# Why are cartoon bombs sphere-shaped? Can't find an answer . . . **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 26, 2003, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-cartoon-bombs-sphere-shaped-cant-find-an-answer/221174 "2003-12-26T23:28:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bingowah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@bingowah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bingowah)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2003, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-cartoon-bombs-sphere-shaped-cant-find-an-answer/221174/1 "2003-12-26T23:28:29Z")
Hello everyone! I have a question I’d like to ask, I’ve been trying to dig up the history behind this to no avail so far and I’ve really wanted to know for quite some time: why do bombs in cartoons like Looney Tunes often look like black spheres with the fuse coming out of a nubbed portion on top (or bottom, if you roll it, whatever.)? I’ve never seen a real bomb look like this, and to be frankly honest, I’m just curious! It really got me thinking. Thanks a lot! Bingowah ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2003, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-cartoon-bombs-sphere-shaped-cant-find-an-answer/221174/2 "2003-12-26T23:33:32Z")
Very early bombs really were cast-iron spheres with fuses sticking out. The earliest mortar shells were of this design. (Mortar shells remained spherical for some time; the “Bombs Bursting in Air” in the U.S. National Anthem would have been spherical; they were launched from “Bomb Ketches,” ships that had a large mortar midships, with masts and rigging slightly altered from the standard to accomodate the trajectory.) Trinopus ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2003, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-cartoon-bombs-sphere-shaped-cant-find-an-answer/221174/3 "2003-12-26T23:38:06Z")
[See also early grenadiers](http://www.probertencyclopaedia.com/j/Grenadier.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![adirondack\_mike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5a626/32.png) [@adirondack\_mike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adirondack_mike)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2003, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-cartoon-bombs-sphere-shaped-cant-find-an-answer/221174/4 "2003-12-27T02:07:54Z")
It’s a symbol - If you haven’t already check out Scott McCloud’s “Understanding Comics.” Here is his [website](http://www.scottmccloud.com) ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2003, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-cartoon-bombs-sphere-shaped-cant-find-an-answer/221174/5 "2003-12-27T02:31:19Z")
Russian nihilists and anarchists of the 19th century developed a reputation for using spherical bombs: > [@](#): > > The innocent-looking law-book was really a most dangerous infernal machine-sufficiently powerful not alone to kill everybody in the Czar’s carriage, but many in the crowd, and perhaps to have blown down some of the neighboring houses. **The traveling-sack was full of dynamite bombs of the ordinary spherical pattern**. [A history of the red terror and the social revolution in America and Europe.](http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/schaak/chapter2b.html) The round bomb’s persistence in cartoons probably arises from their being easy to draw, and easy to recognize; almost an ICON if you will. ---
**Author:** ![bingowah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@bingowah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bingowah)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-cartoon-bombs-sphere-shaped-cant-find-an-answer/221174/6 "2003-12-28T09:26:32Z")
Why thank you so much everyone for the info! I’ve been enlightened with this spherical bomb info and learned something new! Much appreciation 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Acco40](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/58956e/32.png) [@Acco40](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acco40)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-cartoon-bombs-sphere-shaped-cant-find-an-answer/221174/7 "2003-12-28T16:05:42Z")
Yes, early bombs were spherical. For an example, check out **Master and Commander** and, if you can stay awake, you’ll see them use bombs like this.