I thought this old A&J from 20 years ago would make an interesting companion piece to yesterday’s “Tan Lines.” This cartoon first appeared in newspapers May 7, 1999. It’s probably worth noting that this was only a couple of months after Janis went from her original long hair to a shorter cut. I was quite the sun worshipper myself when I was a younger man, especially in the early 80’s when I was living and working in Jackson, Mississippi. There really wasn’t a heck of a lot to do in Jackson on weekends off, and it was only a short drive to Gulfport, where one could catch a passenger ferry to Ship Island, part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore. A boat was the only way to reach the island, and we would leave town early to book passage on the first ferry run of the day. After the 45-minute voyage to the island, we’d set up base camp on the beach where we would drink cold beverages and lie about until late afternoon, when we’d board one of the last ferrys back to Gulfport. Come to think of it, there wasn’t really much to do on Ship Island, either, but it sure beat Jackson. This all reminds me: I have an appointment with the dermatologist Tuesday. Seriously, I do.
Black and White and Red All Over
by Jimmy Johnson
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14 responses to “Black and White and Red All Over”
Wishing you good fortune in the dermatology department. I had a mole biopsy at the end of last November, and it was OK.
Cartoon above is a classic for subtlety. [I am sure I have referred to this one in past years.] The implication of Janis’s foot position in panel 3 is the exemplar of your skill.
What cxp said about panel 3!
What a great strip – first time I’ve seen it. (Which reminds me – how’s it going on A&J After Dark?)
It gets top priority as soon as this Web-page business is done, which should be very soon now.
Saw my dermatologist last week and had some of those pesky sun damaged spots on my face treated with liquid nitrogen (ouch).
Who knew how my sun worshiping days over 70 years ago would come back to haunt me now.
Another way this could have ended would be for Arlo to crawl over a prone Janis and in the next frame have a t-bone over his eye!
Thanks, Curmudgeonly. I have seen that strip before, but never noticed that difference in panel 3. That adds more to the overall effect and is very subtle. Good luck with the dermatologist, Jimmy. My barber in Alabama noticed some bumps and advised I get them checked. VA dermatologist examined them and said they were just common, benign growths that older men with sun exposure tended to get. Hope your diagnosis is as good, or better.
Yes, good luck with your appointment, Jimmy. I hope your dermatologist is as easy on the eyes as is mine.
https://www.tulsadermatology.com/images/staff/lovelace.jpg
Re 4-12-19 cartoon: Actually, I’d have probably tried the “collard greens and oyster casserole”. Although I do agree a better name might improve its gastronomical appeal. Perhaps “Oysters Bubbafeller”.
And it appears that ML is wearing one of her “35% tip” server’s outfits. Works for me.
I love the subtle look of naughtiness in Janis’s expression in panel two. The whole composition and structure of the particular strip is wonderful.
I was never much of a sun worshiper in my youth but my fair Irish skin apparently couldn’t handle even the small levels exposure. At my wife’s urging, I began getting regular screenings for about ten years and have had a dozen or so suspicious growths removed but fortunately they have all been nothing more than pre-cancerous.
Other islands off the Mississippi Gulf Coast besides Ship Island (actually East Ship Island and West Ship Island, thanks to Hurricane Camille), where there are no ships, just the ferry boats, are Cat Island, where there are no cats to speak of, and Deer Island, which may actually have deer, since the pesky things are found just about everywhere.
Bonus points for diagramming that sentence.
Owlceanside, in CA, has a new barn-owlet as of about 10:40 CDT tonight. It’s bright pink. Mother helped remove the shell – never knew mother birds did that.
Any Villagers want to claim that Mayor JJ has been looking around their property to get the idea for THIS cartoon?! Not all at once, now….
Steve in Royal Oak, When Arlo sees Janis she is actually in a supine position, not prone.