Wednesday, August 27, 2025

Accusez-Moi

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 


Disillusioned words like bullets bark
As human gods aim for their mark
Make everything from toy guns that spark
To flesh-colored Christs that glow in the dark
It’s easy to see without looking too far
That not much is really sacred

While preachers preach of evil fates
Teachers teach that knowledge waits
Can lead to hundred-dollar plates
Goodness hides behind its gates
But even the president of the United States
Sometimes must have to stand naked

Bob Dylan

Yes, I'm quoting the Bard of Hibbing again, with an excerpt from his 1964 composition, "It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)."

These lyrics from a record released sixty years ago are still relevant, probably more than when they were originally committed to tape.

I can't add anything to such righteous poetry, so I'll close out this intro to the Labor Day weekend post to express 1) appreciation for all the workers who are the foundation of our economy, and 2) hope that it doesn't crash around us because of the actions of needy, greedy accumulators of obscene, unearned wealth who never engaged in honest work.



Bizarro reader Scot G. of Upland, CA, sent today's atmospheric pipe pic, which he shot earlier this year.



Scot's notes from the field:
I was in Miami Beach a week ago to see my favorite band, moe, play at the outdoor arena known as the Band Shell just off the beach. While watching the band perform, the percussionist, who is known for vaping during a concert, pulled out the famous Wayno symbol. Despite my attempts to take the perfect picture, the best I could do was a foggy image of percussionist Jim Loughlin. Even if you never use this picture, I thought you would enjoy the intersection. 

How could I not use this image, Scot? I love its unretouched rawness. It certainly has the feel of being at a live show. 



We'll never get rich making comics, but we're going to keep doing it as long as we're able, because the connection to our community of readers is a reward we treasure.


Drawing the antlers (mutantlers?) was an oddly relaxing experience. I first drew them using a wide highlighter to maintain a relatively consistent thickness, then inked around the guideline. 

Drawing anything by hand is a healthy activity for the brain. You should do it too, even if you never show your drawings to anyone.

I may have gone overboard with the art for the strip version, but I felt great when I finished it.

I couldn't resist the idea of doing a gag about a nineteenth-century French novelist as a child. Unsurprisingly, online comments were divided. Take these two, for example:

1) A modern internet joke without historical basis. Too erudite for me. 
2) I frequently learn new things when reading Bizarro!
As a cartoonist, I'm grateful for readers who pay attention and care enough to have opinions.

A wise pig can see parallels in the lives of others.

Your obsessive artist experienced much satisfaction drawing and coloring the damaged picture frame in the background of this panel.

I probably spent more time than necessary, but it was nearly as calming as the antler drawing.

Surely there must be one nearby.

Not an understatement.

The strip layout required significant shuffling, but we got there!

That's the latest from Bizarro Studios North. See you in September. 


Bonus Track

The Coasters: "I'm a Hog For You"
Atco Records 45, 1959


There was so much more to the Coasters than "Yakety Yak." This song was the B-side of their "Poison Ivy" single. Both sides were written by Lieber & Stoller, who found a perfect vehicle for their compositions in the Coasters.



Much More Bizarro Mayhem

If you like what we do and appreciate that it's free, we encourage you to explore the following links.


    

12 comments:

  1. Anonymous8:00 PM

    I think you published this article a little early. Spoiler alert for this week's comics

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  2. Oh, man! We used to do "I'm a Hog for You, Baby" back in "the day." I had forgotten about it! This was about the time we also used to sing "Mohair Sam," a Charlie Rich song nearly forgotten in the wake of his country career.

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    Replies
    1. Wow! Haven't heard the "Mohair Sam" in a long time. Are you familiar with Homer & Jethro's parody, "No Hair Sam"?

      https://youtu.be/jdsNeuIujR8?si=b6Wg5DpSqSJKUel3

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  3. I enjoyed the Pig panel! The Dylan quote is so true, more so today.

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  4. Anonymous5:11 PM

    I completely agree that this week’s pipe pic is great! It conveys so much atmosphere! Reminds me of a Taj Mahal performance, in the late 1980s, in a seedy little blues club outside of Los Angeles. Still don’t know how they got so lucky as to have him perform- possibly the owner knew him personally? Anyway, this pic immediately returned my thoughts to that great evening.

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  5. Anonymous5:58 PM

    Here's a nice version by Dr. Feelgood:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlX6Opgy8g8

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    Replies
    1. I'm a big fan of Dr. Feelgood's original lineup of (Wilko Johnson, Lee Brilleaux, John Sparks and Big Figure) and the second version when Gypie Mayo joined after Wilko's departure. And they did a great version of "Hog!"

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  6. Anonymous6:09 PM

    The Grateful Dead also used to do 'Hog' as well...

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  7. Anonymous6:11 PM

    As did the Kinks...

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  8. I love that Dylan quote and your comments about it. I wish it weren't so true.
    Your comments about labor day were right on target, too. Good job, partner.
    And I also love that pipe pic! It's perfect!

    ReplyDelete