Frazz: Caulfield's Costume Clues Commence!

Cafe Society
1

It’s that time again, folks! For those who don’t read the comic strip Frazz, the character Caulfield dresses up as a literary character every year for Halloween, and clues as to who he’s going to be start popping up about a week before the big night.

Our first clue appeared today.

Anyone have any guesses? The only thing I could find involving a tree near a grave is The Grave Tree, a poem I’d never heard of before I went searching on “grave tree” to figure out what the costume would be.

Otherwise, I’m stumped so far. Anyone else have a guess?

2

Rest In Peace…

Rip Van Winkle?

Hm. Buried under a tree.

3

Wasn’t the Headless Horseman ensconced within a tree, from which he would emerge each night to do his master’s evil bidding?

4

I’m not entirely convinced Caulfield was pointing to the tree. I guess we’ll see tomorrow.

Is “There, there,” perhaps a clue?

5

I was thinking that the “There, there” was the key, too.

6

That’s tough. If I had to take a wild guess, I’d say Charles Dickens…but didn’t Caulfield already dress up as him before!?

7

OK, now that’s I’ve had my wild guess, I went at it with my Google-Fu skills, and came up with…Thom Yorke of Radiohead.

Um, well. Can a songwriter be a literary character? Maybe I need to head back to the dojo for a little more training.

8

I thought so too, which would make it Gertrude Stein.

9

I saw that too. I didn’t realize this was an annual thing the artist did.

On my first guess, I’m guessing Poe.

10

Today’s clue: Everyone gets what it is, instantly.

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Including the readers.

Or at least what book he’s going from.

I haven’t read it so I have no idea how the graveyard fits in, but Mr Spaetzle’s comment was enough to give me an idea, and googling Jane’s confirmed my suspicion.

Catch-22. Probably Yossarian.

Unless, of course, said comments are a red herring.

12

From Caulfield’s comment, I wonder if he’ll switch because everyone caught on?

13

I don’t think Mallett would be so mean as to waste two days of hints, like that.

14

Wasn’t there a scene with 2 characters in a tree, watching a funeral, discussing the merits of chocolate dipped cotton?

15

I don’t remember the chocolate but,

I recall that Yossarian is so affected by a death that he witnessed that he watched the funeral from a distance in a tree. Nude! Which explains why the teachers are concerned.

But why is it that everyone has read the book? Just because its commonly read in school?

16

Okay, it has been a while. Just thought I remembered some conjunction of a funeral and a character in a tree. Thanks.

17

I too was guessing Catch-22.I only skimmed the book though, so for me this was really a guess.

18

Awww, you guessed it too! Yeah, Mr. Spaetzle is what gave it away for me. I’d forgotten the tree part.

… at least the costume will be cheap.

19

I just looked up a summary. You’re right! The chocolate covered cotton ball scene does happen while he’s up in the tree.

20

Is Mr. Spaetzle the guy with pens in his pocket? I think his quote was what kicked my (dim) memory in too.