The Comics Curmudgeon

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Adventures in metaboring

Shoe, 10/26/08

Sunday’s Shoe has discovered the ultimate recipe for hilarity: have a bunch of characters, most of whom you’ve never met before and have no attachment to, sitting around telling tedious jokes about how boring they are. In the gut-busting climax, the Perfesser tells a joke that’s both boring and ancient; ironically, the syndicate seems to have demanded that the awkward phrase “in eminent danger” replace the more obvious and straightforward “dying,” thus making the gag even duller.

By the way, I shaved the initial panels off of the shockingly huge Sunday Shoe graphic, because they were even less interesting than the ones you see here.

Mary Worth, 10/26/08

Speaking as a connoisseur, this is an extremely satisfying Mary Worth, combining as it does fan favorites (random, rambling platitude-laden thought ballooning) and exciting new elements (laughable fantasy skating action). Mary’s “ocean wave” riff is echoed by the oddly shaped clouds out her window; it’s possible that those are actual ocean waves, and her plane is about to plow into the sea and deliver her to her watery grave, but that’s probably asking too much.

Slylock Fox, 10/26/08

I actually agree that Rachel Rabbit’s accusation is ridiculous. It’s obvious that any attempt on Reeky’s part at electrical work more complex than plugging in a hot plate would result in his immediate painful and high-voltage death.

Panel from Rex Morgan, M.D., 10/26/08

Yes, of course he is, dear.

This entry was posted on Sunday, October 26, 2008 at 10:41 pm and is filed under Mary Worth, Rex Morgan, M.D., Shoe, Slylock Fox.

178 responses to “Adventures in metaboring”

Mr. Stever
October 26th, 2008 at 10:42 pm [Reply]

I find this article amusing.
Stroker Ace
October 26th, 2008 at 10:44 pm [Reply]

MW ~ If there is a God… Buddy Holly & The Big Bopper are sitting beside Mary.
nsr
October 26th, 2008 at 10:46 pm [Reply]

I think the Perfesser means “imminent” danger. Eminent, he’s not.
jvwalt
October 26th, 2008 at 10:48 pm [Reply]

Can you imagine a fate worse than getting the seat next to Mary Worth on a cross-continent flight? Look at the brunette: to judge by the look on her face, she’s already gotten an earful of platitudes and is either desperately trying to get the flight attendant to hurry up with the liquor cart, or gazing longingly out the opposite window, dreaming of a mad dash for the emergency exit and a short plunge to sweet oblivion.
Digger
October 26th, 2008 at 10:50 pm [Reply]

I saw that panel from Rex Morgan this morning and knew it would be here.

Now’s your chance, Dr. Jeff. Get on the first plane you can find and get the hell out of there before Mary can find out you’re gone.
Dingo
October 26th, 2008 at 10:55 pm [Reply]

Though balloons, Josh? Yes, Mary is prone to “although…” asides but…

Rex Morgan hasn’t ground this much since his stint as a prison orderly.
Erik
October 26th, 2008 at 10:55 pm [Reply]

Naturally, Mary requested – nay, required – that she get the seat closest to the cockpit. That will make the subsequent hijacking of the plane a little easier.
LTBF
October 26th, 2008 at 10:58 pm [Reply]

I love Shoe passed out in the first panel.

The Sunday puns in Pearls are starting to get old.
LTBF
October 26th, 2008 at 11:01 pm [Reply]

Can someone tell me the answer to the Skylox mystery, please?
Lithros
October 26th, 2008 at 11:01 pm [Reply]

Anthropomorphic animals going to a pizza parlor to drink and reflect on their horrible lives? What is this, Pluggers?
Beatrice
October 26th, 2008 at 11:06 pm [Reply]

Shoe: The syndicate might have substituted “imminent danger” for “eminent danger” while they were at it.

MW: I doubt Lynn has much of a chance at figure skating, since she appears to have already developed a figure. Expect helpful advice from Mary on breast-binding and hormone-suppression techniques.
Carly
October 26th, 2008 at 11:07 pm [Reply]

My friend just showed me a Velveeta package labeled with “for people who like food.” I want to know if Velveeta hired the author of H&J to do its advertising.

Also…”Lake Tranquility”? Why can’t we say Lake Placid? Geez. No one’s going to sue you for mentioning Lake Placid, MW.

Does Reeky always have pink hair or is he wearing a wig? I’m oddly charmed at the idea of him wearing a wig.
winky
October 26th, 2008 at 11:14 pm [Reply]

i almost care enough about mary worth to comment on the difference between “imminent” and “eminent”… but i think i’ll clean my toenails instead. but now i’ve got to find one of those fingernail clipper thingies. ah forget it, i’ll comment on mary worth instead.
Muffaroo
October 26th, 2008 at 11:14 pm [Reply]

MWorth – Actually, the clouds are barfing. Apparently they can hear thoughts. Who knew?

I always thought the mistress of mental explanations was Supergirl, who would not only explain the super feat she was engaging in, she would even speculate on what people would think of it, years later. I can understand why “Not Brand Echh” once had an explanatory arrow text in a Superman take-off that said “Note to dull-witted readers: This is the villain!”
underwhelm
October 26th, 2008 at 11:16 pm [Reply]

Among the many reasons I love this blog, Josh has attracted such a literate readership that any plain linguistic errors in the comics that I notice have already been commented upon before I get a chance.
Skullturf Q. Beavispants
October 26th, 2008 at 11:17 pm [Reply]

9 LTBF –

The solution is that Slylock tells Rachel to shut off her home’s main power switch.

Is it just me, or does this particular Slylock mystery seem to lack the “twist” or element of surprise that a lot of them have?
kelsy
October 26th, 2008 at 11:18 pm [Reply]

Can I tell you how delighted I am that Reeky Rat is watching Cops with a piece of days old cake on top of the television. It’s just so…fitting.
Judo Throw Toy
October 26th, 2008 at 11:21 pm [Reply]

I’m so boring, I stayed up past 11 pm just so I could read the Comics Curmudgeon.
Wasabi Jane
October 26th, 2008 at 11:23 pm [Reply]

#3 nsr Maybe the Professor means if he’s ever in danger of becoming an eminent figure in Shoe-land, somebody else’s life will flash before his eyes, making him realize that his life is a lie and he’ll never amount to anything.
LTBF
October 26th, 2008 at 11:25 pm [Reply]

The mouse on the headboard in six differances looks like Rat from Pearls.
Angevon
October 26th, 2008 at 11:25 pm [Reply]

I love how there’s a hole in the chair for Reeky’s tail.
Beatrice
October 26th, 2008 at 11:38 pm [Reply]

Angevon, Reeky Rat wears a pink mullet and keeps a snake as a pet. He’s wasted on this strip. A rat with those cojones should be the next Bond villain.
bats :[
October 26th, 2008 at 11:39 pm [Reply]

YY-some number. Red Greenback: Dang! Having Mary Worth rickrolled was a gem in its simplicity. On the other hand, my sinuses are so shot, and the meds are so not working, that my efforts just turned Sissyfussian. You might want to click on my name to see what is hopefully a larger, more legible version. Or not.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9545446@N07/2977234550/sizes/l/

Eh. Mary’s a bitch. I’d rather play with the Three Caballeros (Rex, Sam and Mark)…
Angry Kem
October 26th, 2008 at 11:40 pm [Reply]

How the hell does something like “eminent danger” get past the bloody editors? Does anyone bother to read these comics beforehand? Yes, it would be a horrible, horrible job, but surely there’s some poor university-educated schmuck in the mail room who would jump at the chance for some extra hours of tedious work.

GET A DICTIONARY, IDIOT SHOE CARTOONIST. I AM MARKING AND HAVE NO TOLERANCE FOR STUPID MISTAKES.
fishmorgjp
October 26th, 2008 at 11:43 pm [Reply]

Huh? I thought that was some kind of 2-headed flying snail creature flying by Mary’s plane…
odinthor
October 26th, 2008 at 11:46 pm [Reply]

Yesterthread* #16. Erik.

What Jeff doesn’t know is that in the last couple years, the amount of swallows returning to Capistrano has drastically decreased, due to climate change and the subsequent migration difficulties.

That, and the fact that, because people in houses tend to pay lots more scrumptuous taxes than do not-very-affluent bean plants quietly growing in nice rows and minding their own business, the city of San Juan Capistrano in its wisdom rezoned most of the local farm fields as residential areas, depriving the swallows of their meals of the tasty insects which used to dine on the crops. Cuz, you see, the swallows don’t zackly come back to Capistrano just to enjoy the mission docent tours and delightful old California atmosphere—they also come back for the free yum-yums hopping and flying around.

*Yesterthread: Was in “eminent” danger, so another thread passed before our eyes.
BigTed
October 26th, 2008 at 11:46 pm [Reply]

The writer of “Shoe” doesn’t seem to know what “put to sleep” means in the context of unwanted animals at the pound. But I don’t have the heart to tell him. They’re, um, just napping, okay?
BigTed
October 26th, 2008 at 11:55 pm [Reply]

In addition to being all poetic and metaphorical, Mary’s thoughts contain so much exposition that it doesn’t matter how seldom anyone reads the strip. Maybe I’ll catch up with it again in a month or so, when she’s flying back home and thinking, “What an adventure that was with my old friend Frank and his daughter Lynn. Who’d have thought I’d have to rescue her from a rival skater with a tire iron, and then end up doing him in a Zamboni? Life floats by like fluffy clouds.”
Red Greenback
October 27th, 2008 at 12:04 am [Reply]

SFx: The pumpkin kid in 1 and 2 is flying high on psilocybin. In 3, he’s blowing his mind out on ayahuasca.
Angry Kem
October 27th, 2008 at 12:06 am [Reply]

#27 BigTed: Actually, I think the anonymous Shoe birdy knows perfectly well what “put to sleep” means (the phrase “unwanted animals” kind of gives it away). Shoe is thus both stupid and callous. Who knew?
Lesser Whark
October 27th, 2008 at 12:13 am [Reply]

MW: Panel 3 has the most shameless exposition I’ve ever seen. Yes, it’s worse than those films where scientists helpfully recite their experimental plans into a tape recorder just before opening a rift into the elemental plane of fluorine.

Also, ocean waves don’t progress anywhere – they go up and down. If it flows, it’s current. It it ebbs, it’s a tide. Remember, Mary: before deploying platitudes in future, make sure they still make sense when you’re sober.

In our next episode, we’ll ask where in the the would a desert contain both saguaro cacti and Bedouin. Don’t wait up…
Anonymous
October 27th, 2008 at 12:21 am [Reply]

Ok, in the next panel Mary is going to tell the captain she speaks jive, right?
docweasel
October 27th, 2008 at 12:21 am [Reply]

Ok, in the next panel Mary is going to tell the captain she speaks jive, right?
Gallowglass
October 27th, 2008 at 12:31 am [Reply]

Mary’s taking her show on the road! Whoo! It’ll be like “Road Trip” meets “The Antiques Road Show”!
Gallowglass
October 27th, 2008 at 12:31 am [Reply]

Mary’s taking her show on the road! Whoo! It’ll be like “Road Trip” meets “The Antiques Road Show”!
Poteet
October 27th, 2008 at 12:35 am [Reply]

MW — Note the morose look on Mary’s face. She’s thinking about the very strong meddling that will be required if the father and daughter turn out to be reasonably happy.
Wally Ballou
October 27th, 2008 at 12:35 am [Reply]

Cute Schulz homage in “Li?” today.
Wally Ballou
October 27th, 2008 at 12:36 am [Reply]

^^^ Er, that’s “Lio”, not “Li?”.
Dingo
October 27th, 2008 at 12:39 am [Reply]

Reading Mary Worth is like watching CSI: the most mundane tasks in the world must – MUST – be given the exposition of a Tolstoy novel. “I shall board this plane by walking down a moving sidewalk in the airport.” “I shall bring Frank Griffin to the error of his ways by helping his daughter run away with her motorycle ridin’ bikerboy.” “I shall write myself a note using a pencil, a device made of wood containing lead that leaves a mark on paper.”
Batman Beatles
October 27th, 2008 at 12:40 am [Reply]

MW – I think the passenger next to her is about to hang herself.

Foob – Elly, take a chill pill.
skullcrusherjones
October 27th, 2008 at 12:48 am [Reply]

Aren’t the characters in Shoe animals? Does this mean the balding bird with the cardigan is droning executioner? Even I find that cruel and I live in Texas!
Red Greenback
October 27th, 2008 at 12:55 am [Reply]

MW:
-Panel 3: “I’m off to Lake Tranquil’s Skating Center to visit my old friend Frank.”
-Panel 4: “Because, because, because, because, because.”
-Panel 5: “Because of the wonderful things he does!”
Some Guy Here
October 27th, 2008 at 12:58 am [Reply]

Anthropomorphic animals going to a pizza parlor to drink and reflect on their horrible lives? What is this, Pluggers?

Comment of the Week
Anonymous
October 27th, 2008 at 1:08 am [Reply]

Telling from monday’s comic, Luann is steadily becoming a race to see which couple will not have sex first.
Ridureyu
October 27th, 2008 at 1:09 am [Reply]

You bet your daddy’s grinding! He’s been at it for three hours, and that darn dragon STILL hasn’t dropped his +5 flaming sword!
Bloody Bitch
October 27th, 2008 at 1:10 am [Reply]

True to character, Reeky Rat masturbates to the tune of junk food and blisteringly dull petty crime. Imagine if all comics characters followed this same logic. Anytime Dr. Jeff and Mary feel frisky, they can switch to a rerun of “As Time Goes By.”
LoFoMoFo
October 27th, 2008 at 1:13 am [Reply]

MW: Ahh, I love it when our comic friends take an airplane trip. I can remember years ago when Abby went on trip to see her friend Trudi in California. She traveled on a plane with seats that looked like Barco Loungers and windows sized to match. Now Mary finds herself flying on what appears to be an L1011, long abandoned by domestic carriers and most likely in the fleet of a Uraguay budget airline. She must feel right at home since they chose a seat fabric that matches the hideous color on the walls of her Charterstone condo.
bats :[
October 27th, 2008 at 1:18 am [Reply]

Monday, Bloody ~~Mary~~ Monday:

RMMD: woohooooooo! Thrills and chills!

FOOBlite: ohpleaseohpleaseohplease.

Cul de Sac: I love this little girl; she has the right idea about bats.
Chairman Roflmao
October 27th, 2008 at 1:30 am [Reply]

I don’t know, I kind of like the idea that the second, um, duck is so boring that an animal would literally rather commit suicide than listen to him for one more minute. Also, the entire concept of three ducks sitting around an apparently abandoned “pizza shak” listlessly arguing about who is the least interesting while they stew in their own self-loathing and heavy-lidded despair brings joy to my heart. So sue me.
IronMouse
October 27th, 2008 at 1:36 am [Reply]

Yes, Jeff, Mary will be back before you know it…and when you least expect it.

But don’t worry, until she is back the GPS tracker she had implanted in you will help her monitor your movements and all those cameras will help keep an eye on you. And just ignore the shock collar, Mary will only use it if you get out of line or, God forbid, start thinking independently
Spiro Agnew
October 27th, 2008 at 1:40 am [Reply]

Give Reeky a break. It’s not everyday he gets to watch himself on TV.
anon
October 27th, 2008 at 1:43 am [Reply]

When did Shoe start featuring duck billed humans? *shudder*
Nurse with a penis
October 27th, 2008 at 2:04 am [Reply]

MW -MONDAY- Anyboy who is Mary’s age and has YELLOW HAIR, and figure skates is GAY. Believe me, I am quite familiar with
GAY. It doesn’t mean anything that Frank has a daughter, my partner has a daughter. I would love Giella and Moy forever if they reveal that Mary is Frank Griffin’s fag hag.
Red Greenback
October 27th, 2008 at 2:05 am [Reply]

I first (mis)read the title of this thread as: “Adventures in meatboring” and then I was all like: “no way!”
Joshua
October 27th, 2008 at 2:13 am [Reply]

#16 Skullturf: You’re right. Usually the solution to a Slylock Fox mystery requires at least a little bit more thinking than this one.
Nurse with a penis
October 27th, 2008 at 2:16 am [Reply]

48 bats :[ Thanks for pointing us to Cul De Sac. Made me laugh.
jukeman
October 27th, 2008 at 2:28 am [Reply]

Slylock Fox, if Reeky put the “splitter” in after the meter and before the main house breaker the power is not going to go out. Meters are always sealed so only the Electric Co. can turn it off. Also no one makes a “Splitter” to do this, but one could “splice in” or “tap in”, Of course, Reeky would almost certainly be fried if he tried. If he’s that good with electricity, why not just take it of the electric pole?
texas buddha
October 27th, 2008 at 2:31 am [Reply]

Hey all,

Hope everybody had a good weekend.

I just posted the New World Order Family Circus version of the bandaged Jeffy cartoon, and I have to say somebody please call CPS on his conspiracy-crazy fundy-religious kook parents before there is a terrible tragedy. I feel bad for the kid.

Also, a couple of fresh chemtrail photos are up (I’m pretty pleased with the newest one) as well as a little article about the official Al Qaeda endorsement John McCain picked up last week.

Enjoy!

http://texasbuddha.wordpress.com/
Red Greenback
October 27th, 2008 at 2:33 am [Reply]

MW: Dear Karen Moy, Ohpleaseohpleaseohplease, let Mary’s old friend Frank’s daughter be a high-hangin’ hands-on roadsidin’ “gig”!
texas buddha
October 27th, 2008 at 2:36 am [Reply]

By the way, I really like the way the trailer-trash rat in the Slylock Fox comic is watching COPS in the yard out in front of the camper. Complete with beer in hand and a bag of chips at his feet. Classic.
Mibbitmaker
October 27th, 2008 at 2:36 am [Reply]

Monday, Monday, Monday…:

9CL: Idiot!

A3G: Margo: “OMIGOD! TEMPTATIONS??? REALLY????? I”M SHOCKED!!! SHOCKED!!!!!!!!!! AAAAUUUGGGHHHHHHH!!”
This has been another episode of “Margo Magee: Drama Queen” Goodnight.

Re-FOOB: Big deal! Forget the doppelganger — LYNN should quit!

FW: Les reads the old yearbook. “Omigod! We so suck now!! Please, cruel Creator, bring me back to then!” As it does not happen, Les sobs uncontrolably at what’s been lost. On behalf of long-time readers, join the club, Les.

Garfield: Oh, please make that the strip from now on! PLEEEEEEEEEEEASE!!!

GF: Ah, but we all know that Rob wants to kill at least one of his pets, don’t you, Robbo? At least once a day, huh?

H&J: A dumb joke? In THIS strip?? NO!!!

JP: …….Unless it’s Mickey Spillane we’re talking about, that is.

Luann: …V-A-M-P…..VAMP! (Uh-oh… just started more ’70s earworms, haven’t I?)

MT: Uh, Mark, I’d talk to Marshall from “How I Met Your Mother” before considering that. And your supposed to be a naturalist, and you didn’t notice the birds flying in perfect formation?? For shame, Trail!

MW: He thinks they’re going to have sex right away. Silly man (just ask Jeff).

OBH: Say goodnight, Gracie.

Ghost-Who-Nursemaids: If he starts reciting Ruthie’s dialogue from OBH, you know he’s in real trouble!

PC: Joe in real life about now: “Of all the streets in all the towns in the world, Obama had to walk into mine!”

RMMD: And here I thought it was one of Ollie’s bones…

Zits: The dialogue is just a ruse — Walt is going as Dr. Gene Scott for Holloween. He’s on his way to his wacky hat collection.
Steve the Pocket
October 27th, 2008 at 2:43 am [Reply]

Today’s Blondie manages to look convincingly like a half-assed Photoshop job.

In other news, the DoHS Dennis Mitchell Menace Alert level has been dropped all the way down to green.

Luann has the derangedly eager look of a girl who has not so much as stripped down to her underwear, even in her own bedroom, in all the years her strip has been running.

Today’s Pearls before Swine is depressing, not because the state of the world is anything we didn’t already know, but because it reminds me of the woman who got killed doing that “walk for peace” thing.

Prickly City would probably be funnier if the McCain campaign hadn’t started airing “Joe the Plumber” ads since it was written.

Sally Forth: Holy cow. I so want to see them try to dress up as “Yar’s Revenge.” I don’t even know how that would work, but it can only be awesome.

Six Chix: Of course she has. That’s what everyone tries first!

——–

Today’s Serious Balls Award goes to the creator of Heart of the City. My lord that’s delightfully disturbing on so many levels.

The runners up, by the way, are Dilbert and My Cage.

Zits wins Best Visual Gag.
Wally Ballou
October 27th, 2008 at 2:44 am [Reply]

It has now been fully nine days since Chip Dunham’s Overboard had an entry with all human characters. This has to be a record, even for him.
Donald The Anarchist
October 27th, 2008 at 2:55 am [Reply]

Shoe The first bird appears quite peeved that his rank in the heirarchy of boring is so easily downgraded.”Damn it, the one thing I figured no one would challenge me for. Now I’ll have to pick something like most chronic masturbator or highest number of nervous tics…”

MW Mary grimly contemplates the possibly that one of HER students will surpass her. I wonder if Toby suspects that her stupidity is the only thing keeping her alive…

RMMD Is it kiddy porn if all the child does is watch? Living with Rex and June, it’s not like she ever had a chance to see sex before.

SFx Is the answer: Set the trailer on fire, knowing Reeky won’t want the police to discover the illegal electrical connection, so he’ll be powerless to do anything? How about, drive him out with tear gas grenades?
Jack Parsons
October 27th, 2008 at 2:58 am [Reply]

Frog Applause does a fine fine “Love is…”
Alfred E. Neuman
October 27th, 2008 at 3:23 am [Reply]

Monday comics…

Luann— Holy moly, have you noticed the expression on Luann’s face in panel 3? She looks as if she is literally drooling (and/or dripping) in anticipation of wearing the skimpy B & D-style witch outfit in front of bunch of kids. This newly developed exhibitionism is a big jump from her historical asexuality. If this trend continues, it could lead to some interesting strips in the next few days. In these strips I hope that she will get Bernice to help her fit the dress, but the two of them will get so turned on that the fitting session will turn into a passionate make-out session. Just as things are coming to a climax, in walks… Ben. The scene will then develop into a three-way squirtilicious orgy that will be so well drawn, even commodorejohn will approve.

Eh, dream on, Alfred!

In reality, we know that Luann’s mom will see the outfit and will forbid her to wear it. She’ll end up wearing some Glenda-the-good-witch costume that will cover her from head to toe. The strip will then go back to some more boring Brad ‘n’ Toni crap, and the strip’s best character, the sweet, lovable, insanely jealous, ravenously incestuous, bisexual harridan Bernice, will be ignored once again.
- -Sigh- -
Alfred E. Neuman
October 27th, 2008 at 3:28 am [Reply]

#63 Wally Ballou— Great screen name. Did you ever consider using “—ly Ballou”?
Charlene
October 27th, 2008 at 3:33 am [Reply]

Nurse with a Penis, don’t hold your breath for diversity in this comic. There aren’t even any characters with brown eyes.
Andy Panderer
October 27th, 2008 at 3:42 am [Reply]

H&J There’s only one joke that I know of with “…And it’s deep too” as the punchline, and I’m surprised to see it mentioned in an African American themed strip. Unless the guy at the counter is supposed to be white, therefore racist, which makes it OK.

Luann I am amazed at Evans’ ability to get creepier with each passing week.
late2theparty
October 27th, 2008 at 4:05 am [Reply]

Mary’s travel agent must not have been able to book her tickets on Pan-Am or TWA. But which airline is it? Northwest? United? Continental? American? Southwest? LTA? Is it LTA? Move your head, Dr. Jeff, and allow the world to know Mary Worth’s air carrier of choice!

In a related note, since Dr. Jeff seems to have made his way to the gate-area without a ticket, I can only assume that by the time Mary gets back, he’ll be deep in the bowels of a Syrian prison with electrodes taped to his sensitive areas, having been shipped there by Homeland Security via extraordinary rendition.
Mr. O'Malley
October 27th, 2008 at 5:06 am [Reply]

RMMD: The keel is falling off. An everyday event in sailboat racing. Tomorrow one of the crew members succumbs to spontaneous human combustion and on Wednesday the boat is hit by ball lightning.

SlyFo: If you thought yesterday’s strip was too tame, today’s makes up for it. How would the world’s largest pearl end up at the Forest Museum in the first place?

FW: No one ever leaves Funkytown, except for Disappearin’ Wally and The Guy Who Draws Superman. He sees them every day as they go about their daily routine of buying old comic books and stuffing their faces with pizza. Why is he not going to recognize them at the reunion? More than 50% of his graduating class is employed at the local high school!

John C. Fremont: Re Haisai Oji-san. (A few threads ago) The original version by Shoukichi Kina (or maybe it’s one of the original versions) is the opening theme of a local radio show, so I hear it almost every week. He often adds the French, Frith, Kaiser and Thompson version as a bonus. It’s so damn catchy it can rout any other earworm, except maybe Fruity Oaty Bar.

I found a phonetic version of the lyrics on a website that was otherwise in Hungarian, but I haven’t progressed to the point where I can sing along.
bryan
October 27th, 2008 at 5:33 am [Reply]

‘I think the Perfesser means “imminent” danger. Eminent, he’s not.’

obviously that’s the point, if he were in eminent danger he would be someone else, its probably that person’s life that would be flashing before his eyes.

The strip will shortly be turning in a supernatural/sci-fi/fantasy direction.
Faraway
October 27th, 2008 at 6:34 am [Reply]

Luann: Can anybody please explain why Gunther had to measure her neck for this piece of.. ahm… well… leather?
gleeb
October 27th, 2008 at 6:36 am [Reply]

A3G: Alan’s family disapprove of all the generic “dope” in New York. Marijuana and methamphetamine are good enough, and specific enough, for those plain folks.

‘bean: Creepy Les got as far as “What can you say about a young woman who died and has already had her story detailed in hundreds of newspapers?” and realized he had nothing to add. Oh, and a tick in the “approaching reunion” column

H&J: Are you kidding? That joke’s a classic. It’s probably the way he tells it.

H&L: Wednesday: Trixie’s head floats in a jar, powering Lois’ computer as she tries to cut costs in this tight real estate market.

Abbey Driver, ever hopeful: Maybe now she can get some use out of those handcuffs.

Luann: Luann and Gunther aren’t going to be allowed to hand out Hallowe’en candy from now on, are they?

Peanuts: Linus later changed his name and became Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve.
John C Fremont
October 27th, 2008 at 6:59 am [Reply]

# 71 Mr. O’Malley – Thanks for Fruity Oaty Bar. That has made my day!
Little Guy
October 27th, 2008 at 7:18 am [Reply]

I’m sorry I missed the Great 70’s EarWorm Discussion over the weekend. Fortunately, music was suited for pre-teen boys.

Big Nate: Please say that this ends with ~~Brandi Chastian~~ Abbey taking off her shirt and showing her ~~bra~~ boobiage.

Watch Your Head: I’m the only one trying to follow this, but why does he have to go to this house in the first place?

FW: Oh yes, on the Funky Website, there is a plug for “Lisa Story”. Be afraid. Be very afraid.
dyslexic dog
October 27th, 2008 at 7:43 am [Reply]

JP: Narrative Box doesn’t get Abbey’s dripping sarcasm.
[And, in turn, Dyslexic Dog misses Narrative Box's grinning parody.]
Saluki
October 27th, 2008 at 7:44 am [Reply]

Wow, that Lake Tranquil that Mary Worth is visiting looks so, mmm whats’s the word, placid.
Jimbo
October 27th, 2008 at 7:51 am [Reply]

SF–I can see by Sally’s migraine–induced by Ted’s geeky suggestion they go to the costume party as “Yar’s Revenge–where this storyline is going. Sally fakes a migraine so she can stay home and Ted takes his nerdy office-wife, Aria, to the party, where she will ply him with alcohol and sexual innuendo yet end up yet again home alone with her vibrating Chewbacca godemiche.
Bribaby
October 27th, 2008 at 8:07 am [Reply]

#4 Jvalt — check out the lady seated behind Mary, desperately trying to escape the overpowering reek of Aquanet. Forget it, blondie; between Mary’s deafening telepathic musings and that Gary Oldman-as-Dracula hairdo, this is truly going to be the Voyage of the Damned.

Wow, creators of Slylock Fox; with the trailer trash setting you’re getting awfully close to satire here. Might wanna leave that to Reno 911. And what about that fish skeleton? Looks like ol’ Slylock didn’t get there fast enough for one of his forest friends.

Uh, I’ve always wondered: Is Shoe a nudist?

And on a similar note, look at the beefcake that’s been on display in Judge Parker for the past few days; Sam’s been lounging around in a gaping-open bathrobe. A golem in the raw!
Shmork
October 27th, 2008 at 8:11 am [Reply]

What you gonna do… what you gonna do when he comes for you… Slylock Fa-ox… what you gonna do… what you gonna do when he COME FOR YOU!

I really puzzled over the “which scene is different” one this week. Finally I thought, “my god, he probably has a different number of fingers or something freakishly incorrect like that”—and I was right!
Jimbo
October 27th, 2008 at 8:11 am [Reply]

Sorry to commit a faux-pas by posting twice in rapid succession, but I couldn’t help but comment on Mark Trail:

Mark, Mark….

As Foghorn Leghorn would say, You’re doing it all wrong, son, all wrong. Now, lookee heah, boy, you’re supposed to say stuff like:

“My wife? We’ve been separated for six months now…”

or

“My wife? She doesn’t understand me or my needs at all. But you…I get the feeling you’re very understanding.”

or

“Where’d you get the crazy idea that I was married?”
kalki
October 27th, 2008 at 8:17 am [Reply]

9CL: Amos is “out celebrating”? Wait…what is he doing with his other hand??? Suicidal masturbater perhaps?

Blondie: Yay! It’s Cujo! sic em, boy!!

Crankshaft: sigh…so he didn’t die in a hail of police bullets then? I don’t suppose a snow blower accidental death is in the cards for tomorrow’s strip?

Family Circus: Actually, those are the wife swapping negotiations they are discussing. Don’t forget the “safe word”, guys.

FW: Good idea, Les. The people at the reunion will need something to smack you in the head with.

Hi & Lois: Tune in tomorrow as doctors explain to Lois about what happens to infants exposed to too much sunlight without any protection. That kid is really 4 and her hair should have grown in by now.

GA: Ok…I am going to stop reading this strip again for a looooong time.

Monty: Ok…that was extremely amusing. Zap him some more.

Luann: Does anybody else think they see Gunther as Luann’s pimp in the future?
gnemec
October 27th, 2008 at 8:26 am [Reply]

Reeky Rat watches COPS regularly; it’s like Facebook for his kind.

(Accidentally posted this on Saturday’s page)
Nimrod Gently
October 27th, 2008 at 8:32 am [Reply]

MW: That last panel looked like two panels at first, so I thought there was the shot of the wavecloud with stupid thought caption, and then a silent panel of Mary considering and wondering just what the hell she’s talking about. Thereby making it the best Mary Worth ever, or possible.
Patrick
October 27th, 2008 at 8:35 am [Reply]

I’m so boring…

…it takes three…

…panels to finish my joke!
UncleJeff
October 27th, 2008 at 8:41 am [Reply]

MW: “The student has surpassed the teacher. The Force is strong with this one. Bring her to me Lord Frank. I’ll be staying at the Vacation Inn at Nyquill, New York which is not far from Lake Tranquility.”
Hogenmogen
October 27th, 2008 at 8:46 am [Reply]

Sunday Slylock: If Reeky were smart, and I suspect that he is, since he grew out the mullet and the mohawk (but unfortunately replaced them with a mop cut dyed in an excruciating pink), and he has the technical prowess to design an ergodynamic chair with a hole cut for his tail, Reeky would have tapped into Rachel Rabbit’s power upstream from her fuse box. Thus, when Slylock tells her to turn off the main switch Reeky’s lights stay on. Slylock, discredited and upset, vows to hang up his hat and give up the petty crime detection gig.
Hogenmogen
October 27th, 2008 at 8:47 am [Reply]

MW: Isn’t the Lake of Tranquility located on the lunar surface? That’s a long plane flight. No, Jeff, I don’t expect her back any time soon.
Sam
October 27th, 2008 at 8:52 am [Reply]

Yes Mary, we must hurry. The Cialis is about to wear off.
AmazingThor
October 27th, 2008 at 9:00 am [Reply]

Shoe: “Oh yeah, well I’m so boring that they wrote a whole storyline about me in Mary Worth!”

And why is Slylock always hatin’ on the trailer park folk? Of course he’s stealing electricity, he lives in a damn trailer!
Angry Kem
October 27th, 2008 at 9:04 am [Reply]

Today’s comics are made of an awesomeness born of insanity. I pay tribute to them in Medievalland while translating Mark Trail into a more appropriate tongue.

HotC: …it went there. Holy crap.

Dilbert: Ditto. Is there something in the drinking water again? Where can I get some?

S4th: I love you, Ted.

Actually, one year, some friends of mine dressed up as Pac-Man, Space Invaders, and Pong. The costumes were very nicely done. The year after, Pac-Man went as…Ms. Pac-Man. (It’s “Ms.,” Ted, not “Mrs.”). We kept trying to convince him to alter the costume yet again and turn up the year after as Baby Pac-Man.
temporarilyjaded
October 27th, 2008 at 9:10 am [Reply]

@ #71 Mr. O’Malley, Thanks a bunch. Now I feel obligated to watch Serenity or Firefly…I really needed to go to the DMV.
Weaselboy
October 27th, 2008 at 9:16 am [Reply]

Mary Worth arrives in Lake Tranquil, Recent York.
Mac
October 27th, 2008 at 9:19 am [Reply]

Is “Cops” a shout-out? I think it’s a shout-out, and that Josh has mentioned Reeky’s “Cops” lifestyle before.
Hogenmogen
October 27th, 2008 at 9:19 am [Reply]

Real Spiderman and Fake Spiderman have a contest of powers.
Real: Can you do this? (walks on wall)
Fake: Yeah. Can you do this? (spins web)
Real: Yeah. Can you do this? (watches TV for four hours straight)
Fake: No! No! Can’t.. take… it! Must stop the stupidity!! Aiiieee!

Saturday’s Funky: Les, it’s about time that you made some coin off your wife’s tragic death. Tell yourself that Lisa would have wanted it that way.

Ha ha, Mallard, you’re so funny! You mock Saturday Night Live for mocking Sarah Palin! Haw haw!

Crankshaft uses a snow blower on his leaves. That is funny because other people use their lawn mowers and they don’t have to push, because you can ride on a lawn mower. Haw haw, that crazy Crankshaft doing more work than he has to!

I thought BC was doing the non-joke today, but then I remembered that “Peter” means “rock”. Ooh – subtle joke – so subtle and intellectual. It would actually have reached the level of “funny” if that subtle pun actually made sense, but I give partial credit for being subtle.

Abbey is excited about hearing that Sam is cavorting around the desert with a hot chick. “Maybe she’ll be the one” thinks Abbey “to turn him into a heterosexual.”

Luann can’t wait to dress like a slut. Gunther’s shorts need changing.
Hogenmogen
October 27th, 2008 at 9:23 am [Reply]

2nd to last frame: Tweaks needs to change his shorts, too, by the looks of things.
Hogenmogen
October 27th, 2008 at 9:25 am [Reply]

…. and of course the quote “I’m coming for you, old girl!” doesn’t help one bit to dissuay any sexual connotation.
Artist formerly known as Ben
October 27th, 2008 at 9:35 am [Reply]

10/27

A3G: Why there are so many temptations, it could bobble your head!

RMMD: Rex has become an accessory to maritime murder. Luckily, as far as he’s concerned, the not-so-good doctor is just pretty enough to go to prison.

DtM: It’s menacing to ask for service in a retail establishment? Isn’t that what they’re there for?

S4th: Sally doesn’t look thrilled about the prospect of dressing as Mrs Pac-Man. I guess she has her limits.

Luann: Wait, is Gunther actually excited by the idea of Luann taking things off? Because if so, this could be the first time a heterosexual male has used the phrase “Bob Mackie’s Cher outfits” in conversation.

OBH: Okay Ruthie, I’ll bite. You’re working on your Halloween costume: Peter Criss at Burger King.

WofI: Is grinding poverty inherently hilarious? I guess we’d better hope so.

SFx: Of course Harry Ape’s real plan all along was to get Max attacked by a protective mother bird. Looks like it’s about to happen, too.

C-Shaft: Is this a blatant self-plagiarism from last year? Yes Tattoo, I believe it is.

FC: “We know they’re talking German and using a lot of funny hand signals, but that’s all.”

H&J: I never thought I’d see a world where Generic Annoying White Guy is the only one who appreciates Richard Pryor’s classic big dick joke.
Hogenmogen
October 27th, 2008 at 9:35 am [Reply]

Please quit, Lynn. For the love of all that doesn’t suck. Please quit. Now. No returns, no half-measures, no reruns. Just drop the whole thing and answer your Cawfee Tawk friends. When they all dry up and blow away, go imagine some friends, who’s lives, emotions and actions you control – but do not even think about putting those imaginary friends down on paper, because lighting shall flash from the heavens and you shall burn to a crisp in a flash, as will your saccharine creation that brims over with treacle. Just QUIT already!!
Angry Kem
October 27th, 2008 at 9:40 am [Reply]

#100 Hogenmogen: I’m not sure Ms. Johnston realises how little like actual human beings her characters are now behaving. In today’s strip, she tries to replicate Early Shouty Elly, but she just ends up making her protagonist look completely insane. LJ used to be able to write characters quite convincingly. What happened?
Old Doc Yak
October 27th, 2008 at 9:42 am [Reply]

Judge Parker: Where the hell is Sam calling from? Coconino County?
Sully
October 27th, 2008 at 9:48 am [Reply]

Re: Shoe

Hey! A bunch of regular Joes sitting around in a bar cracking jokes! It’s just like “Cheers”, minus the humor, charm, engaging characters and wit!
The “Eminent” v. “Imminent” screw-up notwithstanding, Jeff MacNelly must be rolling in his grave at the dreck his creation has morphed into. Actually, come to think of it, it sucked when he was doing it, too.
WonderCat
October 27th, 2008 at 9:50 am [Reply]

RMMD – I clearly must have been participating in a different kind of sailboat racing than what is going on here. Whereas I have only raced on Earth, where certain laws of physics apply, this race is evidently taking place either in some kind of alternate reality or on another planet altogether.

Or is the keel breaking off some kind of Biblical/Mary Worthical metaphor for what happens to old men who chase after tail? If the race is taking place on Lake Tranquil, it might not be too late for MW to stage an intervention…
Hogenmogen
October 27th, 2008 at 9:57 am [Reply]

Mary Worth: “The student has surpassed the teacher” and “Ebb and flow pattern” don’t fit. To have Frank be good, and his progeny be great indicates a continuous upward trend. Ebb and flow inferrs that there was an upward trend, then a decline, and then a return to where the previous peak was with no overall forward progress.

And on a lower-brow note, it looks like those two cloud-waves are humping each other.
Gene
October 27th, 2008 at 10:02 am [Reply]

Mary Worth – Is Mary controlling the ocean from her perch in Business Class Seating?
I’m guessing someone as frugal as Mary didn’t want to spend the dough on those seats, but cankles that meddle like that cannot be confined to Coach.
texas buddha
October 27th, 2008 at 10:04 am [Reply]

Once again, I have to thanks to the Comics Curmudgeon for the extra blog traffic this morning.
texas buddha
October 27th, 2008 at 10:05 am [Reply]

… er… I have to SAY thanks…

Still drinking my Monday morning coffee.
Rex's former boyfriend
October 27th, 2008 at 10:08 am [Reply]

Rex loves those keels made out of lead.
Artist formerly known as Ben
October 27th, 2008 at 10:12 am [Reply]

#46 Bloody Bitch,
I don’t think Judi Dench will appreciate being compared to Mary Worth.
Hogenmogen
October 27th, 2008 at 10:14 am [Reply]

S4th: Sally is just jealous that Luann gets to dress like a witch ‘ho and Hart of Hart of the City dresses like a ‘ho of the regular kind.

You’d think that with Ted Forth’s delicate hands, he’d be stitching up a Bob Mackie clone dress with ease.
Idols of Mud
October 27th, 2008 at 10:18 am [Reply]

Mary Worth: Jeff must have run through the security checks or cold-cocked a TSA agent to get to the waiting area without a ticket. Someone’s about to land on the no-fly list.

Shoe: The shock the birds display at the Perfesser’s joke must mean that we’re not getting the complete dialogue. “I’m so boring . . . that if I were ever in eminent (sic) danger . . . of losing the love you two inspire in me . . . that I would carve your names on my chest . . . and arouse myself with thoughts of your bodies . . . and someone else’s life would flash before my eyes.”
David
October 27th, 2008 at 10:25 am [Reply]

Based on Sunday’s comics, I think Batuik, Keane, and LJ have a financial stake in the websites that mock them.
Ellie
October 27th, 2008 at 10:27 am [Reply]

Did Mary Worth put on a beret for panel 6???
mordock999
October 27th, 2008 at 10:51 am [Reply]

Today’s Luann 10/27/08

Now, now folks DON’T get excited.

We ALL know some ‘adult’ is gonna object to Luann’s S&M witch outfit and a long sleeved blouse
WILL be added.

This storyline just ANOTHER one of Greg Evans’ bullshit teases.

And since it appears VERY likely that Mr. Evans, or ONE of his
henchpersons IS a regular LURKER to THIS site:

CURSE YOU, Greg Evans!!!!

______________________________

And DEATH to TJ!
Niall
October 27th, 2008 at 10:52 am [Reply]

92. Angry Kem: When did “spendidious” gain that L into Splendid? That sounds a different kind of etymology change than I’m used to.

I’d love some of that crazy-making water too. I was telling a friend just last night that I’m not crazy enough to be deemed interesting by just about anyone. (You never seem to need more, by the way. :)) Even Jeff has more romantic luck, and yes, I’m counting today in this assessment.
Brick Bradford
October 27th, 2008 at 10:55 am [Reply]

Dream on Josh–you can’t kill a Watcher that way. Even if the plane does crash Mary will rise from the sea like an wrathful, albeit damp, goddess, without a hair out of place. It takes more than a flaming crash and immersion in seawater to penetrate 60 years of accumulated Aqua Net.
True Fable
October 27th, 2008 at 10:56 am [Reply]

A3G She knows what you mean, Blaze. So many people; not enough body bags.
Blondie I didn’t realize the Ho-Hum section of Suburban Hell was just a block over from Animorphic Acres.
Cathy Must Die! Get real, Cathy: EVERY season is Comfort Food Season for you.
DtFW MenaceWatch2008 is putting out a hit on you, kid. You are a disgrace.
FC You’ll wanna be careful where you put that hand, Dolly.
Canadian Zombie But she NEVER quits; that’s the problem. She just keeps whining and grumbling and playing the martyr. And Lynn claims Elly is NOT her alter ego!
Garfield Can’t wait for the Garfield Without Garfield on this one.
HotC OMG, this made me laugh aloud. It’s so Wrong and that is so Right.
Scenes from Suburban Hell Oh, I get it! Trixie peed in the floor while sleeping alongside the dog, so when it rains, she recharges her fluids! Funny!
JP Bring back Cedric the Butler, it’s only fair for Sam to be able to imagine his wife tangled up with some Studly McMann, if he’s going to play Cops and Robbers with the local dickless.
Luann Evans, you twisted fuck. Luann’s Panel Three expression just squicks me the hell out; those poor little kids!
MT Oh come ON, Suzie! You honestly think mere Money and Corporate Standing will give a man with a Right Fist o’ Justice any kind of satisfaction? Some temptress you are; try baiting him along with injured animals or something. Say, put a rabid squirrel in a briefcase or a three-legged colt in an elevator.
Marmadick DOG EAT NOW.
MW WTF?!? What the hell is Frank doing in panel one? Doing the “Thriller” zombie dance?
RMMW Good thing they’re wearing life preservers!…. oh. Well then, it’s a good thing they’re comic strip characters in a really unlikely circumstance during a sanctioned sailing event!
S4th Or the Wonder Twins! Or no, I’ve got it! As Smirky Smurfs!
Brick Bradford
October 27th, 2008 at 11:03 am [Reply]

Oh, and Gunther FINALLY figured out a way to get Luann’s bra off.

Alfred E. Neuman, I honor you for the “–ly Ballou” shoutout. I thought the same thing but feared it might be a little esoteric (read: “Old”) for the gang. I’ll never underestimated our crowd (or our ages) again!
Angry Kem
October 27th, 2008 at 11:15 am [Reply]

#116 Niall: Oh, damn…that’s a typo. I’ve fixed it.

It’s true that I rarely seem to need more crazy-making water.
teenchy
October 27th, 2008 at 11:15 am [Reply]

# 96: Saturday’s Funky: Les, it’s about time that you made some coin off your wife’s tragic death. Tell yourself that Lisa would have wanted it that way.

Might as well, she sure as hell didn’t…and she called herself a lawyer.
commodorejohn
October 27th, 2008 at 11:21 am [Reply]

A3G – “Too many Temptations? Seriously, there’s dozens of them! How many members does a band need, anyway?”

BS – So, is there some syndicate requirement that no comic-strip dialogue may be emphasized as a native English speaker would emphasize it?

Curtis – Dear Ray Billingsley: “Bray” is already taken. Unless you meant to imply that Derrick and “Onion” have laughs similar to the sound a donkey makes, in which case someone needs to get those kids to a damn doctor and remove whatever rusted hinge they swallowed.

DTM – Mr. Mitchell is checking out the cashier’s butt. Classy, Hamilton.

DT – I’m beginning to think that whoever called a Forbin Project plot was right on the money.

FW – Hate to break it to you, Les, but you’re all completely unrecognizable anyway. Look at what happened to Funky in the intervening twenty years, for God’s sake.

Garfield – Uh…wow. I have to admit, this is the most fascinating (albeit in a horrifying way) Garfield has been in a long, long time.

GA – WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT IS IT A FORGERY OR NOT

GF – I keep thinking that maybe I’ll just stop reading this strip, and it keeps hooking me back in just in the nick of time.

GT – Wow, that first panel is pretty artsy.

HOTC – Whoa. Did I really just…*double-checks* Yes, Heart and Dean are dressed as a hooker and a pimp. That’s something I never thought I’d see in the funnies. Outside of Brenda Starr, anyway.

JP – “So much for the literary stereotype?” Yeah, sure.

Luann – Is…is this real dialogue that actually got printed in the paper? For serious? I’m kinda torn here between knowing that this is just Greg Evans being a perv and being glad they’re finally showing some hints of normal, functioning sexuality. (Also, it’s not actually that risque, Luann.)

MT – Her attempts thus far having failed, Sue pulls out the big guns and attempts to seduce Mark with the promise of money. However, any such negotiations are doomed to failure once he learns that his new job would not involve punching people with facial hair.

MW – What the…she’s arrived already? Something happened in Mary Worth without consuming two weeks of strips? I’m gonna get whiplash if we keep this up.

NAOQV – You and me both, Victoria.

OBH – I don’t know what she’s doing either, but it’s pretty hilarious, whatever it is.

Phantom – So, wait, the Bandar have a cure for ebola? Nice of them to not share it with the rest of the world.

Pluggers – Pluggers have rampant pharmaceutical addictions.

Popeye – The residents of Sweet Haven apparently define “lake” to mean “large puddle.”

RMMD – I’m no sailor, but I’m pretty sure that weighted keels Do. Not. Work. That. Way. I mean, wouldn’t that basically invalidate the entire point of having one?

SF – Psst, Ted, if you’re going as Yar’s Revenge, remember to save the “breaking through her barrier” and “shooting the Quotile” for after the party.
teenchy
October 27th, 2008 at 11:24 am [Reply]

Oh, and Mary Worth? She be gettin’ her drink on and her snack on with Delta. Mos’ def first class, else there’d be three times as many people drawn in panel three.
tuna
October 27th, 2008 at 11:26 am [Reply]

what does it take to get some proper grammer in these strips??? and don’t get me started on the extraneously panel at the start of todays shoe
Phred22
October 27th, 2008 at 11:28 am [Reply]

Slylock: What I like is that Reeky’s trailer appears to have a screen door that opens in. That means that if it ever rains, his place is gonna get soaked.
docweasel
October 27th, 2008 at 11:38 am [Reply]

#124 tuna

“what does it take to get some proper grammer in these strips??? and don’t get me started on the extraneously panel at the start of todays shoe”

The “extraneously panel”? And you’re the one going grammar Nazi?
docweasel
October 27th, 2008 at 11:39 am [Reply]

Plus you misspelled “grammar” :P
Calico
October 27th, 2008 at 11:57 am [Reply]

#9 – The ape shoved the huge pearl up his large, hairy ass for safekeeping. He has been to prison, most likely.
Calico
October 27th, 2008 at 11:59 am [Reply]

RM – …and I see Tweaks’s drug of choice has changed from Meth to Crack.
Poteet
October 27th, 2008 at 12:00 pm [Reply]

# 120 Angry Kem — Wow. I looked at MT last night before going to bed, and this morning I thought of Satan and that “if you will worship me” verse. I was thinking of doing a snark along that line, but decided I couldn’t carry it off. And now you’ve done it beautifully.

Now I’ll try very hard not to think about Mark in the role of Jesus.
ladadog
October 27th, 2008 at 12:08 pm [Reply]

RMMD: Tweaks scares me. It’s getting so I’m afraid to cast my gaze on RMMD. How bad is that? What a horrible face. It looks like he was dug up after being buried for two months. Ugh.
Sorry, I feel better now, but not as good as I’ll feel when he is asleep in the deep.
Harry Worth
October 27th, 2008 at 12:19 pm [Reply]

I wonder if all the hassle of taking her shoes off and having to be wanded by an overweight, sweaty TSA agent makes the trip less memorable for Mary?

Plus, I want to fly on that airline. I always get stuck with the ones that buy the cheap planes with only porthole sized windows. I want to fly on the one with picture windows….. and in coach!!!
Niall
October 27th, 2008 at 12:22 pm [Reply]

120. Angry Kem: Oh! I honestly thought there had been some crazy linguistic shift (I’m unaware of most of them, but more aware than most people in general that they do happen); I guess I’m glad I was of use to someone today, though.

Should I also point out that the revised strip have decided to play Switch? (Top becomes bottom, bottom became top) It’s nice to see them experiment once in a while.

(All said very tongue in cheek, of course.)

No, I think you have just enough crazy-water as it is to balance things well. Have any left to share? :)

I admit today’s Blondie completely took me by surprise; I gather it’s in far, far many more papers than MG&G, so there may be many people who have no idea who that (badly ’shopped) yellow blob is in panel 3.

(better to be badly ’shopped than badly shipped…)
Artist formerly known as Ben
October 27th, 2008 at 12:26 pm [Reply]

I saved “Heart of the City” for my lunchbreak, as I usually do. What can I say? Everything I heard here is correct, and then some. Kids dress up as the darnedest things.
Niall
October 27th, 2008 at 12:29 pm [Reply]

…I just had another look at SlyFox. It continues the WTF gasp-worthy Monday trend of above.

Harry Ape, a pimp dressed all in purple, just gave Slylock the same “strip me” offer as Cassandra. Maybe he figured if Sly didn’t go for Cassie, he had a chance? Sorry, Harry. And this got printed in family papers too?

(…or is my mind too much in the gutter today?)
ScienceGiant
October 27th, 2008 at 12:30 pm [Reply]

Iesu, but my hatred for Mary Worth knows no bounds! I’ve tried to avoid watching this slowly unfolding disaster telegraphed from lightyears away (”Yep, my daughter sure is successful! What’s that, Mary? She isn’t happy?), but I wound up looking at back strips.

How priceless is the swivel on Jeff’s head here. If it hadn’t been for the agony of the phone message pussy-whipping he got a few months back, I would thought it was the same look all prisoners have when their captor mentions that the cells are all unlocked due to a computer glitch on daylight savings as the clocks reset. But no, Jefferson will never hatch an escape plan. He’ll never make a run for it. He’ll never taste sweet freedom again.

So I’ll turn aside from Shawshank Redemption, and instead I’ll ask what you all think of Karen Moy giving us Mary Worth’s backstory. Do you really want it fleshed out? Are you curious about her time before I came to Charterstone? Is anyone up for more?
Red Greenback
October 27th, 2008 at 12:32 pm [Reply]

Weaselboy @#94: Bwahawhawhaha!!!!, thanks!
Sequitur
October 27th, 2008 at 12:34 pm [Reply]

Luann and Gunther could learn a bit about Halloween costuming from Heart and Dean.

http://www.chron.com/apps/comics/showComic.mpl?date=2008/10/27&name=Heart
Sobek
October 27th, 2008 at 12:36 pm [Reply]

Mary Worth is about to die in a fiery plane crash and her facial expression is one of mild annoyance, as though she’s thinking “Hmm, I won’t get to spend several weeks slowly crushing Frank’s spirit.”

Yeah, that sounds about right.
Cranky
October 27th, 2008 at 12:38 pm [Reply]

Sunday’s Ziggy captured the precise moment when Ziggy realizes that society will never accept his dog-fucking. I defy you to interpret it any other way.
commodorejohn
October 27th, 2008 at 12:56 pm [Reply]

#140 Cranky – Indeed, you’re right, but don’t trouble yourself with the bloated goComics site; use the viewer script linked by my username instead.
Angry Kem
October 27th, 2008 at 1:00 pm [Reply]

#133 Niall: Damn it. Thanks. I have switched the strips back. I’m clearly not doing very well today. I blame my bloody marking. Will I never be free of it? Why? Whyyyyyyyyyyyyy?
Art Vandelay
October 27th, 2008 at 1:09 pm [Reply]

So wait, that’s it for the Crankshaft with a gun pointed at him story? Damn, he wasn’t even wounded or arrested. Way to get my hopes up for nothing.

This does not make me bray at all.
willieO
October 27th, 2008 at 1:19 pm [Reply]

You know, I say let Reeky have the electricity. He has so little, and watching COPS and NASCAR is probably the only thing he’s got going for him. I mean, Rabbit would only have to put up with it until the next tornader season comes ’round, then Reeky will quickly be sucked into oblivion.
AhClem
October 27th, 2008 at 1:22 pm [Reply]

MW – How the hell did Jeff get past security and all the way to the gate without a ticket? TSA agents are already closing in on him, while other agents in the interrogation room are removing their body-cavity search instruments from the freezer, gleefully awaiting their unwilling participant.

Judging from Mary’s grin in the 2nd panel, she knows what’s in store for the good doctor. Hell, she probably arranged it.

Also, I’m fairly knowledgable about passenger aircraft, but I’ve never seen of one with a tail-mounted engine and horizontal stabilizers above the engine. LTA airlines must be one of those low-budget carriers, and the plane is cobbled together from random spare parts stolen from the boneyards in the Mojave Desert. Airworthy? God, I hope not.
Rebochan
October 27th, 2008 at 1:35 pm [Reply]

Wow…that Shoe was so bad, I just assumed it was a photoshop parody.
texas buddha
October 27th, 2008 at 1:53 pm [Reply]

Thanks to everybody that has visited.

Just posted a fresh church sign of the day for those that care.
Edgy DC
October 27th, 2008 at 1:54 pm [Reply]

“The student has suprassed the teacher” theme is loaded with subtext.

As in, “Good luck to any of those wannabe advice-giving biddie bitches back at Charterstone displacing me. Frank is weak.”

Shouldn’t any daughter of an old friend/contemporary of Mary’s be 38, retired from skating, and getting an occasional spot in a gum commercial? I’m just saying.
CanuckDownSouth
October 27th, 2008 at 2:12 pm [Reply]

#100, 101-AK That is an early strip: looser drawing, no ruler-sharp backgrounds, plus I remember this exact one.

But Elly used to have happy bits, too, all we get is angry now.

Now, I *don’t* think HotC was going out on a limb to get his Halloween costume past the syndicate. It is sadly true that there are “pimp” and “ho” costumes designed for preschool and elementary school children available online. And a noticeable amount of the little kid “pretty fairy/witch” costumes in mainstream stores could be a “ho” costume if used without the hat or wings.

I say “sadly” because these are aimed at kids too young to understand the implications, which squicks me out.

So this could be just riffing on “just normal, but parents are too square”. The syndicate may not care. Many readers may have bought costumes like this for their kids, or seen their kids’ friends in risque costumes.

and I continue to update my FOOBfic
Harry F
October 27th, 2008 at 2:21 pm [Reply]

commodorejohn

Luanne happened to follow HoTC in my morning read. I wondered was what happening as Heart dressed as a hooker and Luanne getting gussied up as a naughty nice witch. I figured it was like the cartoonists’ Homeless Awareness Day thing they used to do only with child hookers and teen skanks.
Angry Kem
October 27th, 2008 at 2:21 pm [Reply]

#149 CanuckDownSouth: Ah. LJ has now fast-forwarded to strips I don’t own; I was wondering about this one, but I thought I’d worked out a system whereby I could discern the difference between her earlier and later signatures. I guess my system doesn’t work any more. Well, damn.

At this rate, it’s not going to take her twenty-nine years to get through twenty-nine years’ worth of material. Michael has actually aged two or three years in the course of the past two months.
Toronto
October 27th, 2008 at 2:25 pm [Reply]

H&J: I can’t believe he used a non-generic joke. And a not-comics-page-friendly one, at that.
TGrum
October 27th, 2008 at 2:36 pm [Reply]

26. odinthor,

The Swallows used to return to Yuma, Arizona every spring too, but have now forsaken us for greener fields.
Splinky
October 27th, 2008 at 2:41 pm [Reply]

I like to think that the use of thought balloons in todays’ MW was accidental and that speech balloons were intended. It helps to explain why, in Panel 3, the woman next to Mary seems to be desperately looking around for an empty seat. Or maybe it’s just the old lady smell.
pccmdoc
October 27th, 2008 at 2:42 pm [Reply]

Eminent danger is correct, because imminent danger would be quick and kind to those of us in the readership world. If it were big, important danger, then someone else’s life might flash before Perfesser…oh god, what am I saying, this cartoon just sucked all around. Maybe even an eminent level of suckiness…oh no 30 years of Shoe is flashing before my eyes, please kill me now.
Splinky
October 27th, 2008 at 2:47 pm [Reply]

Today’s MW actually begs the question of how, when it takes 6 1/2 weeks for a character to e-mail their social security and credit card numbers to identity thieves, it takes the space of one pedantic thought for a plane to get from the gate to above the cloud line.

Also, it begs the question of what world Mary lives in where a male figure skater actually reproduces. But that’s a question for another time.
queek
October 27th, 2008 at 2:53 pm [Reply]

oh how wonderful! Cleats is revisiting the “Monsters vs Aliens” football game from last Halloween! I got a kick out of that week’s worth of strips.
CanuckDownSouth
October 27th, 2008 at 2:59 pm [Reply]

151-Angry Kem LJ fast-forwarded through one collection (which she’d mined in the hybrid). So we got the weird baby-to-instatoddler Lizzie, the wrong ages for Christopher and Richard Nichols, and a jump headlong into another collection.

Why? For Farley the wonder ~~merchandise~~dog’s promised October appearance.
Anonymous
October 27th, 2008 at 3:02 pm [Reply]

FOOB: Haw haw… Elly looks like one of those blind amphibious things adapted to living in caves. Hooo! Crossing Foob with H.P. Lovecraft is not a mutant I’d considered before, but it works, folks.
AmazingThor
October 27th, 2008 at 3:04 pm [Reply]

A3G: “What’s wrong with our city Blaze?” Well, you live in it, for starters.

Curtis: I can’t believe that after the drugs, the guns, and the sex, that now our children face “Yo’ Daddy” Jokes in school. And when was the word “Bray” last used in place of laughter? 1736?

Garfield: Another cartoon that would have been so much funnier without the thought balloon.

H&J: That’s why I always read Herb and Jamaal with a friend.

Sfx: Harry Ape couldn’t have stolen the pearl. He was too busy pimping.
PeteMoss
October 27th, 2008 at 3:04 pm [Reply]

I kinda envy Reeky Rat’s style – living, free and easy in an old Airstream trailer, watching TV alfresco with can of PBR, a bag of Nacho Cheese Doritos, and a chunk of choclate cake. He’s obviously having a good time and doesn’t give a reeky-ass who’s watching (and judging) him. Look at him there with his house shoes and customized rocking chair! That’s just plain traditional values -main street-American dream-livin’. Polilticians really should be pandering to him more. If “Cops” is going to a commercial break, we may seem them doing just that!
Spotted HØrse, Jungle Steed
October 27th, 2008 at 3:04 pm [Reply]

Dang vanishing cookies! #159 was me.
#52 anon: “duck-billed humans” in Shoe? More Lovecraft!
An’ crossing Luann with Elvira! Even more Lovecraft!
Spotted HØrse, Jungle Steed
October 27th, 2008 at 3:09 pm [Reply]

#161 PeteMoss:

He’s obviously having a good time and doesn’t give a reeky-ass who’s watching (and judging) him. Look at him there with his house shoes and customized rocking chair!

Now that you mention it, there’s a certain je ne sais quoi about Reeky’s ‘tude. And I plan on incorporating the expression “don’t give a reeky-ass about…” at the earliest opportunity.
bats :[
October 27th, 2008 at 3:13 pm [Reply]

71. Mr. O’Malley re RMMD: oh, cut us a little slack! There’s been so much inaction in this that we deserve a broken keel, and ball lightning, too!

92. Angry Kem: maybe Mark’s being kept on the straight and narrow by the flock of pelicans, which are a symbol of Christ’s care and compassion for His people (the pelican was said to wound herself and feed her chicks with her own blood to sustain them).
Then again, maybe the pelicans are a somewhat more militant “Christ’s army” sort of thing and are aiming to peck out Sue’s eyes. Either way…

131. ladadog: yep, compared to Tweaks, Lenore is one fine-looking lady of a certain age.

Luann: and why the fark did her friend need Luann’s NECK measurement to make his floss-and-Kleenex / Stevie Nicks homage?!
gh
October 27th, 2008 at 3:17 pm [Reply]

DtM —

I’m sorry that your frog
Got eaten by my dog
But you let it out to play
And it got toad away.

– Dennis
Bootsy
October 27th, 2008 at 3:39 pm [Reply]

bats:[

maybe Mark’s being kept on the straight and narrow by the flock of pelicans, which are a symbol of Christ’s care and compassion for His people (the pelican was said to wound herself and feed her chicks with her own blood to sustain them).

I never knew pelicans were a sign of Christianity, though I am aware of the pelican poking herself until she bleeds for the youngsters. It’s on the state flag of Louisiana with 3 little drops of blood falling onto the lil pelicans.

Course, this is also the state where we had a raging legislative debate last session on the official state cocktail (I kid not). The sazerac was declared the official New Orleans cocktail, but the state has been unable to find one that suits everybody. Guess we’ll all just have to drink until those numbskulls get it right!
Donkey Hotey
October 27th, 2008 at 3:40 pm [Reply]

Great news on the front page of the Lifestyle section of today’s Seattle Times. Cathy is no more! Unfortunately, they’re not replacing it with an awesome new strip, only with Doonesbury, which is being relocated from the Opinion page. (Now I shall begin my anti-FOOB e-mail campaign.)

In other news: I used to like Amos in 9CW, because he adored Edda and I assumed things would eventually come to their logical conclusion. But now I’m really growing to loathe him.

I’ve creeped myself out by realizing I’m looking forward to seeing Luann in her witch outfit.

Monty actually made me laugh when ~~Robotman~~ the little droid guy shot Monty.
Anonymous
October 27th, 2008 at 3:56 pm [Reply]

164:
The neck measurement wasn’t for the dress. It was for the RealDoll.
tymime
October 27th, 2008 at 4:27 pm [Reply]

Josh, how dare you not mention Reeky Rat’s wonderfully tacky pink hair! When I saw it in the actual newspaper yesterday, I was so looking forward to you mentioning it! Waaaahhh…
m1ngle
October 27th, 2008 at 5:02 pm [Reply]

I like the way the author of MW has clearly not been on a plane in the last oh, ten or so years. It is true that you used to be able to stand right at the gate and wave your loved one good bye, but that ended with the security measures implemented with 9/11. Now you drop them off at the front of the airport and drive away.
Donkey Hotey
October 27th, 2008 at 6:03 pm [Reply]

#170 Mingle – Gosh, has it already been ten years since September of 2001? It only seems like about seven. ;-)
Joe Blevins
October 27th, 2008 at 7:20 pm [Reply]

SF&CfK: Shouldn’t we able to see that boy’s legs through the eyes, nose, and mouth of the jack o’ lantern. Where’s his lower body
Muffaroo
October 27th, 2008 at 8:23 pm [Reply]

Tuna @124 – I got your joke, anyway.

Anonymous @168 – You guys should have seen the measurements Gunther took between days.
misskittyfantastico
October 27th, 2008 at 8:28 pm [Reply]

what ever happened to ms. Reeky Rat? Did she leave him all alone after one of his hateful swipes at her during one of his meth binges?
Does this explain why Reeky is inexplicably wearing a magenta wig? Or is it his own hair, or is it made from the hair of the former Ms. Reeky Rat, as some bizarre way of remembering the only beautiful thing left in his sorry existance.
Slylock really should have focused on this disturbing development, instead of fucking bunnies with no toes.
Emily
October 27th, 2008 at 11:04 pm [Reply]

I have to say I’m impressed by the last Mary Worth panel, which seems to be in something like perspective.
Wally Ballou
October 27th, 2008 at 11:25 pm [Reply]

#67 Alfred E. Newman and #119 Brick Bradford:

I thought of using “_ly Ballou”, but that joke doesn’t really translate to the written word, does it? I mean, there’s no microphone cut-off on a notepad.

I also toyed with “Artie Schermerhorn”, but figured that would be even more obscure. Write if you get work!
Thomas C
October 28th, 2008 at 7:16 am [Reply]

Oh those kids and their harmless pranks!

I made a project of Mary Worth’s final panel, in which the already tortured metaphor is extended.
Thomas C
October 28th, 2008 at 7:27 am [Reply]

Darn my semi HTML literacy, I was responding to Joe Blevins @ 172

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