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 second half of August is becoming extra busy for your cartoonist, and I'm composing this post ten days in advance, so please forgive me if anything momentous happens before this is published and I don't remark on it.
Since I'm trying to complete an extra week or two of comics before September, it's fitting to feature a comics-related pipe pic.
This is of course a Thimble Theatre panel by the great Elzie Segar. My old buddy and esteemed colleague Steve Bissette posted this on his Facebook page recently.
The pipe may be a tiny part of the image, but it still qualifies. Also, it depicts a world I'd like to live in.
Thanks to Steve for adding some levity to the Book of Face.
Here's a review of the latest Bizarro gags. Bizarro is distributed by King Features Syndicate, making us Popeye's neighbors or maybe his co-workers.
Monday's gag may have been partly inspired by the story of a patient of psychologist Oliver Sacks. The man was an accomplished jazz drummer and Tourette's patient who had a history of experiencing severe tics. When the patient took medication to control the symptoms, he lost the spontaneity that fueled his musical improvisations. Along with Dr. Sacks the patient eventually decided to use the medication on weekdays to help him function in day-to-day society, and he'd go off the meds on weekends to be a wilder, freer improviser.
Who doesn't enjoy the occasional alien probing gag?
On the same subject, here's an old one I particularly enjoyed doing:
A restaurant in my neighborhood serves a "deconstructed" Bloody Mary, which makes for a tasty science experiment.
Maybe Cousin Erlenmeyer has a wild side after all.
And their bartender makes a nice glass of slop.
Odds are that this has happened in real life somewhere.
After I completed the art, we decided that the client's outfit made him look like a (smarmy) doctor in a lab coat, so I executed a wardrobe change.
That wraps up another batch of frivolity from your humble ink-monkey. Thanks for dropping by.
Bonus Track
Ace Records single, 1962
Huey "Piano" Smith was one of the giants of New Orleans music and was hugely influential on the development of early rock and roll. He was a true entertainer, and his records are almost all worthwhile.
A Whole Lotta Bizarro
If you like what we do and appreciate that it comes to you free of charge, we encourage you to explore the following links.
Many thanks!
Wayno's Tip Jar (One-time or recurring)
Dan's Tip Jar (One-time or recurring)
Dan Piraro's Weekly Bizarro Blog
Subscribe to The Naked Cartoonist
Dan "Diego" Piraro's Peyote Cowboy Graphic Novel
King Features Subscription & Archive Access
Daily Email Subscription to Bizarro
Regarding medications affecting creativity, I overheard a conversation between a fellow employee and her friend complaining that her soon-to-be ex-husband refused to take medication for his mental health problems because it affected his creative inspirations he needed as he was a sculptor. Unfortunately, she could not handle his mental problems so decided to get a divorce.
ReplyDeleteI guess that's not as uncommon as one might imagine.
DeleteI got a good laugh from your comment: "It’s only the pipe when it’s not a pipe." Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI agree with changing the lab coat, but I think Jack Nicholson's yellow blazer and black shirt in Prizzi's Honor could have been a great choice and easier on our favorite cartoonist.
ReplyDeleteYes, solid black would have been a little easier but the floral pattern gave a suggestion of color to the papers that run it in black & white.
DeleteBest of luck at the Reuben awards. I hope you take home a prize and a sandwich (or at least a good Pee-Wee impression).
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jarrod!
DeleteOliver Sacks was a physician who specialized in Neurology not a Psychologist. Regardless of title he had a brilliant career and led a remarkable life.
ReplyDeleteWayno, I greatly enjoy your work and appreciate the challenges your captions sometimes present.
ReplyDeleteBest Wishes at Reubens!