The problem with such old timers like Blondie and Beetle Bailey is that they seem oblivious to current events. I don't think the sergeant or the colonel have uttered one word on the war to liberate Iraq, 9/11 and terrorist attacks around the world. And Dagwood must not watch CNN or the FOX network because he seems to be living in a perpetual '60's time warp, as is Peanuts and Dennis the Menace. Which leaves me wondering about the artists which create these comic strips, don't they ever read their own newspapers?
I know Schulz is dead, so therefore he can be forgiven the sin of not keeping up on current events. But I know Greg and Mort Walker are alive and well because they have a dot.com address on the Internet which they publish inside their comic strips. In fact, the astute reader will see this is the case with the creators of most comics. Who has not noticed www.snoopy.com or www.garfield.com?
If these fantasized dogs and cats can have their own URL, then why don't their creators click on over to cnn.com or fox.com and see what's going on in the world? Could it be their purpose in creating comics is to escape reality, to provide a pleasant diversion from the sobering realities of world affairs? Maybe that's what makes the comics so funny, they are for the most part imaginary. Perhaps keeping them that way preserves our sanity!
It's when the characters in the comics become portraits from real life that a true insanity occurs, a paradox of juxtaposition, for it is altogether impossible for this to happen. Yet such wondrous fantasies as Michael Ende's The Never Ending Story, are based upon juxtaposition paradoxes. That is the wonder of imagination! Inside the mind anything can be true, a wise reminder for those who would take the comics too seriously and begin writing letters to the editor about Toon Town. If you are not careful everyone will start laughing at YOU!
***END***
For additional information see:
The Never Ending Story site by Maciej Mokros (aka Sir Guy's site)
Sincerely,
Terry Lynch
Date: 27 April, 2003
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