comics – Page 35 – Son of Stuck Funky

All Dried Up

Ow, my neck. Ok, now that that’s out of the way, today’s strip is a closer look at the cover that was hinted at in yesterday’s panel one, just in glorious color. I wish there was an in-browser way to rotate this but it looks like we’re just all going to have to cock our heads.

A few thoughts:

You’re on issue 57, and most superheros don’t get a sidekick until the writers are out of ideas. It’s the comic equivalent of when a TV sitcom writer turns to another and says: “Have we done the ‘stuck in an elevator’ bit yet? It happens to most heroes, and usually it’s pretty clear heroes are kinda more bad-ass on their own than with a partner and we never see the sidekick again.

I’m looking at you, Rover.

Pete is so worried his readers are going to hate him for killing Absorbing Jr but if he thinks that’s an issue, just wait until he brings lil’ Spongy back with a lame time-travel or ‘it was all a dream’ cop-out.

SpongeBlah

It’s been bothering me for a while now; Pete looks like someone famous but I can never remember who. With the profile view in tonight’s strip it hit me!

Only Howard Cosell looks less like a melting waxwork figure.

In any case, Pete still can’t see the upside of getting the chance to work on a truly epic story arc in the canon of Mr. Sponge and instead continues moping as if he’s tasked with actually killing someone off in real life with his bare hands.

You’re a writer , Pete, and from the way you’ve been played up, the last great dreamer. Surely you can figure out how to bring Sponge Jr. back. Besides, it’s comics! You can basically pull a Simpson’s reset with the barest of explanations and readers will take it. How do you think Superman survived a storyline like this?

I haven’t read it but Superman probably hit Jimmy in the head with a rock and gave him amnesia. I’m sure Westview’s boy genius can figure something out.

Sponging Off Society

While waiting for tonight’s strip to update, I’d like to point out the Urban Dictionary definition of sponge.

Sponge: A lazy, workshy tosser who would rather let his friends pay for everything than put his hand in his own pocket

Well, heck, I know people like that, and while amazed at their gall when it came to the “I forgot my wallet” routine when out to dinner in a group of friends, I never thought these people were individually amazing.

Oh, the strip is up! Oh, it’s a writer thinking outloud about writing. I can’t snark funnily on this. Apologizes to all.

Sans Comic

SoSfDavidO here, ready for another snark! And holy cow, what a revelation today! From the look of today’s strip, it appears the publishers of the fine piece of literature that is the Adventures of Mr. Sponge and Son are after money. Notdoing the story of his adventures proud but money! And they’re willing to temporarily kill off a minor, easily replacable character to do it!

The Killing Bloke

Hi folks! SoSfDavidO here with another sneak peek into the workings of what went into making a comic book way back in the early 2000s in today’s strip!

Hoo-boy. Absorbing Junior. I’m assuming his sidekick has the same lame powers his big pal Mr. Sponge has but he can’t absorb as much. We’re talking pints to Mr. Sponge’s gallons.

If I know one thing about comics, (and this goes for books and movies, too) it’s that the target demographic wants a character they can not only identify with but fantasize about being. This is why Wolverine and Superman are so popular. Who wouldn’t want to fly, or be an invincible bad-ass?

This is also why Fantastic Four sucks so much. What kid wishes they could stretch their arms really long or be stuck as a walking orange cinder block? And the Invisible Woman? Geez, could that be more offensive? Johnny Storm is kinda cool but he’s a bit of a douchey showoff.

I’m trying to imagine some universe where Mr. Sponge could last as a super hero past a MadTV skit. It’s like watching Hell’s Kitchen and everyone is ordering risotto for a appetizer. It’s so dumb it’s baffling.