I posted a comment on an article about Beetle Bailey's 60th anniversary where they compare Mort Walker and his strip to Charles Schulz and Peanuts. I commented that, like Jim Davis, Walker uses a "corporation" to produce his strips unlike Schulz who did everything himself. I want to apologize for that as Walker does not use a corporation to create Beetle Bailey. He, his sons and Jerry Dumas meet once a week to discuss the strip then they go play golf. Does Walker touch his strip anymore? Probably not except to sign them in the corner. Anyway, here's today's strip:

Beetle Bailey 9/5/10

It's really amazing how different the strip looks now. In the article I commented on, someone said that Walker needs to update the strip--basically not show Sarge pounding Beetle into a bloody pulp. Really? That's what you would update? Not, you know, sending them to war or hell even a base in Germany would at least be a step closer to relevancy.

Drabble 9/5/10

For once, I was right there with him. Until I noticed that he has a squeeze bottle of ketchup in his pants.That is ketchup right?

Mary Worth 9/5/10

"I will spend the rest of my days going bar to bar trying to find out who killed Richie, just like my father."

Slylock Fox and Comics for Kids 9/5/10

Slylock, the most unAmerican fox ever known, blatantly accuses the majestic eagle of thievery even though the ostrich and penguin worked together. The eagle doesn't want that stupid tricycle, he just wants his country back.

Lola 9/5/10

I'm fairly certain "It's a Small World (After All)" is a copyrighted song and very expensive so I doubt ice cream trucks could use. I usually hear them playing "Pop Goes the Weasel", "Mulberry Bush" and occasionally "Turkey In the Straw". If anyone has heard an ice cream truck play "It's a Small World" let me know in the comments.

Broom Hilda 9/5/10

First, that seems like an awful lot of headache inducing just to get a child to go the bed. Second, why would anybody buy a book from someone named Broom Hilda?

Reynolds Unwrapped 9/5/10

This is perhaps one of the most insulting comic strips I have seen in a long time. Mr Reynolds, you shame me.

Todd the Dinosaur 9/5/10

Technically, watching the news on PBS is like listening to NPR--it's informative and to the point and bordering on dry. But if the kids these days actually got their news from PBS or NPR, this world would be a better and more informed place.

Panel from Grin and Bear It 9/5/10

Look, kids, it's the 21st Century and it's 2010. We don't care that you are gay. You can quit hiding it.

Ask Shagg 9/5/10

I hate Ask Shagg and I bet you a dollar that somewhere there will be a kid who tells their teacher that they learned about vasserlines over the weekend.

Nancy 9/5/10

I really have nothing to say about today's Nancy but I do want to point you to this site. I knew there were people who believe that we didn't land on the Moon but people who actually believe the Moon doesn't exist? That's...I don't know what. What I like is that their "reward" for proof the Moon does exist is a paltry $100,000 and it has to be conclusive physical proof--sent by email.

I would almost go as far to say the site is a joke but considering there are people thinking the President of the United States wants to bring down the country I don't know what to think anymore.

The Born Loser 9/5/10

I'm pretty sure the Thornapples have taken a vacation this year but I'm not in the mood to search through my site to find out. But please, feel free to do it yourself. I love how Brutus has decided to take his family on vacation after Wilberforce has already started school.

Read more...

The week begins, and how better to begin your week than with Arkholt giving you some moderately amusing comic blurbs?

Grin and Bear It:

What Senator Snort doesn't realize is that gravy trains can be retrofitted to run solely on gravy.  No need for a battery even.  It's a proven fact that gravy produces electricity when given the right motivation.  Unfortunately, no one knows yet what exactly that motivation is.  More study is needed.

Moose and Molly:

If he moved, and the building's being demolished, you think they'd remove the sign and the doorway.  If I was the big guy with the hat, I'd take the sign home and hang it on the front of my house so people thought I was an eye doctor.  I may have to do an actual eye exam or two to keep up the ruse, but how hard is it to shine a light in someone's eyes?

Bizarro:

Last time I did a Bizarro panel I made a fool of myself by not knowing about the hidden "symbols." I don't read Bizarro that much...  This one caught my eye, though.  I get the point, but here's my question: Where does the power cord for the projector go?  That's not easily answered by posting a Wikipedia link, unlike my previous Bizarro question.

Crock:

"Have you ever been...?" Does this imply that it's just around somewhere and you can get on if you want?  It appears you can only go on if you have a counterpart of the opposite gender with you.  Is this some side business that Noah is running?  Also, what's with the tent/igloo made of sand?  I guess it must stay cool in there.

Ollie and Quentin:

Not men, but in fact barbershop singing worms.  They could have been a quartet, but the other worm didn't feel like joining in, I guess.  Perhaps they'll fall into a pond and be some lucky fish's lunch.

Read more...

Choose Your Own Commentary!

CHOOSE YOUR OWN COMMENTARY! The first two strips have multiple commentaries. You can read just one, or read them all! Or none of them, because this is so horribly late because I completely forgot about it.

Grin and Bear It

A) You know what's almost as old as that Colosseum? Jokes about vuvuzelas.
B) Yes, because I'm sure that a structure which has been around since 80AD would be put down by annoying noises. If all Roman structures had this flaw, then the first thing I'm doing when they invent time machines is go back to ancient Rome with a few kazoos. I'll be their emperor before long!

Off the Mark

A) I remember "Dilbert" having a punchline which featured Dilbert dressed as Dungbeetleman. Not saying this strip stole that, just that hey, dung beetle jokes.
B) One would have to assume that Dungbeetleman would have super-powers along the lines of the Prince from the "Katamari" games.
C) This is the second panel featuring super-heroes in as many days from "Off the Mark". I wonder if this trend will continue, or this was just a brief hiccup.

The Phantom

This storyline was supposed to last well into next year, but I guess it's either wrapping up or the Phantom will find and rescue Diana and then there'll be some more stuff about him tracking down the Python. In the old Disney Comics "DuckTales" comic, they had something similar, except replace "Phantom" with "Uncle Scrooge", "Diana" with "Webby", and the "Python" with "Magica DeSpell".

Read more...

A Bountiful Harvest

Today, the comic strip harvest is bountiful, as is the bounty everywhere else. Carafe has two new comics since last week, as does Time-Mind Sync-Warp. You can also check out my new-ish project (with comics from over a year ago) at Retro AoMP. And, while I'm only doing weekly comic strip commentary at the Meekrat Entertainment Group, there's still a wealth of new stuff for you to read and participate in. Now then, on with the commentary:

Rhymes with Orange, 3/25/10

One time, a gang-banger assaulted me because I said that "Rhymes with Orange" sucked. I still don't think it's the best comic, but I liked this one. I can easily see later Golden Age/Silver Age Superman doing this. I especially like the first little panel, where Superman tells the guy that next, they'll go tubing.

Mark Trail, 3/25/10

I try not to comment on soap strips. Josh Fruhlinger has them pretty much covered, and each one has their own separate blog. I'd be remiss if I didn't point out the second panel, where it appears that a giant duck is flying head-first towards the nefarious Parker Brothers.

Grin and Bear It, 3/25/10

Why do you need to be told about Massachusetts?

Flight Deck, 3/25/10

It's been years since I had cable, but if I recall correctly, the Playboy Channel is also a Pay-Per-View channel. Which means that most people (save for people who really really want to see soft-core pornography) would probably watch the Food Channel instead of the Playboy Channel.

BC, 3/25/10

This comic made me hungry for rice cakes. Not the diet ones, though. The white cheddar ones. Those are delicious.

Adam@Home, 3/25/10

There's these laser washes around here. For some reason, going through them brings me an immense amount of glee. The other ones, though, where you have to get out of the car? Or even non laser washes? Not nearly as much glee. Probably has to do with the lasers.

Today's post was brought to you by the letter "F", because it's rather needy. If you'd like to sponsor a post, contact us somehow. My e-mail address is meekrateg@gmail.com, so perhaps use that?

Read more...

Lazy Saturday Comics

The Argyle Sweater 10/11/08

Violating housing and building codes will be the least of the witches' worries when they find out why none of those kids have come out yet.

Strange Brew 10/11/08


Grin and Bear It 10/11/08

I'm a fan of bag ladies.

My Cage 10/11/08

Just get back in the drive-thru lane and complain through the window. That's what I do.

Rhymes With Orange 10/11/08

Old ladies are mentally insane.

Saggy Nutbag 10/11/08

I've seen shirts with menoras on them but do they really make shirts that say "Hitler Rules"? I'm pretty sure you'd have to have it specially made then have to find a place who'd be willing to make it.

Read more...