1183: Why Does Brutus Set Himself Up Like That?

There is an Echo Point near me. Actually it's Echo Cliff but same general concept. The only difference is that I don't believe anyone has died from falling off of it like I'm sure someone has here at Echo Point.

A fence. Guard rails. Anything!

1182: Comic Books Are Here To Stay

courtesy alternateworld comics

Who knew that comic books would be one of the main items in the list of human evolution?

While Lev Gleason Publications is correct, comic books are here to stay (!!!), Lev Gleason Publications would not be a publisher that would survive the arrival of the Comics Code. In fact, Gleason's popular Crime Does Not Pay would be instrumental in getting the Comics Code established along with EC's horror and crime comics.

The three comics mentioned in this ad were three of Lev Gleason's most popular titles. Daredevil Comics began in 1941 and the first issue was actually called Daredevil Battles Hitler and was renamed Daredevil Comics with the second issue. Daredevil Comics was an anthology series named after the featured character, Daredevil. Eventually, Daredevil got a group of kid sidekicks called The Little Wise Guys who eventually dominated the series and soon squeezed out Daredevil who made his last appearance with Daredevil Comics #70. The series would end with #134 in 1956.

The second but first issue of Daredevil Comics.

The final issue of Daredevil Comics.

Boy Comics initially began as Captain Battle Junior in 1943 but was given a name change with the third issue. Boy Comics was, again, an anthology featuring superheroes that were all boys. The main feature was The Crimebuster who was Chuck Chandler avenging his parents death at the hand of the Nazis. Lev Gleason writers really milked the Nazis for story ideas.

The first issue of Boy Comics, #3.

I guess I should mention that Chuck Chandler had a pet monkey that would join him both on adventures and just in his life. As superheroes fell out of fashion, stories started focusing more on Chuck at school and not fighting crime. For some reason, Crimebuster's arch-nemesis, The Iron Jaw--who killed Chuck's parents by the way, stuck around but became comic fodder and covers showed The Iron Jaw dangling from scaffolding, getting his fortune read, being trapped on a roller coaster and generally just being a idiotic stooge. Starting with #107, the Comics Code cracked down on the use of the word "crime" so Chuck, or Crimebuster, just went by C.B. and he ditched the costume. Boy Comics came to an end with #119 in 1956.

The final issue of Boy Comics.

Crime Does Not Pay began in 1939 as Silver Streak Comics. Silver Streak initially starred a villain, The Claw, who was created by Jack Cole of Plastic Man fame. After #2, The Claw was put aside to debut the superhero Silver Streak, who was the second speed-based superhero. The Claw returned in #6 and proceeded to do battle with Daredevil in #7. Silver Streak was quickly pushed aside for constant battles between Daredevil and The Claw until Daredevil got his own title but Silver Streak would never regain his title as with the outbreak of World War II, Silver Streak began featuring Captain Battle and then The Saint. Silver Streak Comics wouldn't last long and would become Crime Does Not Pay with #22.

Silver Streak Comics #1

Crime Does Not Pay was a true crime series, the first of its kind, that glorified and sensationalized real crimes and real criminals. When Mr. Crime was introduced in #24, he was your faithful narrator much like The Cryptkeeper would become for EC but Mr. Crime both praised and condemned the crimes so he was not one to lecture the kids reading this comic. As Congress cracked down on comics and publishers began censoring themselves and established the Comics Code, Crime Does Not Pay sanitized their stories and all the criminals got what was coming to them. The new CDNP lasted only a few issues before ending in 1955 with #147.

The final issue of Crime Does Not Pay.

This comic is ironic in that if I were to show your average person a picture of Brutus, they would probably not know who he is. Brutus is no Charlie Brown, Calvin or Mickey Mouse.

I hope we see some early strips either here or on GoComics. It would be cool to see some strips from the beginning when there was no main character.

1181: Why Not Just Go To the Store?!

I stopped by the Miller house on my way home from work on Friday because it had been awhile since I drove up to the house. I can see it fine from the railroad tracks but I can't get the full impact from there. The gate happened to be open so I drove up the long driveway, which is getting more and more rutted out due to large trucks and lack of improvements. As we came to where the circle drive connects, I noticed the large tree that had fallen over near the house and was just laying there, starting to rot. I originally thought that the fallen tree was new but it's also there in the Google satellite image so it's been fallen over for at least a year.

I was going to get out and take some pictures but the grass was so tall and everything looked so precarious that I didn't feel, at that time, like it was safe. There was also a large truck blocking the road as well as the tree so getting turned around and back out was also a bit of a chore. I noticed that there was no glass left in any of the windows and the back porch had collapsed at some point in the last two years.

Ever since I learned about the Miller house in 2001, I have fully expected the house to either be torn down or, due to vandals, burned down. I never expected it to fall down due to neglect and I've talked with the owner about it and it's just too costly to renovate so neither he nor the historical groups he's talked to can afford that kind of investment. Currently the property is being used to house farming equipment and other things for the owner's farming business.

The house was in the Miller family for over 100 years and two of their children are buried on the property behind the house. I would love to preserve the house and refurbish the stone for the two children but I, too, lack the funds. If nothing else, I would like to purchase a new stone for the kids or relocate the graves before it's too late.

How did you let the dog food run out? Who goes to a neighbor to get spare dog food? Who does this? I ask you. Who, when they run out of dog food, would just go to a neighbor's house and ask for food? People don't even go to their neighbors to ask for a cup of sugar or two eggs anymore because everyone is a stranger and we need to be scared of everyone who isn't us.

1180: You Should Be Happy We Let You Out of Your Cage

It's Free Comic Book Day and while I had initially planned on doing something, I haven't been on a computer to do anything so you get nothing. But what you can do is go to your local comic book store pick up a couple free comics and then purchase a back series or a trade paperback or graphic novel. Get suggestions on what to read from the employees and spend some money because FCBD isn't completely free. The stores still pay for the free comics and the shipping.

Look at that! Wilberforce gets to eat dinner tonight and not be chained up in the basement with a bucket of fish heads.

Sadly it's probably something he doesn't like. Oh, well, he's 9 and has no real power or opinion of his own.

1179: It's About Time Brutus See His Therapist Again

You may have seen this flag and phrase around usually on big, loud trucks whose exhaust system may not be 100% up to code. I'm torn because I am for honoring your ancestors and, for better or worse, being a part of the Confederacy or serving in the Confederate military is considered part of your heritage but only if one of your ancestors served. Down in the South, this makes sense as there is the chance your distant relative served for the Confederacy. But are you really flying the Confederate flag because you want to honor your great-great-grandfather or because society generally agrees that the flag is racist?

I live in Kansas and I see people flying the Confederate flag. Kansas was never part of the Confederacy nor would the people who fought and died to keep Kansas from allowing slavery be okay with you flying that flag. It also occurs to me that the people who fly this flag would never, ever, ever fly flags of other countries where their ancestors immigrated from. My ancestors came to Connecticut from Britain, migrated to North Carolina and Tennessee before ultimately winding up in the Little Dixie area of Missouri. Due to those last three places, there is a huge possibility that distant relatives of mine fought for the Confederacy and owned slaves so I think I could get away with flying the Confederate flag.

But I won't because why would I fly another country's flag? If you're not willing to fly the British flag which is more than likely where your ancestors came from, then why fly the Confederate flag? Also, if you have to explain why your flag isn't considered hate speech then maybe you need to get a new icon for your heritage.

Currently everybody who knows Brutus hates him so the odds don't seem to be in his favor.

1178: Why Isn't Wilberforce Eating Dinner?

Chip must get a lot of telemarketer phone calls so that crosses over into the comic strip but I also wonder if Chip holds his cell phone a good foot from his face. I use the speakerphone too but only when I can't use my hands or when there is no one around. Don't tell me that Brutus can't hear--he's only 40-55 years-old depending on which Born Loser timeline you use.

1177: Baltimore Has 99 Problems But Gladys Ain't One

"Freddie Gray died on April 19, one week after he was taken into custody by Baltimore police.

About 30 minutes after he was arrested and thrown into the back of a van, Gray was found, according to officers' accounts, unconscious and unresponsive. His spinal cord had been severely injured and his voice box nearly crushed.

While the investigation into what or who killed Gray continues, protests and riots swept through Baltimore on Monday. Much like in Ferguson, Missouri, following the police killing of teenager Michael Brown last summer, the prevailing questions seem to center on who is responsible for the violence in the streets — but in order to really understand Gray's final days and their aftermath, one must consider his life and the kind of city in which he grew up — the city that would eventually be the death of him."

7 Facts Everyone Needs to Know To Understand What's Happening In Baltimore

As what happens when you work in a school, the Baltimore protests came up in one of my classes. One of the kids offered a solution to end the protests. "Send them back to the cotton fields then maybe they will appreciate what they have."

That. That right there is why they protest. When your first thought on solving the problem of systemic racism in our society is to re-enslave the people who we are being racist to then I don't even know where to begin on where the problem lies in that. Another student even made the comment that there can't be racism because "look at the president."

While most of the blame I place directly on the kid or, more appropriately, his parents, I also feel that the media is to blame. The protests were peaceful throughout the weekend and during the funeral. Barely any mention. But once that CVS went up in flames, media--and therefore the general population--suddenly cared a whole hell of a lot.

So Gladys is just standing in the middle of the house with her arms crossed? I bet she's also going "humph" every few seconds too.

Yeah, that seems healthy.

1176: *Shudder*

It's disturbing when Veeblefester puts his arm around Brutus. It's also disturbing just how much power one tea cozy magnate has but I guess no more disturbing than two brothers controlling a good percentage of a political party.

1175: Are Doughnut and Donut Interchangeable?

A donut isn't going to kill you. Quit shaming your wife and let her do what she wants. It's great if you are concern for her well-being but it is no one's place to tell Gladys or anyone else how to live there life.

You do you, girl. And bring me a donut.

1174: I'm Good At Driving the Carts Too

I was going to comment on this strip on Friday but didn't have time and then on Saturday but I did the Bruce Jenner post instead so I'm going to mention it today. I looked up Kokosing Drive and discovered that it is a real street in Gambier, Ohio. Does Chip live on Kokosing Drive? Does Chip have a friend that lives there? Or does Chip know someone who went to Kenyon College in Gambier and just liked the name?

Some people who went to Kenyon College were President Rutherford B. Hayes, Paul Newman, Bill Watterson and Josh Radnor of How I Met Your Mother. Maybe Bill Watterson lives on Kokosing Drive! Everyone needs to converge on Kokosing Drive right now!!

Veeblefester asks Brutus to go golfing with him all the time. I think Veeblefester only does it because Brutus is bad at golf but still it's a pretty regular thing. I would like to see Brutus take Veeblefester to his favorite golf course and we learn that it's mini-golf.

Who knows. That may have already been done.