First off though, I would like to talk trash about "The Sidekick," which is the unfortunate format in which we Boston regionals now receive our daily dose of comics. The Sidekick is this special smaller assemblage of newsprint within our beloved Boston Globe. It opens like a book, sort of like the sunday Chronic' Datebook, only smaller, and not pink. The comics take up several pages, which I find irritating: I think they should all be on one spread. While the Sidekick contains some other stuff, like the crossword, your horoscope, the TV guide, and some super-lame mini articles about "lifestyle" type stuff, there's not much in there. If your sitting on the T and reading the Sidekick, everyone knows your just reading the comics. If I'm reading the Datebook on BART there's always a chance that I could be reading up on a review of the SF Opera's latest production, or something equally classy. Aside from any of these considerations, I firmly believe that the 'mix should not be ghettoized into some crappy other section, ever. (On an only sort of related note, Monday June 11th's Sidekick features Melt Banana on the cover, which makes me feel wierd. One thing's for sure, if Yasuko were a president she'd be Baberham Lincoln.)
Anyhoo, glad to be reading:
ROSE IS ROSE by Pat Brady and Don Wimmer. I think if I had started reading this comic at a later age I would be disgusted by it, but having grown up with it I find it JUST ADORABLE. While most family 'mix rely on conflict for their comedy, this one needs only pure sacharine cuteness, complete with a kitten, and little rainbows, hearts and candy canes that float around the characters' heads when they are feeling particularly stoked. Maybe if time ever moved in their world, Paquale would turn into a surly, difficult, teenager, but they have been stuck in a utopian lovefest ever since I started reading. I can't remember them ever having a problem, except maybe when Paquale's greedy friend Clem (was that his name?) comes over. Oh, totes reinforces RHN, obv.
I'm sorry for liking this, I can't help myself.
ARLO AND JANIS by Jimmy Johnson. Jimmy Johnson is a funny name. This is the wierdest comic about a married couple around. Perhaps 'mixdood420 will tell you guys about the now classic topless sunbathing strip someday. On the website Jimmy reprints a handful of old comics a day accompanied by awesome commentary. Here is a sample from 2002:
Jimmy writes: "This is one of Janis' hairdo variations over the years. Looking back, I think it worked quite well. Specifically, it solved the difficult problem of her bangs, a problem that haunts me still." Oh, the difficult problem of her bangs, that really gets me. What about the fact that what is happening in this strip, is that ARLO JUST CRAWLED INSIDE JANIS' NIGHTGOWN. Amazing.
ZIPPY by Bill Grifith. Brings a tear to my eye. Curse you SF Chronicle, for taking this strip away, you must truly think poorly of us.
Not so stoked on:
MALLARD FILLMORE by Bruce Tinsley. This hyper-conservative comic is really boring. I wanted to read something really obnoxious to get riled up about, but instead he's just hating on Jimmy Carter. THAT'S ORIGINAL, you lamewad.
Now for something we can all relate to: this turn that FBorFW has taken. Oh, Lynn, why must you continously introduce new men into Elizabeth's life when we all know that there is only one man for her? This poor girl has been jerked around for too long. If she and Anthony don't smooch by the end of the wedding, I'm writing a letter. You hear that Lynn?! A letter!! Another thing I will mention in this letter is something my woman friend Alexis brought to my attention recently: Why, when we visit FBorFW.com, do the characters blink? This animation is creepy, and it just distracts us from the issues at hand.
In conclusion:
Liz + Anthony 4eva, Blinking 4neva.
6 comments:
if you've ever read rueben bolling's very excellent mic Tom The Dancing Bug, i hope it has been one of the times that "James K. Poult," the right-wing media chicken, has been featured. we all heard about bruce tinsley's DUI, right?
the sidekick definitely threw me for a loop when i first encountered it, but i like that it makes reading the 'mix seem like it takes half an hour because of all the page-turning.
and on the melt banana on the cover tip--- there was once some guy who was an indie fashionateur or something (read: silkscreens t's) pictured on the front and he was wearing a bandana tied around his neck like the kids are known to do every now and again. and the caption was something like "Inventive indie fashionista Skinny Whiteman shows his creative chops by turning an ordinary bandana into a fetchingly edgy ascot!" it ruled.
one other thing, have they actually started spelling pasquale's name "pascal"?
fetchingly edgy ascot is amazing. ok, that was a spelling error on my part, pardon me while i do some editing. i double checked on wikipedia and the entry had this to say about our friendly fam: "Rose and Jimbo are deeply in love with each other, sometimes exchanging love notes or kissing under the stars, and dotingly fond of Pasquale." then it said "The strip also features highly daring "camera angles" and perspectives, often giving the illusion through frames of real motion." highly daring indeed. god, it's so good. i mean gross. i mean good.
My friends! I'm glad to see you've been busy in my absence. I'm writing from lovely Olympia, Washington, after a breakfast of underseasoned tofu and delicious dark rye toast. Unfortunately I haven't seen a single newspaper since I left town, so I am woefully uninformed. A new man in Liz's life?? Just what we needed. God, how long must poor Anthony wait to be united with the love of his life??
Also: I remember when Pasquale started to speak, it was a big deal. So time does indeed pass in that most idyllic of comic strips. Adorable to the end is my vote on that shit. Arlo and Janis, on the other hand, I miss for other reasons (reasons very ably illustrated by the sharing-a-nightgown gag. Oh Jimmy, your perverted imagination knows no bounds.
Anyway, off to Tacoma. I'll check in when I can.
i will have to say the few times i've seen that strip (when visiting other burbs) i notice the weird angles and spacing. it usually takes me for a loop.
"opening like a book" = tabloid in newspaper speak. it think they do it to facilitate mass transit reading FWIW.
after reading this, i wrestled the comics away from my mom. arlo & janis was all sexy after shower antics and it made me feel wierd.
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