Beating Around the Bushmiller

We're another week closer to the end of this annus horribilis, and January can't get here soon enough.

I don't have a clever intro this time, so let's jump right in to a review of the week's cartoons.

Mommy's little monetizer got some laughs, but the most enthusiastic responses to this panel were comments on Dad's t-shirt. It's a souvenir from the tour supporting their hit album, Some Record You'll Never Listen To.

This little packet of joy will spend the next decade or so in a kitchen drawer with multiple siblings.

Wednesday's cartoon can be read as a simple twist on the trope of people offering ideas to cartoonists or children's book authors. It might also serve as a comment on ostensible adults who feel the need to cosplay as military types. 

Not only are our homes now offices, they're also assumed to be miniature broadcast studios and A.V. departments.

Friday's panel pays punning tribute to Ernie Bushmiller, creator of the durable comic strip, Nancy. I tried to copy Bushmiller's drawing style as closely as possible for this one, and came away with renewed respect for his economical approach.

The dialog is a simplified version of an eloquent statement on comics by the late Jay Kennedy (1956-2007).

[I]n the fine arts, artists generally comment on the world only obliquely; and sadly, only those people who have the leisure to study art history can fully appreciate their comments. By contrast, cartoons are an art form accessible to all people. They can simply laugh at the jokes or look beyond them to see the artist’s view of the world. Cartoons are multi-leveled art accessible to everyone at whatever level they choose to enjoy.

Jay was a scholar and collector of underground comix, and a friend and champion of cartoonists, who helped and encouraged hundreds and hundreds of creators, including yours truly.

Zippy the Pinhead cartoonist Bill Griffith has recently finished work on a graphic biography of Bushmiller, which is sure to be required reading here at Bizarro Studios.

Nearly thirty years ago, I wrote and drew this Nancy-centric piece for Heavy Metal. It was part of a mail order catalog parody. I still think it's at least as valid as astrology.

It takes special skills to sell not-yet-real estate.

Thanks for reading Bizarro, and for all of the comments and reposts. Don't forget to read Dan Piraro's weekly blog post, where he discusses the week's cartoons, and shares his latest gorgeous Bizarro Sunday page.

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Bonus Track

For the past couple of weeks, after the passing of Ennio Morricone, I've been on an Italian Soundtrack kick. This swingin' tune was written by Piero Piccioni, another master of the genre, and it always brings a smile to my face.