Rap, Cinnamon, Video Cassettes, College, and Ziggy

The Elderberries by Corey Pandolph:

The Elderberries have decided to trot out a joke that wasn't funny when it emerged in popular culture in the mid-1980s (or 25 to 30 years ago, to drive home the point).  Since there are readers who probably weren't alive in 1985, a bit of history is necessary to understand just how unfunny this strip is to anyone under the age of 65.  See, in the early 80s, there was this music style called "rap" which consisted of urban minorities--much like with R&B, early rock'n'roll, and the blues--expressed their frustration of living in Ronald Reagan's America by expressing their frustration, anger, and insecurities in a spoken word style with a rhythmic background. As with all things involving minorities in those dark days, the privileged, financial kingpins were scared and confused by this lyric style and, after unsuccessfully trying to squash the movement, realized it could be exploited to make money. Now two rappers of note of the 1980's for their aggressive lyrics and striking fear into the establishment, Ice Cube and Ice-T, of them Ice Cube makes horrible family movies and lame beer commercials, and Ice-T stars in network police dramas and reality shows about his wife, just as an example. The music of an oppressed minority became a way for the establishment to make more money by exploiting stupid kids who think the music gives them some kind of credibility or makes them appear more dangerous.  That's why the horrible music that populates the radio station apps today is decried as terrible by anyone over 35 who actually remembers N.W.A., Public Enemy, the Fat Boys and Young MC. (OK, just because I lived through the time, doesn't mean I was cool enough to be involved in any way. I was rocking out to glam rock, commercial big hair radio ballads, and classic rock in the 1980's.)

So in the 1980's, it was considered high humor for about six minutes for elderly and non-minority people with no understanding of the music to write rhyming unfunny couplets and say they were a "rap group". Yes, this stopped being funny or humorous or sly in any way over 25 years ago.  


Frazz by Jef Mallett:

I wonder if the first draft of this comic had the boy in the final panel saying "I stood near a white person and didn't get jailed" and the editors sent it back for revision.  Because, really, it should have.  Also, my kids spill cinnamon all over the counter all the time. They make peanut butter, cinnamon, and honey sandwiches. I don't think I've ever put cinnamon on anything I've ever willingly made for myself (I liked my french toast plain back when I ate it--no cinnamon, no syrup, maybe a little butter). 

But, anyway, I'm hoping Frazz was struck down by censorship and didn't just wuss out from the start.


Grand Avenue by Steve Breen and Mike Thompson:

A video rental store?  Seriously? In 2013? Draw Red Box or something. Pretend this takes place in the 21st century, please.  Draw the kids sitting on the couch holding blu-rays or dvds, or have NetFlix. It can be done creatively with the art work as well: Purple Box instead of Red Box (hah, a visual gag as well as the predictable, unfunny gag) or some play on words with NetFlix.  This is another lazy concept.  May as well draw the kids sitting in front of a giant, 1950s black and white TV with a 6 inch screen and argue about watching Mr. Ed and the Lone Ranger for all the cultural significance of a video rental store in 2013. Grrrrrrrrr.


Luann by Greg Evans:

Yes, remember this lesson, teens: Your parents are horrible creatures who will force their ideologies and views upon you and deny your wants as an adult in order to please themselves.  Of course, she does not see option three: go to college, work and pay your way through without burdening your parents with insane debt, land a job, get married, and raise children.  Why is this an either/or?  Why does her degree say PhD? That's not "a degree" that's three degrees: B.A. or B.S; M.A. or M.S.; and PhD.  So she is going to sponge off her loser parents until her 30s or marry a tool and have kids and not work or go to school or training? This comic is really starting to tick me off today. 


Ziggy by Tom Wilson & Tom II

Why does Ziggy have so many zucchini? He's not eating them apparently, so there must be a reason.  Also, he put on pants for when the pest control guy showed up, which is kind of out-of-character for Ziggy, showing an awareness and shame.  Does he feel shame over all these zucchini all over his house?  Why would there be such shame? Do you think Ziggy uses the zucchini for...GROSS!  Ziggy has no computer so he has to randomly invite blue collar workers to try and entice them into his sick and twisted sex life (just use the internet and go on Craigslist like everyone else, Zig!). Poor, Ziggy, look at that look as he gets rejected again. 

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Herding Cats

Arlo and Janis

Congratulations Arlo!  You've successfully herded a single cat straight to his food dish.

The Barn

Pork Bellies are down?  How can that be?  They're delicious!  I'm sure it's just a temporary blip in an otherwise upward trend.

Betty

And it's hard to feel ridiculous when you're doing what 9 out of 10 people on their lunch breaks do.  The man in the orange shirt isn't looking over at Betty because he is silently judging her; rather, he is jealous of her download speeds and wishes he was watching TV on his phone instead of being stuck a boring conversation with his hipster acquaintance.

The Flying McCoy's

He also gets to have his arms violently ripped from their sockets.

Frazz

I'm not sure why the teacher would be thanking Caulfield for being very rude in class.  Perhaps she is preemptively thanking him for setting up Frazz's witty punchline in panel three.

Herb and Jamaal

Apparently, Herb enjoys being a dick to complete strangers.  Run away Herb!  They may be lost, but I bet they can find their way back to that corner to kick your ass.

Rubes

This comic is funny because it depicts a doctor about to beat a poor apple vendor to death with a baseball bat.  Yes, the physician will be kept away—kept (locked) away for a long, long time.

Ziggy

"I'm the star of this comic strip! Got it?!  If anyone is going to be fat and lazy it's me!"

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Colonel Punishment and the Zombie Invasion

Peter here again, bringing you more comics review for Wednesday.

The Argyle Sweater

Just two weeks ago another comic made a joke about cannibalistic birds and KFC. Today's comic is a bit more disturbing as these parent chickens seem prepared to make their son sit in a bucket filled (or a least dirtied) with the remains of other chickens. I like how the mama-chicken, "Martha", verbally objects to her husband's cruel punishment, yet already has the bucket out and ready.

Arlo and Janis

The slow drifting apart of a once happily married couple: comedy gold, everybody!

The Flying McCoys

I sense some bitterness coming from that police dog. Sounds like that guy dumped him at the pound for his wild, car-chasing behavior.

Frazz

I like how Frazz just casually stands by while this young student so brazenly cheats. I guess it's only the teacher's job to encourage learning.

Free Range

The Eiffel Tower is upside down. Plus the construction guy has a French accent. Yes, this comic was created by a professional cartoonist.

Betty

Overboard

Looks like the zombie invasion has spread to the comics page! By this time next week the undead will be the source of bad jokes and lame punchlines for nearly all the comics. See you then!

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The Monster at the End of This Post

It's Saturday and I actually had some time today to go through some of today's comics and make a post. Also, join me on Twitter and take a look at my site that I actually seem to update everyday. Onto the comics and there's an announcement at the bottom that you may or may not like.

I'm going to start today's post with something I never thought would happen...

Dinette Set

Today's Dinette Set actually made me laugh.

Ziggy

Ziggy is going to take a page from the Jim Davis book of cartooning and introduce a little chick for Ziggy to hang around with a la Orson and Booker from U.S. Acres.

Pearls Before Swine

To be honest, I don't think Alice would be a fan of the Keane children.

Frazz

Did Mallett accidentally leave out the word tails or does Jef feel like he's important enough to change the rules of how to layout a comic strip. Bill Watterson was able to do it because he was Bill @%!!ing Watterson. Jef Mallett is not Bill Watterson.

Marmaduke

Eva Braun is willing to have Marmaduke rip her arm off just so she can have a cell phone glued to her ear. First world problems.

Rubes

Did she kill Al or did he die naturally (of an anger induced heart attack judging by the look permanently on his face?)

The Born Loser

Sweetest Day is a made-up celebration mainly observed in the Great Lakes Region of the Midwest. It was created by confectioners in Cleveland on 1922 because there apparently was a need for more pointless days to give trinkets, candy and flowers to a loved one. Also, Brutus does not know his own wife of Xty-five years.

And the announcement:  This will be my last DCR post. I've been a part of the DCR for a long time and I have enjoyed showcasing both good and bad comic strips to the readers here and hanging out with the other posters in cyberspace. I will still be active on my own site so please feel free to go over there every day and see what's going on. And with that...my last comic.

Scary Gary

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Bad Pun Wednesday

Hello. Peter here again for your Wednesday comics review.

Flo and Friends

Larry's smirk in the second panel suggests he is way too amused with himself for making this horrible, horrible pun. Or maybe "logging" is slang for some obscure fetish involving firewood, and Larry is smiling lustfully with anticipation for the quickly approaching fall and winter.

F Minus

Ha! It's funny because the father of the bride is rather sexist and equates his daughter to old magazines.

Frazz

Haha! Cute joke about the classic peas-peace mixup... oh wait, this strip just turned preachy. Damn you, Frazz!

Get Fuzzy

There have been jokes in this strip before about how Satchel will eat anything. I mean anything, shit off the ground, dead things, I think a hammer once. So it's a bit weird that he's suddenly gotten rather picky over Bucky's fish flavored concoctions.

Drabble

Ug... this has been a day for terrible puns.

The Grizzwells

I thought I'd end today with a poop joke. Enjoy!

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Revisiting Old Foes... but not really.

Meekrat is here again, and soon I will have things to promote again! MWA HA HA! For now, just read these reviews.


Pearls Before Swine

First off, Stephan Pastis is doing a reader interaction thing. There's no voting thing on his Facebook page yet, but soon, maybe? I wonder if the strip actually takes place in Pearlswood, though. Also, there's a Neighbor Bob AND a Bob and Patty? Methinks one of those Bobs needs to be taken out.

Frazz

You're not British, Frazz. Don't call it a loo.

Frank and Ernest

Frank and Ernest have a serious problem if, upon discovering the Lost Continent of Atlantis, their first instinct is to make a pun about a letter that has fallen off the sign.

Alley Oop

I just wanted to point out that guy in the second panel. Not many of these people have realistic body structures, but look at that guy. He has a tiny head and his body is all lumpy.

For Heaven's Sake

I guess this was a weekly thing or something. It's worth noting that the character in the second panel looks just as surprised at the terribleness of the joke as I was. I'm sure this won't be the last time we see this strip here on Mondays, as it's replaced "Girls and Sports" as my most hated strip, especially since that strip is gone now. Looking at that made me nostalgic for my old enemies, like The Brilliant Mind of Edison Lee and the strips I used to blog about on my own time. Out of all of them, only The Phantom was interesting at all:

Not bad, but hey, luchadores. That's worth noting.

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Fridays Just Got Slightly Better

It's Brian, now on Fridays and Saturdays for your enjoyment*. I actually happen to have a lot of strips for you today so let's get on it.

Big Nate

I get Nate's frustration with these Cheez Doodles. I consider myself a baked cheese cracker connoisseur (although I get the feeling these Doodles and Weezies are more like Cheetos) and I can tell you that Cheez-Its are more salty while Cheese Nips are more cheesy. To get a good mix you usually have to go to a generic brand but then you risk the chance that the crackers taste like the box they come in.

Adam@Home

Does anyone else get tired of the coffee jokes in this strip? I know I do.

Dick Tracy

I really like the art on Dick Tracy now especially since the last artist couldn't draw his way out of a paper bag because his paper bags looked like hands. When I heard Joe Staton was taking over I was excited because that's an artist I know. I know him best from his work on DC's Guy Gardner. There was a time where you couldn't see Guy Gardner without Staton's signature.

Birdbrains

That man actually looks like he's about to have an Alien burst out of his chest. But what do I know? I, too, am a spectator.

Arlo and Janis

Wait--What? Ew.

Frazz

For my new job I now have to wear shorts or I will die of heat exhaustion and I can tell you right now that I hate it. My once soft, milky-white legs are now cut, scrapped, dirty and bug bitten. I hate wearing shorts. Fun fact: Before now, I haven't worn shorts since 2005 when I was trying to impress a girl.**

Drabble

Drabble should lift with his legs...and get closer to the box...and pick up the box from the bottom...or do a "team lift"...




*Enjoyment not guaranteed.
**Sidenote: Mission accomplished.

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Head In The Clouds

I mentioned I would be away, and I am. I am posting this in advance. If I did it right, you're seeing this on Tuesday. If not, I am either talking to myself or wondering what the hell this is doing up there today.

Whatever.

Here's a quick synchronicity to-fer.

Cul de Sac, June 19, 2011

Richard Thompson won the Reuben Award for Cul de Sac last month. It was well-deserved.

Frazz, June 19 2011

Frazz didn't win any awards this year. According to its wikipedia entry it has previously won the "2003 and 2005 Wilbur Award for Promoting Ethics and Positive Values." I am not familiar with the awards, but I am familiar with Frazz's holier-than-thou attitude and am sure they were well-deserved also.

Both strips are about cloud watching.

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