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Ha ha, remember last week, when you woke up bright and early every day with Uncle Lumpy’s comedy stylings? Well, you’re with me now, and you’ll take posts at random times and you’ll like it.

Mary Worth, 9/28/10

Oh … oh God. Without even the benefit of a Charterstone pool party to cleanse the palate, Mary has moved on from matchmaking to start her most ambitious meddle yet: the Mother of the Bride Meddle. Sure, she isn’t technically Adrian’s mother, or even her stepmother, but she’s served as Jeff’s platonic yet monogamous consort ever since she killed his wife in ritual combat, so she’s the closest thing Adrian’s got. Mary’s passive-aggressive commentary on the inadequacies of the dress, DJ, floral arrangements, wedding invitation fonts/paper stock, and attendants that Adrian has selected will be delicious. If we’re really lucky, she’ll insist that they make it a double wedding with her new favorite couple, the now merged into wholeness Mike and Jenna.

Mark Trail, 9/28/10

“Wait, did I say ‘cagey,’ as in ‘reluctant to give information due to caution or suspicion?’ Ha ha, that makes no sense. I mean ‘caged,’ because I’ve transformed my property into a giant cage by means of miles of chain-link fence. Not that this cage-hunting business won’t be exciting and challenging! Do you gentlemen smell something gubernatorial in here? I think you’ll find that it’s me!”

Apartment 3-G, 9/28/10

Oh, look, Lu Ann is still acting like a sullen teenager over her hair. Yep, haven’t missed much!

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Brewster Rockit, 9/27/10

Brewster Rockit stumbles onto The Comics Curmudgeon‘s core concept. Ooh! Look at the tiny pictures getting all smartass.

Mark Trail, 9/27/10

Cherry daydreams, watching Mark overcompensate. Explains a lot, really. Dude, just buy a bigass gun and crash Frank’s party.

Mary Worth, 9/27/10

Why hello, Dr. Cory, Mrs. Worth; how very nice to see you again, and I’m pleased to see you both looking so well. Please accept my apologies for those terrible things I said during your last visit — I’ve learned a valuable lesson, and assure you it won’t happen again. I’ve been thinking about you quite often over the past few — my goodness, has it only been weeks? Let me just say I hope you’re planning a nice long stay. What, Jenna and Mike? Oh, let’s put all that behind us, shall we? Please? I’ll beg if you want!

Mandrake the Magician, 9/27/10

If you like The Phantom, Lee Falk’s other, daily-only adventure strip is worth a look. The loose line and saturated color take some getting used to, but Phantom fans will feel right at home with the quick pace and deep back-story.

Here, Mandrake responds to a call from policewoman Millie there, about strange doings in rustic Timber Lake: a terrified populace, unexplained blackouts, the sudden appearance of a giant bat, an uncooperative police captain, and a mysterious prisoner who claims to know Mandrake. It’s not on the mighty Chron, but you can find it at the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, also worth bookmarking as a source for large-format comics from King Features.

Apartment 3-G, 9/27/10

Shear and soften one starchy, buttoned-up cauldron of sexual fury and another claims her throne. Behold Apartment 3-G: The Dawn of Doris!

Hey, I’m outta here — thanks, everybody, for a fun week! Look for Josh’s triumphant return with Comments of the Week on Monday. Enjoy!

— Uncle Lumpy

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Curtis, 9/26/10

Curtis shackles its artist’s powerful, primitive vision and impeccable draftsmanship to the well-thumbed sheaf of stock narratives the world expects from a genre strip. Hey, it’s a living. But art will out! The strip slips its narrative fetters once a year for Kwanzaa, and once in a while for its title character’s superhero fantasies.

There’s so much to love here: the spandex mask rising to wrap SuperCaptainCoolMan’s improbable coiffure, the villain’s breakfast, mustache, and pince-nez, the allusion to confusing and unspeakable prison sex, “…you evil but stupid genius”, and that implacable wall o’ mammoth. But best of all, the electric elephant stinkeye at the climax, and “ZORGG.” A worthy successor to QLUNQ! HA HA HA WHINNY!

Then back to earth for a tired “principal’s office” joke — and maybe Derrick and “Onion” waiting in the hall? The nicest trips end far too soon.

Mark Trail, 9/26/10

Mark’s part-time gig with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has slowly but completely corrupted his principles as an Outdoor Journalist. No longer does he implore readers to “Enjoy Nature” — no, now it’s all, “Stay away from the terrifying outdoors, where you will die from the flash floods and the lightning and the tornadoes and the tsunamis and the flying squid.” And shilling weather radios so people can stay inside and entertain themselves by scaring the dog.

“EEEEEEE!”

Brenda Starr, 9/26/10

No sound effects here but the pitapat of my fanboy heart. Brenda Starr is looking into the Pokeville hometown background of Tap Fitzpatrick, the flamboyant DA falsely (she thinks) accused of the murder of TV host Felicity Fox (no, not her). Pokeville has its secrets, at least one of whom is driving that Hummer that nearly ran over Brenda’s Mustang. But most of the town’s action is at Joe’s One Stop, Pokeville’s Jack Ass Acres, where you can get anything you want from the resident gap-toothed androgyne and owner of Bullseye the Dog — except information.

O Brenda Starr, how do I love thee?

1. Crisp, hard-edged modern drawing by artist June Brigman — retaining the trademark eye-sparkles of Dale Messick’s loopy-girly style.
2. People smoke, yet the strip is not about their smoking (see, Curtis?).
3. Intelligent background jokes — “Live Bait! Tanning!”
4. Timely material — Hummers, Mustangs, bloggers, prescription drug abuse, the decline of print journalism.
5. Author Mary Schmich, renaissance woman and (dare I hope?) future hyphenated spouse of former Baltimore Mayor Kurt Schmoke.
6. Brenda Starr kicks ass!

Pluggers, 9/26/10

The essence of Pluggers. Except for the color, which seems way too upscale, and anyway should have leached out decades ago.

— Uncle Lumpy