October 29, 1986
In the early years of A&J, Janis was a very insecure character, to the point of neurotic. Many readers recognized her fragility as dysfunctional, but for a disquietingly large number of others and myself, it seemed normal. Arlo wasn’t perfect either. That’s all I’m going to say about that. I always have said, frequently and recently, that my writing carried the strip in the beginning as I found my way as a graphic artist. I still believe this to be true, but taking a long look at some of the early stuff (after not having done so for a while), the writing wasn’t as strong as I sometimes credit it. There were some gems in the beginning, but I think the writing has become more consistent day to day. Sometimes, I think I am very lucky to be here after 35 years.
74 responses to ““Who is this ‘Fig Newton’?””
And so are we!
Agree
I stop here first, then get to GoComics, so I’m back. My two aunts and my father all worked at Sears on Homan Ave. in Chicago straight from high school. One aunt who is now 92 years old retired from there, and the other worked on the catalog staff. It should be obvious, but I wonder how many people today know what Arlo is referring to in the strip.
I experienced it while visiting my dad’s maternal grandparents on the family farm in the Ozarks. 🙂
Those Sears catalogs hold a special place in memory. When I was a boy (I blush to admit), I’d sneak peaks at the rather extensive ladies’ underwear section.
I think of Janis (Spellcheck is off!) as the Mary Tyler Moore of comics. In the beginning on Dick Van Dyke, she was a bit hysterical but later on MTM, she was much more confident. She made it after all. I have been watching reruns of her 70’s showduring this time of working at home. I saw them enough times that it plays in the background while I work and I only pay attention when I know the scene that I really want to see.
Arlo is Arlo. He is a little boy in a man’s body, who sees things through that little boy’s point of view.
“Arlo is Arlo. He is a little boy in a man’s body, who sees things through that little boy’s point of view.”
Or, to put it another way – Arlo is a man………….
Thank you for arlo and Janis. I appreciate your insights. My favorite over the years is the dying grasshopper realizing he has a Stradivarius. Since I’m 84 now, it helps me with priorities every time I look at it (it’s a little faded now)but still hangs, framed, in my reading room. Thank you again. God bless you for not wasting the talent He has given you.
That was a weird little sequence! One of my favorites, too. I don’t think that many people remember it. Thank you for your kind message.
I’m enjoying these early strips, ones I’d not seen before. I do have two questions though,
1) Where did the names Arlo and Janis come from?
2) Can we please have more Gene, Marylou and Meg? They’d make a great spin-off strip.
Cheers!
Thanks, Rob, for your message–and your questions. You’ve given me something to talk about tomorrow. I’ll address them both!
Jimmy, so glad you’re keeping up the good work. Bright spot of each day for me!
These old strips are great! I was recently able to buy a copy of “Bop ’til you Drop” from Abebooks. (Cheap too, way under a C note.) To might great pleasure I see that these strips you’re posting are of the same vintage as those in the book but are in addition to those. We’re finding some never before seen buried treasure. Thanks very much Mr. Johnson for sharing.
Jimmy and Arlo and Janis will go down in history as a “comic strip” that covers way more than comedy. It takes us through the growth and changes in all three lives ! Much love to Jimmy Johnson ?
But isn’t that what makes it a gag, or joke? The fact that Janis’s reaction is so drastic? You’re a cartoonist, it’s one of the arrows in your quiver, like drawing big noses, or bulging eyes.
*shrug*… maybe I missed the point. That happens to me sometimes. ; )
When A&J first came out my girlfriend at the time related very well with Janis and was a fan, likely because she was a bit insecure and neurotic herself. Myself, not so much a fan in the ’80s but by probably ’90 I was and have been since. What changed? Probably the fact that I no longer had to deal with any insecure, neurotic to the point of dysfunctional women!
Janis and I have grown up together. At first she was childlike in her insecurities. Now she’s matured into a self-confident woman. I have followed, loved, and understood her for lo these many years! Thanks, JJ!
Gomer? Now we know what happened to him since he left the USMC Bird people , what follows is my experience with a hawk trying to remove my eyeballs. We have a glassed in back porch approx 40 by 12. For the last few weeks we have had a small blue bird that has been constantly trying to fly through the glass. He flaps his wings against the glass had enough that we can hear it in the breakfast room.. I think that he is trying to chase away his reflection. A few days ago I heard an unusually loud thump from the far end of the porch and I thought that the bird had probably broken his neck this time. The glass is on top of about two feet of brick and I can walk along the side and look down and see what is close on the outside. I did so until I got to the far end.. There sat a hawk about a foot tall, I didn’t know that they got that big. He was staring up at me with a mean look. I haven’t mentioned that at least three of the cats were on the porch including Spunky who only weighs about ten pounds so he was trying to pick her up I”m sure. I called my wife and she walked up beside me. As we watched him, faster than the blink of an eye he flew up and hit the glass right in front of my face with his claws pointed right at my eyes He landed and we decided to leave him. He apparently wasn’t injured as he soon flew away. I sometimes let the cats out on the front porch and they stay there with me and go back in when I tell them to. I think that we won’t be doing that anymore.
I just spent an hour typing and correcting a post about a large hawk trying to attack me and it disappeared when I posted it. I don’t have another hour or the patience to type it again.
IT’S BA-ACK. One of the mysteries of life.
Yep, the one I tacked onto yesterday’s page early this a.m. also didn’t show up for a while. Cannot say what the time lag was, but probably less than an hour.
Being ancient & somewhat decrepit but, I think, still in possession of most of my marbles, has its advantages, disadvantages, joys, & annoyances. One of the latter is, “You’re not 90 years old, you’re 90 years young.” Shove it! Am 90 years OLD, & constantly reminded so by muscular-skeletal difficulties.
You, Jimmy, are younger, & only immature teens probably consider you old. But you are both a better writer & artist than you were at the start. Also, you are decades wiser, & it shows. Actually, I am wiser also, partly per life in general, but partly per the Village. Am really grateful for many of its citizens, especially those who have provided wisdom & encouragement. Others have taught me other things . Peace,
Thank you for sharing, EMB. We have learned a few things from you also!
I hope somebody reads my post and saves their kitten, puppy, bunny rabbit, mouse, etc.
That is good advice, Jerry. Thanks for sharing it. If you have large owls in the area it is a bad idea to let your small pets out at night alone, too.
Read it and luckily my dogs are too big for normal birds of prey. None of the neighbors have small dogs or cats. That is good, since we have two red-tailed hawks (one of the bigger types) and have three(!) great horned owls that hunt in our neighborhood. We are out somewhat in the country. In my yard they all seem to be hunting cicadas and maybe grasshoppers. We also don’t see many snakes, so I guess they are hunting them, too!
Hawks are not a big an issue as owls. I was going to work early one morning and an owl flew in front of my truck. I thought it was carrying a large rat. When I got a better look, it was a cat that it was carrying off.
35 months?
Yes. I wonder if the the 35 months will be addressed today as well.
“Sometimes, I think I am very lucky to be here after 35 years.”
No. You earned it.
Can we also infer “Stone Soup” is leaving?
https://www.gocomics.com/stonesoup/2020/07/26
This strip has been running since last Sun.
Peace,
Stone Soup has left the building (or rather the comic pages) effective Sunday last. All we have left are repeats, but they’re good repeats.
[May have already been sent, or in cyberspace?] Can we also infer that “Stone Soup” is leaving? This strip has been running since last Sunday. Haven’t followed it regularly, but have added 2 Gocomics strips that give some insight into the early teen mind, “Emmy Lou” & “Preteena.” Fun.
Peace,
https://www.gocomics.com/stonesoup/2020/07/26
http://www.dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2020/07/26/csotd-one-last-serving-of-stone-soup/
Thanks, Mark. I am a fan of Stone Soup… perhaps because I was a single mom for several years. Enjoyed the read…
Re 7-31-20 real-time cartoon: In 35 months, the date will be June 30, 2023. What can I say? Except…unfortunately, it is true that all good things must come to an end. Also, I wish I could plan my life that far ahead! 😀
Yes, that was the final strip of “Stone Soup.” The Daily Cartoonist has a couple of notes on the subject.
Also from The Daily Cartoonist, an article about A&J’s 35th anniversary: http://www.dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2020/07/29/arlo-and-janis-at-35/