First "Cul De Sac"

Maybe it's because I grew up on a cul de sac that I love this strip so much. Maybe it's because no matter where we live or when we grew up, it's all so true. And I LOVE Richard's artwork.

He posted this recently on his blog. The first "Cul De Sac." Each frame makes me laugh. And the kicker is priceless.

The strip is slowly growing on readers of The Gazette. Every week or so I hear from someone who says they've started reading it regularly after playing hit-and-miss for months.

Change sooner than expected

I was told we couldn't change the comics pages this soon, but it appears the paginators were able to make the switch and place "Cul de Sac" in the spot previously held by "For Better or For Worse." It'll still take a few weeks to see any changes in the Sunday comics pages. Apparently they're now done nearly a month ahead...

"Daddy's Home" got a pretty good reception. We'll see what happens with "The Knight Life" and "The Argyle Sweater." Those two strips should begin appearing in the Comics Test Center area Monday the 8th.

Let me know what you think!

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"??

The link between badgers and waffles

Yeah, yeah, yeah, Cul de Sac is outta the test center. So, sue me. The more I read it, the more I enjoy it. Here's today's peek into the neighborhood. Creator Richard Thompson noted in a previous post that he commutes from room to room in his home. I'd swear somedays he's peeked into mine -- Otterloop West.

Traffic n beans

I have to share this. Talk about a freaking slice of life! Start to finish, deja vu. I especially love the last panel.

Huh?

Again - huh?

Just got this note from Margaret Brettschneider:

Hey, tried to comment on the two new comics, and whatever the heck is happening to one of my favorites, Family Circus....what's with the stupid snowman, anyway. Let's get back to the real comic value of Family Circus.
Anyway, that blogspot to comment doesn't work, so I'm trying this way around the problem (e-mailing the newsroom). Those two new strips, Cul de Sac and Family Tree are both pretty stupid...not worth the space.
In my book, the best thing in the whole comic strip section is Marmaduke....and of course, Lola, and Beetle Bailey...these three never get old or stale...always fresh...and the expressions on Marmaduke never fail to crack us all up.
Anyway, just wanted to put in my two cents' worth. Please get Family Circus back to normal too, while you are at it....whoever dreamed up this snowman stuff needs to be throttled....

I hope she's being sarcastic...

when cartoonists go off!

I laughed out loud at this take on the "future of comics" that appeared on Cul de Sac creator Richard Thompson's blog. Check it out here.