One of the oldest features of the newspaper industry is the inclusion of comic strips or “funnies” in the daily editions of your favourite tabloid. The word “comic” means something that relates to comedy as opposed to tragedy and is supposed to be funny. A “comic strip” is a series of consecutive drawings in panels, usually presenting humorous situations or adventure. Sometimes these “comics'“ are also collected in the form of a magazine or even a book.

“Comics” differ from a cartoon, which is a single drawing depicting one specific scene. A cartoon is mostly a pictorial caricature, offering instant comment on the (mainly political) issues of the day. The cartoonist has a more difficult job than a comic strip writer. The former must make his impact in one single frame, while the latter can develop a simple story line.

In this installment we want to take a closer look at the comics as found in many newspapers in North America and elsewhere. Are the comics worthwhile reading, or are they best to be skipped?

Meant for a Laugh⤒🔗

Comics are meant to be humorous in an obvious and simple manner, and to elicit a hearty laugh, or at least a chuckle, from the readers. This is a good norm to judge whether certain comics are successful or not. Is a comic strip really funny? If one has to reread the strip a number of times before grasping the subtle meaning, it has not really achieved its goal.

The comic strip writer will usually take a “real life” situation and place this in a humorous light by emphasizing a certain aspect. This is a legitimate enterprise. Laughter is the best medicine, it is often said, and many of life's serious situations and complex relationships have a humorous side. Someone who is able to see the humour evident in many of life's delicate entanglements is greatly blessed. Insofar as cartoonists and comic strip writers contribute to this, their effort is to be appreciated.

Comics can be good, clean fun. A comic strip does not necessarily have to contain a deeper message or offer a social commentary. Those cartoonists who feel that they must at all times deliver a “message” will often find their effort overdone and the result strained. A comic strip must remain unassuming in order to be effective. If the readers cannot laugh anymore about the material presented, the comic strip has not reached its purpose.

It must be extremely difficult for a comic strip writer to come up every day with something that is readable and catching. Sometimes this really shows in the poor quality of the work.

True to Life←⤒🔗

The strength of many longstanding comic strips is that they are “true to life,” that is, they depict situations and circumstances to which the readers can really relate. What is being described, rings a bell. We must be able to identify with the characters and their plight. A successful comic strip writer therefore must have a good insight into human relations.

Perhaps one of the most successful and widely-appreciated comic strips is Blondie, which has run in many newspapers for decades. Dagwood's sincerity and silliness are artfully combined to give an amusing profile of the “average” man. He reflects the failures which we all experience (especially at work with Mr. Dithers), but also shows the wide-eyed perseverance which is required in life. His wife, Blondie, is smart(er) and yet loving. They have a good, though not perfect, relationship together and with their children. Most men can easily identify with many of Dagwood's daily frustrations: door-to-door salesmen, lack of appreciation at work, inability to get up in the morning, reluctance to do chores around the house.

There are other such comic strips which depict family life in a kind and endearing manner without ever being nasty or mean. I think, for example, of The Family Circus, Lynn Andersen's excellent For Better or Worse, Hi and Lois, as well as Dennis the Menace and Peanuts. The last two, Dennis and Charlie Brown, deal with life especially from the viewpoint of children. Hank Ketchum's characters (Dennis the Menace and Mr. Wilson) are perhaps less complicated than those of Charles M. Schultz (Peanuts), but in both cases we can often empathize with them. Sometimes valuable lessons can be learned.

Comics that are true to life in a positive, sensitive, and uncomplicated manner are a pleasure to read.

Vulgar and Profane←⤒🔗

Unfortunately there are also in the comics section some strips which are vulgar and profane. The word “vulgar” indicates that which is rather low and coarse, lacking good taste and offensive to refined feelings. The word “profane” means that which is irreverent to God and at the same time demeaning for people. The trend of the newer comic strips is definitely in this direction.

An example of a widely-syndicated comic strip which I consider to be rather vulgar is about the Drabble family where there is simply no respect for one another. Father Drabble is a boorish brute who has no manners whatsoever, while his son Norman is a moronic dimwit who seems oblivious to the many insults coming his way every day. Give me a break.

Personally I am not a fan of the famed Garfield strip. This fat cat is selfish, smug, and cruel with no redeeming qualities. Jon, his master, is a fool to keep the beast around. Garfield is often not funny at all, but simply stupid. The “atmosphere” of the strip (the self-indulgent cat with the bedroom eyes who doesn't care about anyone else) is rather unhealthy for the development of a good personality. But perhaps I am taking Garfield more seriously than he takes himself.

Feminism and Horror←⤒🔗

Some cartoons dabble in feminism. There is the one about the single career woman Cathy who likes to be independent and yet worries constantly about her looks and dates. Does she epitomize the secret (feminist?) fear of being unloved?

In the strip Adam we get an interesting role reversal. Adam (why this name?) remains at home while his suave career-wife goes out to work. Adam is hardly able to cope with the chores of a house-husband while his wife, of course, is much more professional and aloof. This role-reversal is misleading. It may be wise to note that recent statistics (in Germany) show that marriages in which the wife works out while the husband stays at home are much more prone to fail than those in which a biblical model is followed.

There are also comics which take humour to its farthest extreme of near-horror. I think of one-liners like The Far Side and In the Bleachers. Usually the point of these cartoons, if there is one, is absurd and at times out rightly offensive.

Current trends in thinking and tastes are inevitably reflected in the comics section. This too is a medium by which we can be wrongly influenced without noticing it. Do we in our families also critically discuss this aspect of the media and seek to develop a proper taste when it comes to humour?

Comics is big business. Peanuts is reported to earn well over U.S. $1000.00 per day, aside from all other marketing revenues. Charles Shultz Creative Associates has an income of more than $ 100 million per year. It is good that a respected comic strip writer like Charles Shultz has publicly stated, “I would never cheapen the Scriptures for a laugh” (quoted in Good Grief, The Story of Charles M. Schultz).

Big business, indeed. It is good business only when it leaves God's honour intact, respects human dignity and does not cheapen life. Unfortunately not all “funnies” respect these boundaries.