Bonding

November 3, 1967

This feels like entrapment. When police go undercover, it's usually just, like, a hoodie or something that makes them look normal. This is a full-on disguise of Barbara Bush(?) being used to tempt speeders to pull over and be given a ticket. On the plus side, he has no proof Brutus was speeding and the ticket will probably be thrown out if Brutus decides to go to court.

ACAB since at least 1965.

Aw. An actual sweet moment between Brutus and Mother Gargle. I hate it.

I don't like when players keep moving the mouthguard in and out of their mouths. Keep it in or take it out. Stop being gross.

Season Opener

Winsor McCay was a pioneer in both animation and comic strips, creating the beloved Little Nemo In Slumberland which lasted 11 years from 1905 to 1914 and 1924 to 1926, but his longest-running comic was Dreams of the Rarebit Fiend which lasted 1904 to 1913 and, as Rarebit Reveries, from 1923 to 1925 and featured different people having nightmares because they ate rabbit. You can see a small collection of Rarebit Fiend and a sample of McKay's first popular comic Little Sammy Sneeze here.

October 10, 1967

I agree. Those signs should either already be up or installed while the library is closed. This guy doesn't even look like he works for the library.

And there's another game on, with all that other crap, after this one! Yay, sportsball!

My mom would watch sports and whenever we'd go to my Grandma's, my uncle would dominate the TV with his sports. The fact that I was around sports so much as a kid yet never got into them I think definitely says more about sports than it does me.

Christmas Eve Eve Quickies

from the Topeka Capital-Journal

I don't have an opinion on this. I live just far enough away that the economic impact probably won't be felt and while I don't agree with taxpayers footing the bill for 70% of the cost of the stadium, I understand how big of a boon this will be for Wyandotte and Johnson counties. I'm just going to love seeing how much more of a clusterfuck K-10, I-435, and I-70 will become because they are already absolutely terrible to drive on.

The pulled 60 Minutes segment on CECOT and the Trump administration sending deportees there can be viewed here.

February 7, 1967

What are the odds the ball would land in Brutus' bowl of corn flakes? Pretty good if you're The Born Loser.

Brutus strikes me as a 2X man so I guess, Double extra lard.

I'm glad Brutus acknowledged he only wears red sweaters and has a closet full of them.

Are you ready for some football?

One Yard Line

The third month of Art and Chip Sansom's short-lived comic strip Dusty Chaps was published yesterday. The antics at the dude ranch, Dusty Chaps, continue with J.J. Jennings, Ernest McDuff, and about five other regular characters who are yet to be named, somehow. Except for Sally and...Chuck Wagon(?).

Anyway, if you like what you see and would like to support me or this website, you can click the Support link at the top of the page.

August 23, 1987

Thankfully those were the receipts that proved the Acme account was just a money laundering scheme for prostitutes and he's just sleepily talking about making copies. Wait! That's why Veeblefester keeps him around! Brutus is so inept he can "accidentally" get rid of harmful evidence that could bring down the company.

And you know that will be the play of the day on SportsCenter and tonight's news. You can't escape it, Brutus. Might as well just turn off the TV.

Although the score is tied. Is there enough time for the other team to score or will we be going into overtime (that Brutus' team will likely lose in)? Did the quarterback even lose the ball? Why do I even care? It's a fictional football game and I don't even care about real football games. Brutus should just expect his team to always lose.

The Best Defense Is a Good Offense...

June 7, 1987

Careful, Brutus. Don't upset Veeblefester. He'll take it out on all of us and ultimately declare war on Chicago.

Veeblefester came over to play chess? Is this a play date? That's cute.

Am I going to have to get into sports to continue reading this comic? I swear to God...

There's only a finite number of positions on the team. The odds of having the same position as your father is 1/11. What does Wilberforce do when his team is playing defense?

Read about Capt. Kid becoming a drum major and getting his ass handed to him. If you would like to support me or this website, head to the link at the top of the page.

Can I Get Peanuts and Crackerjack At a Football Game?

October 18, 1966

This insurance agent looks like he might die soon. But he probably has insurance.

Brutus dies within the next week. It's clearly murder. "I wonder who did it," the police ask. "Brutus was loudly threatened with death by an insurance salesman last week." "Hmm. I guess this case will remain...unsolved."

Someone could probably rewrite "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" to fit football. We should also play "Baby Elephant Walk" at football games more. Creating or rewriting songs to be about football is probably cheaper than paying for the rights to actual songs.

Scrolling Through Old Sports Comics

October 17, 1966

Did...Did this guy just accidentally blow his brains out? I mean, I guess he's still standing there and maybe he looks burned(?), but that's clearly a gun and NOT a cigarette lighter. I'm glad Veeblefester finds it so funny. What does he care, it's another head for his wall. Not that there's a lot of head probably left under that bad scan.

The elephant foot trashcan? (ottoman?) makes me physically ill.

Hmm. Now I know where Gladys and Wilberforce get it...

"This is the middle of the third quarter." Ok. That doesn't answer my question at all.

Hey, wait a minute...  2014       2025  Wilberforce already knew hockey had three quarters and two halftimes.

Lovin' a New Oven

October 15, 1966

Why is she being ruled ineligible? Is it because she's a girl? I think you could fight that. I know Title IX isn't going to be a thing for six more years, but I think Mary Josephine has a case.

Does she have two names to underscore the facts she's a girl to the readers. "Mary" wasn't quite enough?

You painted the kitchen earlier this year. You were going to get new countertops just last month. Now a new oven? What's going on with the Thornapple kitchen?

Super Bowl Licks

Folks, it is time for me to take one of my week-long breaks to get caught up on writing, do some house maintenance, and make plans for new future posts. Before I go I have today's Sunday comics for you and a link to yesterday's post on Agnes Lawrence. Be good to each other, unless they are a Nazi supporter. You know what I'm talking about. There's only one political party current degrading several groups of people and allowing an unelected, unvetted by Congress South African immigrant to go through private government records. Contact your Congresspeople and check in on your minority friends and neighbors. It's a coup! If you would like to support me or this website, you can buy me a cup of coffee over on Ko-fi.

September 28, 1986

Brutus gave up way too easily. Time to call Leonard Birdshot, the tailor, back and say you are not going to pay.

Leonard is probably wearing the blazer as we speak...

Why is she saying this like she's never watched the Super Bowl before? Because she has and apparently first started watching it back in 2019 (apologies for the Arjon story). Commercials are all Gladys has ever wanted to watch. I looked back and found that Brutus is not a fan of the commercials and just watches for the game.

I can't imagine watching a sports ball games with someone that records and is constantly going back, forward, and pausing to offer their own opinion on what's going on.

Quarterback Quandary

August 10, 1986

I like how weird these Born Loser strips are. Who left that box there? Who wrapped it? It could've been much worse. Brutus could've fallen into the box and disappeared, or a monster could've popped out and eaten him. Not a loser in this strip...

I vaguely know the rules of football but it took a couple reads for me to realize "Oh! It was the fourth down. That's bad."

Brutus should know better to think his team is actually going to win.

I know the holidays are mostly over but can still read Christmas on Marrow-Bone Ridge where Danny Dugen and Genie Magoon attempt to give the citizens of Marrow-Bone Ridge a special Christmas. If you would like to support me or this website, you can buy me a cup of coffee on Ko-fi.

There's Goes Saturday Night

I stopped posting here back in August because I was going through a lot of stuff at the time. It's been quite a three months for me. Aside from going back to work and helping a friend after the death of her younger brother, my mom got really sick and was in the hospital for almost a month before passing away. For some reason, I just didn't feel like writing or really doing anything. I was able to come to a stopping point for most of what I was writing at the time and haven't started back up. I haven't even been able to do any research. I even went to a cemetery last weekend to see if I could get any inspiration and all I got was a panic attack, which are new fun things I've been getting lately.

I was able to eke out a Harry Anderson post which I enjoyed doing and I still post occasionally on Threads and Bluesky. I was getting excited for Kamala Harris becoming president. It was one thing my Mom regretted not being here for. She really wanted to vote for Harris and keep Trump from the White House. I guess it's good she wasn't here to witness this loss and another Trump administration. I feel better about getting back to writing. I've been working on outlines and slowly getting back into getting some words out. Also, yesterday, I shut down my Twitter. There's no reason to be on it anymore.

I have a few things in the pipeline to post here over the next couple months and a couple of planned posts alongside the usual Born Loser stuff. I hope to have 1966 comics for 2025 and I have a couple of surprises as well. If you wish to support me or this website, you can buy me a cup of coffee over on Ko-fi. You can also just follow me on the aforementioned Threads and Bluesky. Thanks for reading.

You better watch what the next words out of your mouth are, Brutus. As a proud graduate of Catfish Hill Community College (Go Spartans!!), I am very protective of my whiskered swimmers.

I wonder if Chip realizes that game would go well with the Cooking Channel. Catfish (yum!) versus Liver (your mileage may vary).

Inside Wilberforce Thornapple

October 7, 1965

I blame his arms. Look at those things...

Are you really alone with your thoughts when you are a comic strip character read by hundreds of people every day? I mean, he's even talking to us...

Hair

September 29, 1965

"Does that count?" he turns to the referees. "No? Dang it."

Lester's career is probably over considering it looks like he's barely wearing any protection.

I can think of what the Thornapples can cut in order to save about $30 a month. Brutus' haircut. At this point, you can just take care of your hair yourself.

Brutus Is Just Trying to Get Medicinal Marijuana

September 2, 1965

Tom Landry, watch out!!

These days we know the blind side as a 2009 movie starring Sandra Bullock as someone who would be a terrible person, but the actual blind side is where a right-handed quarterback can't see if anything is coming over his left shoulder. I would assume a left-handed quarterback would have the same blind side just on his right side. I'm guessing this is funny because Not Tom Landy was hit by the door in his blind side.

So Brutus is going to see a divorce lawyer? Or...a hitman? I'd go the hitman route first.

Ladies, Don't Debase Yourself for Chocolate...With Brutus

November 17, 1973

He's probably going to take you to the Cleveland Boondock Steakhouse. Or just bring home some flowers. Hell, he may even break out the painted turtles like he did with your birthday.

Was Arnie the only person who chose Kansas City to win and everyone else picked Philadelphia? Or was it like a bracket situation or whatever? Some guy comes to you in September: "Here. Pick who you think will win the Super Bowl and give me $20."

I'm gonna give Wilberforce the same advice I've been giving my students: Why do you need to be with anyone? Be your own valentine. Love yourself before finding someone to love you. Sure, relationships can be great but they are not the end all, be all of existence.

At least with telling a non-living comic strip character this, they can't make fun of my pants or my hair after I finish talking to them.

Footballin'

October 22, 1974

Have you ever watched a TV show and noticed that one of the main characters (one credited in the opening credits) isn't in one of the episodes. I feel it happens a lot more now than in the past. I often try to figure out why they aren't in that episode. Did the episode just not warrant it, did the actor refuse to be in it or were they doing something else? Anyway, I miss the main cast and am not really a fan of this drunk crab.

Gladys should know by now that you watch football to watch football. It doesn't matter of it's pro or college. You just want to watch some men get a ball to one end of the field and slam into each other. And you want to spend Thursday through Monday doing it. The way God intended.

Every Season Is Weasel Season

February 19, 1975

$600! That is an expensive surgery! And this is in 1975 dollars!

I don't know what Brutus needs surgery for. I'm just going to believe he has a hernia. Not a hernia from doing any physical labor or anything but from something like bending wrong or sneezing.

Yeah, yeah. We get it. Wilberforce is bad at sports. I can't even tell if he even likes sports. He must or I guess he wouldn't join sports teams.

Aren't the Weasels the baseball team? I guess it can be both.

Quarterback Sack

I love how Brutus is so uninterested in his son's football games. He never goes to them. He can barely muster enthusiasm when Wilberforce says he completed all twelve passes. I guess it's that thing where when the quarterback is really good you're like "What a player! He's the MVP! Couldn't have done it without him." but when he has a bad game you're like "All the QB can do is get it there. The other teammates have their share, too."

"Did Wilbur...jump overboard?"

"No, ma'am, it's worse than that. He fell overboard while reenacting Leonardo DiCaprio's 'I'm king of the world' scene from Titanic."

"Oh...so do we have to go back for him?"

It's Not Like His Team Will Win Anyway

You could have pie after the game. Is there some rule that says you have to have dinner and dessert together. Wait an hour or so. Or just have your dessert while you're watching TV. No rule says you have to eat dessert at the table. It's a holiday and it's your house. You can really do whatever you want.

Happy Thanksgiving

This Is Why You Need More Than One TV

Wait-wait-wait! Hold on! That's a couch!?!!? I've been going years thinking it was a chair. I guess the green piece of furniture is a chair and the red is a couch. I don't understand the logistics of how the room is set up but I guess they are perfectly lined up so you can't see the other piece when looking directly at them from the side. Still better than Dagwood and Blondie's setup.