The DCR: Funday Sunnies - 9/8/2013

by Hal Bent

Happy Sunday! Extra panels, color in print, and a big honking section in the Sunday (physical) paper. With the death of print news, I'm finally back in the game buying the Sunday paper again after oh so long letting it go. It's kind of odd seeing the comics in print after reading them online for so long. Just an observation. So without further ado, the Daily Comics Review:

9 Chickweed Lane by Brooke McEldowney:

This is entertaining in a "all politicians are scum" kind of way that McEldowney gets fired up about every once in a while. I approve. 

Adam@Home by Brian Basset:

Somedays you need to just throwaway the throwaway panels. Like the world needs a thorough close-up of Adam's giant nose snoring away? You know he's snoring. God, do we get a close-up of his back hair next week? Yuck!

Ziggy by Tom Wilson & Tom II & The Other Coast by Adrian Raeside:

Wait, if Zigs here were fly-fishing, he'd be depicted in hip waders in a river or stream and replicating the flies landing on or near the water, not a dead bug sitting at the bottom of the pond which was the situation is drawn as above.  He has the stereotypical hat with the flies attached, but is he so dumb he doesn't understand fly fishing?

See "The Other Coast", Tom & Tom? That's the way you do it. Ziggy gets shown up by other comics today! Yeehah!
And his boat is named "Rosebud"? Are we getting "Citizen Kane" references in Ziggy? Does Ziggy secretly love old movies? Is he a big Orson Wells fan (more than likely).
Forget it, what's important to remember is that even the animals detest Ziggy and find fault in everything he does.
Rose is Rose by Don Wimmer / Created by Pat Brady:

This comic is only entertaining when the husband checks out his mother-in-law and wished his wife was tubby like her. Seriously. Leaning against trees, taking out the trash and turning it into a spiritual experience, pretending to be a biker chick, talking in gibberish, that crap goes on all the time here in Rose is Rose, but when they get into the husband's deviant sexual side and inappropriate fantasies, then it gets interesting. Just saying. Sure, it is not going on here and is just boring as usual. I mean, this one is strip 8,452 about the cat sniffing that I can remember. Yup, big theme in this comic. Boo, get the comics back to deviant sexual thoughts already!


The Norm by Michael Jantze:
Funny, I didn't see anything that said "Joke recycled and NOT updated from 1996" anywhere on this comic. When was the last time anyone ever heard or used the exact phrase "CD-Rom" anyway? I mean, I know digital music was big only 15 years ago, but a nice generic office setup is ruined here. 

Boy, two straight days with the Norm...I'm watching you, Jantze!

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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!) 

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Cow belts and smashed thumbs

Happy Wednesday, everyone! Time for some more comics review. Also, after several weeks of laziness, I've updated my webcomic. Check it out if you like hedgehogs, are unemployed, or are just bored and aimlessly surfing the web.

Adam@Home

I always find it jarring when I see jokes about comics or cartoonists in the funny pages. The author is being a bit too self-referencial for my tastes. If you want to have an autobiographical strip, just go all out and do it. Adam doesn't appear to be in the comics business, so it's a bit weird for him to revere Calvin and Hobbes this much.

The Argyle Sweater

The gag is mildly amusing. But leather is made from actual cow skin. I don't think a belt made from shaved cow hair would work very well.

Boomerangs

The mom here may be right, but shoving a book in your daughter's face and saying, "See? This is what's wrong with you!" doesn't seem very respectful. Generally, it's a bad idea to bring up transference during an argument. I tried with my girlfriend one time and... well, let's just say a smashed thumb would have been a better outcome.

The Norm, 8/30/11

Ug. This strip is the equivalent of one those annoying television recap episodes. If a storyline needs this much infographics then perhaps it's a bit too complicated for a daily comic.

The Other Coast

This gag is a rip-off of Monty Python.

Ziggy

Look who's talking, barkeep! Though this being the Ziggy universe, that guy probably just doesn't like Ziggy and quickly made up some crap to keep him out.

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Mike P Returns Again

It's Thursday, so that means I'm here to give you mirth. You can check out the Meekrat Entertainment Group for more mirth, both comics related and not. Here is some comic related mirth.

Big Nate

I went to a city fair shortly after it had rained and a man running a rock climbing wall told me that, should I be able to climb it, he'd give me a large sum of money. I tried three times before I had to give up. Had the wall not been wet, I would have totally been able to do it, though. If there's one physical thing I'm good at, it's climbing.

Girls and Sports

She can probably hear you. She probably sincerely wants you to go away, but you're so desperate that you'll take any token interaction and milk it for all it's worth. We know you have some luck in this department, for some unknowable reason, so you really don't need to cling like this. Just accept that, like any right-minded person, she's totally uninterested in you and move on. Your friend has the right idea.

Moderately Confused

I sat here for a few minutes, reading and re-reading this panel because the words were in such a bizarre order that it just seemed so darn unnatural. Then it hit me: perhaps that's the joke. Unless the cartoonist just has something against jazz, which would make him the scourge of the 1930s.

The Other Coast

If those are the flavored kind (even just with some light honey) then the choice is clear. Heck, when the other choice is killing and eating your fellow human beings, you should be willing to choke down some granola and bran bars. Besides, I find it sort of dubious that a comic strip that's usually very vocal about being eco-friendly and all that would turn up its nose at granola bars.

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Otter Pun Day 2010, DCR-Style

Are you people excited? You OTTER be, because it's Otter Pun Day! Otter Pun Day is a day when words and phrases that sound like "otter" are replaced with the word "otter". I realize this really isn't a pun, but I don't really care what you think about this, and you OTTER let me have my fun. As for most holidays, I've complied every comic strip about Otter Pun Day to show to you. Here we go:

Time-Mind Sync-Warp
...
...
...
That's it. Just one, probably because Otter Pun Day is a holiday I made up last year, and Time-Mind Sync-Warp is... well, my comic. Well, now that I've OTTERly abused my position here, onward to actual comics reviewing! All comics are from today (January 8th, 2010)

6 Chix

That is one bold freakish potato-man. Any closer and his face will be right in them, and then they'll probably get kicked out the restaurant and the date will be OTTERly ruined. He OTTER try and contain his libido until later in the night.

Annie

For a while, Annie was devoid of the craziness that it contained the first few days that I did comics reviewing, but these past two weeks... I'm not sure if flesh-eating gas counts as crazy as much as it counts as very gruesome and grisly, and it looks like we'll get to see this man melt into a puddle. It OTTER be a fun time.

Beetle Bailey

I have a story concerning Beetle Bailey, but I shall save that for another time. For now, I will simply say that I don't think Sarge OTTER be letting random civilians into Camp Swampy based upon statements that they were once in the armed forces. I'm not certain, but I'm reasonably sure that it would be against regulations and several people would get into trouble over it.

Crock

I have seen and heard this joke about a million times, but until now, I wasn't sick of it. Now I am. You killed this joke for me, Crock. You OTTER be ashamed of yourself.

Henry

What the heck was Henry thinking, bringing a bunch of bees into a flower show? It's one thing if the bees were buzzing around a bunch of flowers, but to just go and bring in a freaking beehive? That's just insane, and while Henry isn't known for thinking things through, this is just above and beyond anything he's done in the past. He OTTER have given this plan a second thought.

New Adventures of Queen Victoria

Oddly enough, the final panel describes a good majority of the "New Adventures of Queen Victoria".

The OTTER... er... Other Coast

If the dog has no thumbs, then how was he able to turn on the TV in the first place? Or pick up the remote? Or hook up that box thing on top of the TV? These questions need answers.

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Scary Asian Man

My goodness, but it's Friday once again, and that means that... I'm posting again. No big deal, really. I have nothing to say today, really, and I'm wondering if I should even keep putting links to my site up. I mean, it's not like any of the other people who post here (or have posted here) have used this as a platform to promote their own stuff, so why should I keep doing it? Well, I will think about that. Check out the message boards, too! There's a link in the sidebar now! So there's no reason not to!

Cleats, 9/4/09

It's almost as if they anticipated that yesterday's strip would be greeted with... apprehension, and pre-emptively made a strip to apologize for it. Good for you, Cleats. Still, even with the "In five years or so" caveat, it's kind of creepy and a little gross.

B. C., 9/4/09

As we all know, this strip takes place in the post-apocalypse. However, they're using caveman tropes, and in everything from old Warner Brothers cartoons to "History of the World Part One", a caveman hitting a cavewoman over the head symbolizes marriage. So is that caveman claiming one of the only females left alive? What will happen to the delicate balance they've achieved? Will everything erupt into anarchy? I doubt we'll ever know the answers.

Heathcliff, 9/4/09

Sick of Heathcliff's nonsense, the very Spirit of America sends a bald eagle to take care of him. In the following weeks, expect a giant animated Statue of Liberty (controlled with an NES Advantage controller, possibly) to stomp Marmaduke into the ground and Uncle Sam to show Snuffy Smith what-for.

The Other Coast, 9/4/09

For one, unless you've recorded all those shows, only a few are going to be on at once. Two, I would totally watch a talk show whose guests were a jellyfish and a juggling spider. Also, it's not like they can't reuse guests... I've seen Norm Macdonald on talk shows about fifteen dozen times. Which isn't a bad thing, just saying that it's not like the guest well is going to run dry.

Mike Luckovich, 9/4/09

The Disney/Marvel deal is big enough to warrant political cartoons about it? Wow. I just hope we possibly get a new "Darkwing Duck" comic book out of it, really.

Secret Asian Man, 9/4/09

That's the scariest looking guy I've ever seen. Also, just because he doesn't know martial arts doesn't mean he couldn't be a ninja thug. It's called acting, after all.

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Saturday for Lovers

Despite what the title of this post implies, this is not a Saturday for lovers here at the DCR. Other places have that market cornered, so we'll just keep on doing what we do.

No Bryce this week so you get my own choices for the week's best(or is it worst?) comics.


Candorville 2/9/09Awesome. I hope to one day take someone camping in the wilderness and show them my knife collection at the campfire. I'll show them my suit made from human skin too. That's what I'm most proud of, it's really hard to keep that stuff from drying out inbetween murders/harvests.


Herb & Jamaal 2/9/09
Is that something people say? I might say there is nothing that looks good to me, but it's all worth eating.

So if he doesn't want to eat it, why doesn't he buy something and give it to the homeless guy?

Also, the homeless guy should get a new sign. In this economy, everyone wants work, even if it's not for food.


The Other Coast 2/13/09
Ah, I remember my days as a shark dentist. The digusting smell of rotting fish, salty taste of salt water, being disemboweled and eaten by a shark. Those were better times.


And where can you even get a seal-skin vest? Eskimos might have something like that, but they live far from shark waters.

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Short, Sweet Friday Comic Treats

This Friday I barely had time to rattle off this post. Or at least that's what I'm going to tell you all so you wont judge me as harshly for my half-assed work.

Sally Forth 1/9/09

Lets hear it for oblivious kids! And yes Hillary they get along just fine, IN MY BELLY!


Mary Worth 1/8/09

"You had to eat a human heart, otherwise you'd never have had enough strength."


Pluggers 1/8/09

Even the basement dungeon.


The Other Coast 1/8/09

"The market for pet cooking recipes is exploding."


Cul De Sac 1/8/09

It might not be a favorite of the other writers here on the DCR, but I love Cul De Sac. It makes me happy. Everybody have a fantastic weekend!

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Monday Comics to Take Your Soul

So even when there are strips I really like, my goal is going to be to still say something funny and demeaning about them. The people asked for blood and they must be satiated!

Dennis The Menace 9/29/08

That doesn't look like any baseball-sized dent to me, D was rollin around with his gat looking for Joey. That scrub knocked up his girl Margaret.


My Cage 9/29/08

It seems like the person you'd least like to talk to at work is always the one who is searching you out to converse about their boring-ass weekend. If anybody from my work is reading this then it's not you I'm talking about, I swear.


The Other Coast 9/29/08

Consider this my apology to everyone with a fat nest-egg saved up who was hoping to retire soon. This may be the only time being a recent college grad with just a little savings and a steady job is less stressful than being someone with a pension and a hefty 401K.


Pardon My Planet 9/29/08

What an ungrateful bitch.


Retail 9/29/08

Liberator.. liberator... whare do I recognize that from? Google search for "The Liberator" first result: "Liberator Shapes make your fantasy sexual positions a reality. Liberator Shape positions are the modern-day Kama Sutra. Go beyond the average sex toy." www.liberator.com/ no no no not safe for work! Now everybody else knows why I found this otherwise boring strip so entertaining. I know WAY too much about this shit.


Lio 9/29/08

Look it's the first time Lio hasn't been about monsters in 2 months!

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