Reading the “worst comic strip thread,” I was pleasantly surprised to see some kind words tossed to Sally Forth. On the face of it, you might think it a nondescript, insipid, family strip to pass over. But it is actually quite clever. My favorite themes/tropes:
–every once in a while they seem to realize they are in a comic, especially when someone acknowledges that a flashback sequence is coming up that will take care of 2 weeks of a plot line; or when Hilary asks why the baby has aged 3 years and she’s still 12 years old the whole time
–the sloshed dragon-lady mother-in-law who not so subtly takes every shot she can at Ted, insinuating he’s a limp-wristed girly man
–the corn maze
–Ted’s frequent non-sequitur references to early '80’s pop culture; for example, referring to his Voltron action-figure collection or “what would the Thundercats do” etc.
–Sally’s slacker employees who are so entitled that they are aghast at actually having to show up for work before noon
If you are a fan of the strip, what are your favorite themes/tropes?
Having not read the comics page in at least 10 years, I had no idea Sally was still in the papers. Your description is almost nothing like it was a decade ago.
The only thing I remember from back then was every Easter, Sally would bite the ears off the little girl’s chocolate rabbit. Annoyed me, it did. Still, not a bad strip.
I like when they play Monopoly. Ted (the husband/dad) comes up with amazing variants and is desperate to win.
I also like the running gag about Hilary’s rock band. She wrote a “sell out” song called “You’re So Party, Let’s Go Dancey” and its Christmas sequel, “You’re So Party, Let’s Go Dancey 'Round the Christmas Tree.” Previously, all her songs were about werewolves.
The author is Francesco Marciuliano and he also authors the Medium Large online strip. He’s hilarious and has made Sally Forth one of the best comics out there.
She’s also taken more than a few shots at Sally’s sister and Sally herself – one of which caused Ted to lose his temper and throw her out of the house.
My favorites are always when Ted and Hillary cooperate on some crazy hairbrained scheme, and leave poor Sally in the dust. She definitely takes after her father, that one.
Apologies for bumping my own zombie thread, but this last Sunday’s strip is a perfect example of why this comic is so good.
Ted’s expression in the 4th panel and Sally’s body language in the last one. The finger pointing in panel 3 to go along with the accusation. The surreal parting thought.
And also: “I can’t figure out the new lawn mower.”
Gotta admit, Hil and her friends don’t interest me much. But Sally seems less smarmy and “I have it all together” than she used to be back in the previous century, which works well for me.