I was scheduled to get a haircut today, but social distancing requirements put the kibosh on that, for the second month in a row. I may have to resort to Willie Nelson braids if we remain in isolation much longer.
What was I up to while hunkering down? Cranking out another batch of cartoon foolishness, the same as every other week. Here's the latest pile for your amusement.
The ultimate small plate dining experience.
Tuesday's comic hit home with many Bizarro readers, as do a lot of our gags featuring cats or dogs. I'm glad to know that a significant portion of our readership are animal lovers. Here at Bizarro Studios North, we share our space with two feline companions, or more accurately, they share their space with us. Begrudgingly.
The greater achievement was designing boxer shorts, trousers, and a lab coat to accommodate their luxuriant tails.
Thursday's panel was foreshadowed by a gag from last week. Actually, after drawing the earlier one, we realized we could squeeze out a separate tattoo joke. This provided an opportunity to place a bunch of Secret Symbols in the background.
With some shuffling, we managed to fit all ten symbols into the strip layout.
As readers of this blog know, I slot what I consider to be the week's strongest gag for Friday. This week I repeatedly swapped the skunk and caveman panels before settling on the final sequence. I decided that the gag depicting the first hot rodder delivered its payoff in a more surprising manner, while the skunk cartoon was funny, but more straightforward. I awarded extra points for the weird logic in the cave gag.
I believe that this panel marks the first occurrence of an inverted cardinal (in both meanings) as a Secret Symbol. I hope we provided a few laughs as a counterpoint to the weird and frightening state of the world this week. Don't forget to visit Dan Piraro's blog. He always offers additional insight and commentary, as well as his latest Sunday Bizarro page. Bonus Track
The title of this week's post was taken from a song written by Bob Dylan and Rick Danko. Over the years, it's been recorded by Dylan and the Band (who also did their own version), Siouxsie and the Banshees, the Byrds and even Kylie Minogue. Julie Driscoll did a groovy psychedelic cover with Brian Auger and Trinity, which made the UK top five in 1968.
Thank you and Dan for your wonderful humor. I think you've done a great job with Bizarro since you took over creating most of it. I wouldn't survive life (especially not now) without humor and music. I'm in Pennsylvania too, suburban Philadelphia. Keep up the great work, thanks again.
This song is used as the theme for the brilliant British comedy series (by Jennifer Sanders) "Absolutely Fabulous". Like Pavlov's dog, every time I hear it, I see bits of AbFab.....
Thanks for driving me straight down the Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger rabbit hole. :)
ReplyDeleteMusic has that power, doesn’t it. :)
DeleteGlad you enjoyed that tuneful detour.
Has the pipe become a secret symbol too, or is it an homage to Magritte?
ReplyDeleteThank you and Dan for your wonderful humor. I think you've done a great job with Bizarro since you took over creating most of it. I wouldn't survive life (especially not now) without humor and music. I'm in Pennsylvania too, suburban Philadelphia. Keep up the great work, thanks again.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the very kind words. You’ve made my day!
DeleteMay I also recommend The daily comic Loose Parts, by Dave Blazek, my friend and colleague from the Philadelphia area.
This song is used as the theme for the brilliant British comedy series (by Jennifer Sanders) "Absolutely Fabulous".
ReplyDeleteLike Pavlov's dog, every time I hear it, I see bits of AbFab.....
I never realized how pointed vampire ears are until I saw your bald one. Thought it was a Vulcan!
ReplyDeleteThere was a version (with a much less foreboding feel) used as the theme song for "Absokutely Fabulous".
ReplyDeleteThanks for the recommendation of Loose Parts. That looks like a lot of fun, too!
ReplyDelete