1189: Didn't She Hear His Snoring?

There was a time that Brutus got into it with Gladys pretty ferociously. There's no proof of that on this blog because it was before I started this thing. I guess Brutus has mellowed in his old age while Gladys has remained a raging b-word.

1188: 50 Years a Born Loser

As we've seen at the end of every strip this week, The Born Loser is 50. Sadly, reaching 50 is pretty easy in comic strip-land because of the hesitation syndicates (and some newspapers) have about replacing tried-and-true strips with untested ones. Today marks the actual 50th anniversary of The Born Loser and to celebrate, GoComics has had a short interview with Chip Sansom, a short blog post with Chip's editor, a brand-new Facebook page, a printable Born Loser certificate that looks good next to any DeVry, ITT or University of Phoenix diploma and a contest to win one of twelve signed Born Loser prints. I was hoping for a strip collection or every strip from 1965 to today to be uploaded but maybe those will be forthcoming.

What's interesting is what has transpired here over the last seven or so years. Sure, there are a few meanderings but we usually wind up right back here, talking about The Born Loser. I started this blog because I considered The Born Loser one of the worst comic strips but I have grown to not only respect it but like it. Sure, it's not in my top ten of best comic strips ever but it's a steady performer--a workhorse, you might say.

While I may joke about what's going on in The Born Loser, I do it out of respect. I had the opportunity to talk with Chip back in December during a Twitter Q&A and he was very informative with a pretty witty sense of humor. It was also interesting to get a more personal response to certain questions that you normally don't get in behind-the-scene interviews. So, like always, today's post and this blog in general, is dedicated to Chip and his father Art who started the whole thing and to the people who read this thing and those who read it even when I do those meandering history or story posts.

"First thing when I get to work, I'm going to punch Arnie in the back of the head!"

I was hoping for some older panels showing Brutus' loser-ness. Oh, well, I guess Brutus getting his days confused and heading to work on a Sunday is just as good. I don't know if this city's mass transit runs on a Sunday so Brutus may be standing at his bus stop for awhile.

1187: Hattie Cares Not For Our Driving Laws

I'm not a car person. As long as my car gets me from Point A to Point B and maybe Point C on weekends, then I am happy. I have a student who asks if I would buy him a car and the car is always a fancy sports car like a Corvette or Lamborghini. What would he do with a car like that? I'm pretty sure he will never learn to drive a car so it would just sit and do nothing. Why am I thinking of this like I would actually consider buying him the car if I had the money. I have a strict "I need all the money I can get so you're not getting any of it" policy.

1186: Does He Not Even Notice He's Dropping Stuff?

With or without Brutus, Veeblefester seems to be doing just fine. If anything, Brutus' mediocrity has kept Veeblefester from installing one of those car elevators in his house which isn't a bad thing and keeps Veeblefester a bit more down to Earth.

1185: The "Loser Era"?

The original Newspaper Enterprise Associates (NEA) press release for The Born Loser from 1965. Courtesy The Born Loser
Facebook page.

I'm very disturbed by the lack of Veeblefester during this 50th Anniversary extravaganza.

I wish we were using this time to see classic strips. Maybe going through a scrapbook or photo album or something with either the last or first panel showcasing older strip panels. I know the art styles have significantly changed but it'd still be cool to see.

1184: Why Schnauzer? Why Not Just Dog?

The comments on today's strip are just a constant argument over what the correct calculations are when discussing a dog's age. Who cares? If your dog is 7 then they are 7, not 84 or whatever age you came up with when you Googled "what's my dog age?" Nobody wants to know how old your dog is in dog years and you're sad for figuring it out.

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.