# Cartoon within a cartoon and/or self-aware cartoons **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 21, 2009, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cartoon-within-a-cartoon-and-or-self-aware-cartoons/510961 "2009-09-21T16:51:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2009, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cartoon-within-a-cartoon-and-or-self-aware-cartoons/510961/41 "2009-09-26T05:57:05Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > [_ **Ink Pen** _](http://www.gocomics.com/inkpen/2009/09/14/) is a strip about an employment agency for comic strip characters. > > Back when _ **Dick Tracy** _ used to be worth reading, there was a character who drew two comic strips called “Bugs and Worms” and “The Invisible Tribe.” The joke, such as it was, was that he was a cartoonist who couldn’t draw. The former strip had nothing but dots and squiggly lines for its artwork; the latter had no artwork at all. There was another one in Dick Tracy called “Sawdust.” The cartoonists for these strips were shown as incredibly effete hippies, _a la_ Andy Warhol’s Factory. I think these early 70s strips were around the end of Chester Gould’s “lucid” period, followed by lots of bizarre storylines on the Moon or featuring Tracy flying around the city in some weird wastebasket-looking contraption. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2009, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cartoon-within-a-cartoon-and-or-self-aware-cartoons/510961/42 "2009-09-26T06:08:51Z")
Another DC comic, **'Mazing Man** , has a strip written by one of the protagonists and drawn by Fred Hembeck. It’s called “Zoot Sputnik” and it features a dim-witted hero and his immediate family in tame superhero adventures. The cast is inexplicably in a different historical era every time they appear. Oh, also: “The Black Freighter” from **Watchmen**. Inspired by The Threepenny Opera, this dreaded ship and its crew have turned up again in the most recent **League of Extraordinary Gentlemen** storyline. ---
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2009, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cartoon-within-a-cartoon-and-or-self-aware-cartoons/510961/43 "2009-09-26T08:26:33Z")
Funnily enough, this week a Swedish comic called [Medelålders Plus](http://www.bulls.se/sweden/Press/Produkter/Serier/Medelalders-Plus/) has a short arc about their TPB appearing at the Göteborg Book Fair, and how the two main characters think they’re being completely misrepresented. It’s not an extraordinarily funny comic, kind of a blander version of “Sally Forth” once Hilary moves out and they retire. With the occasional oblique dick joke, nudity, and/or toilet humor because you can get away with that in the Swedish dailies. ---
**Author:** ![TheMadHun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@TheMadHun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheMadHun)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2009, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cartoon-within-a-cartoon-and-or-self-aware-cartoons/510961/44 "2009-09-26T15:33:32Z")
The [Fusco Brothers](http://imgsrv.gocomics.com/dim/?fh=224163608c336ef42f8b31be2aa5a03e&w=900.0)like to admit they are in a comic strip ---
**Author:** ![TheMadHun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@TheMadHun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheMadHun)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2009, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cartoon-within-a-cartoon-and-or-self-aware-cartoons/510961/45 "2009-09-26T15:44:06Z")
[Tom The Dancing Bug](http://imgsrv.gocomics.com/dim/?fh=3693f11e0b16c71767663ed1d65e0b71&w=900.0) often runs a Super-Fun-Pak Comics ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2009, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cartoon-within-a-cartoon-and-or-self-aware-cartoons/510961/46 "2009-09-26T19:39:48Z")
> [@Jragon](#): > > Order of the Stick seems to exist in a point somewhere between realizing they’re comic book characters and merely knowing their world operates on comic principles. They have some situational awareness that they’re in a work of fiction, but not necessarily a comic book. Elan knows that the world works along dramatic principles, and how to manipulate that to his own ends. The others occasionally make reference to being characters in a Dungeons and Dragons game. I think Haley is the only one who ever works the “characters in a comic strip” angle, such as when she stole the diamond from herself by breaking into the cast page, or when Tsukiko’s lightning bolt blew her through the panel border. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2009, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cartoon-within-a-cartoon-and-or-self-aware-cartoons/510961/47 "2009-09-27T00:16:37Z")
The classic [Sam’s Strip](http://www.toonopedia.com/samstrip.htm) was about nothing but comics. Every strip had a reference of some nature to well-known comic strips (with characters from the dropping in) or the conventions of the genre (when the strip rented out a couple of its panels to an adventure strip). It ran in the early 60s. ---
**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:** [September 27, 2009, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cartoon-within-a-cartoon-and-or-self-aware-cartoons/510961/48 "2009-09-27T03:48:38Z")
> [@bup](#): > > **Zippy the Pinhead** has done it forever. > > **Peanuts** did it once, on January 1, 1974, when Charles Schulz was the grand marshal of the Rose Bowl Parade. One other time, as well. Schroeder played a note on his piano, and listened intently. Excited, he ran to Charlie Brown, and said, “Charlie Brown, I think I’ve got perfect pitch!” Charlie Brown was sitting in a beanbag chair, chilling out. His response was: “You mean **a** perfect pitch. And who cares, baseball season is over, anyway.” Schroeder walked away, glumly, muttering to himself: “I wonder if I can request to be transferred to another comic strip.” ---
**Author:** ![the\_first\_supraliminal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f475e1/32.png) [@the\_first\_supraliminal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_first_supraliminal)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cartoon-within-a-cartoon-and-or-self-aware-cartoons/510961/49 "2009-09-29T16:35:49Z")
[Foxtrot’s comment on Dilbert](http://imgsrv.gocomics.com/dim/?fh=84d27c9b12a5f5315e1f6de60dc0f78a&w=900.0) ---
**Author:** ![Taber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ac91a4/32.png) [@Taber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taber)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cartoon-within-a-cartoon-and-or-self-aware-cartoons/510961/50 "2009-09-29T20:45:38Z")
Bender, after coming out of the programming to like robot 1-X, paraphrased “Wait, if that wasn’t real, how can I know that any of this is real? Isn’t it possible, nay probable that this is just the product of my or someone else’s imagination?” ---
**Author:** ![Ichini\_Sanshigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/d9b06d/32.png) [@Ichini\_Sanshigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ichini_Sanshigo)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cartoon-within-a-cartoon-and-or-self-aware-cartoons/510961/51 "2009-09-29T21:21:39Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > They have some situational awareness that they’re in a work of fiction, but not necessarily a comic book. Elan knows that the world works along dramatic principles, and how to manipulate that to his own ends. The others occasionally make reference to being characters in a Dungeons and Dragons game. I think Haley is the only one who ever works the “characters in a comic strip” angle, such as when she stole the diamond from herself by breaking into the cast page, or when Tsukiko’s lightning bolt blew her through the panel border. [This strip](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0602.html) features massive 4th wall breakage, but the final panel really illustrates some awareness that they are in a comic. There’s a couple other examples, but that was the one that stood out in my memory. In OOTS, it’s mainly side characters like the demonic cockroaches and those jellyfish-like creatures who constantly break the 4th wall. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cartoon-within-a-cartoon-and-or-self-aware-cartoons/510961/52 "2009-09-29T21:44:51Z")
> [@Ichini\_Sanshigo](#): > > [This strip](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0602.html) features massive 4th wall breakage, but the final panel really illustrates some awareness that they are in a comic. There’s a couple other examples, but that was the one that stood out in my memory. In OOTS, it’s mainly side characters like the demonic cockroaches and those jellyfish-like creatures who constantly break the 4th wall. I hate to be a snob, especially since I used to do a web comic, but including web comics in a thread of 4th-wall breaking cartoons is like asking for a list of drinks that are wet. We could rattle off hundreds of web comics that have addressed the audience directly, or made references to the fact that they are in a comic strip, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cartoon-within-a-cartoon-and-or-self-aware-cartoons/510961/53 "2009-09-29T22:49:52Z")
> [@bup](#): > > **Zippy the Pinhead** has done it forever. > > **Peanuts** did it once, on January 1, 1974, when Charles Schulz was the grand marshal of the Rose Bowl Parade. _Peanuts_ also had a comic strip where a disgusted Schroeder says "I’ll think I’ll apply for a transfer to a new comic strip ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cartoon-within-a-cartoon-and-or-self-aware-cartoons/510961/54 "2009-09-30T00:58:30Z")
> [@TWDuke](#): > > That SDMB favorite, **Family Circus** , is occasionally drawn by one of its characters (Billy, who has been 6 years for almost 50 years). > [@kunilou](#): > > Aaaaaaand every time that [Billy draws](http://joshreads.com/images/09/06/i090617famcirc.jpg)Family Circus. Which is really by Bil Keane in the style of what he thinks a child would draw. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cartoon-within-a-cartoon-and-or-self-aware-cartoons/510961/55 "2009-09-30T01:54:52Z")
> [@Ichini\_Sanshigo](#): > > [This strip](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0602.html) features massive 4th wall breakage, but the final panel really illustrates some awareness that they are in a comic. There’s a couple other examples, but that was the one that stood out in my memory. In OOTS, it’s mainly side characters like the demonic cockroaches and those jellyfish-like creatures who constantly break the 4th wall. Right - and again, of the main cast, it’s Haley who’s aware they’re in a comic. ---
**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:** [September 30, 2009, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cartoon-within-a-cartoon-and-or-self-aware-cartoons/510961/56 "2009-09-30T02:06:10Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > _Peanuts_ also had a comic strip where a disgusted Schroeder says "I’ll think I’ll apply for a transfer to a new comic strip [Really? Are you sure?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=11601471&postcount=48) 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Brainiac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8797f3/32.png) [@Brainiac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brainiac)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2009, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cartoon-within-a-cartoon-and-or-self-aware-cartoons/510961/57 "2009-10-03T11:41:56Z")
Here’s [a self-aware cartoon about being self-aware](http://assets.comics.com/dyn/str_strip/000000000/00000000/0000000/200000/90000/4000/800/294802/294802.full.gif) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cartoon-within-a-cartoon-and-or-self-aware-cartoons/510961.md?page=2)