Taking another stab at this

OK, it's not that I have found more time in my day. But I'm getting e-mails and phone calls asking where I am (hmmm, I seem to still be here). And I suppose in this day and age of American newspapers it's natural to wonder whether I'm still here or whether I'm asking "Do you want fries with that?"

It's full speed ahead here at The Gaz and my work includes helping implement some major changes to the look of the paper and what's included in its pages.

My beloved comics have not gone untouched.

If you read the paper, in print or online, you'll notice changes beginning Monday. You can read about the whole shebang in Sunday's paper, but I'll give my blog readers a heads-up to the comics changes.

First, the comics will appear in a tab section - the same size as Go!, our Friday entertainment section.

Second, we're adding Goren Bridge and Hocus Focus to the pages. Those features have been appearing in classifieds for some time - before I got here nearly 5 years ago. (My, how time flies.)

Third, to accommodate those features, we have to drop a few comics. To start with, I'm dropping the Test Center. We've been running "Deflocked" and "The Knight Life" there - probably longer than we should have, too.

Of course, I was tempted to drop comics I would never read if it wasn't part of my job. But I don't have the same taste as Gazette readers, obviously, so that didn't seem right.

So, I went back through your comments, letters and e-mails.

Two comics we've run for a while will appear as space is available from here out: "Rose is Rose" and "F Minus." Neither have ever had a big following, and there are other strips in our selection that cover the same bases - family and sight gags.

Next, I'd already contracted to try "Rip Haywire" for 6 months. It's a new strip that harkens to the old serials. It was supposed to start running Jan. 5, but through a mixup, was left off the pages.

It will take the place, at least for now, of "Get Fuzzy." I'd prefer to drop one of the legacy strips that repeat the same jokes over and over, but apparently many readers would not. And I figure they're getting enough changes, they really don't need me messing with their old standbys on the comics pages.

And, in addition to those readers who constantly complain about "that nasty cat," quite a few regular readers have chimed in to say they have grown weary of the strip in recent months.

I'll be looking to you, the comics readers, to let me know what you think of the new lineup. If you'd rather I bring "Fuzzy" back and drop something else, let me know.

Believe me, it could have been worse. At one point I was fighting to prevent this change meaning the demise of an entire page of comics. I've managed to keep that off the table multiple times in the past 3 years. I hope you'll forgive me for sacrificing a few, even if they were among your regulars.

I'd still like to find a place for "Argyle Sweater," though. How about in place of "Dennis the Menace?"

OK, enough. Let me have it with both barrels!

Richard Thompson Q&A

The Daily Cartoonist highlighted an interview Panels and Pixels blogger Chris Mautner did with with insanely talented "Cul de Sac" creator Richard Thompson, who talks about life before the daily strip. Check it out here.

Panels and Pixels also has an interview with Darrin Bell, creator of "Candorville," which we've been testing.

What's the reaction to "Candorville"? Mixed. It seems to be popular with readers who are looking for a character-driven strip. It's obvious that not everyone is. We're adding "F Minus," at least for now, because it has been well-received by respondents to the Test Comic Center (and because, through someone else's doing, we've been paying for it for some time, even though I didn't know about it. Hmmm...).

I still like "Argyle Sweater," so want to give that a chance. But I don't want just a gaggle of gag strips, either.

What to do, what to do. Help me decide. Write. Here or at dena.rosenberry@gazette.com

Whew! Not enough laughs of recent

Wow. Nearly 2 months since I last posted. Time flies when ... Well, I guess time just flies.

Anyway, I'm settling in at this new desk, in this new job, at this new computer, on this new computer system.

My goal is to resume posting, sharing funnies and news of the funnies. We need humor in our lives, gosh darnit!

John Matthews of Universal Press Syndicate stopped by yesterday on his swing through the Rocky Mountain states. John is always good for a laugh (I say that in the most sincere way). He dropped off new packets of "Cul de Sac" and "The Argyle Sweater," which I still enjoy.

He said I can add "The Argyle Sweater" to the Test Center. I think you'll like it. We shared a few here on the blog a while back. Look for that as soon as I pick another panel strip to test.

And I need to continue to share "Cul de Sac," because I think it's a great strip. Not for everyone, but what great strips are?



Brian Patten over at the Washington Post Writers Group says I can test "Candorville." I hope to start that Monday. I'll see if Creators will allow us to check out "Daddy's Home." After all the hubbub here on the blog, we'll see what other readers think of it.

Gotta jet. More later.

math and science humor

Saw a link off the Comics Curmudgeon for this comic, "xkcd" (described as a webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language) (i'm in love!), and had to share it. Had to send a link to my desktop for regular updates.

It's been a rough coupla weeks (just started a new job here at The Gaz), but I hope to get back on track here at "in good humor." It's time to pick a couple of new strips for the Comics Test Center in The Gazette. There's been fairly good support for "F Minus" these last few weeks. Moderate support for "Agnes." And increasing support for "Cul de Sac," which could be the sleeper hit here. I mean, how can you not like this?:

Of COURSE that's what the gate is for!

Here's a look at another new fave, "The Argyle Sweater."








I'll ask to see if we can test it, but I think my buddy John at Universal Press is going to say, "Dena, if you like it so much, buy it." Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, as we know: My tastes do not necessarily reflect the tastes of Gazette readers.

I've heard from someone who wants to see "Crankshaft" and someone who wants "Piranha Club." A few folks egging me to get other web comics into print.

Send your ideas and I'll start making pitches to the syndicates. Any more votes for "Daddy's Home"??

Two by two - oops!

A reader called attention to today's Argyle Sweater. So THAT's what happened to unicorns.

I was talking to Wash. Post syndicate rep yesterday about how many times we hear "Such and such is the next Calvin and Hobbes" or "This comic is the next Far Side."

This may be the next Far Side.

Argyle coming to syndication

Don't know if any of you have been reading this online, but Argyle Sweater is being offered by Universal Press Syndicate. You can read more about it and creator Scott Hilburn here. I've been passing it around the office, and it's getting good reviews.

No, we won't call it the next Far Side, but we are calling it worth a look, and giving us more laughs than most of the strips that come in.

Check it out and let me know what you think. Don't know whether we can sample this one.

I'm looking at putting Agnes and Over the Hedge into the comic test area. They aren't new, but we've never had them in our lineup as far as I can tell. Thoughts?