# Comic strips in other countries **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 21, 2006, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-strips-in-other-countries/365497 "2006-07-21T16:28:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2006, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-strips-in-other-countries/365497/21 "2006-07-22T04:52:51Z")
> [@Hal Briston](#): > > Well, yeah, but who can’t see the humor in spouse-abusing alcoholics? What, they didn’t run the Lockhorns in your paper? At least Capp had some charm about him. Leroy Lockhorn was a total asshole… ---
**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:** [July 22, 2006, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-strips-in-other-countries/365497/22 "2006-07-22T06:36:50Z")
I give you the only popular strip to come out of New Zealand: [Footrot Flats](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Footrot_Flats) Unfortunately it was very local in flavour, and only Australia seemed to ‘get it’ like we Kiwis did. But that’s the way it goes. It ran for many many years and never jumped the shark. It was retired about a decade ago, and was still funny right to the end. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2006, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-strips-in-other-countries/365497/23 "2006-07-22T07:11:41Z")
> [@Hal Briston](#): > > Well, yeah, but who can’t see the humor in spouse-abusing alcoholics? Isn’t it usually Flo who punches Andy? I don’t read the strip regularly, but from what I’ve seen, she’s the one who dishes out the physical abuse. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2006, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-strips-in-other-countries/365497/24 "2006-07-22T11:37:06Z")
Consider [Nemi](http://www.metro.co.uk/nemi), from Sweden or Denmark, I can’t recall which. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2006, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-strips-in-other-countries/365497/25 "2006-07-22T12:05:58Z")
> [@Peter Morris](#): > > Why Radishes? No cite handy, but I _think_ I recall correctly from one of my many books about Schulz that when _Peanuts_ was first marketed there, peanuts were an unknown food. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2006, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-strips-in-other-countries/365497/26 "2006-07-22T12:07:58Z")
I have a book of Garfield cartoons translated into German. And _For Better or For Worse_ is Canadian to begin with. The problem with translating comics from one language to another is that humor is often based on plays on words, or puns, and they don’t translate well. ---
**Author:** ![Battle\_Pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Battle\_Pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Battle_Pope)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2006, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-strips-in-other-countries/365497/27 "2006-07-22T12:16:28Z")
[Swamp](http://www.swamp.com.au/(vg1uxk45ihorq345h4so5xyt)/Default.aspx) is probably one of the best local comics. No idea if he’s gone international. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2006, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-strips-in-other-countries/365497/28 "2006-07-22T13:37:39Z")
From “Charlie Brown & Charlie Schulz,” (c) 1970, p. 59: “And in Denmark, where there is no word for ‘peanut,’ the name is _Radiserne_, which also means ‘Radishes’…” The book shows _Peanuts_ in Japanese, Finnish, Italian, Dutch, Spanish, Danish, and [Swedish](http://www.boxjamsdoodle.com/images/linus_suck.gif), who have an interesting word for “sigh”… 😃 ---
**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:** [July 22, 2006, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-strips-in-other-countries/365497/29 "2006-07-22T16:05:16Z")
> [@Cunctator](#): > > As \*\*hawthorne \*\* noted, there’s a mix of local and foreign (UK, American) strips in Australian papers. The foreign humour isn’t always translatable of course. I’ve never been able to understand what \*\*Doonesbury \*\* is about or why it’s considered even remotely funny. I’m glad I’m not the only one who’s ever read a _Doonesbury_ strip and wondered “What the Hell was _THAT_ all about, and how could anyone consider it humorous?” I’ve always loved _Bristow_, though- an English forerunner of _Dilbert_ by about 35 years or so, and very English in outlook. It wouldn’t surprise me to learn that Scott Adams was totally unaware of _Bristow_’s existence when he started _Dilbert_- which is brilliant in it’s own right, IMO. _Footrot Flats_ was big in NZ, (and, to a lesser extent, Australia) but the humour didn’t travel all that well. Still, one legacy of the strip is for people with semi-rural backgrounds in NZ to refer to all dogs simply as “Dog”, even if the animal does actually have a name. _Swamp_ isn’t bad, and there’s another one called _Trevor_ that’s quite readable too, but they’re both more of a wry smile raiser rather than the hysterical laughter inducers that a good _Far Side_, _Calvin & Hobbes_, or _Dilbert_ can be. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2006, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-strips-in-other-countries/365497/30 "2006-07-22T16:17:15Z")
> [@bup](#): > > The book shows _Peanuts_ in Japanese, Finnish, Italian, Dutch, Spanish, Danish, and [Swedish](http://www.boxjamsdoodle.com/images/linus_suck.gif), who have an interesting word for “sigh”… 😃 Yeah. That page claims that “Snobben” means “snooty”. It doesn’, it means “the snob” and is the name given to Snoopy. Nemi is made by a Norwegian woman. And yes, many American comics are published here. Surprisingly, it’s the biggest market for the Piranha Club. It’s even published monthly as a comic book. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2006, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-strips-in-other-countries/365497/31 "2006-07-22T17:13:45Z")
> [@bup](#): > > The book shows _Peanuts_ in Japanese, Finnish, Italian, Dutch, Spanish, Danish, and [Swedish](http://www.boxjamsdoodle.com/images/linus_suck.gif), who have an interesting word for “sigh”… 😃 The Norwegians have some [interesting words](http://aaugh.com/wordpress/?p=259), too. (The title translates to “Peanuts At Full Speed.”) ---
**Author:** ![mr.jp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@mr.jp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr.jp)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2006, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-strips-in-other-countries/365497/32 "2006-07-22T17:27:43Z")
> [@bup](#): > > From “Charlie Brown & Charlie Schulz,” (c) 1970, p. 59: “And in Denmark, where there is no word for ‘peanut,’ the name is _Radiserne_, which also means ‘Radishes’…” We have 2 words for peanut. “jordnød” and “peanut”. I doubt neither of them existed in 1970. ---
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2006, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-strips-in-other-countries/365497/33 "2006-07-22T17:46:21Z")
> [@Martini Enfield](#): > > I’m glad I’m not the only one who’s ever read a _Doonesbury_ strip and wondered “What the Hell was _THAT_ all about, and how could anyone consider it humorous?” > … Of course many Americans don’t find it the slightest bit funny either. Some people don’t agree with the creator’s political viewpoint, and some simply don’t like comics to be remotely political, whatever the viewpoint. I wouldn’t think _Doonesbury_ would travel well at all. It is very centered around American politics. Unless they happen to be obsessed with that subject I would think most foreigners would be completely mystified. ---
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2006, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-strips-in-other-countries/365497/34 "2006-07-22T18:01:03Z")
Another strike against Doonesbury…it has been running for a gajillion years, and must have had at least a couple of dozen major characters over that time. One of the things I like about the strip is that the characters have peronalities and story arcs that have developed over decades but if you are just trying to get into the strip it can be very intimidating. I had to read it regularly for 5-10 years before I had a pretty good idea who was who and what their relationships were. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-strips-in-other-countries/365497/35 "2006-07-23T03:06:25Z")
> [@mr. jp](#): > > We have 2 words for peanut. “jordnød” and “peanut”. I doubt neither of them existed in 1970. Take it up with Bill Mendelson. ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-strips-in-other-countries/365497/36 "2006-07-23T10:17:04Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > Consider [Nemi](http://www.metro.co.uk/nemi), from Sweden or Denmark, I can’t recall which. Nemi’s Norwegian. Other popular Norwegian strips include [Pondus,](http://my.opera.com/community/pondus/) [Kollektivet,](http://www.kollektivet.no/en/index.html) [M,](http://www.start.no/tegneserier/m/) and Eon. Our local paper runs mostly American strips in the morning edition - Zits, Pearls before Swine, Boondocks, and Mutts; at the moment they’re also running Kollektivet and some pointless little strip called Otto. In the evening they run two strips which I believe are Norwegian - Radio Gaga and Sara Sahara - plus The Phantom, of all things. As far as American strips go, Dilbert, Peanuts, Sherman’s Lagoon, The Duplex, and Ernie are quite popular. For a while Garfield was popular enough that he appeared in two versions: a straight translation published in some regular newspapers under the name Garfield; and a re-interpretation of the strip with more slang, swearing, and general mayhem, appearing in a teen magazine under the name Pusur. I haven’t seen either version for years, so I don’t know if they’re still current, but the recent Garfield movies were released under the Pusur name. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-strips-in-other-countries/365497/37 "2006-07-23T11:11:50Z")
> [@mr. jp](#): > > We have 2 words for peanut. “jordnød” and “peanut”. I doubt neither of them existed in 1970. Your doubt would be wrong. I just checked the etymology of the Swedish word (jordnöt, i.e. identical to the Danish, from which it was borrowed.) The earliest recorded occurance in Swedish was… **1638**. ---
**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:** [July 23, 2006, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-strips-in-other-countries/365497/38 "2006-07-23T11:27:03Z")
> [@Laughing Lagomorph](#): > > Another strike against Doonesbury…it has been running for a gajillion years, and must have had at least a couple of dozen major characters over that time. > > One of the things I like about the strip is that the characters have peronalities and story arcs that have developed over decades but if you are just trying to get into the strip it can be very intimidating. I had to read it regularly for 5-10 years before I had a pretty good idea who was who and what their relationships were. Trudeau loses track as well. In one storyline, Jeff Redfern (Rick and Joanie’s son) was selling his internet business, [MyVulture.com](http://MyVulture.com), to “some dude named Mike Doonesbury.” I think it slipped Trudeau’s mind that Mike was, for at least a decade, Jeff’s brother-in-law. And a lot of the strip definitely gets lost in translation. A major theme is how sheltered New England preppies–no precise equivalent exists in other cultures, although UK public schoolers come close–react to world events. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-strips-in-other-countries/365497/39 "2006-07-23T14:17:02Z")
The reason that the strip is called “Radishes” rather than “Peanuts” in Denmark is probably that’s it’s a better translation of the figurative meaning of the title. Charles Schultz did a precursor strip for a couple of years called _Li’l Folks_. When he then started the strip we know, he called it _Peanuts_ because of the English-language phrase “to be worth peanuts” (i.e., to not be worth much). The idea was that it’s about the problems (seeming trivial to adults) of children. Presumably, “radishes” are part of some phrase in Danish meaning “of little worth.” ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-strips-in-other-countries/365497/40 "2006-07-23T14:30:25Z")
Krokodil writes: \> . . . sheltered New England preppies . . . Really? The original characters who were introduced as new students at Walden when the strip started in 1970 were Mike Doonesbury, Mark Slackmeyer, B.D., Boopsie (Barbara Ann Boopstein), Zonker Harris, and Bernie. Mike grew up on a farm in Oklahoma. B.D. presumably only got into Walden because of his football playing and never acts like a preppie. Bernie was presumably Jewish. Zonker Harris was a slacker born in California. From their last names, Mark and Boopsie might also be Jewish. I can’t think of any characters in the strip who seem to act like “sheltered New England preppies.” What are you talking about? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-strips-in-other-countries/365497.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-strips-in-other-countries/365497.md?page=3)