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
There is nothing worse than the obligation to be funny.
Crockett Johnson
I'm currently reading a double biography with a lengthy title: Crockett Johnson and Ruth Krauss: How an Unlikely Couple Found Love, Dodged the FBI, and Transformed Children's Literature.
Johnson and Krauss, individually and in collaboration, created many classic children's books. Johnson is best known for the book Harold and the Purple Crayon. His quote about the obligation to be funny refers to his brilliant daily comic strip, Barnaby.
I suspect Johnson was speaking hyperbolically, and his famous perfectionism may have been a factor.
The strip ran from 1942 to 1952, and when Johnson began to concentrate more on children's books around 1946, the comic was drawn by artist Jack Morley and written by Ted Ferro. Unhappy with the storylines under Ferro, in 1947, Johnson returned to writing and making some sketches to guide Morley, who continued to draw the strip.
I wouldn't use the phrase "nothing worse" to describe the job, but one of the most difficult aspects of producing humor on schedule is the fact that you still have to be funny at times when you don't feel particularly lighthearted.
When dealing with personal difficulties, illness, or grief, it's harder to come up with jokes, and we have to dig deep to make others laugh, if not ourselves. It's more of an intellectual than joyful pursuit during those times.
To me, making cartoons is better than any other job or freelance gig I've ever had, and I'm grateful to be doing it.
A reader's laugh is a cartoonist's greatest reward.
Maybe Crockett Johnson should have tried drawing a happier version of himself using Harold's crayon. One hopes he realized that his work helped to make the world a little better for many people.
Bizarro field correspondent John H. of Wisconsin sent me today's pipe pic, an agricultural homage to surrealist René Magritte.
I lifted the pic from a Minnesota public radio news page reporting on the Minnesota State Fair. Seeds glued up to make pictures is apparently popular at the fair. Might be a midwestern farmer thing.The term "seed art" made me think of Kurt Vonnegut's quote, "Practice any art, music, singing, dancing, acting, drawing, painting, sculpting, poetry, fiction, essays, reportage, no matter how well or badly, not to get money and fame, but to experience becoming, to find out what's inside you, to make your soul grow."
A tip of the Bizarro feed-store cap to John for the photo, the background info, and the inspiring words from Vonnegut.
You can read the full story of "This is Not a Corncob Pipe" on MPR's site.
When I made this batch of comics back in December, I don't remember enduring any difficulties other than general angst over current events.
Friend and hometown dude Rob C. offered this comment:
So searingly accurate and one of your best, IMHO. I flee every arts-event Q&A before they even begin…
I'm blushing here, Rob!
The latest automotive technology is built with Artificial Abetting.
It's a good day for a cartoonist when they're able to squeeze out one more fly-in-the-soup gag.
March 5 was the day kidlit characters collided.
File this under "unintentionally timely." The gag, created last year, was inspired by a different set of questionable operations and evolving explanations.
I'd like to see the projects submitted for the Surrealism badge.
That wraps up another week of words and pictures from your humble ink-monkey. Drop by next week for some corned beef and a pint of stout, or at least another six-pack of cartoons.
Bonus Track
Pete Seeger: "Waist Deep in the Big Muddy"
from The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
CBS Television, February 25, 1968
CBS Television, February 25, 1968
Bunches of Bizarro Booty
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