# Doonesbury: Is B.D. Dead? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 1, 2004, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doonesbury-is-b-d-dead/231899 "2004-03-01T14:26:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![DKW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dkw/32/3118_2.png) [@DKW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DKW)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2004, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doonesbury-is-b-d-dead/231899/61 "2004-04-21T20:37:11Z")
I didn’t follow Doonesbury all that much in the early years, but I’ve slowly warmed up to it. It’s like Kids In The Hall; it’s not what you expect from the medium, and it takes a little getting used to. I have no qualms whatsoever with taking a more serious tone than, say, Garfield. Anyway, taking off the helmet (man, they just _took it right off_…) reminds me, more than anything, of Kenny McCormick finally ditching his hood in the South Park Movie…and revealing the most ordinary, plain face imaginable. Remember, BD _never_ took off his helmet, not even in places where he should have (like, oh, the shower). I also remember a conversation he had with Boopsieabout how he’s going explain the helmet to Sam, and I swear that he mentioned that he’d need specialized tools to get it off. The implication was that this wasn’t just a personality quirk or cheap visual gag; he _needed_ head covering at all times. My guess was horrendous scarring, a hideous birthmark, or even skull damage or deformity. And now we find that he has…matted black hair. I don’t care what anyone says, I’m raring to know where this is headed. Oh yeah, better not forget about his disability. That’s harsh. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2004, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doonesbury-is-b-d-dead/231899/62 "2004-04-21T22:33:50Z")
funky winkerbean had a main character loose a limb. a very promising musician that was headed to juliard lost her arm to the shoulder in a drunk driving accident. good grief, i had a very viseral reaction to that. it will be interesting to see how doonesbury and get fuzzy progress in the next few weeks. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2004, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doonesbury-is-b-d-dead/231899/63 "2004-04-21T22:48:41Z")
I wonder if the loss of the helmet is permanent. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2004, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doonesbury-is-b-d-dead/231899/64 "2004-04-22T02:37:10Z")
If i recall, removing the helmet is done with liquid nitrogen. “They peel it off like an avocado.” ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2004, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doonesbury-is-b-d-dead/231899/65 "2004-04-22T14:01:16Z")
> [@](#): > > In that case, why don’t you make some predictions about things that will happen in the next, say, 3 months of Doonesbury strips? He makes baseless accusations and misrepresentations of conservative policy and use his conservative characters as mere brainles caricatures, while his enlightened (and shallow) liberals talk about life’s deep situations and generally display their superiority. Worse yet, they’ll be banal, humorless strips. That’s what he’s been doing for the last year or two. Since I can’t predict the news 3 months in advance and he seems to have a smaller lead time, I can’t predict what he’ll specifically write. Probably, BD won’t have a massive change of heart unless Trudeau’s lost even more talent than I thought. In a week or so he’ll have a tearful Boopsie, weeping about her poor BD, (I rather doubt its a dream) temporarily distracting people from the football accusations storyline. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2004, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doonesbury-is-b-d-dead/231899/66 "2004-04-22T16:49:07Z")
> [@smiling bandit](#): > > He makes baseless accusations and misrepresentations of conservative policy and use his conservative characters as mere brainles caricatures, while his enlightened (and shallow) liberals talk about life’s deep situations and generally display their superiority. Worse yet, they’ll be banal, humorless strips. Subjective, vague and meaningless predictions. Except, perhaps, for the “baseless accusations and misrepresentations”. If you see any of those, feel free to point them out. > [@](#): > > In a week or so he’ll have a tearful Boopsie, weeping about her poor BD, Dear lord, you think he’s so predictable that he’ll use that worn out old cliche, the wife that loves her husband and cries when gets a limb blown off? Wow, if he sinks _that_ low I’ll have to concede that he’s totally lost touch. I mean, come on, the wife who loves her husband? What is this? Leave it to Beaver? ---
**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:** [April 22, 2004, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doonesbury-is-b-d-dead/231899/67 "2004-04-22T18:02:39Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > Subjective, vague and meaningless predictions. Except, perhaps, for the “baseless accusations and misrepresentations”. If you see any of those, feel free to point them out. And when you do, please be good enough to do it in GD, where such accusations and counter-accusations belong. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2004, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doonesbury-is-b-d-dead/231899/68 "2004-04-23T13:18:17Z")
Well, at least today accounts for the ‘language’ thing earlier this week. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2004, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doonesbury-is-b-d-dead/231899/69 "2004-04-23T13:27:59Z")
I see… a comic has exactly one joke and when I point out that its very predictable you say I’m being vague and meaningless because I don’t give you the exact script weeks in advance. I see. Actually, I was rather surprised. Its an old joke, but today’s comic did manage toi be funny. That was the first time in the last decade Trudeau wrote anything I liked, even if it was unoriginal. > [@](#): > > And when you do, please be good enough to do it in GD, where such accusations and counter-accusations belong. Why should I make a topic about a comic I find boring? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2004, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doonesbury-is-b-d-dead/231899/70 "2004-04-23T13:59:05Z")
Let me guess, **smiling bandit** …you think Mallard Fillmore is the height of political commentary. At least Doonesbury has a fairly wide field of scatter on his scorn gun. Sometimes even (gasp!) Democrats find themselves in his sights! Or have you already forgotten Clinton’s 8-year representation as a waffle? ---
**Author:** ![RTA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@RTA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTA)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2004, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doonesbury-is-b-d-dead/231899/71 "2004-04-23T15:08:11Z")
I predict the sourpuss Right will use the “foul language” issue as their opening for pulling the strip, when the real issue is how they resent having anyone point out that Bush’s war has resulted in hundreds and hundreds of maimings and amputations. For me, Trudeau has brass ones. I welcome this brave and daring storyline. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2004, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doonesbury-is-b-d-dead/231899/72 "2004-04-23T16:51:15Z")
> [@smiling bandit](#): > > Why should I make a topic about a comic I find boring? If it bores you so, ahy are you a) continuing to read it and b) repeatedly spending time complaining about it? ---
**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:** [April 23, 2004, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doonesbury-is-b-d-dead/231899/73 "2004-04-23T19:37:33Z")
> [@smiling bandit](#): > > Why should I make a topic about a comic I find boring? My apologies. I saw **Max the Vool** seeming to invite you to raise some issues for debate. Rather than “when you do,” I should have said “if you do.” ---
**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:** [April 24, 2004, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doonesbury-is-b-d-dead/231899/74 "2004-04-24T00:06:00Z")
> [@smiling bandit](#): > > Why should I make a topic about a comic I find boring? Well, you’re already posting repeatedly in about it. Starting a new thread on it seems a small step. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2004, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doonesbury-is-b-d-dead/231899/75 "2004-04-24T14:46:37Z")
> [@Paul in Saudi](#): > > If i recall, removing the helmet is done with liquid nitrogen. > > “They peel it off like an avocado.” “strictly outpatient” ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2004, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doonesbury-is-b-d-dead/231899/76 "2004-04-24T22:35:12Z")
> [@](#): > > I’m calling it now: This is a dream. Trudeau will get some nasty mail over this incident, but I think that he planned this to be a dream from the beginning. It is Boopsie having the dream. This will happen either Friday or Saturday. Nuh-uh. That would be truly stupid, especially in a strip that hasn’t hesitated to have a character die of AIDS. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2004, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doonesbury-is-b-d-dead/231899/77 "2004-04-26T11:55:56Z")
I liked today’s strip. Classic Trudeau. ---
**Author:** ![spiralscratch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dfb087/32.png) [@spiralscratch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spiralscratch)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2004, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doonesbury-is-b-d-dead/231899/78 "2004-04-27T07:50:58Z")
More of B.D. sans helmet on Monday. I wonder if this will be a permanent thing. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2004, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doonesbury-is-b-d-dead/231899/79 "2004-04-27T13:15:59Z")
I have a feeling Trudeau will be dwelling on Morphine addiction. ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2004, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doonesbury-is-b-d-dead/231899/80 "2004-04-27T13:51:21Z")
> [@](#): > > No, when BD was in Viet Nam he wore an Army helmet. Not true. I have a book of the old strips and he’s wearing his college football helmet. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doonesbury-is-b-d-dead/231899.md?page=3)