Today's BOONDOCKS comic strip

[shivvy]

Did anybody see today's "Boondocks" comic strip?

Apparently The Chicago Tribune refused to run it. It made me laugh out loud.

[JSpaceman]

Ha ha, same here. F the Tribune... :p

[rocketman70]

HAHA! LMAO! Very cool. Screw the Trib-stinking right wing rag!

[bugmanchan]

I read it along with doonesbury in full colour everyday on Yahoo. That sucks, because it's true. I know the comic made me laugh out loud.

[SunshineDayStar]

I know the comic made me laugh out loud.

me too!

i work at a newspaper...and some days the ONLY thing i make sure to read in there is the boondocks.

[postfeminist]

totally awesome.

i'm printing it out to hang on my fridge and in my office. :)

[seafoamgreen]

that was awesome.

[Orville Wrong]

Very caustic; classic Aaron Magruder.

Begin cartooning nerd digression:

Weird thing about Boondocks and Magruder. I've worked on and off in the cartooning world for 10 years (publishing, not drawing), and Magruder's got a really bad rep in the biz. He doesn't actually draw anymore (Boondocks is pencilled and inked by assistants) and has snubbed and insulted his peers on various occasions, plus he has a well-earned reputation as a race-card player.

There's kind of a pattern with certain popular cartoonists, so maybe it's a function of envy. Cartoonists despise Ted Rall almost as much as conservatives do (HE CAN'T DRAW! and he has sued other cartoonists and he had the gall to insult Art Spiegelman -- which is simply not done).

Berk Breathed has burned up most of the credibility he earned with Bloom County on two successive turds -- Outland and Opus -- which have been met with some of the cruelest criticism I've ever read.

Other scorned cartoonists: Jim Davis, Cathy Guisewhite, and Johnny Hart (BC's Christian touches are bad news in art circles).

This concludes cartooning nerd digression.

[SunshineDayStar]

here's today's comic:
http://images.ucomics.com/comics/bo/2005/bo050301.gif

[akip]

i'm laughing but it still hurts.

[poopsicle]

they are despised because they are SUCCESSFUL. In any artistic community, the truly talented are always attacked by others who wish they had what they don't.

Very caustic; classic Aaron Magruder.

Begin cartooning nerd digression:

Weird thing about Boondocks and Magruder. I've worked on and off in the cartooning world for 10 years (publishing, not drawing), and Magruder's got a really bad rep in the biz. He doesn't actually draw anymore (Boondocks is pencilled and inked by assistants) and has snubbed and insulted his peers on various occasions, plus he has a well-earned reputation as a race-card player.

There's kind of a pattern with certain popular cartoonists, so maybe it's a function of envy. Cartoonists despise Ted Rall almost as much as conservatives do (HE CAN'T DRAW! and he has sued other cartoonists and he had the gall to insult Art Spiegelman -- which is simply not done).

Berk Breathed has burned up most of the credibility he earned with Bloom County on two successive turds -- Outland and Opus -- which have been met with some of the cruelest criticism I've ever read.

Other scorned cartoonists: Jim Davis, Cathy Guisewhite, and Johnny Hart (BC's Christian touches are bad news in art circles).

This concludes cartooning nerd digression.

[Sushi]

That's beautiful.

Unfortunately, the Plain Dealer no longer runs Boondocks (those losers).

[postfeminist]

i heard that mcgruder was a good public speaker and fun to hang out w/ after the seacking engagement... and that he's really short.

[SunshineDayStar]

That's beautiful.

Unfortunately, the Plain Dealer no longer runs Boondocks (those losers).


the chronicle telegram does! :D

[akip]

Very caustic; classic Aaron Magruder.

Begin cartooning nerd digression:

Weird thing about Boondocks and Magruder. I've worked on and off in the cartooning world for 10 years (publishing, not drawing), and Magruder's got a really bad rep in the biz. He doesn't actually draw anymore (Boondocks is pencilled and inked by assistants) and has snubbed and insulted his peers on various occasions, plus he has a well-earned reputation as a race-card player.

There's kind of a pattern with certain popular cartoonists, so maybe it's a function of envy. Cartoonists despise Ted Rall almost as much as conservatives do (HE CAN'T DRAW! and he has sued other cartoonists and he had the gall to insult Art Spiegelman -- which is simply not done).

Berk Breathed has burned up most of the credibility he earned with Bloom County on two successive turds -- Outland and Opus -- which have been met with some of the cruelest criticism I've ever read.

Other scorned cartoonists: Jim Davis, Cathy Guisewhite, and Johnny Hart (BC's Christian touches are bad news in art circles).

This concludes cartooning nerd digression.

not to knock mr. wrong, just a response 'cause i hear these narratives in the fine art world too. they're classic.

sometimes exceptionally talented people aren't very nice. but it doesn't mean they aren't talented and don't deserve to be successful.

a lot of artists use assistants for various phases of execution, but come back in for refinement. if the assistants could come up with the ideas and bring the work in down to the final detail, as well as deal with all the pressures of a career in the limelight, they'd be famous too. it's the vision/drive thing.

my husband's worked with a few real assholes who have been childish, ungrateful, and downright beastly to him at times. he's had a few years knocked off the end of his life in the process. but he's always recognized the product as separate from the neurotic acting-out and would never have passed up the chance to make those projects happen. the two worst perpetrators created perhaps the two finest moments on my husband's resume.

but thanks for the tidbits! i love creative world gossip.

[SenorCardgage]

I loved Sunday's for some reason... :D :D
http://images.ucomics.com/comics/bo/2005/bo050227.gif

[tobedawg]

I love me some "Boondocks"! One of the things that I look forward to most in the SF Chronicle!

[Handy Smurf]

honestly, sometimes I thought McGruders comics were somewhat ridiculous, but I'm probably the last person who would ever claim to be offended by a comic strip. As far as style is concerned, I loved the art-beats the crap out of Hi and Lois and the like. On a whole, it was definitely one of the funniest strips the lamoid Enquirer has carried in years. Its funny how conservatives like to rip on libs for being too sensitive and too PC, yet they get a cartoon railroaded out of the local funnies.
Doonesbury is still one of my favorites. The one a week ago Sunday making fun of MTV cribs really tickled me.

[Johnnylama]

HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

How can they not run that? It's all common knowledge. The coke story is years old and the other is current news.

[slow-dog]

they are despised because they are SUCCESSFUL. In any artistic community, the truly talented are always attacked by others who wish they had what they don't.

Are you really calling the creators of Cathy and Garfield talented?

[poopsicle]

They are obviously talented enough to garner the love and devotion of millions of readers across the globe. Can you say the same?

I'm not the biggest fan of Cathy and/or Garfield, but I'm certainly not going to hate on them. They've accomplished lots more than I, so I've got to give them props.

Are you really calling the creators of Cathy and Garfield talented?

[Handy Smurf]

I don't have to give someone props just because they are financially successful. There are plenty of athletes, actors, musicians, writers, cartoonists, businesspeople, etc. who I think are pretentious douchebags and are certainly not garnering any "props" from me

[postfeminist]

I don't have to give someone props just because they are financially successful. There are plenty of athletes, actors, musicians, writers, cartoonists, businesspeople, etc. who I think are pretentious douchebags and are certainly not garnering any "props" from me

word up to that...

[poopsicle]

Hmmm. Can't see anywhere where I said anything about being financially succesful. I just stated that they were obviously talented enough to garner the devotion of a huge number of fans. That doesn't even mean I have to like them personally, which I don't. However, I'm certainly not dishonest to myself in saying that they're not talented.

I don't have to give someone props just because they are financially successful. There are plenty of athletes, actors, musicians, writers, cartoonists, businesspeople, etc. who I think are pretentious douchebags and are certainly not garnering any "props" from me

[CablinasianRam]

Yep, that cartoon is going on my dorm room door.

[Handy Smurf]

Hmmm. Can't see anywhere where I said anything about being financially succesful. I just stated that they were obviously talented enough to garner the devotion of a huge number of fans. That doesn't even mean I have to like them personally, which I don't. However, I'm certainly not dishonest to myself in saying that they're not talented.
They are obviously talented enough to garner the love and devotion of millions of readers across the globe. Can you say the same?
-I equate the money to "talented enough...millions of readers"
-lots of people are famous and have made lots of money thru their successes
-lots of people who arent famous(comedians, actors, actresses, writers, musicians, etc.) and dont have money are more talented at whatever it is they do than some of the famous hacks out there
-I equate them this way because I'm not going to give in to the A+B=C equation that they're rich, they're famous, they must be talented.
-I personally think the artwork in Cathy is godawful and its not funny. I personally think that if it wasn't for people under 7 and over 70, people would have no idea who Jim Davis is
-Even if I didnt like Boondocks or Opus, I would be able to admit that McGruder and Breathed, respectively, are excellent artists--a friend of mine who normally doesn't like Doonesbury readily admits that Trudeau is both smart and funny and has laughed at strips I've shown him before

[justa bill]

I'm still laughing about those... I like the 'Joe Blow and Petey Crack' one. I think it's pretty cool that it's out, but hasn't eveyone known about Bush's partying for years?

I don't think he's ever denied it... he just wouldn't talk about it, which makes it pretty obvious, I guess.

yesterday, I saw a story about the Wead guy, and how he's a motivational speaker for christians, but now since he released those tapes none of his christian friends will talk to him. such a weird story... :]

[poopsicle]

I could care less about the monetary equasion. They are talented because they are able to successfully connect with a group out there. It doesn't have to be your cup of tea, or mine (which I think I've made clear that I'm no Garfield or Cathy fan).

And we can certainly think what we want. But in the end, declaring one who obviously appeals to a large group of people "untalented" just comes across as useless hatin' to me.

-I equate the money to "talented enough...millions of readers"
-lots of people are famous and have made lots of money thru their successes
-lots of people who arent famous(comedians, actors, actresses, writers, musicians, etc.) and dont have money are more talented at whatever it is they do than some of the famous hacks out there
-I equate them this way because I'm not going to give in to the A+B=C equation that they're rich, they're famous, they must be talented.
-I personally think the artwork in Cathy is godawful and its not funny. I personally think that if it wasn't for people under 7 and over 70, people would have no idea who Jim Davis is
-Even if I didnt like Boondocks or Opus, I would be able to admit that McGruder and Breathed, respectively, are excellent artists--a friend of mine who normally doesn't like Doonesbury readily admits that Trudeau is both smart and funny and has laughed at strips I've shown him before

[slow-dog]

They are obviously talented enough to garner the love and devotion of millions of readers across the globe. Can you say the same?

I look forward to your future paeans to the talents of [insert random Top 40 band here]. ;)

But, to show that I'm not all snark, no bite, I don't generally equate talent with commercial success. Most people here would probably say the same thing. Otherwise, they'd be listening to some other station. I'll go further, and say that I think I'm more willing than some here to entertain the notion that there's something about songs that make them popular, and that we can't immediately dismiss popular tastes simply because they're popular.

But if you're saying Cathy is a product of talent, then lets just leave it that you and I have wildly different definitions of talent.

[bugmanchan]

I definitely think it takes talent, maybe not artistic talent, but marketing genius to get millions of people to buy into the tripe that's being sold in all medias/mediums. Be it garfield or 95% of all Television Music and Movies. Not to mention the Art World, Dale Chihuly glass anybody? It's not about the artistic value, but the means to fool people into believing it's artistic or at very least buying it.

[postfeminist]

BTW - Boondocks blows.

oh shit, them's fightin' words...

[akip]

in cartooning, it's all about having a highly distinctive, identifiable style (and solid punchlines, of course). it's also very, very difficult to break in 'cause there just aren't many high-profile venues for cartoons. it's really a handful of people.

my father was an amateur cartoonist. he was very witty and had some great ideas, but he couldn't break in 'cause his style was quite there yet. at least that's what new yorker editor who rejected his stuff said in a nice, encouraging letter. maybe if my dad had worked more consistently, he could've developed it and crystallized it. but it's a longshot. you really have to be able to churn that stuff out day after day, week after week.

[classicgrrl]

Cartoons up on my bulletin board:

Dilbert
Cathy
Garfield
Unknown

I liked Garfield when I was a little kid. I've always liked Cathy. Not necessarily for the drawings but for the writing.

To this day I still love Dilbert, Doonesbary, Far Side, Boondocks, and Bloom County.

I know nothing about art and less about cartooning. And I'm keeping it that way on purpose.

And that's my useless opinion for the day.

[weezer6]

bush is one cool mofo.

[postfeminist]

i chipped a tooth today.

[markalot]

i chipped a tooth today.

I've heard that one before.

I'm really sorry about your chipped tooth. So how did you do it? I chipped mine when I was 8, sporting a brand new set of front teeth, hopped on my bike and drove right into a parked car.

[Homsar]

Are you really calling the creators of Cathy and Garfield talented?

Not Cathy, no.

Why does Agnes exist?

To bore me?

For filler?

[JSpaceman]

So how did you do it?
Please don't ask- she told me and it made me wince like a mofo. :eek:

[classicgrrl]

Not Cathy, no.

Nobody likes Cathy but me.
:(
_______________________________________________
Situation: Date
Scene: Sitting on couch
Dude: "I work hard, play rough, invest in long-term growth stocks and pre-rumpled khaki leisure wear."
Dude: "I can quote U2, sing Springsteen, do the Achy-Breaky, ruin windows, lift my weight, program my VCR, and weep in public!"
Dude: "I've beaten a souffle in the kitchen, a drum in the woods, my head against the wall...and now I'm ready to snuggle up with a special lady and start creating little tiny versions of myself!"
Frame: drawing of Cathy scribbling quickly on a notepad sitting next to dude on couch.
Caption: While the city sleeps, another single woman gathers material for her novel.
Dude: "You're taking notes! Incredible! Am I ON tonight, or what?!"
_______________________________________________

[SenorCardgage]

Not that I want to get in the habit of posting every day of the Boondocks, but damn do I love the grandpa...

http://images.ucomics.com/comics/bo/2005/bo050304.gif

[bjk15]

http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/uc/20050306/lbo050306.gif

now this one is interesting, funny of course, but are their unwritten rules from using images that are from business' or are they actually written. and if they are, then how does one obtain the license to do so?

[postfeminist]

ooh, that's priceless...

i miss getting a sunday paper...

[Fernie]

http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/uc/20050306/lbo050306.gif

now this one is interesting, funny of course, but are their unwritten rules from using images that are from business' or are they actually written. and if they are, then how does one obtain the license to do so?

DANG IT! I just scanned this one in to post on here.

I laughed out loud at this one!

[Handy Smurf]

I could care less about the monetary equasion. They are talented because they are able to successfully connect with a group out there. It doesn't have to be your cup of tea, or mine (which I think I've made clear that I'm no Garfield or Cathy fan).

And we can certainly think what we want. But in the end, declaring one who obviously appeals to a large group of people "untalented" just comes across as useless hatin' to me.
Then I guess because I don't like Ashlee Simpson, Paris Hilton, and Pauly Shore, I'm just a hata'-or maybe it has something to do with the fact that they suck :confused:

[Handy Smurf]

Cartoons up on my bulletin board:

Dilbert
Cathy
Garfield
Unknown

I liked Garfield when I was a little kid. I've always liked Cathy. Not necessarily for the drawings but for the writing.

To this day I still love Dilbert, Doonesbary, Far Side, Boondocks, and Bloom County.
I know nothing about art and less about cartooning. And I'm keeping it that way on purpose.

And that's my useless opinion for the day.
Those 5 are my 5 favorites of all time! :D Unfortunately, though, we still can't see eye to eye on Cathy. That might be because of our individual experiences. Isn't Cathy about a woman trying to manage a career, relationships, and homelife in modern America? The fact that I havent really read it much in years and the last time I read it regularly was as a 12 year old boy might have affected my ability to relate to it and find the humor.

edited to add: I think Agnes is a great strip, certainly wittier than Marmaduke, Dennis the Menace, Beetle Bailey, etc. Ever notice how 75% or so of the comics in the paper have been running probably 20 or more years, from Ziggy, Family Circus, Haggar the Horrible, to Blondie, Mary Worth, Garfield, and the above mentioned