comics – Page 20

Joe Cool

Today’s comic was a friend’s idea. He said, “Why don’t you do something with Joe Cool and Joe Biden?” I wasn’t keen on the idea at first and then started thinking about it and came up with this. It really doesn’t say much, just two figures of American culture; maybe welcoming Joe Biden as our top figure now in media, I guess. Now that he is our new prez, he is surely the main guy in political cartoons now. I know many of you don’t like when I post political cartoons, and I won’t post many, I’ll stick with my usual gag-a-day, but who knows, Cool Joe Biden may pop up once in awhile. Who knows.

I drew Biden before in another cartoon, I’m not sure if I’ve ever used Snoopy, but I’ve drawn him since I was a child, so he’s easy to do.

This other Biden cartoon was used when he was deciding to run or not, it seemed so long for him to make his decision, but I think it was longer in 2016, which is when I originally used this cartoon, I think it ran in the Huffington Post at the time.

Joe Biden and the comic strip

See this picture? It’s Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, our new Prez and VP, but look closely at Joe’s desk. See what’s behind the computer? It’s a comic strip.

A Hagar the Horrible strip that spoke to him.

With all that Biden has gone through in his life; many deaths in the family, this strip spoke to him. I love that.

Many times I wonder if people are reading comics these days. I know they are, but are comics relevant today as they were years ago? I guess they are according to ~~President~~ President-elect Joe Biden.

Gives me hope, not just for the future of comics, but for the future of our country. You gotta have a president who reads and saves comics!

This comics info on Biden came from a long Piers Morgan article in Mail Online, it talks about his phone call from Biden when his son Beau passed away, Piers had never spoken to Joe Biden before, but he knew Beau, and at that time, Biden told him about saving this comic strip. You can read it here.

This morning there was a great segment on CBS Sunday Morning about a book compliation between Steve Martin and Harry Bliss, the cartoonist. Here it is:

He’s getting away!

We keep hearing “Stop the count!” and I thought of this cartoon for today – Count Dracula getting away!

There have been memes of The Count from Sesame Street, too. Lots of funny puns and stuff.

#stopthecount – the hashtag of the week? Or maybe #trackingkornacki for the tireless Steve Kornacki. His hashtag even comes with a little icon of himself!

Political cartoons

I ran a sort of political comic yesterday (the native American one below) and this voting booth one today. Some people don’t like when I post political stuff. They have told me. But it’s all in fun. I’m not choosing sides and how could I not run a political cartoon or two when we have been enveloped in politics this whole political season.

Just this morning it seems that every commercial on tv is a last minute local political ad pushing for those last minute undecided voters – mayors, city council, senators, etc. The best part about tomorrow is that these non-stop commercials, many full of lies and exaggerations, will be gone.

But I’m glad that people read my comics to not read political stuff. That’s what I’m aiming for – good clean fun for the whole family, even those who call my stuff “boomer humor.” I guess they are trying to insult me, but they are reading me, so God speed. In the past I used to draw for the masses and then I kept hearing, “draw what you like and your audience will come.” And so I started doing that and it worked.

Glad to have you here and here. Thank you.

Comics I don’t understand

Yea! We made it at Comics I Don’t Understand, right here (at the bottom of their post). I checked the site like I do every day and there I was along with some other funny stuff!

If you’re not familiar with the site, it was started by Bill Bickel, who recently passed away. It’s one of my favorite sites.

It’s quite clever, not my cartoon, Bill’s site, who has been taken over by fans of the site, thanks to the generosity of Bill’s family. What I like about it is that I like comics that are hard to understand. I don’t like when it’s a daily thing for a comic panel or strip, but once in awhile I enjoy trying to figure out what a certain comic means, almost as if it’s a puzzle.

I know some people didn’t understand my contactless ordering comic at the time, luckily most did, as you don’t want everyone to question your work. But I feel when most do and some don’t it’s almost an insider’s club for thos who get it.

But I had to laugh when I saw it at Comics I Don’t Understand today. It’s almost like a wall of shame, where people are posted when they do something embarrassing in public, like fall or trip or something. It’s something you can enjoy and laugh about. You have to laugh at yourself, that’s what it’s all about!

Being creative

I may have a collaborator on a few future comics. Maybe more than a few!

My nephew sent me a bunch of comic ideas yesterday and most are excellent! He called me to tell me he was thinking or dreaming or something like that and he thought of so funny cartoon ideas, he told me a few on the phone and they seemed funny, but when he sent me the long list in writing later, they were really funny.

He’s an engineer, he owns a very successful factory and doesn’t seem like the type to even bother with comics, but it’s so nice knowing that he does think about comics.

So many friends and relatives read my work and it comes out in conversation or they may comment on a comic or blog post online or in person and it’s nice to know that I am entertaining friends and family, along with thousands of other people out there.

I saw a video or read something not to long ago where a cartoonist said, “Don’t write for the fans, write for yourself.” And that did make sense. All those years when I was publishing the daily news, I don’t think I ever thought of a person or people when I was writing, especially columns, where are personal. I just wrote and people read what they wanted when it was published.

I think if I had certain people in mind every time I wrote something that would have driven me mad. That’s not to say that at times I wondered if I was making certain people proud or whatever, but I never wrote or phrased things in order to please any one person. It just came out, sort of like this, which I’m writing now.

Same with the comics, once I started writing for myself, I felt less pressure. I know there have been a few lately that maybe everyone doesn’t get. But that’s alright. For those that get the gag, it’s an inside joke.

It’s NOT the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown!

So in the scheme of things, this Charlie Brown news is not important, but then again, in the scheme of things, the way this whole year has been, it is important. Even Sally is upset!

Charlie Brown specials are moving to AppleTV+. That means It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown won’t be seen on regular tv this year and possibly in the future. And also the other Charlie Brown specials probably will follow suit. Why? Money, I guess.

I know there are DVD’s (I have them) and there are free days on AppleTV+ where you can see it (Oct. 30, 31 and Nov. 1), but it’s not the same. It breaks with tradition. It was always a CBS show and I was not thrilled when it moved to ABC (I know, I need a life), but now it’s not on regular tv at all.

The last few years, ABC has been showing it twice. Same with the Christmas episode and it is just part of life. And this year we need traditions! We may not even have Halloween in many places this year, so this tradition is important.

There is something about everyone watching it at the same time, enjoying it together. I like watching things “live,” I like to see shows when they are on.

I guess it all boils down to money. Doesn’t everything?

Too close for comfort

Great minds? On September 1, I published this cartoon. And then a month an a half later, on October 15, two other cartoonists published these below. Interesting that they both published on the same day, what are the odds?

I hate when this happens. Too much similarities in comics, but I guess there are only so many subjects. Right?

I love how we all draw the Frankenstein monster, similar, but not.

Accidental fan art

Yesterday’s cartoon could almost be fan art of one my favorite strips right now, which is “Crabgrass” by Tauhid Bondia. I didn’t do it on purpose, but thought it looked like fan art afterwards.

Crabgrass is about two friends, Kevin and Miles, in the 1980s. I find it hilarious and enjoy following their adventures daily. It’s interesting to follow the kids who don’t have cellphones and all the electronics we have today. Like we did when we were kids, they spend most of their time and adventures outdoors.

You can read Crabgrass on GoComics daily here: gocomics.com/crabgrass

Here are a few samples:

Snoopy license plates!

The states of California is offering Snoopy license plates. The extra money raised goes to California museums.

“This street-legal, DMV- and PEANUTS-approved license plate features Snoopy doing his signature happy dance. Plates for cars, trucks, vans, commercial vehicles, and motorcycles start at just $50 ($103 for personalized plates).”

There are over 1400 museums in California.

I want one. Only I don’t live in California. 😦