# Best/Worst comic strips. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 10, 2017, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-comic-strips/786273 "2017-05-10T12:07:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2017, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-comic-strips/786273/41 "2017-05-11T02:17:12Z")
My personal favourite would be _The Far Side_ and I rather enjoy its spiritual successor, _The Argyle Sweater_. I’ve never understood or got the popularity of _Doonesbury_, or why Australian newspapers run it. Worse, I often see “Classic Doonesbury” from the 1970s and think “Who, in this country, is amused by a political comic strip from before the invention of cassette tapes???” ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2017, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-comic-strips/786273/42 "2017-05-11T02:35:27Z")
> [@CelticKnot](#): > > There are so many classics. _Calvin and Hobbes_ will always be a favorite; as another thread made clear, almost everyone loves _The Far Side_. > _Zits_, by Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman, about a family consisting of a teenage boy and his parents, who are often confounded by each other. > Most obscure, and hilarious: \* Overboard \*by Chip Dunham. A pirate ship portrayed as if a modern office: incompetent employees, idiot boss, office politics. I say obscure because I read it in the Baltimore Sun decades ago, but I have never seen it anywhere else. > I confess to bias; my husband created a few strips, but has never found a publisher for them. If anyone has any ideas about how to make them public, let me know. > There are few today that might be good, but the “artwork” is so bad I don’t want to look at them. There’s a strip I found on the gocomics dot com site a few years ago, called _Breaking Cat News_ by Georgia Dunn. It follows the antics of three cats living in the household of a young couple and their growing family. The conceit is that the cats treat their daily life as a newscast. When I first saw it, the strips werre done in a watercolor style, and they were of varying lengths (which made online publication pretty much necessary). Recently (like, in the past few weeks), the strip has apparently been picked up for syndication, and publication in newspapers. It may be worthwhile to try to track Ms. Dunn down and see how she got her start. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2017, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-comic-strips/786273/43 "2017-05-11T02:47:22Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > **Lil’ Abner** (1934-1977) was the only comic strip able to sustain months-long, suspenseful plots with extremely funny joke-a-day stuff\*. It also introduced characters vital to the popular culture (well, pretty much limited to us comics nerds these days): The Shmoos; Fearless Fosdick; Evil-Eye Fleegle, Master of the “Whammy;” etc. Also invented the concept of “Sadie Hawkins Day.” > > So that would be my choice. **Pogo** second. > > \*(you know who else could do this? Alison Bechdel, with her late, lamented **Dykes to Watch Out For**. Which doesn’t count because it didn’t run in the squares’ newspapers.) Is DTWOF available online? Fun fact about the artist: Her graphic novel/memoir, _Fun Home_, provided the basis for the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical of the same name. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2017, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-comic-strips/786273/44 "2017-05-11T03:07:22Z")
> [@jebert](#): > > There’s a new one out - “Cat Breaking News”. Horrible. If you only know about “Breaking Cat News” from the strips that have appeared in newspapers, you should check it out online and read them from the beginning. They’re delightful, especially if you’re any kind of a cat person. I will say that the migration to newspapers, where the strip is constrained to the three-panel format, hasn’t done it any favors. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2017, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-comic-strips/786273/45 "2017-05-11T03:13:59Z")
I haven’t read the comics in ages. But best would definitely be Far Side and Calvin and Hobbes, obviously (as someone who grew up reading comics in the 80s and 90s). Pearls Before Swine was good for the first few years, but I’ve just grown tired of it. (I read it from about 2004-2006 before I lost interest). I occasionally flip back to it when I have the funny pages at my disposal (which is not often these days) and it’s usually just so-so. Worst? I’m surprised I’m the first to mention Fred Basset. I’m still on the lookout for a funny Fred Basset comic. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2017, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-comic-strips/786273/46 "2017-05-11T03:21:28Z")
Anyone else with love for Ernie Bushmiller’s \*Nancy \*? ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2017, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-comic-strips/786273/47 "2017-05-11T05:14:16Z")
Best: Classic period _Peanuts_, from the 1950s to whenever age caught up with ol’ Sparky. _The Far Side_, which is only made better by every sub-par imitation which gets released. _Calvin and Hobbes_, with _Frazz_ a fairly good homage which needs to take more chances. _Get Fuzzy_, which has made me laugh harder than any other comic strip. _Pearls Before Swine_, which is not far behind. _Little Nemo In Slumberland_ for the sheer artwork and imagination and just being Winsor McCay at his Winsor McCay-i-est (and that ain’t peanuts). _Krazy Kat_ for being jazz in comic form, repetition on a theme done with wit and aplomb and endless language play. Not Worst, or knockwurst, the sausage of the comics world, a homogeneous product laid out on the page, endlessly, repetitively: Any of the zombie comics, such as _Blondie_ or _Hi and Lois_ or _Beetle Bailey_ or _The Lockhorns_ or any of the other comics passed down from generation to generation, the ones which endlessly rerun the same jokes which may have been funny once but which have now been so thoroughly beaten into the ground it’s impossible to imagine anyone finding them funny. But they’re not the worst. They’re the visual equivalent of cinder blocks, filling space and preventing any holes which angry letters might otherwise pour through. They’re just not worth the effort of considering them the worst. Worst: Yeah, probably _Mallard Fillmore_ for being so insufferably unfunny and shrill and chip-on-its-shoulder-y that it’s impossible to imagine anyone laughing along with it in a good-natured way. It’s the comic of the trolls of the political world, the people who only find humor in mean-spirited put-downs and deliberately misunderstanding everyone else’s point simply to annoy them. Sure, there are probably objectively worse comics which have hit print, comics with even worse art and, possibly, meaner “humor” and a lower average intelligence, but nobody’s heard of them so their damage is limited. _Mallard Fillmore_, the Affirmative Action comic, the comic which only gets printed to “balance out” _Doonesbury_, is running in wide release. ---
**Author:** ![Not\_Carlson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bc79bd/32.png) [@Not\_Carlson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Not_Carlson)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2017, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-comic-strips/786273/48 "2017-05-11T08:37:15Z")
Another vote for _Calvin and Hobbes_. Deep and Imaginative ideas, whimsical humor, eloquent yet tight writing, excellent art. This is a real all-rounder. As a teen, I also loved Matt Groening’s \*Life in Hell \*for it’s dark and off-beat humor. Worst: Probably _Mary Worth_. Also, although I’ve only skimmed through a few, I’d say \*Funky Winkerbean \*has to be in the running for one of the worst by being both a humorless “funny” comic and a pretentious “serious” comic at the same time. > [@CelticKnot](#): > > almost everyone loves _The Far Side_. To nitpick, _The Far Side_, though often brilliantly funny and despite being one of my all-time favorite “funnies”, is not technically a comic strip. For this same reason, I can’t include the often profound and always quirky work of [Leunig](http://www.leunig.com.au/works/cartoons)or the deliciously sardonic work of [Kaz Cooke](http://www.kazcooke.com.au/cartoons). > [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > I’ve never understood or got the popularity of _Doonesbury_, or why Australian newspapers run it. Worse, I often see “Classic Doonesbury” from the 1970s and think “Who, in this country, is amused by a political comic strip from before the invention of cassette tapes???” Heh. I’ll cop to that. Even as a kid I liked the ironic humor of _Doonesbury_, although a lot of it sailed right over my head. It also had an intriguing format and played around with its narratives and artwork in a sort of cinematic way that I found interesting. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2017, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-comic-strips/786273/49 "2017-05-11T09:20:22Z")
Best: _Calvin and Hobbes_. Why are you even asking? Worst: _Fred Bassett_. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2017, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-comic-strips/786273/50 "2017-05-11T11:18:24Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > Worst: going way back, I’d nominate _Henry_. I have _nothing_ to say to you. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2017, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-comic-strips/786273/51 "2017-05-11T11:20:59Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > I’ve never understood or got the popularity of _Doonesbury_, or why Australian newspapers run it. Worse, I often see “Classic Doonesbury” from the 1970s and think “Who, in this country, is amused by a political comic strip from before the invention of cassette tapes???” It is running a segment about Charles and Diana, on the 20th anniversary of her death. Phillips released cassette tapes in 1962. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2017, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-comic-strips/786273/52 "2017-05-11T11:41:38Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > It is running a segment about Charles and Diana, on the 20th anniversary of her death. > > Phillips released cassette tapes in 1962. 1. Not my point and 2) Fair enough, but my point stands - it’s a really long time ago. ---
**Author:** ![Crane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crane/32/3495_2.png) [@Crane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crane)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2017, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-comic-strips/786273/53 "2017-05-11T12:40:50Z")
Best 1. Prince Valiant - Great art - classic stories 2. Lil Abner - Great characters - Big Barnsmell, Lonesome Polecat, Moonbeam McSwine, Fearless Fosdick - long running plots 3. Dick Tracey - Memorable characters - BO Plenty, Sparkle Plenty 4. Pogo - Displaced the industry Worst The bad ones aren’t memorable. Crane ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2017, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-comic-strips/786273/54 "2017-05-11T12:47:23Z")
Forgive my digression; why do Prince Valiant and Tarzan have narration with no speaking characters? ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2017, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-comic-strips/786273/55 "2017-05-11T13:52:30Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > Worst: going way back, I’d nominate _Henry_. > [@Biotop](#): > > Anyone else with love for Ernie Bushmiller’s \*Nancy \*? I find Henry much more charming than Nancy. Nancy tries too hard. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2017, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-comic-strips/786273/56 "2017-05-11T14:01:56Z")
> [@E-DUB](#): > > I do like Brewster Rocket but no local papers carry it anymore. [GoComics.com](http://GoComics.com). Free; for like $12 a year you get to make your own lists and have them delivered. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2017, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-comic-strips/786273/57 "2017-05-11T14:12:54Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > _Calvin and Hobbes_, with _Frazz_ a fairly good homage which needs to take more chances. Stopped following the latter a few years ago, it’s just so insufferably and cloyingly _dry_, makes the Sahara look like a thriving wetland… ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2017, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-comic-strips/786273/58 "2017-05-11T14:27:30Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > I find Henry much more charming than Nancy. Nancy tries too hard. Plus, [her dog is a racist](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bBeSBjZVSqM/TxG3hSJEtYI/AAAAAAAACiw/UCP1oRs1tVA/s1600/Fritzi+Ritz+%252344+%2528July56%2529.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2017, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-comic-strips/786273/59 "2017-05-11T15:10:43Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > I find Henry much more charming than Nancy. Nancy tries too hard. But [Aunt Fritzi…](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qhaZyT4RxW0/Ty_ob0mNJ5I/AAAAAAAAAzY/cAKU4ajsWMo/s1600/328348_full.gif) ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_John\_Marcej](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Richard\_John\_Marcej](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_John_Marcej)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2017, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-comic-strips/786273/60 "2017-05-11T15:37:13Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > I’ve never understood or got the popularity of _Doonesbury_, or why Australian newspapers run it. Worse, I often see “Classic Doonesbury” from the 1970s and think “Who, in this country, is amused by a political comic strip from before the invention of cassette tapes???” I just finished reading of a collection of **Pogo** strips from 1951-53 dealing with the McCarthy era. A satirical political strip written and drawn before I or the cassette tape was born. It was funny, drawn superbly and still holds up today. Great writing and great art can tackle any subject and hold up. Especially since mankind continues to make the same mistakes over and over again, a political comic strip can unintentionally be as relevant today as when it was first published. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-comic-strips/786273.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-comic-strips/786273.md?page=4)