my Blogger ID, the greater Boston area is my home.  While on vacation, I was glued to twitter, the television news outlets, and just shocked by what took place just one block away from where I had worked in Boston for almost ten years. Thinking about how I had annually taken a break from work to go out and stand and applaud the many runners crossing the finish line far after the winners on television.  Standing and applauding at the same approximate time in the same approximate place where the first explosive device detonated and hurt so many innocent people. How lucky I was that I no longer was in the city for Patriots Day, that I was no longer at the finish line of the Boston Marathon, where I was for so many years without incident.  Somehow, after that fateful day, I had a hard time finding the motivation and energy to write about anything, let alone humor, with this hanging over my head.  At that time, I just needed to be where I felt safe, with those I love, and that was where I was, with my family with me.

There are still no answers as I write this, no delusional reason given, no culprit in custody, no someone to point our collective fingers at and wonder WHY so much pain was deliberately delivered on a day and event about community, togetherness, and accomplishment.  Just like all the other tragedies in our lifetime, life does go on.  Whether the Oklahoma City bombing, 9-11, Hurricanes, flooding, tsunamis, or whatever disaster, be it man-made or a natural force, there is a time of mourning that does not end, but rather just gets pushed down deeper until life continues:  The sun rises, the calendar moves forward, and another day and its unique challenges face us all.  In that, we as a people require something more to get through each day, and part of that is humor.  The Daily Comics Review is a very small part of that, but one that is important to me, and helps me get through each day with the small bits of humor it imparts (some would say very, very small amounts of humor...).  In that, it is necessary as part of moving forward in my regular life to share these thoughts on the site, if only to escape reality for a brief period of time.   With that, thank you for the indulgence, and as always, thank you for allowing me to snark on these comic strips and give me that brief laugh that helps life go on.  

Thank you, Keith Knight. 

Now, onto the Thursday Quickies: 

Bliss by Harry Bliss:

That is simply the funniest comic strip I have read all year.  The look on his face, the gorilla's arm around his shoulders, that is priceless. 


Close to Home by John McPherson:

Wait, fishermen are sexually attracted to the fish that they catch?  Is that the point?  I fish, I am not attracted to fish. This is wrong.  Soooooo wrong. 


Shoe by Chris Cassatt and Gary Brookins:

I was groaning in mock horror before I got through the first panel.  Way to mail it in, Shoe. 


The Other Coast by Adrian Raeside:

My dog would agree: That would be cruel and unusual punishment. 


Legend of Bill by David Reddick:

I have no clue what the heck is going on here, but figured it can't be all bad and a great way to end the Thursday Quickies.  (Actually, Warrix is fighting the Wizard in the past, it's been building up for four months and now Shiarra is interrupting to try and get her dragon back from Warrix. Gnomes are freaking everywhere in the comic strip, just because. What a great comic!) 

Read more...

Blizzard of Comics

Whoo-hoo.  A rare day off as work is cancelled due to the impending blizzard here in the Northeast.  Time to peruse the comics and set my snark level to HIGH.  Hard to type with my fingers-crossed hoping this storm turns to rain and blows out to sea, but let's give it a shot: 

Bliss by Harry Bliss:

See, I say latched on.  I latched onto my wife and didn't let her shake me, no matter how hard she tried. Accept it and embrace, baldy. Attractive wives with less attractive guys is only supposed to happen in sitcoms, not real life. So if you're lucky enough to latch-on, don't ruin it by rolling your eyes and making that "disappointed" face.  Put your arm around her shoulder, say "Damn right I latched onto this sweet piece of ass, right here!) and let the glowering chick in the red sweater with the glass of wine have to make the uncomfortable "is he serious or joking? Do I chuckle? Are they fighting? Is he sarcastic?" face and then give a half-hearted chuckle/snort and walk away in embarrassment.   (Not that I've ever done this at a Christmas party at my wife's work or anything. Why do you ask?)

*


Momma by Mell Lazarus:

This old bag (I never knew her name was Sonya--she doesn't look like a Sonya.  More of a Louise or Betty) is always complaining her grown children don't come to visit her. So she finally gets them all there for dinner (and no sign of her hated daughter-in-law) and what happens? Sonya/Momma is bitching and moaning about them sponging off her for dinner.  What else does she have to offer them? Scintillating conversation? 80 inch television? Pleasant demeanor? 

Food is what brings a family together. I hate to think of parents/in-laws complaining about family coming and visiting them.  So does that mean she really doesn't really want her miserable kids around?  Or, maybe she's just really a mean-spirited old biddy.

*

Compu-toon by Charles Boyce:

Grammar police! Wheeeee-oooh-wheeeee-oooh! (Gotta validate that Liberal Arts degree my wife worked so hard to pay off).  Were these castaways wondering or wandering? If wandering, where the heck did they wander towards.  What is that on the left side of the panel under the sun? It looks like shrubbery. Are these idiots a 50 foot wade through waist-high water from the main land? What rescue options did they try? Are they IT Professionals? Is that the "Main menu" joke?  Maybe "joke" should be in quotes, as I'm missing the attempted humor here.

*
Working It Out by Charlos Gary:

Remember when Starbucks started expanding across the country and the populace was enchanted and/or confused by terms like latte, venti, cappuccino, and grande?  Of course you don't, unless you're over 35 years old and remember 25 to 30 years ago when Starbucks exploded across the nation. Walk Like an Egyptian was the hit single and the Bangles were blowing up MTV.  More important than this outdated attempt at humor, I saw Bangles lead singer Susanna Hoffs on VH1 on one of those idiot shows that are great to put on the TV in the background when doing something else and I cannot believe that she is 53.  Not only that, but she married the geek who directed the Austin Powers movies, Jay Roach?  Did I mention not only is she 53, but Hoffs is still smoking hot. 


Fort Knox by Paul Jon:

This General is in the mood for some general cuddle-time around the fire with Army boy here. I don't see any graham crackers in hand, so which guy is the chocolate and which is the marshmallow? Didn't take long for "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" to end for the General to start making propositions. Look at the facial expression on Army boy in the last panel...he is FREAKING OUT AT THE PROSPECT OF "MAKING S'MORES" WITH HIS COMMANDING OFFICER.    


Love Is... by Kim Casali, conceived by and drawn by Bill Asprey:

These freaky, naked Dutch folk (who were big in the late '70s/early '80s, as I recall) are actually wearing clothes! Praise the Lord, this Love is actually has the giant-head character wearing clothes. That's worth celebrating.


*

Bound and Gagged by Dana Summers:

Humpty Dumpty was that kid in high school with the Pink Floyd t-shirt who was stoned all day? Don't seem to recall those kids having a bow-tie, bowler derby, and spats.  

* * *

Read more...

Another Rough Day at the Gym

Happy Monday, everyone.  Hope everyone had a super Super Bowl Sunday yesterday.  Monday means new comics, so let's jump into it.  And in case I forget to say it later, thanks so much for stopping by!

Bliss by Harry Bliss and Real Life Adventures by Gary Wise and Lance Aldrich:

This is great for everyone with the gym membership that, 5 weeks into the new year, is already dormant and unused.  I always hated going to the gym.  These two comics sum up two of the most annoying aspects of the hated gym experience: muscle-bound phys. ed. majors hitting on your girl at the gym and fat asses on the exer-bike.  If Bliss was drawn at another angle, you'd see "Mr. Benches 250" flexing his arm as he feels up some guys girlfriend as part of his "job duty".  Of course, in Real Life Adventures the blond wife was at the same gym with the same trainer....she was loving all that attention she doesn't get from tubby here.  A different angle, and you'd see the Cheetos, ding-dongs, ho-ho's and beer on the side table.  Why go to the gym when she can see the sweaty butt prints on tubby's chair when he drags himself to the bathroom for his only strenuous activity of the day.

*

 The Born Loser, The by Chip Sansom:

Yeah, there was something wrong with the first honeymoon, Buddy.  Big problems! (It's funny because the Born Loser has erectile dysfunction.)

*



Baldo by Hector D. Cantu and Carlos Castellanos:

Is Baldo still in high school?  Is his father that annoyed with his kid that he's desperately trying to  marry him off and get him out of his hair?  There's a girl you like? Let me tell you about my experience.  Too bad it ended at four panels, add another two and you'd have: PANEL FIVE: Of course, the honeymoon was horrible." PANEL SIX: I had erectile dysfunction like that Born Loser!"

Seriously, look at that expression on the father's face when his son wants to have a serious father-son talk.  He hates this kid.  He wants no part of this conversation.  Do you get the impression that Baldo tries to have these talks every thirty minutes? Earlier that day, the conversation went: BALDO: "Dad, can we talk? I was pleasuring myself yesterday with your mustache scissors..."

*




Free Range by Bill Whitehead:

Wait a sec, where is her voice coming from?  Is it coming from his...It is! Way to kick it up a notch, Free Range!

*

Angry Little Girls by Lela Lee:

"I was looking for love in all the wrong places. Looking for love in too many places."  Nothing like a little 1980 country music by Johnny Lee from the Urban Cowboy soundtrack.  Of course, maybe little blond girl needs to stop being so negative. Or stop looking so hard and coming across as desperate.  Maybe she's unlikable.  How does she treat her friends?  Maybe she should hang out at the gym.  I bet there's a personal trainer more than happy to feel her up.

*


Café con Leche by Charlos Gary:

Wait, was this idiot with the 1990's hipster goatee was passed out the last six months?  That's a significant baby bump.  Gotta be looking about six months pregnant there.  Where the heck is he going? Buying baby clothes? That's what I did.  Potency! Virility! Manliness!  Shout it from the rooftops. This guy is disgrace to real men.  Either that, or he knows she just got back from three months abroad.

*

Last Kiss by John Lustig:

I have to put Last Kiss on here because I've been such a fan of the strip for so long.  John Lustig  bought the rights to a bunch of old romance comics and has been re-writing them with his unique humor.  (Plus, he accepted my Facebook friend request! Tee-hee,giddy fan boy alert!)  Consistently funny, always unique. Give him a read here: http://www.lastkisscomics.com

* * *

OK, now I'm done. Thanks as always for reading! (Hey, I remembered.)

Read more...

Getting Older

Baldo

He went on to say, "...YOU'RE 36 FOR GARSH SAKES!  GET A JOB!"

The Barn

Is it because he is so one-of-a-kind stupid?  I would think there would be a lot of stupid sheep out there whether it's on this Earth or its duplicate.

Bewley

What's wrong with the "Can I have the check?" mime?  How else are you supposed to tell the waiter that you've sufficiently gorged yourself on overpriced food and would now like to leave as quickly as possible?

Bliss

This comic is an example of when a cartoonist can't think of anything funny and instead illustrates that last thing that happened to him that day.

The Born Loser

How is she one to talk?  She towers over him!  She is so large that she has to wear a garbage bag with arm holes cut out of it.

Off the Mark

Well, Batman does regularly operate a bat-plane, so this really shouldn't be so surprising.

Shoe

Shoe, you are criticizing an infomercial late at night; I think you are still the one with no life.

Read more...

Paying for College

Adam@Home

"...And given that they've probably inherited my physical capabilities, athletic scholarships are also out of the question.  Oh well, I guess I'll have to finance their education with my baby ventriloquism act."

The Argyle Sweater

Ug.  That's three terrible puns in a single panel.  That has to be some kind of record.

Bliss

Okay, it's not a deer, so what is it?  A person?  A bear?  Judging from the kid's expression, perhaps it was his favorite superhero?  We'll never know.  That's Bliss for you.

Broom Hilda

Is Broom Hilda so hard up for compliments that when a cashier merely verifies the painfully obvious (given Hilda's grotesque physical appearance) that she flies broomlessly through the air to plant a kiss on said cashier?  What a wretched life indeed.

Cornered
 
Um... it's called a "deposit."

The Grizzwells

Actually, what's creepy is the lady porcupine's weird boob-lumps.

Read more...

On Tipping

Bliss

The colorist really should not have made the characters' torsos flesh colored.  Now everyone looks like nerdy Chippendale dancers.

Broom Hilda

Wha?  This monster has a very roundabout method of collecting victims.  I don't imagine that many "vacuum cleaner salespersons" would just happen to walk by this darkened cave, let alone possess the inclination to accept the sign's invitation.  Yet apparently this exact scenario has happened at least 4 times.

The Buckets

Weird, inexplicable storyline in The Buckets this week.  This kid just sits outside next to a tip jar while absentmindedly playing a video game.  Strangers walk by and ask him if he is some sort of undesirable/annoying character; the kid says "no" and then the stranger leaves a dollar in the jar and moves on.  Perhaps the cartoonist is suggesting we all should show greater appreciation for innocent and unobnoxious.  So readers, next time you see someone on the street minding their own business and not being a prick be sure to tip them generously.

Cul de Sac

"Because you're my only hope for grandchildren.  Petey's off-putting OCD tendencies will never get him laid."

Off the Mark

Ah... sweet vengeance.

Read more...

Terrible Wednesday

Terrible because there were hardly any good or noteworthy comics today.  Sigh.

Adam@Home

Cake? That looks more like a sad platter of scalloped potatoes.  It's a surprise that there is anything legible written on it at all.

Bliss

Um, because not liking hippies is funny?

The Flying McCoys

Apparently he stinks at limbo too.  Look how high the bar is!

Reality Check

See what I mean?  Butts with cell phones is the highlight of the day.

Read more...

Drunker than a Snowman

It's 2012 everybody! Time for some more comics review.

Andy Capp

When the neighborhood kids erect a snowman depicting your drunkenness, it's probably time to quit drinking.

Betty

Looks like Bub is taking his son out to Hooters for some hot wings and chili cheese fries.

Bliss

This is like a person designing his house to look like a porta-potty. I don't understand the dog's motivation here. Does he intend to use this structure as a bathroom? Why am I questioning a t00l-weilding dog's motivation? Damn you, Bliss!

Off the Mark

Very nice wordless comic. Though how did the dog climb up on the counter while wearing that cone? When my cat had one, he was very clumsy and kept running into things.

In the Bleachers

Normally I don't much care for this comic, but I like the wordplay today.

In the Sticks

The beaver shouldn't be so happy about the bear's impossible wish. A wish that comes true is more likely to encourage him to keep making more wishes. Unless the bear is so stupid that he just keeps throwing money in, hoping that more will somehow help? Did I just describe someone with a gambling problem?

Okay, that's all for now. See you next week!

Read more...