Today’s oldie A&J isn’t so moldy; it’s from 2014. I recently turned in a week of Arlo & Janis that included only one cartoon with more than a few words. I really didn’t notice this until I’d almost finished the batch of six. You’ll know that week when you see it. Most of the strips were like the one above, with only one panel of dialog, if any. I do this more often the longer I’m at this game. I take a bit of pride, because it’s an old saw in the biz that a cartoon which can be understood without words is a “pure” cartoon, while a cartoon which can be understood without the drawing isn’t really a cartoon at all. Perhaps that is a bit extreme. If it literally were true, “Henry” and “The Little King” would be the greatest comic strips ever. However, I get it, but as usual there’s a happy medium. That is one thing that sets a comic strip apart from other forms of cartooning. It is a happy marriage of image and word, a little play within which the two components reinforce one another. I must remember that.
220 responses to “Think “Disco””
Yes and you do it so well. You hear the music.
Ecumenical cartoon of the day, http://www.gocomics.com/moderately-confused/2016/03/09
I enjoy it when you mix it up. I really don’t care much for the really wordy strips that other cartoonists put out. It makes it hard to read and sometimes is not worth the effort to get the gag.
Jimmy, I did like Henry when I was growing up. Like watching a silent movie without titles. I enjoy your comics, with or without words, because of your ability to convey moods and emotions.
So nice to have you back. You’ve been missed.
Don’t worry, Jimmy. McEldowney is taking up the slack in any perceived lack of speech or dialog in your cartoons. Many of his characters, as one of my grandmothers was wont to say, seem to have been vaccinated with phonograph needles.
image and words dancing….
Or maybe that Canadian cat?
Funny, my granny said the same thing.
“Granddad, what’s a phonograph needle??”
It is amazing how quickly it all passes from general memory. There was a story about an old man trying to get into one of the Grammy after-parties, but was repeatedly turned away. It was Paul McCartney. Who???
Just another old dude. I am listening to classical guitar, a dream in the forest, so beautiful it is making me cry.
I translated, Hal speaks worse Spanish than I.
I will try to link it on YouTube later in case anyone else crys when the music is too beautiful besides me and Pretty Woman.
At some point, probably only scholars will know the origin of the words “clockwise” and counterclockwise”. Likely, many do not know that now.
I have a wristwatch on order to replace the 20+ year old one I am wearing now. The new one, like the old one, has an analog dial. My sister used to tell me I was “set in my ways”. Raise your hand if that surprises you.
I seem to recall reading that the word “seiko” has something like twenty-seven meanings in Japanese. And that a couple of them are obscene.
Pretty Woman…the You-Know-What with a Heart of Gold. Good luck finding one that looks like Julia Roberts. And as a cop once told me, good luck finding one that has all her teeth.
Reminds me…
A beat cop is sitting in his patrol car at 2:30 AM, watching the entrance to a bar. A man lurches through the door of the bar, falls down, gets up, staggers to the nearest car, collapses against it, takes a ring of keys out of his pocket, drops them, crawls around until he finds them, gets up, tries each key in the car door. None fits. He staggers around to the next car – and the next – drops and recovers his keys at each car, tries each key at each car. None fits. Eventually, he finds his car, opens the door, gets in, starts the car, and with jerks and erratic steering gets it over the curb and onto the street, where he lays rubber on the pavement and disappears zig-zagging down the street. The cop takes off after him, and after a bit of a chase finally gets him to pull over and get out of the car.
“What’s the problem, officer?”
“I’m going to have to take you in. You’re drunk.”
“Oh, not me! I haven’t had a drink since last week. Got that breath-a-wheezer thing? I’ll show you.”
Sure enough, not a trace of alcohol. The cop’s puzzled.
“I don’t understand this. Why were you driving like you were drunk?”
“Oh, that! Tonight, I’m the designated decoy.”
Well I have prettier teeth than Julia? You came back a tad cranky. Is everything OK?
NOT surprised you are set in your ways but perhaps disappointed?
How about suitable music I’d like, something baroque, not broke?
I need to keep reading Callahans Chronicles and practice puns?
Not cranky, just still recovering from A&J withdrawal symptoms.
Who said, “If it ain’t baroque, don’t fix it”? The PDQ Bach guy? No, that was, “It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that certain je ne sais quoi.”
Hey, Redneck Gun Guy™ knows who Peter Schickele is. Will wonders never cease?
Another great strip without any dialog was Ferd’nand. It ran from 1937 until 2012, in 30 countries.
Listening to Helois Overture which Hal thinks is Hints by Heloise.
If you fly to close to the sun your wings may melt.
For sideburns: http://www.toonopedia.com/ferdnand.htm
Re retro strip. In my mind, Janis is doing Zumba. It looks like Janis knows Arlo should steer clear. But actually, it’s great fun and a super workout for anyone. This strip has been attached to my fridge since it first appeared.
Ignorance but is Zumba a dance based exercise program like jazzercise? And if so, why is Ghost not taking part like he did before? Is it high speed, high impact?
And why was the curvaceous cutie on East coast able to operate as a prostitute while posing as a zumba teacher if it is a group activity?
Hello folks, I am sitting in a room with a fireplace and book cases just like in a recent strip. Unfortunately it is in a nursing home where my mother is trying very hard to die. It is horrible. This computer was not working but I fooled with this and that until I got here. I don’t know what will happen or how long I may be here. I don’t even know if I am allowed to use this computer but no one is around so I am. I will keep you informed if possible.
Hello, Jerry. Sorry to hear of the circumstances you are in. Glad you found a way to make it here. Prayers for your mom and you.
Prayers and thoughts are with you, Jerry.
Amen. Been there. Love.