This is the weekly dispatch from Bizarro Studios North, where I have been writing and drawing the Monday through Saturday Bizarro comics since 2018. My partner and friend Dan Piraro created Bizarro in the late twentieth century and continues to do the Sunday comic from Rancho Bizarro in Mexico.
Wayno
The death of human empathy is one of the earliest and most telling signs of a culture about to fall into barbarism.
Hannah Arendt
Wednesday evening, I had the privilege of chatting with three fellow cartoonists on their PenciltoPencil video podcast. (I guess that's the correct term—it's streamed live and archived on their YouTube channel.)
We spoke about many aspects of the business and craft of being a cartoonist and touched on how we deal with negative internet comments and "hate mail" (using that term jokingly.)
I've learned to ignore or laugh at most online comments, which are probably dashed off semi-thoughtlessly. However, I pay closer attention when someone emails me. Unless the message is extreme, abusive, or vulgar, I take it seriously and reply sincerely. Some things I've written can be read as having a different tone than I intended, so I remind myself to give others the benefit of the doubt.
People read, see, or hear tons of material daily, and it's easy to forget that a human being is behind it. Come to think of it, in some cases, there isn't a human being behind it.
When a reader considers a cartoon incorrect or objectionable, I consider what they say and respond as directly and honestly as possible. When I disagree, I do so respectfully. In almost every case, the person writes back in a friendlier manner and thanks me for the response. At that point, we both feel better about the exchange. Also, I've learned some things from letters of complaint, even if they aren't elegantly written.
I'm not always as thoughtful when responding to in-person criticism, but I'm working on that.
In a December blog post, mi amigo Dan Piraro summarized Dickens's A Christmas Carol with the fortune-cookie-worthy line, "Being a hateful asshole ruins no one's life more than your own."
Empathy is a commodity whose supply is dwindling. Any that we can give is more valuable and necessary than ever.
This week's charming pipe pic came from faithful Bizarro reader Ron K.
Mike McCartney is also a musician and photographer who went professionally by the name Mike McGear because he didn't want to appear to be exploiting the family name.
He was a member of the bands The Scaffold and GRIMMS and released some outstanding solo records.
Thanks to Ron for the delightful photo.
If any of this week's gags make you angry, feel free to write, but please take a few deep breaths first.
This panel depicts a pivotal moment in publishing history, or at least one I imagined.
I sketched two variations of the "hip replacement" idea and was happily surprised when Dan suggested I run with them on consecutive days. I prefer the surgery version, which leaves the image of the patient to the reader.
A few people wondered if I was doing another "theme week," but it was just these two. A whole week might have prompted some hate mail.
This panel is less a prediction than a comment on a sad reality. It started with AutoTune and went downhill.
That's a drawing of your cartoonist's hand in the background. Fortunately, I draw right-handed.
Here, we see the lesser-known deity Nerf Eros.
We ended the week with a silly marsupial caption.
For those of you who observe, Happy Valentine's Day, Valloween, Lupercalia, and anything else I may be missing. Be nice to yourself and to each other.
Bonus Track
From Jingles
EMI Records, 1978
In the spirit of romance, here's a song from Advertising's one and only album.
A Bountiful Bouquet of Bizarro
If you like what we do and appreciate that it's free of charge, we encourage you to explore the following links.
Copyright© 2025 by Wayno®
Nerf Eros... My sides still hurt! How dare you make me laugh, you drain on the system. This is a serious time and we must all trod around with scowls of despair on our miserable faces. There, there is some angry hate mail for you.
ReplyDeleteWell done, Roy! That's some fine hate mail.
DeleteThanks for the Saturday morning smile!
Somehow I had heard the name Mike McGear without ever learning he was Paul's brother. He does sound a lot like him, and his stuff has decent production values, but it's clear he was missing that elusive something that burns a pop ditty into your brain.
ReplyDeleteLove your honesty as free speech certainly can be abused with vitriol. Also loved the Bonus Track but could not find it on iTunes. Any ideas where I might be able to track this album down?
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, the Advertising album remains obscure. I believe it was briefly available as a Japanese CD, but it doesn't seem to be on any streaming platforms, or available for download, which is a shame. If you have the ability to play LPs, the vinyl version can be found online.
DeleteI have a copy of Mike McGear's song "Norton". I believe it was added to the compilation record it's on because his brother Paul lends his voice on it. It's a very catching song.
ReplyDeleteI wish my late sister could have seen your blog. She was kind of obsessed with Paul McCartney, and would have gotten a kick out of this week's pipe picture!
ReplyDeleteIt's a sweet photo, isn't it? While searching the web for the highest-resolution version, I was saddened to see that most of the sites showing the photo had cropped Mike out of it!
DeleteThere's a similar shot of the McCartney boys with their mom at the same location.
Love that one of the surgeons in the hip replacement cartoon is reading Allen Ginsburg's "Howl".
ReplyDeleteThanks for noticing that Susan! I love how our readers pay attention to details like that.
DeleteThere's never a bad week of Bizarro, but I think this week's set is particularly strong.
ReplyDeleteCD, your words have made my day.
Delete♥️💙♥️
ReplyDeleteI love that album (Advertising - Jingles) the next song on the LP Pleasure Seekers would fit the bill as well.. - beej
ReplyDelete