It's that quiet time here at the ol' You Write the Caption blog -- that dead zone where the cartoon caption entry deadline has passed but the new winner won't be announced until Friday. This might be a good time for the You Write the Caption Community to do a little sharing -- specifically about what our favorite comic strips are. You may have noticed this has become a hot topic of conversation in our editorial page's Buzz column. Folks can use the space here to expand on their feelings if they wish.
So, to get things started, I'll start with mine. It may give you new insights in what I think is funny -- info that could either help you win, or realize you will never understand my warped sense of humor. And vice versa, of course, when you tell me yours.
No surprise to anyone, of course, is my number one pick, Garry Trudeau's 'Doonesbury':
But the strip that makes me actually laugh out loud, almost every day, is a relative new-comer on the comics scene -- Darby Conley's 'Get Fuzzy':
And I think Stephan Pastis' 'Pearls Before Swine' is genius:
And even though he's been dissed in the Observer's 'Buzz' column lately, Judge Parker is good, campy fun, especially since the artistic chores have been taken over by Eduardo Barreto!
But now it's YOUR turn! You write the survey: What are your favorite strips? Just click on the 'Comments' link below to leave your answers.
The best comics are web-exclusive content these days. The printed paper is a dying medium. I personally like xkcd.com the best.
Posted by: Authority | June 24, 2009 at 01:24 PM
I also love Get Fuzzy. That's the only strip that makes me laugh out loud. Doonesbury and its highly liberal bent wore out its welcome a long time ago. Dennis the Menace and Family Circle need to go; the kids in reality would have grown up and moved out ages ago. Not everyone finds kids' antics funny, not even a little. Most of the rest I don't read because they're just not funny. I don't know how some of these writers keep their jobs, because their material is just not funny, or even interesting. If any strip could come back from oblivion, it should be Dilbert.
While you're at it, can you do anything to remove the half page of ads attached to Sunday's comics? They don't belong there and drive me nuts every Sunday.
Posted by: Candy | June 24, 2009 at 01:48 PM
It's almost shorter to list the ones I don't like, but here goes. I enjoy Lio, Non-Sequitur, Pickles, and Zits, and of course, Doonesbury. I still enjoy FBOFW, though miss the artwork since she semi-retired. I miss seeing Curtis and a single panel comic that I can't remember the name of. The W-S Journal carries it, so I get to see it occasionally at my in-laws.
Posted by: CW | June 24, 2009 at 01:52 PM
Lio for sure, as well as a number of comics that the Observer does not have, but you can find online, or on other newspaper websites. Comics like Foxtrot (classic and the new Sundays), Calvin and Hobbes (Classics), Bloom County, and Liberty Meadows. All of those, while no longer published, are still sometimes better than some of the comics that are available now.
Read Speedbump, or Bizzaro. Both get me laughing every day. As well as reading the Phantom for the past 25 years.
But I tend to agree with the first poster. There are a lot of just online comics that are great-Kevin and Kell, GPF, or the best one, Sluggy Freelance.
Posted by: Kernunnos1367 | June 24, 2009 at 01:59 PM
Not a fan of Doonesbury at all. I still find myself missing Calvin & Hobbes.
PVP Online (pvponline.com) happens to be one of my all time favorites...
Get Fuzzy is amusing as well.
Posted by: Steven | June 24, 2009 at 01:59 PM
Doonesbury is fine only it needs to be placed in the editorial section. Asheville Citizen Times puts it there.
Posted by: Brigolf67 | June 24, 2009 at 02:15 PM
I personally thing Pearls Before Swine is the best. Getting the daily calendar is the best move there. There are very few days where it doesn't draw a good laugh, and Pastis does a great job of incorporating random things, including poking fun at his own cartoon strip and other popular ones.
Posted by: grader | June 24, 2009 at 02:26 PM
Anybody ever check out the Comics Curmudgeon? It's an often funny blog about the comics.
http://joshreads.com/
Posted by: LB | June 24, 2009 at 02:36 PM
Best: Get Fuzzy, Lio, Dilbert
Good: Baby Blues, Jump Start, Pearls, Doonesbury, FBOFW, Zits, Pickles.
Bad: Non Sequitur, Frazz, Hagar, F Minus
Should be retired to make way for next generation: B.C., Peanuts, Beetle Bailey, Dennis the Menace
Posted by: Brian | June 24, 2009 at 02:36 PM
Hands down Clavin & Hobbes.
Internet winner - xkcd
Posted by: dubs | June 24, 2009 at 02:41 PM
Favs: Zits, Judge Parker, Rex Morgan, Beetle Bailey, Frazz, Hagar, For Better or For Worse
Can't Stands: Doonesbury,Pearls, Lio, FMinus
Posted by: Don White | June 24, 2009 at 02:58 PM
I prefer Dilbert because it so accurately (and sadly) reflects US Corporate culture.
Posted by: KLB | June 24, 2009 at 03:01 PM
Calvin & Hobbes.
Always makes me want to see more through a child's perspective. And who can argue with a talking tiger?
The Boondocks.
Sociopolitical commentary at is finest.
Posted by: Tim | June 24, 2009 at 03:07 PM
Ever since Calvin & Hobbes and The Far Side stopped running comics have gone downhill. There's just no creativity nowadays. The writing has been horrible. The only ones I ever read now are Zits, Baby Blues, and Outland. Non Sequitar use to be really good too until he started those stupid stories about that annoying little girl Danae. I wish Bill Watterson would make a comeback... sigh...
Posted by: Rafael | June 24, 2009 at 03:12 PM
Peanuts will always be #1 with me.
Pickles, Get Fuzzy, Pearls before Swine, Baby Blues and Zits are must reads.
Posted by: Bill Palian | June 24, 2009 at 03:21 PM
Favorites: 1. Dilbert (social commentary - after 35 years of corporate life I still see Dilbert at work every day); 2. Doonesbury (political commentary); 3. Pickles (social reality check - we see our grandparents, parents, GASP - ourselves); 4. B.C.; 5. Li'l Abner Classics (we have met the enemy and he is us).
Posted by: Don | June 24, 2009 at 03:26 PM
A: Get Fuzzy, Pearls
A-: Dilbert, Lio, Foxtrot
B: Zits, Pickles, Non Sequiter, Baby Blues
Sometimes FBOFW puts a smile on my face, especially since I grew up at about the same age as the "Michael" character, so I related a lot to it.
I'm sure there are other great strips out there, and given the raves for xkcd in these comments I definitely need to check it out. I'm sure there are plenty of people who still read old strips like BC and Family Circus, so I can't really say they should be retired, but I don't really find them funny.
Like many of these commenters, I really miss Calvin & Hobbes. I loved it so much, I cut out the last original strip he did out of the paper and framed it. I still have it sitting on a coffee table.
Posted by: Mike | June 24, 2009 at 03:44 PM
* Calvin & Hobbes
* Dilbert
* The Far Side
* Non Sequitur
Posted by: U.N. Owen | June 24, 2009 at 03:54 PM
Get Fuzzy, Mutts
Posted by: Ed | June 24, 2009 at 04:09 PM
No wonder Kevin and I don't see eye-to-eye on his weekly challenge; I'm not impressed with his choice of comics either. To each his own.
Mine: Foxtrot, FBOFW, Calvin/Hobbes reruns, Dilbert, Baby Blues. F Minus has some good days too.
Posted by: Ken | June 24, 2009 at 04:45 PM
Wait, How could I forget Pickles!
Posted by: Ken | June 24, 2009 at 04:49 PM
First of all, a blank space on the comics page would be better than F Minus and I don`t get the big fuss about Get Fuzzy.
Dilbert is still a classic, hard hitting satire. For Better or For Worse is far better than most and doesn`t get the credit it deserves. Non Sequiter can be brilliant. Some of the golden oldies have run their course but they are still light years ahead of F Minus.
Posted by: Harry Singleton | June 24, 2009 at 05:02 PM
Pearls before Swine is brilliant, but I don't understand why people dislike F Minus and Lio so much. Also, why does the Family Circus or Blondie still exist?
Posted by: Jay Morgan | June 24, 2009 at 05:36 PM
I love Dilbert. Some of it so close to reality in the business world that it is scary. Also, I really enjoy Pearls Before Swine.
Posted by: Martin Kvasnak | June 24, 2009 at 05:41 PM
There is also User Friendly
at http://www.userfriendly.org/static/
(for the computer nerds, anyway)
Posted by: James R. Gaultney | June 24, 2009 at 05:58 PM
Faves are:
- "Pearls Before Swine" (Why don't you run the Sunday version of the strip?)
- "Dilbert"
- "Pickles"
- "Non-Sequiter" on non-Danae days
"Frazz" has grown on me, "Get Fuzzy" is funny about 20% of the time, and "Lio" is the same joke everyday (the kid is a freak, we get it, move on).
Posted by: Jay | June 24, 2009 at 06:04 PM
All the folks who don't like Doonesbury are probably too busy making indignant calls to AM talk radio stations whining about the stuff conservatives always whine about to actually read it because, day-in, day-out, it's still the funniest, most clever and most topical cartoon out there. Trudeau is still on top of his game politically and culturally, and he's done great work in terms of drawing attention to the plight of our nation's injured veterans in a way that's at once compassionate, not pandering, and gently humorous. As a veteran myself, I applaud him for that. He's simply the best out there, still. He GETS it; always has.
Other favorites: Dilbert, Pickles, Zits, F-Minus, Pearls Before Swine, and Non Sequitur (another one the conservatives seem to hate because it dares to skewer so many of their sacred cows). Also enjoy the two serials, Rex Morgan and Judge Parker. Wouldn't mind seeing some more of those.
One question: what is Frazz still doing in there? Has it ever been remotely funny? And isn't it time for the two recycled, re-run strips - Peanuts and For Better Or For Worse - to finally be retired in favor of some NEW material? Please?
Posted by: Freddy | June 24, 2009 at 06:40 PM
Get Fuzzy is funny, in a stupid-funny way, but sometimes too hard to read-- it takes away from the fun. I love DOONESBURY and DILBERT, but also ZITS (it's like someone has been watching my teenager!!) and I really like FRAZZ. Contrary to what some "buzzers" think, I also like Lio and F-Minus. I read all the Observer comics. but Dilbert, Doonesbury, Zits & Frazz are the best.
Posted by: Jena | June 24, 2009 at 06:53 PM
Oh, and Peanuts is SO not funny. It's about a clinically depressed boy and the peers who bully/make fun of him. Pickles is also funny.
Posted by: Jena | June 24, 2009 at 06:55 PM
XKCD. it's a web only comic stip at www.xkcd.com It's better than any strip run in any newspaper today.
Posted by: Ed | June 24, 2009 at 06:56 PM
Dilbert, Pearls, Lio, Non Sequiter, and sometimes Doonesbury.
Far Side and Calvin & Hobbes were far better than anything else still published.
I don't bother reading Cathy, Get Fuzzy or F Minus. Way too predictable, and not at all funny.
Posted by: pack73 | June 24, 2009 at 07:10 PM
My favs in rank:
#1. foxtrot
#2. get fuzzy
#3. dilbert
#4. baby blues
#5. zits
#6. pickles
Posted by: Nojokeve | June 24, 2009 at 07:22 PM
Dilbert - how true it is !!
Posted by: Jackie | June 24, 2009 at 07:27 PM
Don,
"We have met the enemy and he is us." is actually from 'Pogo', another great classic.
Posted by: Kevin Siers | June 24, 2009 at 08:03 PM
Faves-Boondocks, Foxtrot, Doonesbury, Dilbert, Pickles, Zits
Posted by: John | June 24, 2009 at 08:40 PM
All mentioned are good, but I'll always miss The Far Side and Calvin and Hobbs.
Posted by: Rita | June 24, 2009 at 08:50 PM
Doonesbury is the Patriarch of the active comics family, and is typically brilliant, even with it's Profound leftward bias. Dilbert is probably the Best of Show, and it's stunning that Corporate America is still so predictably, consistently foolish after 35 years of having it broadcast so publicly. I like most comics, esp Pearls, Jump Start, and the clever, clever Frazz. On-line readers with patience for developing stories will fall in love with Pibgorn, Barkeater Lake, and the mysterious, comic, sexy, and intensely intriguing Wapsi Square.
Posted by: SJ | June 24, 2009 at 09:03 PM
For Better or Worse (old & new-the old ones are new to me)
Zits
Pickles
Of course, Blondie, which I have been reading since 1955
Posted by: Betsy | June 24, 2009 at 09:26 PM
Am fond of: Bloom County, For Better or For Worse, Calvin and Hobbes, Foxtrot. Oh, and Far Side.
Have never liked Doonesbury as I find it condescending, soap-boxy and pompous.
Posted by: GKM | June 24, 2009 at 09:28 PM
Best: Zits, Pickles, Doonesbury, Dilbert, Baby Blues, Pearls
Overrated: Get Fuzzy, Non Sequitur
Still waiting to be funny: Lio, Foxtrot
Why are they taking up space?: Cathy, Dennis the Menace, Beetle Bailey, Lockhorns, BC, Hagar
Okay, not funny but I still read them for some reason: Peanuts, Blondie, Frazz
Best comic of all time: Calvin and Hobbes
Posted by: Mike | June 24, 2009 at 09:53 PM
Favorites: Zits, Jump Start, Foxtrot, For Better or For Worse, Frazz, Lio
Also like: Pickles, Dilbert, Baby Blues, F Minus
Always read Doonesbury, Judge Parker, Rex Morgan. Usually read most of the strips
Wish the Observer would carry Sally Forth.
Also pretty tired of BC and Beetle Bailey
Posted by: Joan Jones | June 24, 2009 at 09:59 PM
F Minus is brilliant in the simplicity of both the art and words. It took a few weeks to appreciate it, but I now go to it first each day.
Rex Morgan and Judge Parker, because they provide enjoyment of an ongoing story line, albeit at a plodding pace sometimes. I've been out of town for ten days with no internet, and June's still wearing the bikini (has it been 3 weeks already?). . .
Dilbert keeps churning the same material over, but in different flavors. Yet, it will continue to be funny as long as it continues to be true.
Posted by: Don | June 24, 2009 at 10:14 PM
Calvin and Hobbes is the all-time greatest. Humor and perspective at its best. The Far Side was another all time great. Too bad both retired in thier prime. These days my favorite would have to be Get Fuzzy and Foxtrot.
Posted by: Steve | June 25, 2009 at 12:18 AM
Here are two that I have sent to me by email every day because they are not in the Observer. Shoe by Gary Brookins and Tank Mcnamara by Brooks & Hinds. Check them out, they are both satirical, one has a newspaper theme the other sports themed.
Posted by: Art Rouse | June 25, 2009 at 06:10 AM
Snuffy Smith when he was drinking and Andy Capp when he was beating his wife.
Posted by: HL | June 25, 2009 at 07:38 AM
The best comics the Observer doesn't carry.
I love Funky Winkerbean because as a HS teacher and someone who has hit middle age, I totally relate to what is going on. I go online to the Seattle Post Intelligencer website to get my daily fix.
The Far Side is the best all-time single panel comic. I still post classics in my classroom.
Bloom County was 20 times the strip Doonesbury is. The beauty of Berkley Breathed is that he gladly skewered liberals and conservatives. Opus and Bill were the bomb.
Posted by: Bobby Padgett | June 25, 2009 at 08:21 AM
I didn't know anybody actually read Judge Parker.
I still miss Tank McNamara and Funky Winkerbean in the Observer, but fortunately I can still catch those on the net. Dennis the Menace and Family Circus have been recycling the same gags for decades. It's past time to retire them.
I used to think Dilbert was really unrealistic until I started my current job.
My favorites: Zits, Pickles, Dilbert, Doonesbury, Get Fuzzy, Blondie
The worst: Lio, Non Sequitor, F Minus
Never look at: Rex Morgan, Judge Parker
Posted by: Pirate1974 | June 25, 2009 at 08:44 AM
Kevin,
You must MUST read Deflocked. My folks get it in their paper over in Raleigh, and we're all hooked. It's the funniest strip I've read since my fave - C&H retired. You can't help but love a hopelessly cranky ignorant sheep!
Posted by: Evan | June 26, 2009 at 05:51 PM
Speedbump, Pickles, Pearls Before Swine,
Non Sequitur, Doonesbury, Red Meat (on line.
1st choice: a tie;Pickles, Pearls Before Swine & Pickles.
/ffocsv
Posted by: Frank Foley | June 26, 2009 at 09:12 PM
Judge Parker is a long-time favortie in the Observer. I wish the paper still had it in the Sunday comics.
All the haters of comics like Judge Parker, can stop hatin'.
And, totally agree, Eduardo Barreto has done a great job with updating the Judge.
Posted by: Jeff | June 28, 2009 at 12:40 AM
Good morning. You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.
I am from Liberia and also am speaking English, please tell me right I wrote the following sentence: "If a blood has a temporary cell for layer it will manufacture across monks because it will use itself in the shampoo not if it is evolved from not one example."
Thank :D Miranda.
Posted by: Miranda | September 05, 2009 at 05:23 AM