Happy Father’s Day! Today we have a special Father’s Day guest appearance by the creepy dead Grandfather from Family Circus! It’s an old story, but perhaps you haven’t heard it. When Bil Keane’s comic feature Family Circus was being prepared for launch by King Features Syndicate, back when Hector was a pup, the name was to be “Family Circle.” Note the familiar circle within a square that is a hallmark of the venerable comic panel. However, the folks at the then-popular women’s magazine Family Circle objected, so the name was changed. By the way, Family Circus, the comic feature, still is with us; Family Circle, the magazine, is not.
Father’s Day, 2020
By Jimmy Johnson
Recent Posts
Ghost of Christmas Past
This holiday Arlo & Janis comic strip from 2022 is similar in concept to the new strip that ran yesterday. I thought the latter ...
Spearhead
I have produced a number of comic strips related to Veteran’s Day. Especially in latter years, I have tried to emphasize the universal experience ...
Dark Passage
Remember: it’s that weekend. The return to standard time can be a bit of a shock in the late afternoon, but I rather enjoy ...
What’s old is old, again
You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to build a web site, but there are similarities. Everything needs to be just right, or ...
Back to the ol’ drawing board
I don’t have a lot of time this morning. I wasn’t going to post anything, but I’m tired of looking at that old photograph ...
Thursday’s Child
On Sunday, I teased you with the suggestion there are more changes coming here. There are. They will appear soon, and I think you’ll ...
16 responses to “Father’s Day, 2020”
Happy Father’s Day to all the fellow Dads out there
Does anyone know if JJ has any kids to wish him happy fathers day?
JJ- Thanks for the Fathers Day present. And Happy Fathers Day to all the Dads out there and remembering the ones who have passed.
Likely will be one card in tomorrow’s mail. Love the other two kids just as much. Should we recognize the benign guy w/o the drink & smoke? Peace,
It’s a nod to another comic. He’s the grandfather from Family Circus.
So he is. I don’t routinely read that. Thanks.
Lots of good F Day stuff on GoComics site.
Peace,
Where is that “circle within a square”?
I might have shared this before. I wrote this for my dad’s funeral.
The Father’s Hands
The hands cradle the newborn babe for the first time, and the man becomes a father.
The father’s hands hold the boy’s tiny hands as he takes his first trembling steps, and the father smiles with pride and joy as his son smiles up at him.
The father’s hands scoop up the boy after he has fallen and smooth away the tears.
The father’s hands guide the boy as he prepares to solo on his bike for the first time. Although they want to hold on forever, they still let go so that the boy can take the first step of going away.
The father’s hands give the car keys to the boy, and the father wonders how his baby grew up overnight.
The father’s hands grow old but are never too tired to help his son.
The father’s hands now are still, but they will always cradle his son, guiding him, protecting him, loving him eternally.
Where’s that “like” button? Or – better yet – a “love” button!
You just made my month, if not more – thank you from the depths of my being.
I might have shared this before. I wrote it for my dad’s funeral.
The Father’s Hands
The hands cradle the newborn babe for the first time, and the man becomes a father.
The father’s hands hold the boy’s tiny hands as he takes his first trembling steps, and the father smiles with pride and joy as his son smiles up at him.
The father’s hands scoop up the boy after he has fallen and smooth away the tears.
The father’s hands guide the boy as he prepares to solo on his bike for the first time. Although they want to hold on forever, they still let go so that the boy can take the first step of going away.
The father’s hands give the car keys to the boy, and the father wonders how his baby grew up overnight.
The father’s hands grow old but are never too tired to help his son.
The father’s hands now are still, but they will always cradle his son, guiding him, protecting him, loving him eternally.
Thanks for explanation. I dislike Family Circus but your take is funny
When you go to the “Dark Side” you see a lot of criticism of Family Circus. However with 7 kids in our family, it was my mother’s favorite. Although my Mom always wondered how Thel looked so thin, but she remembered when we were very small and she was much younger, she was as thin.
My daughter – who is 50+ – said the sweetest thing yesterday. We were chatting, about nothing really, and she said, “Happy Father’s Day, Mom.” I looked at her questioningly. “Face it Mom. You were both mother and father to us. You were always there, supporting us in every way.”
I have to admit… I got a little teary-eyed. It means the world when your kid realizes – and acknowledges – what you went through during those years. I am blessed.
That’s lovely, Gal. Good for you, and for your daughter.
Well, if that don’t beat all, as we used to say. I didn’t know FC wasn’t being published any more. Honestly, their quality of articles the last time I bought one was so bad I just quit buying them anymore. I think the only ones I do buy now are BHG and Martha Stewart. Makes me sad as I remember reading FC back when it was 15 cents an issue, and I don’t think I had graduated high school yet. So many magazines have lowered their standards that they just aren’t interesting to many people. When you can find a tutorial on youtube for anything or look up anything on the internet it’s not hard to see why, unfortunately. I learned a great deal from magazines over the years and still enjoy reading them. I hate paying almost 10 bucks for my favorite one, but it’s a niche one for sewing and I love their articles and photos. We won’t mention the fall of many newspapers, they are just too political for me anymore to even read on the internet. Except the funnies, of course, and those I go to the main site for!!