Laugh Tracks

The weekend update: GoComics style

2013-05-20T11:31:57-05:00

C'mon Captain. Et tu? Pirating was so 2008. (read more Break of Day here)

— Gene

Oh, Horace, I feel your pain. Which is why I'm a big advocate for cereal (read more Dark Side of the Horse here)

— Elizabeth

Ripley's Believe it or Not is such a consistently fascinating feature that it's easy to take for granted. Yesterday's Wall Street Journal had a nice article about the rags-to-riches tale of the real-life Mr. Ripley, who is the subject of a new book by Neal Thompson. "The awkward misfit-loner became the champion of the freakishness of others," Thompson writes. "He made it mainstream to be weird, teaching fans to gape with awe at America's chutzpah." Read more full-color Ripley's strips every day here at GoComics.

— Lucas

Still a more civil, productive exchange than congress can manage, am I right folks?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

— Dave

NEW! Comics Sherpa Pick of the Week

2013-05-15T17:54:49-05:00

Over the past few years, we've learned a lot about our readers through our social media engagement and surveys.

One, you're pretty awesome -- this is a quantifiable statement for the research analysts reading this blog post.

Two, our readers like to discover what's new and exciting. This is represented by some of our Pacific Rim readers using GoComics to learn the nuances of American humor and also by the reactions to our new comics when they roll out.

We want to introduce you to our Comics Sherpa area, the section of GoComics where our up-and-coming artists develop a following and hone their skills in a safe, nurturing environment before the little comic birds are pushed out of the nest. We're happy to be your guide to what's new and what's next. Hence, our little sherpa guy.

Some of you already know about Sherpa? Good. Many don't, and that's a sad thing -- to deprive a reader of humor. So, each week, we're going to post a "Comics Sherpa Pick of the Week" highlighting a comic and its creator. There are more than 60 comics waiting to be discovered and taken to a new home.

First up is one of my favorite comics on the "Comics Sherpa" platform: "Adult Children," by Stephen Beals. The artwork is crisp, the story lines are quick and they make me smile. Beals' work highlights the little nuances in the dating world, but also is a story of a guy, a girl and their overly ambitious and lovable dog.

Click here to flip through the "Adult Children" catalog of comic strips. Hope you like it.

- Gene

Born under a worse sign

2013-05-15T00:00:00-05:00

When a new Born Loser Sunday strip shows up at Comics Tower, it arrives in three separate, vertical, scanner-friendly columns. Part of my job involves reassembling the full strip out of its component parts before handing it off for editing.

A few weeks ago, I noticed that if one were to only look at the middle column of panels in an average Born Loser Sunday comic, it becomes a very different strip, no longer a lighthearted portrait of our put-upon hero's gentle misadventures, but a sobering look at a life brimming with pathos and disappointment.

For instance? For instance:

See? In context, ol' Brutus makes the same mistakes we all do, and things really aren't that bad. Looking only at the middle three panels, however, Brutus' life seems so tormented that it has contracted to only two modes: sleep and suffering.

Here are a few other examples:

From May 18, 2008:

From Aug. 8, 2009:

From Oct. 23, 2011:

From Feb. 24, 2013:

I'd like to reiterate, this isn't the intended way to enjoy Born Loser; If anything, it's the wrongest possible way to enjoy Born Loser. Most days, things work out just fine for Brutus, after a fashion. But you don't have to take my word for it-- go show him some love over at his comics page.

"Hey Mom! Your Lil' GoComics Made It Big!"

2013-05-14T17:45:58-05:00

It's a must that you download the new GoComics mobile/tablet app. It's not just us saying it. It's Entertainment Weekly, the premiere pop culture magazine, shouting it out!

On newsstands today, the new GoComics mobile/tablet app was included in EW's "The Must List", denoting the top 10 things in the entertainment world that you must take note of this week. At a time of television series and season premieres, blockbuster movie releases and great music launches, your favorite comics provider was noted as one of the most wonderful things in the world.

See for yourself:

Entertainment Weekly™ magazine, Week of May 17, 2013 (#1259)

Entertainment Weekly's "The Must List" mobile app:

Choose your platform and download our mobile app!

- Gene

Big Nate walks the Boards

2013-05-14T11:35:21-05:00

People who really know me, know that I love three things:

1) The poetry of John Stamos
2) Fried foods
3) Musical theatre!

So when I heard that Big Nate was going to be made into a Broadway-style show with lots of dancing, I knew a phone call had to be made IMMEDIATELY!

And then after hanging up with Pizza Hut, I thought, "maybe I should audition?" After all, I'd been doing my one-man modern dance performance at regional civic centers for many years. Now might be a good time to actually be welcomed and/or appreciated and/or compensated for my art.

to be continued ...

-JG

The Weekend Update - GoComics Style

2013-05-13T13:58:15-05:00

The REAL Walking Dead! I love Brevity!

- Lindsay

I dog-sat for my parents this weekend, and part of my instructions included having Jerry choose (pre-cooked) steak or hamburger to have with breakfast. He went with the hamburger every time.

- Elizabeth

Hopefully, they can find some measure of fun between the end of dragonfly mating season and the annual return of lightning bugs. Otherwise, it's gonna be a long summer.

- Dave

Love the artwork in this Over The Hedge. To borrow a phrase from GoComics commenter Odd Dog, "Hammy surfs the light fantastic."

- Lucas

First, I wish Americans would adopt the term "mum". Second, she has a valid point.

- Gene

KC Star Comics Extra

2013-05-13T09:55:31-05:00

There are many great things about living in Kansas City: no traffic (comparatively), Google Fiber, nice people, lots of fountains to bathe my feet, baseball tickets quite easy to obtain, the best BLT sandwich of all time, etc.

But one thing that doesn't get enough publicity is The Kansas City Star's Comics Extra. Basically, on Sundays you get a comics and puzzle section that adds about 300% to what's offered in the regular newspaper. WTH! Have I died and gone to Vadalia?

And yes, it does cost 75 cents more a week, but can you really put a price on all this entertainment?

I mean, arent't you about to pay $12 to see Buzz Luhrmann's "The Great Gatsby"? I think we'd all admit that no one is going to be entertained by that film. So call your local editor and demand them to give you more comics! Certainly you'd be willing to pay the cost of a can of soda pop a week for such high laughter quotients.

-JG

Saturday morning comics bender

2013-05-11T15:14:03-05:00

During the course of my plotting out a blog post yesterday, I got carried away and started cruising around the GoComics archives until all of a sudden I looked at the clock and it was well after midnight, which meant a whole new set of comics for today, May 11. In the spirit of the Saturday morning cartoon-a-thons we enjoyed as kids, here's a few of the gems I found via the deliciously addictive GoComics app.

24/7 cartoons? Thatababy knows what I'm talking about.

A bit of classic cartoon superhero humor via La Cucaracha.

Lately I have been greatly enjoying Tom Horacek's Foolish Mortals, which features a new work of art each week. One of my favorite additions to the GoComics lineup in the past year.

Another recent winner is Aunty Acid. Here in the Midwest, people wear shirts with similarly sassy slogans that aren't half as funny/acidic as what Aunty has to offer. I really hope she branches out into apparel soon.

GoComics also offers several comics in Espanol including Trucutu, which English speakers know as Alley Oop. The Spanish-language storyline lags a bit behind the English one, but it reminds me a little bit of the Mexican soaps I watch in the employee lounge each afternoon while I'm supposed to be working. Tip: our Spanish-language comics are also a great way to learn Spanish!

Finally, a recent Frank and Ernest. These guys might not look like the brightest pair, but Frank's use of the phrase "circling the wagons" suggests he's been regularly reading the New York Times opinion page, where it has appeared several times in the past two weeks. One of the first rules of working with United Features syndicate properties, as told to me by a veteran salesman there: "Never, ever underestimate Frank and Ernest."

That's all for now, but I'll be back soon with a new bundle of favorites. In the meantime, you're always welcome to share your own discoveries and recommendations in the comments and/or through the social media.

Happy trails,

Lucas

This is not a pipe. This is not a halfpipe. This is not a tattoo.

2013-05-09T11:56:19-05:00

The image above is a photo of a famous painting called, The Treachery of Images by Belgian artist René Magritte, painted in 1928. The writing "Ceci n'est pas une pipe" translates to "This is not a pipe." Now, as you can see below, this piece has been fairly inspirational around GoComics. Check it out ...

Savage Chickens by Doug Savage
"This is not a halfpipe."

GoComics Creative Director, Joel Friday
"This is not a tattoo."

Celebrating 13 Years of Red and Rover! Giveaway winner announced!

2013-05-08T09:50:20-05:00

We'd like to thank all of our Red and Rover readers around the world! And thanks to all who entered the anniversary giveaway contest. We are happy to announce that we have picked a winner!

Congrats to Justin Dennis!

Justin, please send your shipping address to rewards@gocomics.com, using "Red and Rover winner" as the subject line. Please note, you have one week to claim this prize. Thanks again to all who entered our contest. More giveaways to come!