Although I get the Plain Dealer delivered every day, I don't read the comics all the time. I read "Get Fuzzy" but other than that I usually only skim the other comics except on Sunday when there's a whole section devoted to them. I don't read the comics that are like soap operas (e.g., Mary Worth) and I don't generally read comics that are written only to forward the artists ideology (e.g., Doonesbury). It's not that I don't think comic writers have a right express their opinions or sometimes use their medium to support a cause. I just don't like it when that's all they do. I also don't like it when comics that were otherwise funny try to tackle tough subjects.
Lately, to me, this has been the problem with Funky Winkerbean, written by Tom Batiuk. For months now he's had a character dealing with cancer. Call me insensitive or simply a stick in the mud but I just don't think I need to read about someone dealing with cancer in the "funnies." I admit that I'm ignorant to the reason Mr. Batiuk is writing this storyline. Maybe he's just concerned about the issue or maybe he's had some personal experience with it. I don't question his motives and I sure they're noble.
Still, I think there's enough death and tragedy in the news part of the newspaper. People read the comics because they want a laugh, or at least a smile. It's a break from the rest of the paper which, as we all know, is generally negative. I don't want to spend a half hour reading about murders, inflation, the Iraq war, unemployment, rampant foreclosures and bankruptcies, and then turn to the comics and read about a character potentially dying of cancer. Maybe that's just me. It's also the reason I'd rather watch a show like "Smallville" than "Law & Order." There's enough stress and negativity in everyday life. When I watch TV or read comics or go to the movies, I want to escape from the problems of everyday, mundane life. Again, I'm sure this is a bit shallow and unimportant but, hey, it's my blog and I can be petty if I want to.
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2 comments:
I miss strips like 'Bloom County' and 'Calvin and Hobbes.' 'Get Fuzzy' is my current favorite, too.
Hey KC. Yeah, I love 'Get Fuzzy.' Bucky cracks me up. I loved 'Calvin and Hobbes' too and have a bunch of the books. Of course, 'Bloom County' is kinda back as 'Opus' and it's issue-oriented too but at least it still tries to be funny. There's nothing worse than comics that try to be serious.
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