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
An arrogant person considers himself perfect. This is the chief harm of arrogance. It interferes with a person's main task in life—becoming a better person.
Leo Tolstoy
Whether Tolstoy actually said or wrote this (I've yet to see a source cited), the words are valid. We can see examples everywhere. Some are blatantly obvious, such as when people actually use the word "perfect" to describe themselves, and more often in nonverbal ways.
The quote takes on specific meanings when "person" is replaced with "artist," "writer," or other descriptors.
Most cartoonists I know are constantly striving to become better at their art, and we often see only the flaws in our own work. The community is generally welcoming and supportive; more humble than arrogant.
I'm lucky to be part of this profession, and coming across the Tolstoy quote reminded me why I enjoy being around fellow cartoonists.
I expect this applies to any endeavor, and that those who are convinced that they're flawless stand out, but not in the way they believe.
Speaking of cartoonists, today's pipe pic was drawn by my cartoon hero Virgil Partch. I found the image on an auction site and resisted the urge to bid on it.
The image is a clip from this gag:
The caption reads, "He was my commanding officer during the war."
If you spot any boo-boos in the week's cartoons, rest assured that I probably noticed them after the files were uploaded and have been fretting ever since.
When Monday's comic was published, regular
Bizarro reader Matthew H commented, "She's rollin' in dough." Naturally, I had to steal that for today's blog title, and I tip my hat to Matthew, who always has something amusing to say.
Last Wednesday, we foreshadowed this week's four-day run of "What's Your Jam?" multi-panel gags riffing on various characters and what type of music they might enjoy. The format provided an opportunity to create title panels, which Dan uses every Sunday, and I had fun with it.
The tortilla chip that likes salsa music might be my favorite in this group.
We're not above occasional product placement in the comic.
I wrote one more after this week was already queued for publication, so it will appear in late March. I've probably exhausted the premise, but let's never say never.
You have to admire the commitment to old-world craftsmanship.
Thanks for dropping by to peruse these illustrated drolleries.
Duke Ellington: "C Jam Blues"
Soundies film, 1942
"Soundies" were precursors to modern music videos. Over 1,800 of these short musical films were produced in the 1940s, and they could be viewed on video jukeboxes called
Panorams.
Additional Bizarro Resources
If you like what we do and appreciate that it's still free, we encourage you to explore the following links.
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