Jan 9th 2013 08:37 am Life as We Know It


Buy the new book, "Beaucoup Arlo & Janis!"Today's "Arlo & Janis!"
The world just keeps changing in so many little ways. To say my own profession isn’t exempt would be an understatement. Back in the day, an aspiring cartoonist had three outlets: showing cartoons to family and friends, cajoling the student paper or a local church bulletin into publishing one cartoon a month, and stuffing work into an envelope to be mailed to a newspaper syndicate on the extremely remote chance the syndicate might offer the aspirant a contract. The internet, specifically the Web, changed all that years ago. Now, anyone can upload comics which can be seen by anyone in the world with an internet connection. This was big, but it’s old news. We were talking about small changes. Are you familiar with “Comics Sherpa?”

I don’t know why they call it Comics Sherpa, but it’s a feature at GoComics.com, where you go online to see the new A&J comic strip and many more syndicated features. At Comics Sherpa, anyone can upload their comic art, making it visible on a genuine professional Big Time Syndicate Web site. You might want to check it out, but I warn you: many of the efforts aren’t yet ready for prime time. However, it’s a wonderful platform for learning the ropes, like open-mike night at the comedy club. Oh, there is one little wrinkle for you aspiring cartoonists. You have to pay to appear in Comics Sherpa. The money keeps the lights on, pays the rent and, I’m assuming, eventually trickles down to the old pros. Not all change is bad.

Posted by jimmyjohnson / Vintage A&J

45 Responses to “Life as We Know It”

  1. Bob Ball on 09 Jan 2013 at 8:47 am #

    Confession: I read my newspaper comics in two batches, both emailed to me. I also take the Detroit Free Press, which runs A&J but is delivered usually by same-day mail six days a week, excluding Sunday. That’s more days a week than Detroit-area residents get. I went the email route after the Freep churned through comic after comic, looking for strips that fit its demographic. Along the way, they kept ditching strips I’d taken a liking to. I found that they still exist through on-line sources, and even a few that are now in re-runs. In the last year, I branched out to some web-only comics such as XKCD, and comic comment, such as comicsidontunderstand.com, which frequently names a risque strip an Arlo.

  2. Mindy on 09 Jan 2013 at 8:49 am #

    Jimmy, I haven’t had the time to peruse Sherpa but I have bookmarked it [there's another sign; not all that many years ago a bookmark was something I used so I wouldn't lose my page in whatever book I was reading]. I don’t begrudge the technological advances that are often so threatening to those of us of limited science fiction NOW skills, but without them there would be no A&J retro which has become a warm part of each day for me. So thanks to the Net and thanks to you!

    As for real time…today’s A&J was, literally, another hot cocoa snorter. Like your best work almost always is, it took a second for me to actually catch the joke and, darn it, I was, as usual, sipping my morning drink when realization hit. Beautiful! Today is one of your best ever, even if Ghost is dying for another “peek” cartoon! Thank you!

  3. Steve From Royal Oak, MI on 09 Jan 2013 at 9:08 am #

    Mindy: I am not sure that I get it yet. Does the Dog lift his leg?

  4. Mindy on 09 Jan 2013 at 10:05 am #

    That’s it, Steve, and Arlo shields Luddie’s eyes from the desecration.

    I think…

  5. Whistling Rufus on 09 Jan 2013 at 10:06 am #

    It’s obvious, to me anyway, the dog whizzes on the snow cat, and Arlo shields Luddie from the horror. From the comments at gocomics, several folks are just reading too much into it.

  6. Blinky the Wonder Wombat on 09 Jan 2013 at 10:12 am #

    Here we are, only the 9th day of 2013 and today JJ has already set the bar high for Best Strip of the Year. Like Mindy, this was a hot cocoa snooter for me, too (even if I was drinking tea at the time).

  7. JDS on 09 Jan 2013 at 10:52 am #

    I was going to comment on Johnson’s post today, but I couldn’t get on the internet.

  8. Mindy on 09 Jan 2013 at 11:00 am #

    I still can’t get on the internet, JDS. I wonder if it would help if I got a computer?

  9. Ghost Rider 6 on 09 Jan 2013 at 11:11 am #

    Another today’s cartoon tells us about Arlo is that he’s the kind of person would actually build a snowcat. (Even though I thought a “snowcat” was a tracked vehicle used at ski resorts.) But that’s entirely in keeping with what we’ve come to know and love about him, isn’t it?

    Thanks for looking out for me, Mindy, but one thing I’ve learned about this strip is that there will undoubtedly be another “peek” cartoon along shortly. Or a Janis in her lingerie cartoon. Or a Janis in the tub cartoon. Or a…well, you get the idea.

    BTW, did you see the picture of the Loyola sports team I posted at the end of yesterday’s comments? Not a football team, but it certainly works for me.

  10. Anonymous on 09 Jan 2013 at 12:09 pm #

    Some really good comics have appeared in Comics Sherpa, and occasionally a really good one gets into the big time. Mythtickle started there, very well written and wonderful artwork with little Easter eggs in the art work frequently, lots of puns. What is sad is when one with promise fades out.

  11. Mindy on 09 Jan 2013 at 12:36 pm #

    I didn’t see any Loyola photograph, Ghost. Most likely it was Loyola of Chicago, Baltimore or Las Angeles rather than NOLA. I’m happy to watch out for you, sometimes feel that’s a genetic imperative, but in hindsight, I’m glad I don’t have a PC. If I did you’d been sniveling and begging for sundress photographs.

  12. Mindy on 09 Jan 2013 at 12:40 pm #

    Ah ha! It was Loyola of New Orleans! Have to admit, I like the black uniforms. [I always liked the Oakland Raiders home jerseys even though I am not too fond of the Oakland Raiders.] Those young ladies are awfully cute, makes me think the Jesuits are on a recruiting campaign, sneaky guys that they are! They never asked me to pose in tight shorts and jerseys…but John did. :)

  13. John in Virginia on 09 Jan 2013 at 12:54 pm #

    John asked you to pose WITHOUT the tight shorts and jerseys, Mindy. Or don’t you remember? Three Manhattan Comforts and half a Hurricane? Or was that a Zombie?

  14. Dave in MA on 09 Jan 2013 at 2:06 pm #

    I dunno Mindy. I don’t particularly think any of them in that photo are necessarily cute. Guess I’m turning into an old man, eh?

    (For those wondering, http://www.flickr.com/photos/loyolanola/6082991993/)

  15. sandcastler on 09 Jan 2013 at 3:11 pm #

    Twenty-one day smorgasbord.

  16. Charlotte in NH on 09 Jan 2013 at 3:25 pm #

    Today’s real time strip is funny, and I love the “snow cat”. Have never seen one, it’s a brand new snow idea from J. Johnson, even though he lives far from the land of ice and snow. The hat on the dog-walker, however, is funny-looking. I guess J. J. doesn’t see many winter hats down South, to get ideas from.

    My own winter hat is a kind of a mushroom shape, knitted in red, white and blue, which keeps my ears warm, with a blue pompom at the top; I’ve been complimented on it, probably for the patriotic colors. (I’m trying to give J. J. something to go on.)

    I wish we could put drawings on this site. We could give J. J. lots of winter fashion ideas from Montana, Minnesota, Michigan, Mass., NH, Maine … couldn’t we!

  17. Mark in TTown on 09 Jan 2013 at 3:40 pm #

    John in Virginia, was that Zombie Mindy after the other drinks you mentioned?
    Three cheers for the snowcat. After all, Gene is no longer around to demand the traditional snowman, so why shouldn’t Luddie get his chance?

  18. Mark in TTown on 09 Jan 2013 at 3:40 pm #

    And Arlo couldn’t do a good one of Janis or the neighbors would complain. Or Janis would probably make him take it down.

  19. Ghost Rider 6 on 09 Jan 2013 at 4:08 pm #

    Dave: The volleyball cuties look a lot better to me than “a big ol’ bunch of sweaty mens.”

    Mindy: I’m guessing the team you played on was not the “Vestal Virgins.” And if you ever do get a PC, yes, do put me at the top of the list for your sundress pictures. I’m still digesting “genetic imperative.”

    Anyone ever hear the classic holiday song “Who Put The [Deleted] On The Snowman” by Rodney Carrington?

  20. David in Austin on 09 Jan 2013 at 4:15 pm #

    I was surprised by the lack of height for the Wolfpack team. I looked for a photo of the national championship team, The University of Texas at Austin women’s team. Couldn’t find one. The best I could do is the Auburn team photo at: Team Roster Though not quite as tall as the Texas team, the Auburn team is still fairly tall and slender.

  21. sandcastler on 09 Jan 2013 at 5:54 pm #

    Fourteen day smorgasbord.

  22. sandcastler on 09 Jan 2013 at 5:57 pm #

    ^^^ long time follower of Kerri and Misty.

  23. Ghost Rider 6 on 09 Jan 2013 at 7:01 pm #

    And I’M supposed to be the DOM around here??

  24. sandcastler on 09 Jan 2013 at 7:38 pm #

    GR6, if you have the whip and leathers, yes.

  25. Ghost Rider 6 on 09 Jan 2013 at 8:14 pm #

    “DOM”, not “dom”. Capitalization does matter.

  26. Mindy from Indy on 09 Jan 2013 at 9:28 pm #

    So you’re saying you are not a dom DOM, Ghost?

  27. Ghost Rider 6 on 09 Jan 2013 at 10:29 pm #

    Nope, didn’t say that, either, Lady Mindy. Just trying to clarify my original statement. :)

    And I do own some leathers but no whips.

  28. Jean in Dahlonega Ga aka Trapper Jean on 09 Jan 2013 at 10:30 pm #

    I particularly liked the leaf “ears” on the snowcat this morning. Snow Loodie got ears!

    Dave, I looked at the picture, and all I could think of was I haven’t seen that many firm thighs since I walked down the poultry section of the supermarket.

  29. Ghost Rider 6 on 09 Jan 2013 at 10:34 pm #

    Q: Do you know why most men get turned on by a woman wearing leather clothing?

    A: She smells like a new car.

  30. Mark in TTown on 09 Jan 2013 at 10:34 pm #

    Dom da dom dom dom. Just the facts, please GR6. The comment about whips and leathers made me think of ZZ Top’s song “Under Pressure”.

  31. Ghost Rider 6 on 10 Jan 2013 at 12:42 am #

    Yeah, Mark, that’s a nasty song…but in a good way. Seems there’s someone else on the blog who likes “French cuisine” but I can’t remember who it is.

  32. Mindy on 10 Jan 2013 at 2:17 am #

    Is it dom or DUM? Only the Ghostie knoweth.

  33. Mindy on 10 Jan 2013 at 2:18 am #

    Or would that be “dum” instead? Duh…

  34. Ghost Rider 6 on 10 Jan 2013 at 3:23 am #

    Geez, everyone pick on the Ghost, why don’t you?

  35. Debbe59 on 10 Jan 2013 at 3:32 am #

    Or…”Doh!”

  36. Mindy on 10 Jan 2013 at 5:31 am #

    Okay, you heard him, everyone pick on the Ghost!

  37. Ginger on 10 Jan 2013 at 6:26 am #

    Ghost Rider? I have dozens of color photographs of Mindy in sundresses, yellow, red, sky blue…but I’ll not share them. :) Hows that for picking on the Ghost Rider person?

  38. Ghost Rider 6 on 10 Jan 2013 at 6:37 am #

    Picking on Ghost? For me, that’s just another example of Art imitating Life. Or so far, at least, Mindy, Debbe and Ginger imitating Life.

    Ginger, in your opinion as a (gender descriptive noun deleted), would a picture of Mindy in a blue sundress be likely to cause an affliction involving the color blue?

  39. Ginger on 10 Jan 2013 at 6:54 am #

    Ghost Rider, if I happened to be one gender, I would find Mindy to be quite appealing, and, if I happened to be of the other gender, I would find Mindy to be quite appealing, but that is merely an honest appraisal not an indication of any particular proclivities. As for the Blue Syndrome, well, I could see how that might arise, no pun intended, to almost painful levels in certain individuals. Especially the yellow sundress where the strap…but I fear I do prattle on and you wouldn’t be interested in my observations. Goodbye.

  40. John in Virginia on 10 Jan 2013 at 6:58 am #

    Good Heavens! I never realized that Ginger was such an evil, mean {gender specific indicator deleted} but {gender specific indicator deleted} really is! Wow! And I thought Mindy knew how to insert the blade and twist for maximum effect! But the particular photograph {gender specific indicator deleted} was referring to certainly is…pleasant. Hmmm. Excuse me, I have some unfinished business to take care of.

  41. Ghost Rider 6 on 10 Jan 2013 at 6:59 am #

    No, no, Ginger, feel free to prattle all you wish. I’ve always been one to appreciate a good prattle.

  42. Mindy on 10 Jan 2013 at 7:10 am #

    Prattle or paddle? John’s “unfinished business,” by the bye, was to finish his poached eggs for his Eggs Bennedictine, which is Eggs Benedict sans the Holandaise Sauce and add Bleu Cheese.

  43. Ghost Rider 6 on 10 Jan 2013 at 7:24 am #

    Umm. Eggs Benedictine.

    I’ll think of that as a I enjoy my oatmeal-and-skim-milk breakfast. Weight reduction project still proceeding apace.

  44. Mindy on 10 Jan 2013 at 7:51 am #

    Ghost, when John came up with the idea of Bleu Cheese in lieu of Hollandaise sauce [I like that: Bleu in Lieu], which I do like, the name he called it had the suffix “-less” but I’m not going to play to his perverted sense of humor, being the shy and proper Southern Lady that I am. He’s dieting also, but an occasional jaunt onto the wild side is of no harm and actually makes the torture of most diets bearable. Or is that bareable? I never could get that right.

  45. sandcastler on 10 Jan 2013 at 8:03 am #

    GR6, set down , have a cup of Joe, and we can relive our Yiddish influenced youth in the south Bronx.