# Famous comic strips (singles, not properties) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** comic-strips\ **Created:** [November 2, 2022, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-comic-strips-singles-not-properties/974223 "2022-11-02T13:43:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-comic-strips-singles-not-properties/974223/21 "2022-11-02T15:25:53Z")
“Back to the drawing board” comes from a New Yorker cartoon: [![](https://www.phrases.org.uk/images/back-to-the-drawing-board.jpg) ](https://www.phrases.org.uk/images/back-to-the-drawing-board.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-comic-strips-singles-not-properties/974223/22 "2022-11-02T15:28:32Z")
Another one from the New Yorker that became a common saying: [https://464697-1455876-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/na-internetu-niko-ne-zna-da-ste-pas.png](https://464697-1455876-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/na-internetu-niko-ne-zna-da-ste-pas.png) which was still famous enough for them to parody in another cartoon 22 years later: [![](https://blog.mozilla.org/wp-content/blogs.dir/278/files/2018/02/image-2.png) ](https://blog.mozilla.org/wp-content/blogs.dir/278/files/2018/02/image-2.png) ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-comic-strips-singles-not-properties/974223/23 "2022-11-02T15:31:56Z")
The xkcd that I think is most famous: [![](https://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/duty_calls.png) ](https://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/duty_calls.png) ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-comic-strips-singles-not-properties/974223/24 "2022-11-02T15:32:50Z")
> **[I say it's spinach](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_say_it's_spinach)** > > I say it's spinach (sometimes given in full as I say it's spinach and I say the hell with it or further abbreviated to just spinach) is a twentieth-century American idiom with the approximate meaning of "nonsense" or "rubbish". It is usually spoken or written as an anapodoton, thus only first part of the complete phrase ("I say it's spinach") is given to imply the second part, which is what is actually meant: "I say the hell with it." > The phrase originated as the caption of a gag cartoon publish... ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-comic-strips-singles-not-properties/974223/25 "2022-11-02T16:31:33Z")
What about “Loss”? I Ii || |\_ ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-comic-strips-singles-not-properties/974223/26 "2022-11-02T16:37:35Z")
Anybody stay up waiting for the Great Pumpkin to come on Halloween? [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/74/GreatPumpkin.jpg) ](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/74/GreatPumpkin.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-comic-strips-singles-not-properties/974223/27 "2022-11-02T16:48:14Z")
Aviation’s most influential beagle: [![](https://miro.medium.com/max/700/1*lysHIRyjczkFAqFz2JpBzA.jpeg) ](https://miro.medium.com/max/700/1*lysHIRyjczkFAqFz2JpBzA.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-comic-strips-singles-not-properties/974223/28 "2022-11-02T16:59:35Z")
Another _Far Side_ example: [![](https://i.pinimg.com/474x/77/f5/c1/77f5c14f68088e196fb57f248edf17cf--far-side-cartoons-funny-cartoons.jpg) ](https://i.pinimg.com/474x/77/f5/c1/77f5c14f68088e196fb57f248edf17cf--far-side-cartoons-funny-cartoons.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-comic-strips-singles-not-properties/974223/29 "2022-11-02T17:07:39Z")
> [@solost](#): > > There’s the term "sealioning’, Beat me to it. Totally the one I was going to go with. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-comic-strips-singles-not-properties/974223/30 "2022-11-02T17:09:04Z")
The phrase ‘curate’s egg’. > **[Curate's egg](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curate%27s_egg)** > > A "curate's egg" is something described as partly bad and partly good. In its original usage, it referred to something that is obviously and entirely bad, but is described out of politeness as nonetheless having good features that redeem it. This meaning has been largely supplanted by its less ironic modern usage, which refers to something that is in fact an indeterminate mix of good and bad, possibly with a preponderance of bad qualities. > The expression is pre-dated by an anecdote in Our Bishop... ---
**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:** [November 2, 2022, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-comic-strips-singles-not-properties/974223/31 "2022-11-02T17:10:30Z")
In certain circles, “The Geek Hierarchy” is well known. [![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_j9PQWPKjVZs/SYvTH1QyPZI/AAAAAAAAAdI/JG9AEI-n-kE/s1600/geek.gif) ](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_j9PQWPKjVZs/SYvTH1QyPZI/AAAAAAAAAdI/JG9AEI-n-kE/s1600/geek.gif) ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-comic-strips-singles-not-properties/974223/32 "2022-11-02T17:15:37Z")
Courtesy of artist R. Crumb: [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/9e/Keep_On_Truckin%27_1968.jpg) ](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/9e/Keep_On_Truckin%27_1968.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-comic-strips-singles-not-properties/974223/33 "2022-11-02T17:19:12Z")
Dilbert popularized the phrase “Random act of management” And there a probably more Dilbert themes out there. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-comic-strips-singles-not-properties/974223/34 "2022-11-02T17:38:06Z")
> **[Dilbert principle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dilbert_principle)** > > The Dilbert principle is a satirical concept of management developed by Scott Adams, creator of the comic strip Dilbert, which states that companies tend to promote incompetent employees to management to minimize their ability to harm productivity. The Dilbert principle is inspired by the Peter principle, which is that employees are promoted based on success until they attain their "level of incompetence" and are no longer successful. By the Dilbert principle, employees who were never competent a... ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-comic-strips-singles-not-properties/974223/35 "2022-11-02T18:20:46Z")
Were extravagantly macabre snow sculptures popular before they appeared in _Calvin & Hobbes_? ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-comic-strips-singles-not-properties/974223/36 "2022-11-02T18:28:45Z")
I think the trope of a Bully kicking sand in a weakling’s face comes from those bad advertisements in the backs of comic books. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-comic-strips-singles-not-properties/974223/37 "2022-11-02T18:41:10Z")
There used to be (and may still be) Sadie Hawkins Day dances, courtesy of _Li’l Abner_. Any overly complicated sandwich used to be a “Dagwood”. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-comic-strips-singles-not-properties/974223/38 "2022-11-02T18:45:53Z")
[![](https://res.cloudinary.com/jerrick/image/upload/f_jpg,q_auto,w_720/c2j6c1chyjnaxtrg7rld.jpg) ](https://res.cloudinary.com/jerrick/image/upload/f_jpg,q_auto,w_720/c2j6c1chyjnaxtrg7rld.jpg) ---
**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:** [November 2, 2022, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-comic-strips-singles-not-properties/974223/39 "2022-11-02T18:52:21Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > Were extravagantly macabre snow sculptures popular before they appeared in _Calvin & Hobbes_? Aside: Bill Watterson was inspired by the rather creepy snow sculptures created by Charles Schulz. CB scared of his: > **[Peanuts by Charles Schulz for December 20, 1953 | GoComics.com](https://www.gocomics.com/peanuts/1953/12/20/)** > > "Shermy sand Snoopy are zoomingPatty on a snow sled, Patty calls to them, HEY! HAVE YOU SEEN CHARLIE BROWN? Shermy replies NO! (BR) (BR) WHAM, Patty is standing looking left and says, SORRY I ASKED.. (BR) (BR) Violet is out in the snow shoveling a... Linus and his army: > **[IFTHEYWERECOUNTRIES.com](http://iftheywerecountries.blogspot.com/2018/11/)** > > Going through Peanuts comic by comic to see what it would have been like if the characters were countries ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2022, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-comic-strips-singles-not-properties/974223/40 "2022-11-03T02:01:42Z")
“Sickos,” by Ward Sutton (a.k.a. “Kelly”): [![](https://www.nicepng.com/png/detail/193-1931313_but-shes-14-you-sicko-sickos-ha-ha.png) ](https://www.nicepng.com/png/detail/193-1931313_but-shes-14-you-sicko-sickos-ha-ha.png) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-comic-strips-singles-not-properties/974223.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-comic-strips-singles-not-properties/974223.md?page=3)