The Comics Curmudgeon

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You know how when Gary Coleman said “bad,” he really meant “good”? It’s kind of like that

Mary Worth, 10/1/09

So, everyone who bet on Scott surviving in the pool: you seem to have come out on top … for now. But will he pull through the surgery? And who exactly is this “Dr. Good” character? Does his name define his character, as the names of beloved Highlights icons Goofus and Gallant do? Or is it one of those ironic names, like when you call a big guy named “Tiny”? “Oh, look, here comes Dr. ‘Good.’ Hey, is that a lower intestine stuck to the bottom of his shoe?” If that’s the case, maybe Scott did die in that shootout after all. “Yeah, just give the corpse to Dr. Good and let him muck around in there for practice; it’s not like he can make things worse, right? And send the live one to Dr. Actually Good.”

Pool bets are now open on how long Adrian will stand there clutching at her chin in gape-mouthed horror. Hours? Days? Weeks? Will someone at least gently push her chin up so that her mouth is closed for the funeral?

Pluggers, 10/1/09

OH MY GOD FIXIE-RIDING HIPSTERS ARE ACTUALLY PLUGGERS EVERYTHING I KNOW IS WRONG

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 1, 2009 at 04:12 pm and is filed under Mary Worth, Pluggers.

154 responses to “You know how when Gary Coleman said “bad,” he really meant “good”? It’s kind of like that”

One-eyed Wolfdog
October 1st, 2009 at 4:14 pm [Reply]

Single speed != fixie, people. Come on now.
Pozzo
October 1st, 2009 at 4:17 pm [Reply]

Isn’t Dr. Good the patent medicine that Cher’s father sold in “Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves”?
Uncle Lumpy
October 1st, 2009 at 4:18 pm [Reply]

A plugger’s bicycle seat longs for the sweet release of death.
zenvelo
October 1st, 2009 at 4:18 pm [Reply]

Has Adrian become Our Lady of Guadalupe? We know she’s virgin because she’s in Mary Worth…
Perky Bird
October 1st, 2009 at 4:20 pm [Reply]

And a Plugger’s car has only one working gear.
Ribinin
October 1st, 2009 at 4:22 pm [Reply]

My point exactly. There is such a thing as coaster brakes. Forward, you add power. Stop and you coast. Backwards pressure and you stop.

Regarding the older generation saying things with double meanings with a straight face, we know exactly what we are doing.
Little A and his Verkokte Magic Ball
October 1st, 2009 at 4:22 pm [Reply]

Luann: How come Luann hasn’t shown that ring to her mother? Or father? Didn’t she tell her mother that Elmont gave her a ring? Isn’t it customary for a young man (or a young munchkin) to ask his beloved’s father for her hand?

Jesus, am I an Old Fart.

Maybe she will find out that he got that ring out of a gum ball machine, after spending 5 or 6 quarters.
Frozen
October 1st, 2009 at 4:26 pm [Reply]

I was under the impression the Pluggers used their cars to cross the street.
Enchilada
October 1st, 2009 at 4:26 pm [Reply]

“Paging Dr. Howard Dr. Fine Dr. Howard. Dr. Howard Dr. Fine Dr. Howard. Dr. Howard Dr. Fine Dr. Howard.”
Poteet
October 1st, 2009 at 4:28 pm [Reply]

# 7 Little A — Thank you. The presentation and keeping of a supposedly-very-expensive ring should have been part of the story that Luann told her mother. If it had been my mother, such itty-bitty details would have been coaxed or dragged out of me. Call me an Even Older Fart.
Bryan
October 1st, 2009 at 4:28 pm [Reply]

I had thought there were young urban hipsters who rode fixed-gear bikes. I remember reading that somewhere and now I’m glad it’s true. Is it also true that these bikes have no brakes whatsoever?
Poteet
October 1st, 2009 at 4:31 pm [Reply]

Many comic-strip children could be seen as incentives to use birth control. But for the past few days, my personal award in that category has gone to the offspring in STONE SOUP. Ugh.
Patrick
October 1st, 2009 at 4:32 pm [Reply]

Why would it matter how many gears Pluggers’ bikes have? It’s not like any of them would bother to pedal the things.
Gabacho
October 1st, 2009 at 4:32 pm [Reply]

Josh – I think you meant CHIN Will someone at least gently push her chip up so that her mouth is closed for the funeral?
PeteMoss
October 1st, 2009 at 4:32 pm [Reply]

This Plugger obviously escaped from the circus, just like that Larson cartoon with the bear in a tou-tou. (2-2?)
NoahSnark
October 1st, 2009 at 4:33 pm [Reply]

From today’s comic, it appears a bicycle seat is the preferred tool of a Plugger proctologist.
zamros
October 1st, 2009 at 4:33 pm [Reply]

I think Pluggers is pretty clever today; Pluggers don’t know that single speeds are The Cool Thing nowadays. So, Pluggers are so excessively unhip that they cycle backwards through the whole spectrum back to fully unrealized hipness. And yet, through all this, they don’t replace toilet paper rolls in the dispenser. Pluggers!
PeteMoss
October 1st, 2009 at 4:37 pm [Reply]

Enchilada @ 9
Are you implying that Adrian looks like Moe Howard? Because that’s just mean. She looks like Emo Phillips.
Ukulele Ike
October 1st, 2009 at 4:38 pm [Reply]

Doc Adrian achieves satori in panel two, today. Man, I didn’t see that one coming.
Sequitur
October 1st, 2009 at 4:39 pm [Reply]

MW: It kind of looks like Adrian is trying to get something out of her mouth. Perhaps her foot?

Pluggers – I’m surprised those tires aren’t squashed flat.
Foolkiller
October 1st, 2009 at 4:39 pm [Reply]

Everyone knows Dr. Feel Good. He’s the one tht makes you feel alright. He’s gonna make Scott a Frankenstein.
Hogan
October 1st, 2009 at 4:40 pm [Reply]

Dr. Good’s working on him! Where by “working on him” I mean “harvesting any reusable organs.”
PeteMoss
October 1st, 2009 at 4:41 pm [Reply]

MW – Meanwhile, in panel 1, Two-Face makes his escape.
Sequitur
October 1st, 2009 at 4:42 pm [Reply]

Calling Dr. Good…
Calico
October 1st, 2009 at 4:45 pm [Reply]

#254, 261 – She’s just fine. This was years ago.
Thank God it wasn’t a really toxic growth.
Never, ever, eat a mushroom from the wild unless you have taken at least a few courses and actually gone out with an expert who can explain the minutae of these odd little tricksters.
BigTed
October 1st, 2009 at 4:46 pm [Reply]

So “Santaroymart” — which I imagine to be a tiny corner market selling lottery tickets and $4 Power Bars, and which probably got its ridiculous name because the previous owners had put up a sign saying “Santeria” so half the letters were already there — has not just one, but multiple, warehouses? I think the cops need to forget about the current drug case, gather up anyone who isn’t anesthetized under the care of Dr. Good, and go investigate what is probably a front for an elephant- and/or tank-smuggling operation of major proportions.
PeteMoss
October 1st, 2009 at 4:48 pm [Reply]

Well, really, he’s Dr. Goodenough. Dr. Adequate is assisting and Dr. Meets-expectations is administering anesthesia.
Calico
October 1st, 2009 at 4:48 pm [Reply]

Re: Ythread posts-so sorry! : )

A Plugger’s bike is one sitting in the back shed, rusted and unused since 1975.

And gosh, Adrian could’ve had a V8(tm)!
Cyranetta
October 1st, 2009 at 4:50 pm [Reply]

MW: Given Adrian’s apparent tendency to go radioactive upon learning bad news, one would think that the personnel of her hospital would take the precaution of of donning some sort of HazMat suit when making such announcements.
Josh
October 1st, 2009 at 4:51 pm [Reply]

#14 Gabacho –

Ooops! I fixed.

I also need to apologize to faithful reader yellojkt. Generally, I try not to read the comments on a day’s comics until after I’ve already written my post. It does happen that I sometimes end up repeating jokes written in the comments earlier this way, which, I swear, is a “great minds think alike” thing; I did it with the fixie bit today to yellojkt, and I think we even used the exact same wording. GREAT MINDS, people, (And yes, I know not all one-speeds are fixies, let me make my little hipster plugger joke in peace, damn it.)

Josh
BigTed
October 1st, 2009 at 4:57 pm [Reply]

The hipster lifestyle — slow bicycles, cheap beer, closets full of bowling shirts, raggedy flannel and John Deere caps — basically is the Plugger lifestyle. The only difference is that Pluggers don’t know they’re supposed to be living it ironically. Because they’re bears.
crazyjerseygirl
October 1st, 2009 at 4:57 pm [Reply]

#11 Brian:
“Fixies” generally don’t have any brakes because they are used in velodrome racing (which is totally awesome!). I didn’t know hipsters were riding them now, or pluggers for that matter.

Ok I’m going away now~Crazy
Digger
October 1st, 2009 at 4:57 pm [Reply]

I really need to start getting in here earlier. I had a nice Dr. Feel Good joke lined up and I got beaten to the punch. Then, I’m all set to talk about how Pluggers’ bikes come from 1973 and Calico essentially says the same thing. Stupid job, keeps me away from the important stuff.

I will note that Adrian’s response to horrible news is to frantically lick her fingers. Maybe she forgot to wash her hands after lunch and she’s licking the rib sauce off. “Mmmmm, damn shame about Scott, but you can really taste the mesquite!”
Johnny Knuckles
October 1st, 2009 at 4:59 pm [Reply]

Santaroymart? Really? Like some kind of rival of Wal•Mart? Do Santa Royal’s Wal•Mart haters frequent what may be Mary Worth’s favorite shopping destination? So many questions and really not much interest once reads and revises Pluggers: A Plugger’s bicycle has just one gear. And he’s riding it.”
Carbunicle
October 1st, 2009 at 4:59 pm [Reply]

#30 made my heart all happy inside for some reason. And no one has ever adequately defined a fixie for me but I know one when I see them at the bottom of a hill because all the dinosaur-burners are cursing like sailors with Tourette’s.
Sequitur
October 1st, 2009 at 5:00 pm [Reply]

Are there really any hipsters out there that aren’t Pluggers now?
Trent
October 1st, 2009 at 5:00 pm [Reply]

MW: I’m actually more interested in SantaRoyMart than I am with the Scott-centered shootout/surgery. Does SantaRoyMart offer low, low prices? Blue light specials? Double coupons? I’m digging through my Sunday paper to find the circular now…
Susan
October 1st, 2009 at 5:01 pm [Reply]

MW: Looks like Adrian is eating the same stuff that Scott was snorting when he hit the ground the other day. Dr. Feel Good’s orders.
One-eyed Wolfdog
October 1st, 2009 at 5:01 pm [Reply]

Well, it’s just that the “pretentiously and pointlessly using equipment that is really only properly suited to track cycling” bit is actually the part that makes the hipster fixed gear thing annoying. Tooling around on an old coaster-brake beater with a milk crate and a flashlight tied to the handle bars is pluggerish. Zipping around being a tool on a shiny retro fixed gear restoration is hipsterish. They don’t really overlap in any way.
Dingo
October 1st, 2009 at 5:03 pm [Reply]

First they came for Farley, and I did not speak out—because I was not a dog;
Then they came for Andy Lippincott, and I did not speak out—because I did not have AIDS;
Then they came for Lisa, and I did not speak out—because I was not funky;
Then they came for Lucy McKenzie, and I did not speak out—because I did not have Alzheimer’s;
Then they came for Detective Scott—and there was no one left to speak out because everyone left was boring.
Nekrotzar
October 1st, 2009 at 5:04 pm [Reply]

After Adrien is informed that her fiancée has been shot and is at death’s door, her spidey sense begins to tingle to let her know that something is wrong. And that is actually more usefull than Peter Parker’s spidey sense.
teddytoad
October 1st, 2009 at 5:06 pm [Reply]

Panels like today’s Mary Worth really are what keep me swooning in love with this strip, the triumph of the bland and charmingly inept. So, we have the halo of shock radiating from Adrian in panel 2, which really should accompany “Oh no!” rather than “Where is he?” — but best of all, the sere anulus of horror & inquiry bends around and makes room for Adrian’s left ear, something like a child’s tracing of his stubby little hand to draw a turkey. Such lovely tiny flourishes evoke all the sunburned asininity of a retirement town named after an Oldsmobile model — a sainted Oldsmobile model — that support stores with names like “Santaroymart.”
indrifan
October 1st, 2009 at 5:08 pm [Reply]

Just, wow. I’ve only been skimming MW and reading the commentary, and I thought SantaRoyMart was something some wiseass commenter made up. Boy, is my face salmon-square-colored!
Sequitur
October 1st, 2009 at 5:09 pm [Reply]

I know the question that Adrian must be pondering right now, “What would Margo Do?”
teddytoad
October 1st, 2009 at 5:09 pm [Reply]

er, *supports.
teddytoad
October 1st, 2009 at 5:10 pm [Reply]

and, er, *annulus.
bats :[
October 1st, 2009 at 5:11 pm [Reply]

I’m so excited! Not only did my WWMD bracelet arrive in the mail today, but:
1. It took only one stamp to mail it! (and it was an Angry Maggie Simpson stamp, too!)
2. I have Josh’s autograph (I knew him when…)
3. I have a WWMD bracelet!

Let’s not forget that there are other worthy and important causes out there. October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (I wish I liked the color pink more), and aside from all the medical reminders, here’s something a little more fun (I hope). If not, just pretend it is and call it, courtesy of buckyswife, “Parade o’ Tatas”…
cj
October 1st, 2009 at 5:11 pm [Reply]

Worth:

Hey, my GP is Dr. Good. Small world.

But anyway, why are Adrian’s hands holding up a balloon? Given the pace of MW conversations, I guess it’s possible someone beheaded her, placed a drawn-on balloon atop her and got away without anyone noticing. That’d make it Dick Tracy for creative, intelligent people.
StrangeRover
October 1st, 2009 at 5:11 pm [Reply]

..um… “Santoroymart”?…. Really??
Sequitur
October 1st, 2009 at 5:15 pm [Reply]

47. bats :[
Wow, what a collage! You forgot Milk Duds.
Emily K [RiffChick]
October 1st, 2009 at 5:19 pm [Reply]

Re: the Pluggers caption – before I even read your comment I was thinking the exact same thing.

In Philly those bikes – and those hipsters – are fucking everywhere. I can’t stand it. At least they’ll find a place for themselves in 30 yrs when they turn into ~~old furries~~ Pluggers.
gnome de blog
October 1st, 2009 at 5:21 pm [Reply]

44 Sequitur – COTW.
majolo
October 1st, 2009 at 5:22 pm [Reply]

Pluggers: I’m intrigued that the bike’s pedals seem to be mounted at a 120 degree angle.
Iconoclast
October 1st, 2009 at 5:24 pm [Reply]

Adrian is so upset that she sprouted Gil Thorp hands in the last panel!
Mary Worthless
October 1st, 2009 at 5:26 pm [Reply]

I suspect, as an attempted tie-in to the new Austin Powers movie, we’ll learn Dr Good is the long-lost brother of Dr Evil

and it is me or is Adrian in panel one a dead-ringer for the youngest daughter in “Mrs Doubtfire”??
Doug Puthoff
October 1st, 2009 at 5:31 pm [Reply]

Alt-FC caption for 10-1: What, Dad? You’ve grown tired to taking pictures of Jeffy’s @$$?
Doug Puthoff
October 1st, 2009 at 5:34 pm [Reply]

10-1 Real-Life Adventures: What his this strip got against males?
buckyswife
October 1st, 2009 at 5:34 pm [Reply]

47 bats :[ —Excellent! If I hadn’t already done my annual duty, that would certainly inspire me to do so!
Alan's Addiction
October 1st, 2009 at 5:35 pm [Reply]

I’m not convinced Detective Scott survived, and the possibilities are still limitless. I’m hoping that his body is unbelievably damaged, and a shadowy figure states to the assembled doctors; “Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology.” If it’s too much to hope that Detective Scott will be turned into some sort of cool super-human cyborg, I’d like to think that the weird lines emanating from Adrian indicate some sort of latent ability to kill people with her mind. Or something. What the hell do those lines indicate?! They’re obnoxious and they serve no other purpose than drawing attention to Adrian’s face, and the FDA strongly discourages gazing upon her visage for longer than ten seconds.
Today’s “Pluggers” is a blatant lie. We all know that real Pluggers avoid all forms of physical exertion whenever possible, in order to preserve their perfectly rotund physiques.
P
October 1st, 2009 at 5:36 pm [Reply]

MW: Dr. Good was the guy who reconnected with his former girlfriend Anna at their 25 year high school reunion. They married in Las Vegas and Anna was distraught because she thought they could not have a child. Then they became pregant and everything was happy happy joy joy.
sarahtheawesome
October 1st, 2009 at 5:46 pm [Reply]

Don’t be ridiculous! Dr. Good’s first name isn’t Feel; it’s Brian, he married his high-school sweetheart Anna Tieg after meeting her at their high school reunion (in possibly the fastest-moving Mary Worth plot ever), she thought she was infertile but then got pregnant, saving them from ever having to have a serious conversation about the matter. I hope Scott enjoys his “excellent bedside manner!”

Also, I remembered all that from memory and I wasn’t reading this blog when that story happened, so I must remember that just from the comic strips. I’m going to go shoot myself now.
It's time to pay the price
October 1st, 2009 at 5:46 pm [Reply]

Adrian’s hands seem to have morphed to the exact same size and shape of her face. Perhaps that’s her body’s of telling her to cover that ugly blubbering mug.
Susan
October 1st, 2009 at 5:56 pm [Reply]

@ 60 and 61:

OMG, I forgot all about that story line!!!!!!!!! It all comes full circle!
Muffaroo
October 1st, 2009 at 5:57 pm [Reply]

(First two posted yesterthread, possibly by hitting ‘post’ instead of ‘preview’ — duhr!)

TheDiva @y231 – The plugger sure looks awkward on that bike, doesn’t he? I figure he lost his license for repeatedly driving drunk, or maybe the floor of his piece-a-crap truck rusted through completely so he can’t drive it any more without an excess of ‘plugger a/c’.

Niall @y239 – I have the sheet music for “Laugh, Clown, Laugh,” the popular song that Bugs Bunny sings a snatch of in BIG TOP BUNNY. About the only memorable part is the part he sings, and probably that’s the reason.

New Rule – Those who don’t read past comments on the same day’s strips are condemned to repeat them.

Dingo @40 – Andy Lippincott went to Cartoon Heaven before Farley. Still a great comment, though.
Baka Gaijin
October 1st, 2009 at 6:00 pm [Reply]

#40 Dingo: Well done, well done my friend.

#41 Nekrotzar: Is her spidey sense telling her to watch out for the French bread-bearing brute just off panel?

#47 bats :[ : Really, showing “Knockers” isn’t really going to help the cause. Those flailing things are gonna put someone’s eye out, probably Connie’s.

#64 Muffaroo on New Rule: That Plugger looks awkward on his bike. What?
Naked Bunny with a Whip
October 1st, 2009 at 6:10 pm [Reply]

MW: Emo Phillips sure seems upset about Scott.
Red Greenback
October 1st, 2009 at 6:12 pm [Reply]

Adrian has the same nervous habit that Mary Katherine Gallagher has.
MoldyApples
October 1st, 2009 at 6:22 pm [Reply]

#47: Chest Warts!
SickleYield
October 1st, 2009 at 6:22 pm [Reply]

You know, if you’d come up with more colors for the WWMD bracelets, I’d send more money. Now that I have mine, I want a green one. And I can’t imagine Margo wouldn’t demand whatever colors she felt like wearing. :D
Entophile
October 1st, 2009 at 6:24 pm [Reply]

I think Adrian has little to worry about as her shriek lines radiating from her head will soon activate Mary’s “meddle-sense.” Mary will sling around the city from her “web-’o-lies” technology to save the day! Oh wait…am I confusing comics?
maryunworthy
October 1st, 2009 at 6:30 pm [Reply]

#44 silly, no, that is the question that Mary Worth is pondering.
DAS
October 1st, 2009 at 6:33 pm [Reply]

I assume that “Good” is not a reference (ironic or otherwise) to Dr. Good’s medical abilities but to his moral stature. I.e. Dr. Good is a member of the elect, chosen by Mary Worth herself as a worthy person.

Thus, if Mary Worth wills it so, Dr. Good will be able to save Scott’s life. If Mary Worth thinks that Funky Cancerbean is healthy, moral instruction, Dr. Good will not save Scott’s life as that wouldn’t be good in Mary’s eyes.
maryunworthy
October 1st, 2009 at 6:34 pm [Reply]

Can we have a pool for how long before Mary Worth makes an appearance at Adrian’s side – and how many platitudes she will dispense?

Some for Ms. Worth to consider – “Tomorrow is another day”, and “What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger”. And, “Floss twice daily”.
Bebo Pryson
October 1st, 2009 at 6:35 pm [Reply]

This is quite the paradox in the Pluggers’ Universe. What will happen when their Luddite-esque aversion to technology collides with their obstinate refusal to exert any physical energy for any reason that isn’t foraging for crumbs at the bottom of a Pringles can? I can almost sense the layers of the Plugosphere enveloping upon themselves. Ahhh. Smells like fried turkey.
Josh
October 1st, 2009 at 6:47 pm [Reply]

#60/#61 — OH MY GOD HOW COULD I HAVE FORGOTTEN THAT DR. GOOD WAS ANNA’S PARAMOUR? I hang my head in shame. I AM NOT WORTHY TO COMMENT ON MARY WORTH.

Josh
LaziestManOnMars
October 1st, 2009 at 6:49 pm [Reply]

Dr Good? The puerile shit writing of “Mary Worth” is endlessly entertaining. How creatively bankrupt must you be to think “I need a name that will inspire hope in the audience” and come up with “Dr. Good?” I think the fellows shooting the police were Gary Evil and the Badguy brothers.
yellojkt
October 1st, 2009 at 6:49 pm [Reply]

#30 Josh – No apology necessary. Rather than ‘great minds’, it is usually more the infinite monkeys theory that applies if I’m involved.
Anne
October 1st, 2009 at 6:55 pm [Reply]

Is it just me or do the shock/horror lines radiating from Adrain’s head create a Charlie Brown’s head silhouette around her?
Andrew
October 1st, 2009 at 6:59 pm [Reply]

Ah, Adrian… Patron Saint of Bad Relationship Choices.
AeroSquid
October 1st, 2009 at 7:02 pm [Reply]

MW: While today’s poignant scene is playing out, a matter/anti-matter entity is roaming the halls in panel 1.
Calico
October 1st, 2009 at 7:08 pm [Reply]

#47 – Awesome collage.
Go Bats! Go October!
Calico
October 1st, 2009 at 7:10 pm [Reply]

#73 – And, oh, for Adrian –
let’s not forget “Screw me once, shame on you.
Screw me twice, shame on me.”
Yoo hoo, Dr. Cory!
cheech wizard
October 1st, 2009 at 7:12 pm [Reply]

Wait, Pluggers are Dutch? Does this mean they also frequent hash bars and engage in legalized prostitution? Suddenly, my whole world is turning upside down.
cheech wizard
October 1st, 2009 at 7:15 pm [Reply]

Adrian in Panel 2 definitely looks like she’s straight out of Jack Chick – meaning that her primary worry isn’t that he got killed, but that she didn’t get to tell him the good news about Jesus before he died. And when he gets to Hell, Mary will rip off her mask and go “Ha-ha-ha – you didn’t accept me as your own personal life guide and meddler! Hah-ha-ha-ha-ha!”
AeroSquid
October 1st, 2009 at 7:30 pm [Reply]

84. cheech wizard: Get it right: It’s HAW HAW HAW !

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3484/3973220206_44864dee06_o.jpg
Esther Blodgett
October 1st, 2009 at 7:33 pm [Reply]

#78 Anne – Ooooh, creepy! I see it, too!
AeroSquid
October 1st, 2009 at 7:33 pm [Reply]

My mid-life Chick crisis:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2474/3972460605_43a0cfbbe4_o.jpg
gnome de blog
October 1st, 2009 at 7:41 pm [Reply]

Dr. Adrian Cory is the granddaughter of Joe Btfsplk (on her mother’s side), and she was born in Westview, Ohio. Every boyfriend she’s had since junior high school has either gone to prison, gotten shot or died of cancer.
The Great Ka Floopa Gush
October 1st, 2009 at 7:46 pm [Reply]

If Scott were lucky, he would have gotten Dr. Great, Dr. Excellent or even Dr. Superb. But he got stuck with just Dr. Good.
Sequitur
October 1st, 2009 at 7:54 pm [Reply]

75. Josh
But I bet it won’t stop you!
Karmyn
October 1st, 2009 at 7:59 pm [Reply]

Recieved my Margo bracelet today!

Mary Worth is back to somewhat boring. Just go ahead and kill Scott. She’ll find somebody new to bore to death.
pyano
October 1st, 2009 at 8:05 pm [Reply]

Luann: To take is not to give if you want it.
Heavy E
October 1st, 2009 at 8:09 pm [Reply]

MW: “Oh I’m sorry it’s not Dr. Good, I meant it’s Dr. Recovering Alcoholic Going Through a Bitter Divorce, but he is working on him.”
cheech wizard
October 1st, 2009 at 8:10 pm [Reply]

85 – Aerosquid – actually, I should have said Satan will rip off his mask and be Mary Worth. That would have been more terrifying.
AeroSquid
October 1st, 2009 at 8:14 pm [Reply]

94. cheech wizard: Either way seems to have a Twilight Zone appeal. =D
maryunworthy
October 1st, 2009 at 8:27 pm [Reply]

Of course, Scott could have goten the Plugger doc Fair T. Middlen
maryunworthy
October 1st, 2009 at 8:28 pm [Reply]

whoops – I meant he could have “gotten” the Plugger doc…
Ed Dravecky
October 1st, 2009 at 8:38 pm [Reply]

Spider-Man once again demonstrates that he has the proportional ability to feign unconsciousness of a spider. I wonder how often he uses this skill when Mary Jane wants a little loving?
sugarpie
October 1st, 2009 at 9:38 pm [Reply]

bats :[ , 47 I’m loving the Parade O’ Tatas! Sorry you didn’t add Walt Duncan’s or Ian Cameron’s manboobs (I guess the term is now officially ‘moobs’). *Sigh* maybe next October.

My apartment manager is getting sort of freaked that I’m checking the mailbox two or three times a day, even though I’m pretty sure they ain’t gonna be delivering my mail at two in the morning.

Maybe you got my WWMD bracelet by mistake? Was the envelope addressed to Sugarpie by any chance? No? Okay, just checking. Undoubtedly it will be in the mail box first thing tomorrow morning.
Old School Allie Cat
October 1st, 2009 at 9:39 pm [Reply]

Luann About once a year I point this out, so forgive me for being tiresome.

Luann became popular back in the mid 80’s. I know this because when I was at camp, my mother and my best friend’s mother both sent us copies of a strip compilation book. Because Luann was the same age as us, and so wholesome. We were 12. Just like Luann.

That was 23 years ago.

In that time, Luann has aged four years. But in my mind, Brad’s nearing 40, making his escapades with Toni all the creepier, and Luann is, like me, scaring the hell out of 35 .

Bitch.
zerowolf
October 1st, 2009 at 9:41 pm [Reply]

Is Adrian’s horror from learning Scott has been shot or that Dr. Good is the surgeon?
Bryan
October 1st, 2009 at 9:46 pm [Reply]

At least he’s not getting operated on by Dr. Giggles.
Or Dr. Satan.
Or Dr. Herbert West.
sam malone
October 1st, 2009 at 9:48 pm [Reply]

Damn Adrian goes from buying the white dress to buying the black dress if Dr. Good goes bad.
t007
October 1st, 2009 at 9:58 pm [Reply]

Talk about over-exaggerated gestures! Geeze Doc, get a grip!
Amateur
October 1st, 2009 at 10:03 pm [Reply]

I say the lucky winners of the “day of arrival at hospital” pool should each be awarded a shopping spree at SantaRoyMart.
AhClem
October 1st, 2009 at 10:10 pm [Reply]

MW – They tried paging Dr. Morgan, but he was off watching gladiator movies with that stowaway kid from the boat.
tb4000
October 1st, 2009 at 10:10 pm [Reply]

Pluggers don’t do any form of cardiovascular exercise, so the fact that the bike itself exists in this strip is already going against continuity.
Twisted_Colour
October 1st, 2009 at 10:12 pm [Reply]

Adrian: Dr. Good? I don’t know him.

Nurse: Yes. Dr. Ebeneezer Good. His patients seem quite happy with him…. He’s from Amsterdam, you know.
Nekrotzar
October 1st, 2009 at 10:15 pm [Reply]

Udders??????
commodorejohn
October 1st, 2009 at 10:40 pm [Reply]

#102 Bryan – I would pay good money to see Herbert West make a crossover appearance in Mary Worth. The big difference would be that the malformed horrors that drag him off to his doom at the end would be Mary and the Charterstone Patrol.
hrwilliams
October 1st, 2009 at 11:21 pm [Reply]

Adrian, in order to join Scott immediately in surgery, attempts to remove her own head.
dale
October 1st, 2009 at 11:28 pm [Reply]

“Never apologize – sign of weakness.”

Can anybody tell me who said that in what movie?
I can’t shake the feeling that Lee Marvin was the actor. I also think I’m wrong.
Edgy DC
October 1st, 2009 at 11:31 pm [Reply]

Way to go Scott. First black guy in Santa Royale history and your life is in his hands.
Muffaroo
October 1st, 2009 at 11:35 pm [Reply]

Didn’t I hear someone say Dr. Perfect was the enemy of Dr. Good?
Grandstanding Oddball
October 1st, 2009 at 11:56 pm [Reply]

I’m concerned that Adrian is going to drool all over her pretty white blazer if she doesn’t close her mouth real quick-like. I’d say “lab coat”, but a lab coat’s buttons don’t stop at the waist.
Carbunicle
October 1st, 2009 at 11:57 pm [Reply]

re 112. According to the IMDb, it was John Wayne’s character in She Wore a Yellow Ribbon.
Jamus The Bartender
October 2nd, 2009 at 12:01 am [Reply]

75: Well who else is gonna keep track? Anyhoo, Cassandra tells me the doctor was the same one she used to have so Scott is gonna be just fine…..but she thought it was Dr. Feelgood……….
Poteet
October 2nd, 2009 at 12:17 am [Reply]

10/2

JP — Zowie. I haven’t seen anyone dress like Gloria since Copper Calhoon last appeared in STEVE CANYON several weeks ago.

MT — Rusty has friends? Are any of them human?

MW — Well, that clears up everything nicely.

SF — I really do not understand why farmers would be considered the ultimate in depressing documentary subjects. Living in rural Iowa, I can testify that some farmers do very well for themselves. Others don’t. That’s true of many occupations. Personally, I think a far more depressing documentary could be made about Spider-Man.
Josh
October 2nd, 2009 at 12:18 am [Reply]

#99 sugarpie — email me at jfruh@jfruh.com w/your real name, and I’ll look up when yer bracelet would have been sent out. If it got et by the mail, I can send you one of the spares.

Josh
gnome de blog
October 2nd, 2009 at 12:29 am [Reply]

112, 116: The character’s name was Capt. Nathan Brittles. Wayne should have won an Oscar for that movie.

118 Poteet: Copper Calhoun. Exactly. Gloria’s either wearing a corset or she’s gonna get awfully tired sucking her tummy in all day.
Carly
October 2nd, 2009 at 12:49 am [Reply]

Pluggers: Maybe the message is “Pluggers don’t ride bikes often enough to need fancy shit like gears, or brakes.”

Mary Worth: Today, for the hospital fundraiser pageant, Dr. Corey will be reenacting famous paintings. First up: The Scream.” (It is Dr. Corey, right? I can’t be assed to actually double check her last name.)
Poteet
October 2nd, 2009 at 1:14 am [Reply]

10/2

9CL — And I just threw up again.

DT — If there has ever been a stupider motive for murder in the history of the world, I haven’t heard of it.

GA — My original mild affection for you is utterly gone, Gertie. But I still hope that when you fall over the railing, your death will be instant and painless.
KarMann
October 2nd, 2009 at 1:19 am [Reply]

MC + WoId = Same smurf, different day.
ralph
October 2nd, 2009 at 1:19 am [Reply]

Has anyone kept count of the sequence of Mary Worth panels and daily strips in this storyline that have no Mary Worth in them? Is this a record?
True Fable
October 2nd, 2009 at 1:50 am [Reply]

Rednecks Pluggers are Mer-Chicks! Where the hell did the Chicken Lady get Human Feet?!?

SFx Today’s Drawing is what happens when a kid crosses a Plugger with Mike Doonesbury.

Cathy Must Die No, I really mean it. What a waste of space.

Fist O Justice Theater I strongly doubt that Rusty’s friends believe anything he tells them.
“And then Mark punched the hair right off the guy’s face!”
“Suuuure he did, Rusty. Suuuure. Just like you say there are talking 30 -foot tall owls in the forest. Yeah right. You’re getting a nuclear wedgie, creep.”

Mary, Missing in Meddle “Vital areas were spared” on Scott, meaning his Charterstone Aryan features were not rearranged, but his privates, Rod and The Twins, have gone AWOL.
Farley's Revenge
October 2nd, 2009 at 2:02 am [Reply]

9CL: I’m not a violent person but I find myself thinking waterboarding would be too kind to those two, given the torture inflicted on those who read this strip.

MC: Lily’s observations reminded me of a Robot Chicken episode about the Smurfs. At one point in the sketch, Papa Smurf uttered the word that has become famous in our house: “Mothersmurfer!”

MW: “It could have been worse. Vital areas were spared.” Vital areas? Is this guy a graduate of the Herb&Jamal School of Medicine? “Well, he lost a kidney, spleen, most of his colon, half a lung, and he suffered brain damage from the lack of oxygen caused by the blood loss, but we managed to spare his dick, so you’re golden, Adrian.”

I love the mini-stethescope choker he’s wearing so readers will know that yes, this is a serious doctor, just in case we didn’t know this.

Good to see Adrian’s stopped clawing the skin off her face. Unfortunately the damage has caused her mouth to shift to the left side of her face so it is no longer beneath her nose, not that anyone will notice because they would be staring at that godawful haircut.
bats :[
October 2nd, 2009 at 2:10 am [Reply]

Gosh, Poteet, I haven’t even seen 9CL or DT yet, and I’m salivating with anticipation (well, no).
I’m just having fun at the expense of others.
Sister Sestina
October 2nd, 2009 at 2:31 am [Reply]

Naked Bunny with a Whip @66 — “Emo” isn’t upset, but praying “Lord, please break the laws of the universe for my convenience!” (Sorry, but that’s my favorite Emo Philips line and I couldn’t resist. Though come to think of it, isn’t that the prayer of pretty damn near all continuity strip writers?)
bats :[
October 2nd, 2009 at 2:46 am [Reply]

A weird observation from doing the MW mashups (prompted by news that a healthy woman, most likely in her late 30s/early 40s, whom I didn’t know personally but is in the same medieval recreation group I’m in (yeah, the initials are S.C.A.) has just died from H1N1 after a two-week-long fight), is that these medicos get all sorts of fun from sticking their hands on their faces and near their mouths — heck, they’re probably rotor-rooting their noses and rubbing their eyes off-panel. One of the big preventatives has been to avoid touching one’s face/mucous membranes to avoid the spread of flu viruses. But then, I’m not a doctor…
Mibbitmaker
October 2nd, 2009 at 2:51 am [Reply]

The 10/2 Extreme Sarcasm Comments:

9CL: Ooh, keen judge of character, that guy!

Archie: Veronica = a dog? Nice one, Tic-Tac-ToeHead! Now, apologize to the dog…
Mibbitmaker
October 2nd, 2009 at 2:58 am [Reply]

10/2:

Garfield: Hey, Jon stole that from Archie’s hair!

H&J: “… from 1985.”

MT: Hell, I don’t believe any of it, and I read it!

MW: “…and then I gotta see one of your doctors — I think I’m breaking my own jaw here…!”

OBH: “You kids are too young for S&M, anyway!”

RMMD: The mama’s in the Dell, the mama’s in the Dell, Hi-ho the merry-o…

SF: That’s nothin’! You should read Funky Winkerbean sometime!”

Other Coast: That’s okay, it’ll get rescued from the fire by adult Michael Patterson.
Farley's Revenge
October 2nd, 2009 at 3:05 am [Reply]

#129<bats:[: The habits of the medical types we’ve seen so far in the SR hospital has their infection control staff weeping with despair and their lawyers permanently employed dealing with lawsuits from patients who acquired some new and hitherto unknown disease from staffers who didn’t get the memo that they needed to update their skills to reflect at least the last 20 years of infection control practices.

As an aside: As patients, we have to be ever vigilant. While the medical staff may be handwashing and glove wearing fiends, the other staffers may not. When my immune system was compromised and I was on isolation, I had a physical therapist walk into my room, hacking and sneezing from some God only knows what plague. I refused to allow her to step one foot farther into my room(this was declared with a raised voice). She got huffy. I didn’t care. It wasn’t her health at risk.

If I had been in the SR hospital, I’d probably be dead now and ghostwriting this post.
Farley's Revenge
October 2nd, 2009 at 3:06 am [Reply]

I’d also learn to preview.
dale
October 2nd, 2009 at 3:13 am [Reply]

116 Carbunicle, 120 gnome de blog

John Wayne was, of course, my second guess. I recognize the character’s name. There is a scene with an abusive cavalry officer/noncom, an old Indian chief, and cigars. At the end, the chief says, “We go now, Nathan.”

Apologizing isn’t necessarily a sign of weakness; it could be a trick.
True Fable
October 2nd, 2009 at 4:44 am [Reply]

#127 bats :[ – a testament to your power, my dear: I read your mashup with Funky Winkerstinker, and for a moment my mind whirled in amazement that the newspapers would allow the word “apeshit” on their pages. I just bought your parody as the original thing, at least until I realized that even on his best day ever, Tom Batiuk could never be that naturally funny.

Brava!
MolyBendum
October 2nd, 2009 at 6:25 am [Reply]

Archie – ”Say, Jughead, remember last Friday when I said it was “kind of sad” that your dog waits for you every day? I’m going to reference that right now out of nowhere, except now I think it’s hilarious!”
“Ah yes, I do remember, Archie. Let me counter by saying: even though we spend half our time together and have been in high school for over 70 years, I have apparently never noticed that you “always” hang out waiting for Veronica by her locker!”
“Funny you should say that, because it’s like I’m doing what your dog does….I’m surprised you don’t see that similarity!”

Cathy – See True Fable at #125.

Marmaduke – Timmy distracted the rabid beast with a hot dog as Sally repeatedly jabbed it into submission with a cattle prod.

Rose is Rose – This makes me revulsively despise merry-go-rounds, babies and people with Proteus Syndrome.
Karmyn
October 2nd, 2009 at 6:28 am [Reply]

Is anything going to happen in Rex Morgan anytime soon? Nothing exciting has happened since June appeared in a bikini and Rex ignored her. Bring back Nikki. At least his hair was interesting.
John C Fremont
October 2nd, 2009 at 6:37 am [Reply]

MW – Dr. Good? Well, with a face like a very young Karl Malden, he can’t be all bad.

And no, Dr. Good is not the nemesis of Dr. Horrible. Besides, “Dr. Good, Corporate Tool” just doesn’t have that ring to it.

Um, I’m just gonna hang out with Moist over here in the corner now…
LITTLE A. OF THE GRAND CONCOURSE JUNGLE PATROL
October 2nd, 2009 at 6:42 am [Reply]

GA: My Bronx Crystal Ball tells me — the voice off stage is — Earl E. Bird himself!

What a surprise.
LITTLE A. OF THE GRAND CONCOURSE JUNGLE PATROL
October 2nd, 2009 at 6:43 am [Reply]

DT: Who writes this shit?

You should pardon my Bronx vernacular.
One-eyed Wolfdog
October 2nd, 2009 at 6:50 am [Reply]

H&J: This is apparently another instance of the phenomenon where the text (”cell phone”) has become dangerously specific, and the artwork has to save the day by actively degrading the object in question back down to an unrecognizable geometrical abstraction. It’s effective. It works. If this technique is allowed to reach its potential apex, we will one day be reading a strip that appears to document the adventures of Oblate Spheroid and Blobby Object. I’m not sure how you can make an oblate spheroid appear to be vaguely gay, but I await enlightenment.
Willy
October 2nd, 2009 at 6:57 am [Reply]

Actually, pluggers’ bikes have 18 gears, they just use only one.
Lesser Whark
October 2nd, 2009 at 7:13 am [Reply]

#126 Farley’s Revenge: The only way I can interpret Adrien’s pose is that she’s just pasted a new mouth onto her face. The only way she can display emotion is with a series of adhesive mouths; see yesterday for another example. Unfortunately, when Adrien attempted to treat Margo she became infected with head-bobblitis, so that the mouth she carefully lined up horizontally doesn’t match her tilted face. (Margo is fine, despite the abysmal medical care – she just ordered her assorted diseases to go bother the hospital janitors instead.)

9CL: I know it’s evil to wish bad things upon other people, but I’m now shipping Lynn/Brooke. Giving their sickening shared beliefs, we just need to forge school records showing that they attended grade 1 together. Twue wuv will follow automatically. (This may be hard, with Brooke appearing younger by at least a decade, but this is a creative blog – I’m sure we can craft a convincing explanation)

Best case: they depart on a year-long cruise and we’re spared both strips. Worst case: they combine their ‘talents’ to create a crossover strip about chimpanzees with triangular mouths who form romantic attachments while taking dance lessons in kindergarten. Every week a ’special needs’ unicorn will stand on a table to give inspiring speeches which are combined into a bestselling book; readers of said book will spontaneously grasp each others’ hands in suggestive ways…

I’ve changed my mind… it’s not worth the risk.
Sheila Sternwell
October 2nd, 2009 at 7:41 am [Reply]

SF: Woah, Sally accidentally became relevant with that well-placed “One Day at a Time” reference.

MT: Rusty just made the traditional end-of-plot announcement — “my friends won’t believe the excitement we’ve had!” — but I think that crafty little bastard is trying to throw us off. Mark hasn’t punched anyone in revenge for his nogging conking, it simply cannot be the end of this story line yet. But now I worry. Why is Rusty throwing us a red herring? What evil is his frozen, puppet like head concocting?

MW: My prediction: Adrian will go in to Scott, and while talking to him and showing him that she’s wearing his ring, the stone will fall out of the setting right into his mouth and choke him to death. Adrian, immediately realizing that the ring was cheap goldtoned metal and cubic zirconia, will jump out of the hospital window before anyone discovers it’s her sparkly CZ stone stuck in Scott’s gullet. She’ll live a life on the lam, going from one town to the next, doing odd jobs and relying on the kindness of simple folk willing to pick up hitchhikers, until she finally makes it to her final destination: Apartment 3G. Bitter and hardened, she will attempt to overthrow Margo so she can become the new tough-ass brunette of the strip. Despite weeks of assassination attempts and an apartment overrun with dozens of hired mercenaries, neither Lu Ann nor Tommie will notice.
One-eyed Wolfdog
October 2nd, 2009 at 8:01 am [Reply]

When Amos says her voice has the sound of a “high double reed”, he’s talking about a contrabassoonist on crack.
Susan
October 2nd, 2009 at 8:02 am [Reply]

@ 144: I protest! Margo would never be overthrown by Adrian of all people! Margo would sell her into slavery to make more WWMD bracelets.

Still waiting for mine, and I’m salivating at the mailman every day!
One-eyed Wolfdog
October 2nd, 2009 at 8:04 am [Reply]

Every week a ’special needs’ unicorn will stand on a table to give inspiring speeches

I might eventually get tired of this, but right now I really, really want it at the top of the comics page in all the local papers.
Jimmyleg Jehosephat
October 2nd, 2009 at 9:17 am [Reply]

Being no expert on hipsters – I live in Charlotte, North Carolina, where there aren’t any – although there was once an eccentric who lived here – they built a statue of him when he died – true story – I will nevertheless point out that Pluggers are more like Rutherford B. Hayes when it comes to style-setting: they are rooted so far back in time as to be irrelevant. Unlike modern engineers.

Whatever is indisputably “out” is found taken up as a fad by engineers. When engineers discover the fad is indisputably “out” and drop it, embarrassed, you can bet the most avant-garde hipster around is plotting to renew this fad – in another year or two when the look is again seen as “retro-chic.”
Edgy DC
October 2nd, 2009 at 9:43 am [Reply]

You know things look bad for Scott when — as they’re trying to explain the situation to his frozen fiance — you can spot Two-Face, of all people, scuttling toward the operating room.
Brian
October 2nd, 2009 at 10:19 am [Reply]

Okay, bikes with several gears have been around for decades. And how many bikes more than twenty years old are going to be functional? And if pluggers are that fat how do they even balance on the bike? And why is there red liquid running out of my ears?
rocketbride
October 2nd, 2009 at 11:47 am [Reply]

i believe i called this “pluggers are hipsters” thing back when they were shopping for 4-tracks to record their experimental jams.
Ovyron
October 2nd, 2009 at 2:20 pm [Reply]

Wait what?

On the pool Nicholas Picholas said “Not soon enough” and 4 days later it was considered a win?

I think 4 days count as “soon enough.”
Comcis Fan
October 2nd, 2009 at 2:53 pm [Reply]

So in spite of shared DNA, Sarge and Beetle are man-dating? At a white table-cloth restaurant, no less?
walty
October 5th, 2009 at 3:28 pm [Reply]

SantaroyMart must be where Mary gets her lovely porcelain swans for $6.88 each, only she then spends three days painstakingly painting a fancier store’s crest on to the bottom. “Now no one will suspect there aren’t from SantaroLenox,” she smirks as her delicate brush strokes dry, “and if any of those fuckers break one, there will be justifiable hell to pay.”

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You know how when Gary Coleman said “bad,” he really meant “good”? It’s kind of like that

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