Masters of American Comics

Oh, how much I love making fun of the drivel that is the funny pages. Not funny, not thought-provoking, not in any way reflective of life in today's America (with some major exceptions, of course). Yes, I like it when a strip is funny and/or thought-provoking, but lately, I like it even better when I see a strip so mind-blowingly awful that I spend all day at work trembling like a coked-out junkie, sweating with the anticipation of writing about it that evening . . .

And after such a big build-up, you are now expecting today's "shakes-inducing" strip, right? Wrong! (Although today's Garfield has promise . . . see below). No, that was just my way of letting you down gently when I said that I actually enjoy the comics. God, even the awful ones., yes it is true. I just sort of appreciate whatever niche they hold in our collective psyches. How else would I know that doctors liked to play golf, huh?

Anyway, there is an exhibit, "Masters of American Comics" at the Hammer Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art, in L.A. Briefly:

"The Hammer Museum and The Museum of Contemporary Art jointly present MASTERS of American Comics, a large-scale exhibition comprising in-depth presentations of work by 15 artists who shaped the development of the American comic strip and comic book during the past century. With over 500 objects on view, the exhibition provides understanding and insight into the medium of comics as an art form. The exhibition will be on view simultaneously at both museums." More here. (Interestingly, they do not seem to feature comic strips from the second half of the 20th Century. I WONDER WHY. They stink, that's why. Oh, yeah, that's it.)

And, as luck would have it, guess where I will be in 2 short weeks? L.A., baby! I will be sure to visit the exhibit, and report back.

On to today's Garfield.


Jon looks like such a pervert as he tells Garfield about asking a girl to "Wienerworld." Do I need to point out the obvious here? This is shaping up to be sort of funny, if perverted and inappropriate family fare. Too bad that the "joke" in Panel 3 is that . . . drumroll please . . . the girl (a "perfume tester") turned him down (No! You don't say!) by spraying him with "eau de sauerkraut." 2 nitpicks:

1) I doubt she's a "perfume tester," as those people probably work at the actual perfume company/laboratory/whatever. Why would you be testing perfumes at the mall? OK, we know what he's talking about, so OK, fine.

2) "Eau de saurkraut"???? See, this is why that company needs to have its perfume testers somewhere other than the mall. What a completely gross perfume! Who markets this gross stuff? Bertie Botts???

But, this is on par with some of my favorite Brick House panels, and as a stand-alone panel it does sort of make me laugh:


Dear Penthouse:

I always thought your letters were made up, until I met this guy at the pefume counter . . .