Early Lunch

August 5, 1974

If Brutus didn't want her to have his lemonade, he shouldn't have offered. There's no marriage rule that says you have to share. Was all marriage humor prior to 1994 just based on hating your spouse? After 1994, the humor came from average looking husband with a really beautiful wife.

It is. Just don't expect to get a second lunch break at your normal time, Brutus.

He brought his lunch today so he is capable of not eating at the diner all the damn time. He just chooses not to.

Sacre Blue

July 25, 1974

Women talking on the phone. Amiright, men of 1974? Yap, yap, yap, all day long until your husband drags you away from the phone. Get off that phone and back into the kitchen!

"If the blue cheese has gone bad, just give it to Wilberforce. It'll be his one meal for the week."

So is the blue cheese bad or not, Brutus? We don't need social commentary.

Hope the Cook Washes His Hands

July 24, 1974

It must've been diner week during this week of July back in 1974. Calm down, sir. The more you slam your fist onto the counter and scream "FOOD!" (what kind of food would you like?) the less likely I am to actually serve you. You are disturbing the other customer.

You don't see Veeblefester slamming his fist down on the counter and screaming "FOOD!" Of course, I wouldn't think we'd even see Veeblefester in a slop shop diner. But, here we are again.

The Garglecave

July 23, 1974

That's some strong wind. People have probably died in this wind and all Brutus cares about is his hat and coffee. People died, Brutus!

I'd take that as a compliment. The Batcave is awesome.

And I'd be totally fine making fun of Brutus' mancave because based on what we've seen, Brutus' mancave is basically just a TV and chair sitting in a lonely part of the house.

Synchro-noise-city

July 22, 1974

Another case of the comic strips syncing up. Haunting melodies and incessant chitterings are practically the same thing.

Who is Mother Gargle talking to? Does she just visit to use the Thornapple's phone?

It's Fate, and It's ̶G̶r̶e̶a̶t̶ Meh

November 10, 1985

No Deuteronomy 35? At the end of Deuteronomy, it details the final blessing and death of Moses. Everybody knows that Deuteronomy 35 through 50 is where four Moseses suddenly appear--a teenager, a man in armor, a half-man/half-robot, and a more vengeful Moses--and each try to prove that they are the real Moses until, finally, the real Moses officially returns in Chapter 50.

Now let's quit talking about The Bible and focus on reverends should leave children alone. This is why people don't go to church anymore.

I'm not a big believer of fate. I believe in circumstances and coincidence, but not fate. As for Gladys controlling what Brutus does, I do believe that. I mean, she cut out all his favorite things from their grocery list. She also allows her mother to terrorize him when it really hurts him.

It's summer, so I don't have a job! If you would like to support me or my website, you can buy me a cup of coffee over on Ko-fi.

Just Get Me Some Coffee and Keep It Coming

July 20, 1974

"Damn your tornadoes and flash floods! Get back to my scantily-clad beauties!" It's weird seeing Brutus as a poon hound.

Doesn't look like he slept well at all. I'm going to blame it all on Eyes Wide Shut wackiness like what happened during Veeblefester's 2018 New Year's party. Brutus and Gladys just slept through it.

The Dust Adds Character

July 19, 1974

I do like how getting revenge for petty grievances is a standard trope in comic strips. A cartoonist gets mildly upset at something and it becomes a joke in next week's comic. I guess lots of jobs could do that. It's just funny that all cartoonists do this.

I zoomed in on the words on their overalls. I think they say CLEAN THE PLUMBER so I don't know what kind of name that is.

Mother Gargle's hair looks like it's made from dust bunnies. Hey-O! Thank you! I'm here all week!

Chip Gets Paid By the Panel

July 17, 1974

Ooo...k.

I don't know why we want to try to fix this instead of trying to monetize it. Sure, it might be dangerous but until then, think of the cash!

I completely agree with Gladys. You still need a place to live and a way to get to work--although I guess you do normally use the bus. How much money was he saving? Clearly enough for a mortgage payment, which in Ohio is, on average, about $900.

I am really bothered by what Brutus is saying being split between two panels. Really. Bothered.

Pull Over

July 15, 1974

Just wave it off, dude.

You've been following me for the last mile, watching me drive ten over the speed limit and no one died? Sounds like you guys need more to do.

I Created a Superhero Named 'Red Fish'

July 6, 1974

That's a lot of pepper. And half of it is going right up Brutus' nose.

I don't really sneeze with pepper. It has to be a lot of pepper or it really has to get up my nose. Now, taco seasoning. It doesn't matter how much or little I use, it's making me sneeze.

I like when the old strips kind of match up with the newer ones. It's extremely rare. I have a year's worth of old strips and a lot of them are nuts.

Why does she care if Brutus gets the same thing? Is it some kind of deal? Buy two of the same entrees for only $25 or something? If you want it then get it, let Brutus get whatever he wants.

Can We Not Talk About Work?

July 5, 1974

So an average-sized canoe cannot hold Gladys. I will relay this news to Michael Scott.

It's nice to see Brutus and Gladys do things as a couple. We rarely see them do anything together these days. Definitely not canoeing, or attempting to canoe.

Today the Thornapples aren't canoeing but are spending today at a natural history museum. You can just reach out and touch those bones.

Reminder that you can read my evisceration of Pinkfong & Baby Shark's Space Adventure here.

Extra Movie Theater Butter Microwave Popcorn

October 27, 1985

Brutus is way too proud of a present that it's clear Gladys has no interest in. And I don't care if Brutus spent a million dollars on that bird, now I have to give it water and food everyday plus clean it's damn cage every week. God forbid it projectile craps outside of the cage.

Pistachios? Yes, you can definitely take those off the list. Who buys pistachios every week/other week? That saves you eight bucks right there. I love pistachios, too, but geez.

If Brutus' list is that long, I can't imagine how long Gladys' list is.

If you would like to support this website, you can buy me a cup of coffee over on Ko-fi.

Chumbo

July 3, 1974

Why should I make her feel welcome? She's here all the damn time!

A rare instance where Mother Gargle is shown eating dinner but Wilberforce is nowhere to be seen.

Oh, good. And there's more Mother Gargle in today's strip.

Or you could just call him by his name and quit being an awful, hateful person. Just a suggestion.

Mustache Ride

July 2, 1974

Here's hoping they reinforced it when they rebuilt it.

I love bridges. Especially old bridges. I hate when cities, townships, counties, whatever, tear down old bridges and build yet another boring, lifeless generic slab of concrete that, let's be honest, won't last as long.

I wonder if they are catching Tom Selleck on his copaganda show masquerading as a wholesome family police drama or that reverse mortgage commercial?

My mom is a fan of Sam Elliott. Has liked him ever since seeing him in Lifeguard. She has a painting of him done by someone. She wants to be buried with it...

Your Work Is Lackadaisical Bordering on Incompetence

June 18, 1974

Are they just taking the table away or are they going to place it, and Brutus, in the alley? I've always complained that for someone who constantly has trouble with money, Brutus sure eats out a lot.

I still don't understand how Brutus even still has a job considering his work performance isn't even meeting the bare minimum of quality. Maybe Veeblefester just likes to keep someone around to abuse and he's chosen Brutus. Brutus is literally like those animals in The Flintstones who are doing some menial chore and sighing "It's a living."

No-Confidence Wednesday

June 17, 1974

Does Brutus always hide in the file cabinet or does he just hide there when someone is collecting money for something?

Poochy Dressendorfer doesn't sound like the kind of guy whose marriage will last so I wouldn't want to give money either.

Everyone cheats. Everyone steals. The world's going to Hell!

I am all for therapy, but I don't think it's really working for Brutus.

Shopping Tuesday

June 15, 1974

Did Brutus black out while he was insulting Gladys?

Also, cashiers aren't at the regular checkouts and using the self-checkouts take jobs away from real people.

Why is grocery shopping such a terrible void anymore?

Data Mining

June 14, 1974

Ha, ha! It's funny because he said to come inside for a moment and she has two suitcases.

It's fun making an innocuous comment about wanting some Pop-Tarts and then seeing ad after ad for Pop-Tarts on your Facebook or Instagram. Wait. No. Not fun. Something else...

Whirrrrrrrr

November 5, 1985

Who's this guy? Are they at the hospital? There's a nurse wandering by. Did Brutus wear a robe to the hospital? Is Brutus also a patient at this hospital? Maybe it's a smoking jacket? That doesn't make much sense either.

"...I landed in a giant pile of frogurt."

"That's good."

"The frogurt contained potassium benzoate."

Why can't Gladys get up and go see what that noise is? She wakes up the rest of the house just to complain about it. It's clearly coming from your bathroom so just haul yourself out of bed and see what it is. And dentist drills sound completely different than an electric toothbrush. And you have to assume the toothbrush is just whipping around the bathroom sink at this point.

If you would like to support my writing, research, or website, you can buy me a cup of coffee over on Ko-fi.

Saturday Quickies

June 5, 1974

Kewpie's a big dog so that's a big cat!

Wilberforce is coming for you, Big Peanut Butter. He's on to you!

Friday Catch-Up

June 3, 1974

Wait until Brutus makes it to 2023 and he ends up paying $3 a gallon for gas. Oh, 1974 Brutus, there are so many things to warn you about, but sadly, I cannot.

In 1973, Brutus appeared in some Energy Wise ads that were in newspapers. I posted a few up on my Twitter but I found a couple more during my research.

Speaking of cars! How can his car be ready? Isn't that it on the lift behind them? It needs tires.

Is this a thing that could happen? You take your car in June 4, they have to order a part which won't get there until June 6 and on June 5 your warranty expires? I feel it would still be in effect though I could see how some places might argue. I mean, this guy looks like a jerk.

Um, wow. Brutus is enjoying hearing about how Uncle Ted banged his way through the many lovely ladies of the Great Lakes Region. And what's to know if Uncle Ted still gets any.

I don't know what this "have a second cup of coffee" euphemism is, but I don't like it.

I'm around children all the time and I find Brutus' statement debatable. Brutus should be glad Veeblefester didn't just set Brutus on fire.

I was gonna say! Mother Gargle is definitely not 50, and she needs to consider raising her age because it sounds weird saying you're 50 when your daughter is clearly at least 40.

I agree with Brutus. There are far too many "celebrities" and too many ways to see them on TV for really no good reason. Follow me on Twitter for more hot celebrity takes.