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
We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be.
Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
In the introduction to his 1962 novel, Mother Night, Vonnegut speaks directly to the reader. The full quote follows.
This is the only story of mine whose moral I know. I don’t think it’s a marvelous moral; I simply happen to know what it is: We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be.
The novel takes the form of a memoir written by Howard W. Campbell, Jr., who broadcast virulent Nazi propaganda on German radio during World War II, but was actually an American spy. His scripted conversational asides provided intelligence to the US.
Campbell eventually realizes that while helping the Allies, his convincing performance as a propagandist was a likely factor in convincing the Nazi recruitment effort in Germany.
I read most of Vonnegut's novels in my teens and twenties, and have recently been revisiting them. I recalled little of Mother Night, although I clearly remember owning a paperback copy. It was probably well over my head at the time.
The self-delusion of the Campbell character reminds one of a presidential Cabinet that, along with their senators and congresspeople, pretends that lawlessness and racism are okay if it helps them keep their jobs.
The daily news is full of examples, and one that particularly struck me was about the Treasury Secretary displaying a proposed $250 bill bearing the current president's mug shot. The Secretary knows that Federal law bars a living person from appearing on US currency, but through clenched teeth and a shit-eating grin, he said, "I don't think that there's anything untoward about having the person who is President of the United States on the 250th anniversary bill."
At least Vonnegut's character was able to tell himself he was violating principles to serve a greater good. These charlatans only care about wielding power and enriching themselves by indulging the whims of a demented, irrational, money-grubbing hatemonger.
I don't regret rereading Mother Night, but after this, I'll need a bit of escapist literature.
Today's pipe pic is a column heading from TV Guide featuring a portrait of Cleveland Amory, who was a television critic for the magazine from 1963 to 1976.
Al Hirschfeld provided wonderful illustrations to accompany many of Amory's columns.
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| Click to embiggen |
Amory was also an animal rights advocate, and in 1966, he founded the nonprofit Fund for Animals.
If Cleveland Amory were still with us, I'd assure him that no animals were harmed in the creation of this week's Bizarro cartoons.
We started off with a twist on the venerable desert island cartoon trope.
Automotive designers need to consider customer preferences, an idea I've explored in the past.
Romantic rejection can be a blessing, particularly if you're a mantis.
One might be tempted to call the character on the left a reverse centaur, but that wouldn't be accurate.
This is a reverse centaur, Greek mythology's most off-putting creature.
I apologize to Charles Schulz for imagining his character's eventual career choice. My favorite part of the drawing is the sign on the valet stand.
A hunter's camouflage can be stealthy or simply silly.
Thanks for visiting. Drop by next week for more cartoons and commentary. If you enjoy peeking behind the panel, check out my free Substack newsletter.
New Products For Summer
Good news for the fashion-conscious. The Comics Kingdom Bizarro Shop just added our new Summer Selection. We have coffee mugs, water bottles, insulated tumblers, and a bunch of new T-shirts, like Dan Piraro's exquisite Escher Cube design, shown above.
This double-clown coffee mug displays two wordless gags, so when you switch hands, you'll see a different clown.
There's much more merch in the shop. If you grab anything, we'd love to see photos of readers with their Bizarro booty.
Thank you for indulging a little hucksterism.
Bonus Track
The Quintet: "Salt Peanuts"
from Live at Massey Hall
Debut Records, 1953
Mountains of Bizarro Mishegoss
If you like what we do and appreciate that it's still free, we encourage you to explore the following links.
Your opening narrative is spot-on, depressingly so. As we approach the 250th anniversary of this country, I find myself avoiding any celebrations. It is a time of great mourning for me.
ReplyDeleteThe "official" national commemoration has been perverted into a monster truck demolition derby.
DeleteLove it or leave it.
ReplyDeleteWe have more options than that.
DeleteSpoken like a fan of authoritarianism. Dissent and discourse are the soul of a free nation, and lead to a better system of government.
DeleteAuthoritarianism leads directly to the broken catastrophe we have now.
Stop breaking it. FIX IT.
ReplyDeleteLove it or leave it, indeed. Jeez.
DeleteAnd, for all you religious folk: WWJD?
Is it merely serendipity or a clever tie-in that the California-based Honda Element displays a New Jersey WFMU sticker, the station that you referred to in your e-mail?
ReplyDeleteWhen my friend Candi posted that photo, I noticed the WFMU sticker, and that must have prompted me to feature the coasters when I was writing the newsletter.
DeleteI guess I'm rather suggestible,
Hi Wayno:
ReplyDeleteThanks for the interesting commentary! I found the references to the Vonnegut novel interesting - particularly that of the character Howard W. Campbell, Jr.
Rather than reading novels, I tend to simply view films they are based upon - so I do remember seeing the Campbell character appearing in a scene of the film "Slaughterhouse-Five". I had never seen or known about "Mother Night" (but probably will, soon).
While the Campbell character was ficticious, it seems KV based him on "Lord Haw-Haw" - a nickname of an actual person in a similar situation. I would not have looked into this story, had you not mentioned it - and I do appreciate your comparing it to current events.
I am sorry the USA is going through this Bizarro period (in the Superman comics sense). I hope for more good Bizarro (gags) and less bad Bizarro (that make us gag).
Best regards,
Richie C.
(Ottawa, Canada)
Thanks so much, Richie.
DeleteI saw the "Slaughterhouse-Five" film a long time ago, and don't remember much about it other than developing an instant teenage crush on Valerie Perrine.
Thanks for your empathy for those of us in the US who oppose authoritarianism. I'm hoping we come through it.
Perhaps you'd consider adopting an American cartoonist?
If you have access to TCM (Turner Classic Movies) they are showing Slaughterhouse Five Tuesday night at 8:15 pm EDT. I have mine set up to record it. Haven't seen it in a number of years.
DeleteAlas, I don't have TCM access. So it goes.
DeleteTwo t-shirts ordered!
ReplyDeleteTom
Thanks, Tom! If you want to share pictures, you can be a Bizarro fashion model!
DeleteI like your Honda Element driver. They have great taste in radio stations and baseball teams.
ReplyDeleteAgreed!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteGlad I dared to go where "Click to Embiggen" transported me in order to engage with the snooty, vintage TV Guide take on Star Trek ... the Al Hirschfeld illustration made it worth the low price of admission. (Thanks to you both for your wonderful works, insightful commentary, and many creations!)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Gunnar! I'm glad you clicked on that and experienced the snootiness of Cleveland Amory!
DeleteYour Charlie Parker comic is fabulous; I dare say one of the best I’ve seen.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kent!
DeleteSame here! I missed a lot reading them in my teens.
ReplyDeleteAs a Canadian who has driven through 25 states and most of Canada, I am happy to say that I never stuck a decal on my van. I look forward to when I can travel in the US again, safely. John Hurlbut
ReplyDeleteMe too, on both counts, John!
Delete