??? I mean, WTF ???
OK, back to analyzing Momma. I know many of you were waiting on tinterhooks. What's the deal with Momma? You would ask yourself while on your daily commute. If only Big Al would tell me! But, no . . . a break to discuss voice mail and the fact that birds don't watch reality tv. But today -- back to "What the hell is the deal with Momma and her kids?"
OK, we gather that he's either lazy, or Momma thinks that he's lazy (or both). But "The Day Francis's Copyright Expired"?? The hell? Huh? Look, I work in publishing -- when a copyright expires, that means that the copyrighted work returns to the public domain. So, for instance, if it's a song, a band will no longer need the artist's permission to cover it, and royalties do not have to be paid to the artist.
So, I ask again: The hell? What does he mean Francis's copyright expired? Does he mean that the character of Francis is no longer copyrighted? That the character Francis can now be used by anyone? Oh goody! I can feel the mood of the U.S. being lifted! Hey, everybody! You can now use the Francis character whenever you want! I, for one, plan to go to Kinkos and get a Francis life size cardboard cut out made. Then, I will charge people to come over to my house and look at it! I bet bars start holding "Francis Parties." This is what Jennifer Garner's dressing like in the next episode of Alias.
Is the author saying that now that the copyright has expired, he can draw as many Francises as he would like? And that freaks Momma out? Gives her nightmares? What? What? What? Damn it, the author held the copyright already, he could draw as many Francises as he wanted whenever he wanted!
But is this really the meaning? Why did the Momma artist let the copyright expire? Maybe he means that Francis held a copyright on something, and because he is so lazy he let it expire. But what does Francis have a copyright on? Last we saw Francis, he was a waiter! Did he write the menu? Is that why he was so excited about the new menu? What?? And why does the expiration of his copyright make him sleepy? And why does it make him multiply?
ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh my! These suck ass comics take me to the edge of sanity. I would like to thank Emily for her very nice comments yesterday. As crazy as looking at this terrible stuff every day makes me, it's nice to know that others appreciate it! Don't get fired by laughing at work. If you want to avoid laughing at work, can I reccommend going to the Momma website and just perusing that. That should cure your laughing spells.
Emily, tell your friends and family. I mean, tell them about the terrible comics, not the blog (although that would be nice, too!). We have a mission:
People! The comics suck, and we just read them because they have "always been there." You don't realize how crappy they are until you TAKE THE TIME TO LOOK. I have former co-workers (frequent commenter John S. for instance) who may have taken the comics at face value. Then, someone (me) pointed out how awful they are. Those co-workers are now as frustrated as I am. Observe. Marmaduke is a big ass dog. He sits on people who don't expect it. It's not funny. Trust me.
OK, we gather that he's either lazy, or Momma thinks that he's lazy (or both). But "The Day Francis's Copyright Expired"?? The hell? Huh? Look, I work in publishing -- when a copyright expires, that means that the copyrighted work returns to the public domain. So, for instance, if it's a song, a band will no longer need the artist's permission to cover it, and royalties do not have to be paid to the artist.
So, I ask again: The hell? What does he mean Francis's copyright expired? Does he mean that the character of Francis is no longer copyrighted? That the character Francis can now be used by anyone? Oh goody! I can feel the mood of the U.S. being lifted! Hey, everybody! You can now use the Francis character whenever you want! I, for one, plan to go to Kinkos and get a Francis life size cardboard cut out made. Then, I will charge people to come over to my house and look at it! I bet bars start holding "Francis Parties." This is what Jennifer Garner's dressing like in the next episode of Alias.
Is the author saying that now that the copyright has expired, he can draw as many Francises as he would like? And that freaks Momma out? Gives her nightmares? What? What? What? Damn it, the author held the copyright already, he could draw as many Francises as he wanted whenever he wanted!
But is this really the meaning? Why did the Momma artist let the copyright expire? Maybe he means that Francis held a copyright on something, and because he is so lazy he let it expire. But what does Francis have a copyright on? Last we saw Francis, he was a waiter! Did he write the menu? Is that why he was so excited about the new menu? What?? And why does the expiration of his copyright make him sleepy? And why does it make him multiply?
ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh my! These suck ass comics take me to the edge of sanity. I would like to thank Emily for her very nice comments yesterday. As crazy as looking at this terrible stuff every day makes me, it's nice to know that others appreciate it! Don't get fired by laughing at work. If you want to avoid laughing at work, can I reccommend going to the Momma website and just perusing that. That should cure your laughing spells.
Emily, tell your friends and family. I mean, tell them about the terrible comics, not the blog (although that would be nice, too!). We have a mission:
People! The comics suck, and we just read them because they have "always been there." You don't realize how crappy they are until you TAKE THE TIME TO LOOK. I have former co-workers (frequent commenter John S. for instance) who may have taken the comics at face value. Then, someone (me) pointed out how awful they are. Those co-workers are now as frustrated as I am. Observe. Marmaduke is a big ass dog. He sits on people who don't expect it. It's not funny. Trust me.
posted by big al at 7:39 PM
3 Comments:
Big Al--
Thanks for the mention. I have been forwarding along your blog to other pop-culture hungry types in my quest to help you spread the word of unfunny comics. (You explain what is WRONG with comics-- besides their unfunniness-- so well, that it is easier to just say "read her manifesto" than it is to paraphrase.)
On Momma: With regards to your sitcom references, I think it's best to view Momma (and the whole Hobbs clan) as sort of a Sophia from the Golden Girls with a hint of Estelle Costanza. There is a fundamental love (ref: Francis stopping by to wish her a happy new year before going out with his young friends), but there's also the you-drive-me-crazy! spin, that, unfortunately fails to result in hilarity.
Despite the postmodern nightmare of the Momma you posted today, I have to say that I don't find Momma to be quite as offensive as say, the Lockhornes, or FC. The actual character of Momma seems to be fairly self-aware in her miserable-ness. (Ref: http://www.comics.com/creators/momma/archive/images/momma2002034141222.gif) While that might not make it funny ha-ha, or forgive its occasional visits to the completely inane, it does make it less offensive (although you were right, and I did not laugh in going through the Momma archive). Plus, the feminist in me has to give her credit for being a sassy old broad who spurns advances from nonagenerian Cassanovas (vs. the wives who stick with their verbally abusive and obviously unloving husbands-- most notably Lorretta Lockhorne).
--Emily
This post has been removed by a blog administrator.
Excellent comments, Emily! Americans have been in a coma and Big Al is waking them up. It's about time.
Did you notice the Franics on his back in the lazy chair? I think he is shirtless. His chest is hairless and he doesn't have any nipples. I would venture to say he doesn't tan well either.
Just above the chair is another Franics on a bed or couch, with a bed sheet that hovers a few inches above his chest. What's going on with that? Is he pitching a tent? Disgusting...
Just some random observations.
John
Post a Comment
<< Home