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Dick Cheney, Cartoon Cross-Dresser?
Morning, Cartoon Nation. Today's comics roundup, from the eye-catching to the head-scratching...
PAT BAGLEY (courtesy of cagle.com)
'CANDORVILLE' (WPWG)
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MOST DISTURBING DEMI-TREND: Once is mildly alarming. Twice verges on disturbing. I speak, of course, of a coupla cartoonists' feeling compelled to draw a cross-dressing Dick Cheney. Between today's "CANDORVILLE" and PAT BAGLEY's "Miss California" political cartoon -- gah! -- I'd pay handsomely for a "Men in Black" mind-wipe.
'BEETLE BAILEY' (SOURCE)
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MOST DISTURBING (SINGLE STRIP): Yes, one could argue that Sarge shouting expletives at Miss Buxley is a true sign of &%$#@! equality. Except that in a strip in which Miss B. is chronically ogled as a source of sexual laffs, it feels like just more chronic abuse lobbed at The Secretary Who Apparently Only Owns One (Cocktail) Dress for Decades. Either that or "BEETLE BAILEY's" Sarge simply has a two-track sensibility. Either: a.) Pummel the private; or b.) Abuse his squeeze. Can you say, "Is-suuuues."
'PEARLS BEFORE SWINE' (UPS)
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'ZITS' (KFS)
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THE CVOD (COMIC VISUAL O' THE DAY): Forget such comical cliches as breaking the fourth wall. Today, "Pearls Before Swine" bends the fourth panel. Good on Pastis. RUNNER-UP: Jeremy's state of repose in the first panel of today's "ZITS."
'STEVE BREEN' (SOURCE)
THE PCOD (POLITICAL CARTOON O' THE DAY): I've been on the lookout this week for a Phil Spector 'toon that nails it. By going verbally simple, STEVE BREEN packs the funniest punch.
What cartoons do you think deserve kudos or kvetches today? The floor is yours.
RELATED READING FOR YOUR PERUSING PLEASURE...
STEVE BREEN dedicates second Pulitzer to out-of-work colleagues.
THE INTERVIEW: Steve Breen on caricaturing Obama.
THE INTERVIEW: Stephan Pastis on life with Rat and Pig.
THE INTERVIEW: Darrin Bell offers a tour of "Candorville."
FAVE FAN ANECDOTES: "Beetle Bailey's" Brian Walker recalls reader reaction to a "Hi and Lois" strip.
THE INTERVIEW: "Zits" co-creator Jim Borgman reflects on his career at the Cincinnati Enquirer.
By
Michael Cavna
| June 3, 2009; 8:30 AM ET
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The Morning Line
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Posted by: ishkabibbleA | June 3, 2009 9:50 AM | Report abuse
Reference the question about "Watch Your Head" - First of all - the whole story line has been a little strange lately, but to answer the question, at least as I see it, is that the girlfriend says "I'm pregnant, it's hot" and the boyfriend takes that to mean that being pregnant is hot and excites him. Those saying "Ew" tend to not agree with that assessment.
And... Pastis rules again!
Posted by: gfdxchief | June 3, 2009 12:43 PM | Report abuse
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I have a question about yesterday's Watch Your Head. I do NOT get the punchline. The best I can fathom is it's a clumsy fellatio joke (based on the "ew" in the last panel.) But even that explanation is a stretch and doesn't make much sense. Can anyone explain this?
And I loved today's "Pearls." Genius.