# If you could take one comic strip outta the paper forever... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 17, 2003, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-take-one-comic-strip-outta-the-paper-forever/182366 "2003-06-17T02:40:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![RobuSensei](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/919ad9/32.png) [@RobuSensei](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobuSensei)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-take-one-comic-strip-outta-the-paper-forever/182366/101 "2003-06-18T13:16:19Z")
From the rules to [Five-Card Nancy](http://www.scottmccloud.com/inventions/nancy/nancy.html): > [@](#): > > Ernie Bushmiller’s comic strip “Nancy” is a landmark achievement: A Comic so simply drawn it can be reduced to the size of a postage stamp and still be legible; an approach so formulaic as to become the very definition of the “gag-strip”; a sense of humor so obscure, so mute, so without malice as to allow faithful readers to march through whole decades of art and story without ever once cracking a smile. As for the game, you have five panels from Nancy as your cards, as well as a draw pile. You play cards to try to tell a story; other players vote on whether your “next panel” fits or not. Get rid of all your cards to win… ---
**Author:** ![Woeg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/df705f/32.png) [@Woeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Woeg)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-take-one-comic-strip-outta-the-paper-forever/182366/102 "2003-06-18T13:24:07Z")
Reading that article about “B.C.”, I have a newfound respect for Gary Trudeau. I’ve never really like Doonsebury\*, and always thought it belonged more in the editorial cartoons than in the funny pages, but when he said this: “What’s the problem – that, God forbid, Johnny Hart still believes in God? These are good,” Trudeau said. “What’s important is that he still honors his first professional obligation, which is to entertain. If he wants to stimulate people into thinking about the nature of faith, more power to him. I don’t disagree with the law professor. [Hart] is writing about his values as much as I am writing about mine.” My respect for him went up a thousand fold. Way to go, Gary! - for the record, I’m not a fan of B.C. either. ---
**Author:** ![toque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9e8a1a/32.png) [@toque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toque)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-take-one-comic-strip-outta-the-paper-forever/182366/103 "2003-06-18T16:51:17Z")
“Family Circus” and “For Better or for Worse” both infuriate me. They’re basically the same comic for different generations. “Boondocks” is the only contemporary comic I really love. It’s hard to imagine not so long ago when we had “Calvin and Hobbes” “Bloom County” and “The Far Side” _all at the same time._ ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-take-one-comic-strip-outta-the-paper-forever/182366/104 "2003-06-18T17:12:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DrDeth \* > **Dennis the Menace. I don’t care who originated this nasty little piece of crap that plagues my daily comics. The kid isn’t funny, he is a sociopath. =1** There was a Dennis strip maybe 15 years ago or so that cracked me up enough that I cut it out. Dennis’s father is putting an LP on the stereo–Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos–and Dennis is scampering out the door, saying, “I’m going over to Mr. Wilson’s to listen to some Fats Waller records.” > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DrDeth \* > \*\*Bring back Tank MacNamara (yes, I know it is still published, just not out here). > \*\* You can read it online at [ucomics](http://www.ucomics.com/tankmcnamara/). ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-take-one-comic-strip-outta-the-paper-forever/182366/105 "2003-06-18T19:05:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by shy guy \* > However, I don’t think anyone so far has mentioned **Jump Start**. This strip Is. Not. Funny. At all. Ever. It’s like someone invented a “utterly lame jokes” machine and taught it to draw incredibly generic, boring pictures to go along with them. I can’t believe my local paper has this garbage in it when it could be printing Boondocks (which, even when it sucks, can at least be different from the rest of the comics). **Jump Start** used to be rather funny (not quite \*\*Boondocks-\*\*level funny, but a decent read), but ever since they introduced the kids, it’s gotten into “generic family comic strip” mode. I still read it every day, as there’s occassionally a flash of funny (Crunchy is good for a few laughs), but it’s clearly a shadow of its former self. And quoting from **dantheman:** > [@](#): > > “Johnny is the most controversial person on the comics pages,” says Richard S. Newcombe, president of Creators Syndicate, which distributes “B.C.” “Johnny is also the most courageous person on the comics pages. To be outspoken on the subject of Christianity is exposing yourself to ridicule.” Oh, yeah, poor brave Johnny Hart, the only Christian comic-strip artist on a funny page just _jammed_ with Pagan, Jewish, Muslem, Buddhist, and atheist comics. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-take-one-comic-strip-outta-the-paper-forever/182366/106 "2003-06-18T19:23:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rjung \* > … \*\*Oh, yeah, poor brave Johnny Hart, the only Christian comic-strip artist on a funny page just _jammed_ with Pagan, Jewish, Muslem, Buddhist, and atheist comics. :rolleyes: \*\* Right, there’s nothing particularly brave or new about putting biblical messages in comics. Charles Shulz did it all the time; he was just better at it. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-take-one-comic-strip-outta-the-paper-forever/182366/107 "2003-06-18T21:14:31Z")
My vote is for “Life in Hell.” I love Matt Groening and think the Simpsons are great, but every week it just seems like he’s not trying anymore with LiH. It used to be funny but now it’s just been reduced to a parody of itself. Every week it’s either Akbar and Jeff bouncing around naked and saying stupid things, or the rabbit (I’ve forgotten his name) sitting in the middle of a room saying something clever. \>yawn\< I’m glad nobody’s mentioned Rose is Rose yet (or if they have, I missed it). It’s sappy, but I like it. Especially the strips with Peekaboo the cat. ---
**Author:** ![Padmaraga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f07891/32.png) [@Padmaraga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padmaraga)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-take-one-comic-strip-outta-the-paper-forever/182366/108 "2003-06-18T21:46:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by toque \* > \*\* It’s hard to imagine not so long ago when we had “Calvin and Hobbes” “Bloom County” and “The Far Side” _all at the same time._ \*\* _sigh_ Yes, those were the good old days. ---
**Author:** ![jacquilynne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/67e7ee/32.png) [@jacquilynne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jacquilynne)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-take-one-comic-strip-outta-the-paper-forever/182366/109 "2003-06-18T21:54:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by toque \* > \*\*“Family Circus” and “For Better or for Worse” both infuriate me. They’re basically the same comic for different generations. Whuh? Family Circus is a never-changing strip based around cute little kiddie malapropisms. For Better or For Worse is a storylined serial strip with developed characters that addresses a changing spectrum of life issues. I can’t even fathom how you could compare the two. They’re worlds apart. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-take-one-comic-strip-outta-the-paper-forever/182366/110 "2003-06-18T21:56:12Z")
Well… they both _suck_, so they have that in common! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-take-one-comic-strip-outta-the-paper-forever/182366/111 "2003-06-18T22:06:31Z")
A second vote for Life in Hell. It makes me wonder how much Groening has ever _really_ had to do with **The Simpsons**. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Man\_With\_The\_Golden\_Gun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dc4da7/32.png) [@The\_Man\_With\_The\_Golden\_Gun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Man_With_The_Golden_Gun)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-take-one-comic-strip-outta-the-paper-forever/182366/112 "2003-06-18T23:12:18Z")
Yeah, Life in Hell in the 80s was pretty good. Though even then he kinda went overboard with the Republican bashing. Okay Matt, you hate Republicans. We get it. Shut up. More rabbit jokes, less political commentary. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-take-one-comic-strip-outta-the-paper-forever/182366/113 "2003-06-18T23:22:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TWDuke \* > Right, there’s nothing particularly brave or new about putting biblical messages in comics. Charles Shulz did it all the time; he was just better at it. Damn straight – Sparky quoted, he didn’t preach. As for finding Biblical messages in comic strips, just wait until mid-December… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-take-one-comic-strip-outta-the-paper-forever/182366/114 "2003-06-19T16:50:41Z")
My opinion of Gary Trudeau just went up a few notches. I’ve got no problem with Johnny Hart putting religious messages into his strips. (Anything which pisses off the secular humanists is fine with me 😉 ) That said, B.C. has gotten pretty stale. The same can be said about Garfield, Wizard of Id, Beetle Bailey, Hagar the Horrible, and pretty much every other “classic” comic. (Garfield being the worst.) They all reed to be retired. I reserve speical hatred for Mallard Filmore. This guy is one of those jerks that makes his cause look bad. Being a fairly conservative guy myself, I can say that I’m ashamed of this strip. I reserve speical pity for Peanuts. Keeping it in the papers is akin to having your grandma taxidermically preserved and sitting her at the kitchen table. Let it go already. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-take-one-comic-strip-outta-the-paper-forever/182366/115 "2003-06-19T16:53:30Z")
I had no idea Life in Hell was still being made. Aren’t Wizard of Id, Beetle Bailey, Hagar, Hi and Lois, B.C done by some of the same people? The similarities are … well, annoying. 🙂 ---
**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:** [June 19, 2003, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-take-one-comic-strip-outta-the-paper-forever/182366/116 "2003-06-19T17:17:01Z")
Life in Hell had some great moments, but after the SImpsons came along it seemed that all Groening could do was make Akbar & Jeff’s heads talk back and forth for 24 panels. ---
**Author:** ![Aslan\_of\_Narnia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@Aslan\_of\_Narnia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aslan_of_Narnia)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-take-one-comic-strip-outta-the-paper-forever/182366/117 "2003-06-19T18:20:50Z")
I thought he ended LOH. ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-take-one-comic-strip-outta-the-paper-forever/182366/118 "2003-06-19T18:28:49Z")
Nope, it’s still in the LA Weekly, for one. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-take-one-comic-strip-outta-the-paper-forever/182366/119 "2003-06-19T23:32:02Z")
Submitted for your disapproval: [Tumbleweeds](http://www.tumbleweeds.com/funnies3.html), the lame comic strip set in the old west with cowboys and Indians. If artist T.K. Ryan depicted the any other ethnic group the way he portrays Native Americans, he would be run out of town on a rail. Plus, it’s just not funny; did I say it was lame? It’s lame. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-take-one-comic-strip-outta-the-paper-forever/182366/120 "2003-06-19T23:38:25Z")
Tumbleweeds is still around?!?! And Wee Pals? Man, you guys have sucky newspapers. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-take-one-comic-strip-outta-the-paper-forever/182366.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-take-one-comic-strip-outta-the-paper-forever/182366.md?page=7)