Chip Loved This Punchline

You may have noticed or remembered a gap in my posts a year ago. They abruptly stopped in August and resumed in November. Between that time, there was only one post. The reason for that was because my Mom got really sick and died. She actually died one year ago today. The reason I stopped posting was I just wasn't feeling. I'm doing fine. I work all day and come home and write so it's not really something that I dwell on.

Over this last year, I've learned that the part I miss most is being able to share things with her. And I'm not talking about important things, but just the stupid things. Like when a celebrity dies or talking about the new King of the Hill season. I'd see something on the news or online and think "Mom'll post about this" or "Mom'll talk to me about this" and now that doesn't happen. I'm glad she's not around to see what's going on because she hated Trump (an old-school hate from the '80s and '90s) and adamantly wanted Kamala Harris to win, and I don't need her worrying about her social security check, Medicare, or her partially federally funded housing.

Anyway, be kind and tell people you love them.

October 28, 1966

Leave the postal employees alone!!

Someday, this won't make any sense because most stamps are just stickers now. Maybe all stamps. More than likely it's all stamps because that would be weird. "Can I get the new heart stamps? No, the ones you lick. I fucking love licking stamps."

You may remember this punchline from last week. "Oh, it's a rerun" someone said in the comments. No, it's new. Notice the handwritten date. Chip purposefully made the same joke within the same week. There's no excuse for that. Chip's editor should have a talk with him.

I Hope This Leads to a Prank War

The classic comic strip, Nancy, which has been published since 1922, originally starting as Fritzi Ritz by Larry Whittington. In 1925, Ernie Bushmiller took over the strip. Bushmiller introduced Fritzi's niece Nancy in 1932 and in 1938 the strip was renamed. Since April of 2018, Olivia Jaimes (a pen name) has been creating the strip. She quietly left the strip after September 7 and 8 and retired. Jaimes last farewell strip has not been announced yet. On January 1, 2026, Caroline Cash (who did a week of guest strips back in 2024) will take over. An example of her art is to the left. We welcome our new Nancy overlord. You can read more here. You can find Nancy on GoComics here.

October 27, 1966

It's amazing how much mileage that little Dutch boy story gets in comic strips. Do kids today even know of the story of the boy that plugged a hole in a dam saving the town? I bet I could ask my students and they'd look at me like I just said "skibidi rizz".

He didn't realize his shaving cream smelled different, felt different, didn't foam, and was in a completely different can? Brutus must really have a case of the Mondays.

Deliverable

June 14, 1987

I've walked through many graveyards at night and I've never fallen into an open grave. You know why? They tend to not just leave graves open overnight. They open that thing up the morning of the funeral. Maybe things were different back in 1987.

Did Brutus fall asleep in the grave and woke up the next morning? I've never done that. *adds to bucket list*

A lot of pizza places now use the delivery apps to do their deliveries. It's cheaper to pay the app to do the job than it is to pay a person a livable wage. This is a great country we have here. No notes.

I think Uncle Ted knows how online ordering and delivery works, but thanks for stretching this daily comic joke into a full Sunday special.

ICYMI, the third installment of Chris Welkin, Planeteer posted yesterday. The sci-fi space drama with Chris, Dr. Budd, and Rocky continues! If you would like to support me or this website, you can donate here.

Season Premiere

October 26, 1966

Cool. Free random bagpipes.

I hope he wiped off the mouthpiece. Who goes around just putting random instruments in their mouth? Does that belong to someone in the house? Where are we supposed to be?

I used to be a TV fiend. I'd be all prepared for the fall, get excited about returning shows and figure out what new shows I would want to watch. As TV Guide changed format and more options on where to watch shows arrived, I kind of lost interest. All this to say, that the idea of the "return of Fall shows" is so outdated now. There's new shows all year round and dozens of streaming services you can watch. We are no longer bound by the September-May television schedule.

Chris Welkin, Planeteer #3

It's time for the third installment of Chris Welkin, Planeteer and we are now in January 1952. The fight with Mr. 7 continues and our intrepid gang are introduced to Amaiza, who creates a new form of cosmic energy that can be used to make things--including herself--disappear. Meanwhile, Mr. 7 and the Icthusians continue to be a thorn in our heroes' side.

I love all the made-up pseudo-science in this strip. The '50s were wild for that. Have you ever watched Captain Video clips from the old DuMont Network or those Commander Cody shorts that were featured in early Mystery Science Theater 3000? Just great. And I'm starting to gain an admiration for those who can write a serial comic strip three panels at a time. I don't know if I could do it or, more importantly, keep it up.

Carry the Three

October 25, 1966

People know that you can turn on lights to walk up or down the stairs, right? Then maybe you wouldn't have slipped on that ball. Why was that ball just on the stairs? Sounds like you need to talk to your kid. The lack of a railing also might be a problem.

I was never good at helping my son with his new new math homework. And that's all I have to say on the matter.

Remember when you were doing math and the answer you got was close to an answer listed as an option and you'd be so happy about that? Although to be fair, I don't think it really worked in my favor most of the time.

The third installment of Chris Welkin, Planeteer posts tomorrow. If you missed the first two, you can get caught up with #1 here and #2 here.

Soup of the Day

October 24, 1966

Fuck around and find out. You have angered the gods. What's ironic is that Brutus and Gladys were just "debating" about how it's fine for people to die of lightning as long as we get to have decent weather.

What you say/do to avoid this happening is say "And if I'm lying then may God strike me dead on this spot!" and then take a step away from where you were standing. Works every time.

I don't know how to make either and I'm not going to look it up, but wouldn't it be basically the same way? Just replace the tomatoes with broccoli? Broccoli soup is a thing. I've seen it at the store. Not my thing but someone must be buying it since they keep making it.

Are they drinking chocolate milk with their soup?

Non-Constructive

October 22, 1966

I love that Brutus is sucking his thumb and shaking. Good for him for quitting. And this was the 1960s when smoking was healthier than it is now.

Ok. He said "constructive criticism". Saying Brutus has no pluses doesn't help him be better. It's like when my old bosses would tell me "Pull up the script and read from it." Ok, but it sounds stupid and I'm not a robot. If I get the information across then what does it matter? Now I have a job where they just leave me alone for the most part and it's been great.

New Fall Scents

October 21, 1966

My grandparents had one of those old TVs from the 1960s that were the giant wooden box that sat on the floor. They had that thing until the 1990s when my uncle got a big screen TV. The big screen lasted maybe ten years before the color started going out in it. Anyway, it's cool they only have one more payment until you realize this TV is probably from the 1940s. At least it still works.

I love it when people smell like food. You smell like something I want to eat, then I'm going to eat you.

I'm going to have to save Brutus' face as a reaction image.

Monday Quickies

October 20, 1966

Those are some terrible looking push-ups.

Yeah! That'll show life! Suck it capitalism!

Is Brutus' bed just hovering in the air? Is that a new Sleep Sack invention?