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
What a week we've had here. I was out of the studio on Monday to take care of springtime outdoor chores, figuring I'd put in a couple extra hours in the following days to make up for it. Atmospheric conditions had other ideas.
On Tuesday afternoon, we were slammed by a violent storm that stretched from Texas to New York. We knew it was coming and spent the early part of the day preparing. When it hit, it hit hard. We could see flashes from nearby electrical transformers as they overloaded and failed, and many large trees fell across roads, in neighbors' yards, or on top of vehicles and homes. Energized wires were lying on the ground or in fallen trees, creating potentially fatal hazards.
Outside of cleaning up storm debris and possibly having to replace a kitchen appliance, we were merely inconvenienced and reminded how we take on-demand electric power for granted. I lost a few days' work and am still trying to catch up.
This intro is a rather lengthy way of saying I'll keep today's post briefer than usual to devote my time to making new cartoons for you.
Of course, we must begin with a pipe pic.
Late last year, Bill Morrison, a brilliant cartoonist known for his work on The Simpsons and Futurama, shared this vintage ad for Textron pajamas. It features an illustration by Frederick "Fritz" Siebel, which is odd and strangely joyful. Two 1950s suburban dad types are at play in a cloudy holiday skyscape. One smokes a pipe while riding a huge log pulled by his pal.
I wasn't familiar with Siebel's name, but it's a safe bet we've all seen at least one example of his work. In 1957, he created the Mr. Clean character, who endures into the twenty-first century.
For more information on Siebel and examples of his varied work, check out Leif Peng's blog, Today's Inspiration, and Henry Giardina's appreciation of INTOmore.
Thanks to my friend and colleague Bill for introducing me to Siebel's art.
Fritz is a difficult act to follow, but we'll soldier on with the most recent Bizarro cartoons.
You have to admire this fellow's dedication to craft.
Thoughtful support from a partner can sometimes ease a difficult work situation. Other times, less so.
The US Navy chose the right person to promote to CPO.
Pity the vertical humorist whose life is conflict-free.
Your cartoonist enjoyed adding mistakes (or "hallucinations") to the drawing.
Can you spot the tiny change required for the strip layout?
The strip layout made for a more dramatic composition.
That's another half-dozen Bizarro gags in the archives. Come back next week to check in on disaster recovery efforts in the area.
Bonus Track
Dr. John: "Blow Wind Blow"
from Dr. John's Gumbo
Atlantic Records, 1972
Atlantic Records, 1972
It's never a bad time to listen to the good doctor, especially when he's covering a Huey 'Piano' Smith tune.
A Heap of Bizarro Hooey
If you like what we do and appreciate that it's free, we encourage you to explore the following links.
The A.I. Joe difference: the funnel tip (or is it a plunger?) in the weapon?
ReplyDeleteYes! I removed the "bell" (?) so the arrow wouldn't be out of frame. Way to go, Tom!
DeleteYour Chief Petty Officer looks like a grown-up Beavis (or Butthead, I never have known which is which).
ReplyDeleteI see what you mean, whichever one it is!
DeleteWayne get a generator fit those bad times.I would use a solar generator that puts electricity in a battery.Also you can save on your electric bill by using it all the time
ReplyDeleteI'm considering it, for sure!
Delete