Who’s to say what’s funny?
Regarding Alex Chun’s piece [“Comic Strips’ Plight Isn’t Funny,” April 27]:
Today’s comics are clearly designed for adults, young and older. They are no longer the “funnies” of times past. A simple test will prove this: Read the comic strips in any newspaper to any kid of 10 or less and try to get that kid to laugh, smile or even snicker at the content. Don’t be surprised at the silent response. Comics today are dominated by satiric commentary on items of adult interest.
Calling a series of political satirical comments in cartoon form “comics” and then expecting kids to enjoy the subject matter just perpetuates the myth, fallacy and inherent problem of comics.
Don’t try to get kids to read them. Better to change the name “comics” to “graphic commentaries” and put them in the political pages.
SAM MCCARVER
San Juan Capistrano
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Wiley Miller complains about dead cartoon strips. His comic “Non Sequitur” stinks. It’s dark, not funny and boring. I learn nothing from his five panels of nonsense, nor do I try.
So if I read “Blondie” or “Peanuts” and get a few laughs, I am getting what I want. He has to learn to write what the customer wants or find a new job. Miller sounds like a crybaby.
BOYD ZUMWALT
Commerce
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As a Times reader since the 1930s, I’ve watched the slow demise of the “funnies” over the last 20 to 30 years. Most of them are not “funny” anymore. Instead, they have sunk to cynicism (“Boondocks”), stupidity (“Brewster Rockit: Space Guy,” “Ballard Street”) and politics, which we get enough of in the rest of the paper.
Why can’t the comics serve to restore old-time American values and good humor, be uplifting and help start the day out right? Instead, the “new-blood” strips are often offensive and demeaning (“La Cucaracha,” “Candorville”). Thanks to “For Better or for Worse,” “Zits,” “Baby Blues,” “Jump Start” and few others, I haven’t canceled my subscription yet.
Very few are worthy enough to sit down on a Sunday morning to read with one’s children and grandchildren, which was a tradition in the “olden days.”
EVAMARIE LANNING
Oceanside
Editor’s note: Calendar runs comics for kids in “The Kids’ Reading Room” on Mondays through Fridays and by themselves on Saturdays. On Sunday, kid-friendly comics are located in Comics I.
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I hadn’t read the comic page in years until I came upon “9 Chickweed Lane” by Brooke McEldowney, which has a visual and verbal style with wit and substance sorely missing in comics today.
He should have been invited to sit on the Sunday Funnies panel instead of Cathy Guisewite, whose “Cathy” exemplifies the worst in visual style that I can think of. Ouch!
I could say the same for “Drabble,” “Foxtrot,” “Baby Blues” and “Mallard Fillmore” (a right-wing Daffy Duck?! ugh.).
You can’t beat “Doonesbury,” either.
BOB BELAND
Mar Vista
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You’re gutsy to run an article on comic strips. Get rid of the so-called legacy strips so the new guys have a chance.
I believe the only reason “Peanuts” continues is that there is a lot of commercial life left in selling items representing the strip.
When I realized that “Over the Hedge” was still around, I went ballistic.
You canceled one of the best new strips ever. I have driven around the country and found many new funny and thoughtful comics. It shows that you need a new advisory panel.
WORTH BLANEY
Palm Desert