Lio by Mark Tatulli for October 07, 2014

I understand optimism is useful, Dad. I recommend you leave town for at least a month…

But isn’t every day Halloween for Lio?

I hear the Caribbean is nice this time of year, Dad. A 21-day cruise will come close to getting past the Bad Times at Lio’s Home (and yours). Shouldn’t cost you more than $10-15K, and well worth every penny!

Is Dad getting balder in the last panel?

Dad asking Liõ about homework — what an optimist!

I’ve been following this strip for a while, trying to put my finger on what about it is so different and edgy, aside from all the light horror and sci-fi jokes. I just realized that there is usually (or always?) no dialogue in it. The humor is purely visual, with any dialogue left up to the reader’s imagination. I don’t think I’ve ever followed a strip like this before. It’s quite unique.

Sorry you had to see that sir.

I think Lio is the male counterpart of Roseanne!

The “until it’s over” calendar — what a wonderful invention. I need about six per year.

Kind of how it is at my house. I take the week off before Halloween to do the yard.

Followed by about two weeks of everyone playing with explosives.