Ok, I’ll say it straight up front, so there are no misunderstandings -

I didn’t “get” this comic. What’s more, for my own reasons, I didn’t particularly like it, either.

I read it, and in some cases I re-read it, and can honestly say I didn’t crack a smile or find things that really made me laugh. Was it because the comic was horrible and I was constantly cringing? Not at all. On the contrary, the art was good (although to be fair it looked like a meeting between Walt Kelly’s Pogo and some of the cast from Bloom County - that kept throwing me off), and I didn’t see anything that would make me caution children or the overly-sensitive to not read it.

Still - I didn’t laugh. There’s usually three reasons for that not happening; (1) The humor is either terrible or sophomoric or (2) It’s extremely metaphorical or “in the know” kind of humor, or it’s (3) the same old, tired, “trying to be with it and socially relevant” humor that we’re buried in every day. I think, in this instance, it’s numbers 2 and 3. I’m not really an “in the know” kind of person when it comes to the current trends, etc., when you get right down to it. I also don’t like most of today’s political/sociological humor, namely because it’s overdone, overused, and at this point has become mostly trite, in my opinion. (Perfect example - the comic used with this post. Like we haven’t seen the “evil cops abusing black people” jokes about a thousand times? What’s the point? Or perhaps comic # 67 from April 21, 2008 - tried and true “loud, obese woman with cart full of high fat products” - one of them says “Pig” - that’s subtle, right? Let’s see, “Obesity in America” comic? Come on. Imagination, anyone?) The current line of strips is, apparently, making fun the foibles of being a “connoisseur” by having one of the characters become a “soda connoisseur.” Ok, perhaps a little funny, but after 3 and more strips, kind of drawn out.

Maybe I’m old fashioned, but does anyone else remember comics - even ones that spoke on social issues - using that little known trait of “subtlety” instead of the now used traits of “I’ll slam this RIGHT IN YOUR FACE so you can’t possibly miss my meaning,” coupled with “I’ll copy the same jokes/gags that most other comics of my ilk do, but I’ll change a word or two”? What kind of commentary must that be on the perceived education level of the readers?

Overall, not a bad comic, I guess - just kind of predictable and, for that reason dull, to me; definitely not one I’d re-read. If you’re a fan of that kind of humor, though, then I say in fairness, give it a read and make your own call.

The Doctor

Calamities of Nature, by Tony Piro

www.calamitiesofnature.com

Rating:

(2 votes, average: 3.5 out of 5)

 Loading …