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Family Circus, 8/17/20

As a professional comics curmudgeon, my ethics dictate that I must acknowledge when one of the comics I usually dump on is good, and folks: this Family Circus is a good one. The irony of Jeffy’s t-shirt proclaiming that he’s a happy camper as he experiences a comically overwrought meltdown is great, of course, but my favorite thing is just how chill Dolly is. She’s usually the family snitch and would love nothing more than to narc on Jeffy for throwing a tantrum, but look at her: She’s wearing her shades and her casual camping clothes. She’s on vacation, just like she’s trying to explain to her brother. It’s not the time for this, Jeffy! You’re free! You don’t have to be like your usual dumb self here!

Hi and Lois and Daddy Daze, 8/17/20

Meanwhile, I’ve quite rightly never been left in charge of an infant for any length of time, but these strips both seem to depict … pretty good ways to suffocate your infant? Are these scenes bad for infants, health wise? Sound off in the comments on infant safety around huge piles of clothes or stuffed animals or whatever.

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Family Circus, 8/6/20

I get what’s going on here — the water is icy cold, which Dolly is blissfully oblivious about — but I have some notes on the visuals being used to convey this information. I guess those are supposed to be “shiver” lines around Big Daddy Keane’s legs, but they look more like steam (giving the exactly opposite impression of what the panel’s going for) or maybe stink lines, which one also doesn’t usually associate with cold. Although that is a creepy combo, isn’t it? A cold stink. Very Lovecraftian. Also Daddy’s skin seems to be turning black below the knee, representing some kind of horrific rapid-onset gangrene. I take it back, this panel is amazing, actually.

The Lockhorns, 8/6/20

This panel manages to pack two incredibly sad facts into a single efficient gag: that once, long ago, when Loretta met and fell in love with him, Leroy was actually a thoughtful, careful person, but now he leans into his own incompetence as if performing for some invisible audience, all the time.

Pluggers, 8/6/20

Pluggers are familiar with the technology that was prevalent when they were younger, in ways that others, who didn’t grow up with that technology, are not. That sure is a Pluggers joke, all right!

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Family Circus, 6/20/20

One of the Secrets of the Family Circus is that there was an original, different Big Daddy Keane, with an entirely different attitude and body plan, in the early days of the strip. While mostly he’s forgotten now, you can still see hints of him in certain panels, like today’s, which implies heavily that the Keane patriarch doesn’t really like his kids and doesn’t want to spend any time with them.

Funky Winkerbean, 6/20/20

Look, there’s plenty to say about how roles for women are cast in Hollywood, with fairly transparent sexualization and an obsession with youth, but if you’re looking to make that point in the most off-putting and unpleasant way possible, then sure, just have Les seething through the whole process about these dumb sluts who dare to play my precious Lisa. Despite hanging around his hip Hollywood pals, Les seems unfamiliar with the concept of hair and makeup professionals who’ll be able to make whatever actress is chosen look just like Lisa, changing her hair color from … oh, look, how convenient, the syndicate colorists have done it for them.

Judge Parker, 6/20/20

OH MY GOD THE SPENCER-DRIVERS ARE EXPERIENCING FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCES FROM THEIR ACTIONS????? THIS IS INSANE AND UNPRECEDENTED