Well, Garfield used to be funny, and occasionally still is

IRG CommandoJoe · Post by **IRG CommandoJoe** » 2004-01-14 03:26am

Rogue 9 wrote:Stupendous Man rocks.

DPDarkPrimus · Post by **DPDarkPrimus** » 2004-01-14 10:32am

Lazy Raptor wrote:Watterson and Larson are still making books arent they?

Their collections still being printed != them drawing new comics.

Larson I know touched up a bunch of his Far Side strips for that new hardcover, but Watterson hasn't drawn since his strip ended.

Bertie Wooster · Post by **Bertie Wooster** » 2004-01-14 11:02am

Calvin&Hobbes surpassed any other strip BY FAR, IMHO.

Something about it transcended the comic-strip medium, and I strongly doubt any strip can replace it.

LordShaithis · Post by **LordShaithis** » 2004-01-14 12:03pm

Sorry, but Maddox is dead-on here. Garfield was never funny.

Slartibartfast · Post by **Slartibartfast** » 2004-01-14 05:15pm

All those silly comic strips can't compete with Mafalda.
Of course it hasn't been written for about 30 years...

Bertie Wooster · Post by **Bertie Wooster** » 2004-01-14 05:21pm

Is Mafalda still funny when translated into English, or doesn it need to be read in Spanish?

Slartibartfast · Post by **Slartibartfast** » 2004-01-14 06:12pm

It depends on the joke, and some are even silent...

Some are very localized tho, but not many. You can try to read some samples here, there's a translation at the bottom of each strip.

Wicked Pilot · Post by **Wicked Pilot** » 2004-01-14 06:16pm

I saved the last copy of Calvin and Hobbs when it came out several years ago. Man was that a sad day.

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2004-01-14 10:45pm

While we're on the subject of comic strips, does anyone else here find "Peanuts" is extremely overrated? The art's subpar and the strip is never funny, smart, or thoughtful, just boring and depressing.

Also "Opus" sucks. What the hell is with this? It came completely out of left field and now commands half the front page of my Sunday comics. I believe the artist of NonSequitor took a swipe at it in one of his strips and I agree. "Opus" sucks AND blows. It's not funny and although the art's really good, there's no reason it should take up half a page. Its terrible

Of couse, my favorite comics that are currently being run in newspapers are "Dilbert" and "Pearls before Swine". Rat rules

And, I think we can all agree that "Cathy" sucks.

Singular Quartet · Post by **Singular Quartet** » 2004-01-14 10:46pm

GrandAdmiralPrawn wrote:Sorry, but Maddox is dead-on here. Garfield was never funny.

The early stuff was, and the present stuff is, essentially, exactly the same as the early stuff.

As to Watterson, he has, at least for now, completely stopped doing comics. It is rumoured that he's now painting landscapes with his father in his home town, but it's more likely that you'll randomly teleport to jupiter than actually manage to get an interview with him.

NeoGoomba · Post by **NeoGoomba** » 2004-01-14 11:21pm

Singular Quartet wrote:
As to Watterson, he has, at least for now, completely stopped doing comics. It is rumoured that he's now painting landscapes with his father in his home town, but it's more likely that you'll randomly teleport to jupiter than actually manage to get an interview with him.

Theres been a rumor out that Watterson is PERSONALLY HAND DRAWING a Calvin and Hobbes cartoon. When his agent/representative was asked about it (as Watterson no longer gives interviews) it was called a strong possibility and that it shouldnt be ruled out. I personally call it a longshot, but man, that would be great.

While I miss Calvin and Hobbes, I do applaud Watterson for leaving while A) the strip was still excellent and B) he felt he was done with it. His whole fight against merchandising his work also is a testament to his integrity

DPDarkPrimus · Post by **DPDarkPrimus** » 2004-01-15 12:13am

The thing about a Calvin and Hobbes cartoon is that (and I paraphrase here, but it contains the essence) Watterson stated that "I don't want to have a cartoon, because then everyone will think "Oh, so that's how Hobbes sounds." I don't want that to happen. Hobbes has his own voice for each person, and that should not be taken away."

SylasGaunt · Post by **SylasGaunt** » 2004-01-15 12:18am

I'm glad I still have a few Calvin and Hobbes collections around the house. On the comics subject I've also grown rather fond of any Rose is Rose comic involving the cat.

"Clean That Up! #4297 on the list of useless things to say to a cat."

Cal Wright · Post by **Cal Wright** » 2004-01-15 02:10am

I will say, the sole reason I never became a cartoonist in this sense is because it's so fucking hard to make a good strip just once. Let alone over, and over, and over. None of them managed to make a great strip consistently. Hell, I loved Calvin & Hobbes and was sorely pissed when it went out. But that doesn't mean it didn't have bombs at times. Garfield is the same way, but Garfield has been around much longer. WTF!!! This isn't hip hop. Davis isn't a fan whore, or a money grubber because of merchandising. WTF!!! Cartoonists are NOT the most well paid individuals out there. So hell yeah we're gonna jump on a gravy train when someone wants to pay us bookus of dollars to have a suction cup plush toy to put into windows.

The Kernel · Post by **The Kernel** » 2004-01-15 04:44am

Garfields problem in my mind isn't that the quality has dropped, but rather that the principles behind it have become obsolete. Think about it, Garfield was a character tailor made for the 80's; a time of gluttony, excess and laziness. Things have changed but Garfield hasn't.

Worlds Spanner · Post by **Worlds Spanner** » 2004-01-15 11:42am

Garfield was still kinda funny in the early 90s.

Maddox is annoying.

Slartibartfast · Post by **Slartibartfast** » 2004-01-15 06:48pm

Maddox is an annoying, ignorant son of a bitch. But in a good way.

Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi · Post by **Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi** » 2004-01-15 10:02pm

Slartibartfast wrote:Maddox is an annoying, ignorant son of a bitch. But in a good way.

It seems that you only find him funny if you agree with whatever he's ranting about. Otherwise, he comes off as a whiner.

Slartibartfast · Post by **Slartibartfast** » 2004-01-16 03:11am

That sounds about right, yes. But I mostly only disagree with the way he says couples should behave and shit, most of his articles are pretty great. Then there's that one "well that's just YOUR opinion" "well, duh"

it sums it up nicely.