Family Tree reflects life, too
Oh, you naysayers, are you trying to tell me this isn't a snippet of real life? That it isn't making a statement?Yeah, they may not all be funny, but neither is "For Better or For Worse," and that's been the top-ranked strip in The Gazette for years.
Why call "Lio" mean-spirited and not call "The Lockhorns" mean-spirited?
Labels: Family Tree
posted by Dena Rosenberry @ 1:31 PM
12 Comments:
I like Family Tree but get rid of "Cul De Sac"
Despite the convincing and well-thought-out argument in the preceding comment , I must take umbrage. Cul De Sac is the finest example of modern cartooning since Calvin & Hobbes. The line work is sublime, the writing is whimsical and absurd and the characters are unique, yet identifiable and heartwarming.
From what I've read so far, I believe that Family Tree was sold more on its premise and promise than the strips I've read so far. The characters are prototypical and the punch lines seem to be thought of first and then retrofit into a gag. The example you cited is a fine gag, but almost seems a bit too thoughtful for the son (who's previously been a bit of a brat). Thus, the line is out of character. It would have worked better as a conversation between parents. The wisened and world-savvy parents who know what really matters. Which leads my original theory that it seems that the author came up with the punch line first and then wrote it for the characters. But in my opinion, she made the wrong choice.
I’m not a professional artist, writer, or cartoonist. I’m a construction worker. In my spare time I’ve managed to create and post on the web a cartoon strip that rivals anything published in The Gazette. It debuted January 1, 2008 and averages 153 page views per day plus 23 e-mail subscribers. A fan e-mailed me this note: “Just discovered this; read all of January's, and actually found myself laughing out loud-- a rare occurrence.”
The strip is called A Golden Girl. It’s about a celebrity gold digger and her Jamaican assistant who begin a new career reporting for an Internet website funded by a twenty something dot com billionaire.
The strip is posted on Comics Sherpa, a website for aspiring cartoonists run by Universal Press Syndicate, distributor of Doonesbury, Calvin and Hobbes, and For Better or for Worse.
Since The Gazette is running comics on a trial basis, it’s a perfect opportunity to bypass the syndicates’ offerings and run a webcomic by a local person to see if it has a broad appeal.
Here’s the link: http://www.comicssherpa.com/site/feature?uc_comic=csipf&uc_full_date=20080101
Or, Google: Kirk Golden Girl
Enjoy,
Kirk
I really could live without Family Tree. It's not funny and it's too preachy.
Whatever happens, Lio, Get Fuzzy and Pearls Before Swine must stay.
I do not like either comics. (Family Tree and Cul-de-sac) I think they are not funny and need to be replaced. Examples "Brevity" (favorite of all time), Calvin and Hobbes, and Garfield
Family Tree and Cul de Sac are ok and might grow on me. Nothing really fantastic about them. My concern is what gets left out if they go in permanently. My choice to leave out would be Diesel Sweeties, Get Fuzzy, or Lio (my 9-year old grandson likes Lio, though!) I miss the Wizard of Id.
Most any comic strips you can find would be better than Family Tree & Cul De Sac. They are REALLY BAD!!
While you're at it, please get rid of Diesel Sweeties. Every time I read it, I ask myself why I'm wasting my time, & I'm one who always reads all of the comics.
I would welcome back Wizard of Id.
We have not liked any of Family Tree nor Cul De Sac comics so far -- same goes for Diesel Sweeties, as several others have also commented. We think Funky Winkerman and Pooch Cafe aren't that great if you are looking for others to replace. If they can run Peanuts (which we really enjoy) as a classic comics, then why not Calvin & Hobbs, too? We really enjoy Pearls Before Swine (especially the crocs), and Pickles a LOT. We've seen Brevity in other places and agree with another blogger it would be a good addition, too. Not sure why you chose to get rid of the Wizard of Id...
As long as our paginators are on the ball, we'll get 2 new test comics the first week of March.
Cul de Sac has received more positive comments than Family Tree, but neither is blowing readers away.
We'll keep Diesel a while, because, by and large, its fans read only a couple of other strips.
We CANNOT run Calvin & Hobbes. It is not available for publication in North America. That's the way creator Bill Watterson wants it.
We ran Brevity for a year or so, and few people said they liked it, so we dropped it.
We got rid of Wizard of Id because too few people said they liked it.
Often, people call and say they love a strip and then admit they haven't read it in weeks.
The two new strips are poorly drawn and not funny. They should be replaced, along with Diesal Sweeties
Don't like Family Tree--doesn't make me smile, isn't particularly clever. Do like "Cul De Sac"--it has some charm and originality--the kids have personality.
I disagree with readers who say the strips are poorly drawn. You may not like the style, but I don't think you can say they're poorly drawn.
But I have to say, Family Tree isn't living up to its billing, in my book.
I like Cul de Sac, though. I don't bust a gut every morning, but I like it enough to see what the kdis are up to.
We'll start two different comics Monday, but I'll try to keep you posted on Cul de Sac here on the blog.
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