You know you're a teenager when

Today's "Zits" gave me a laugh. I'm not sure about his locker, but I can confirm this is my son's notebooks and backpack.

Zits creator takes buyout

Jim Borgman, creator with Jim Scott of the hugely popular "Zits" comic strip and winner of a Pulitzer Prize for cartooning, has taken a buyout from his employer, the Cincinnati Enquirer, after 32 years there.

Looks like he'll continue to create "Zits," which is a relief to teenagers and parents and grandparents of teenagers everywhere.

Here's a bit more on what happened and what he'll be doing.

Here's today's strip:

Do comics influence behavior?

I've received two complaints in recent days about comics "inciting bad behavior in kids" -- Lio and Zits. I hear people out, but find it difficult to believe these comics unduly influence kids' actions.

A teacher called to say Sunday's Lio might incite violence against teachers and that the strip, in general, includes too much violence and bad behavior. Here's the strip:

I have at least a dozen close friends who are teachers. None has complained about the strip - this particular one, or others.

Does Beetle Bailey incite young soldiers to sloth or older soldiers to skirt chasing? Does Dennis the Menace incite kids to play practical jokes? Do adults read Dilbert and then go off on their boss?

I dunno, just seems people place way to much importance on the strips they don't like.

I've mentioned Zits. Here's today's strip, which prompted a complaint from someone who has had issues with the strip before -- it is leading to the downfall of American society: