Ballard Street by Jerry Van Amerongen for January 30, 2018

Aw, Little Benny, you have definitely found a void in the universe.

Nothing like a bit of dog drool in your ear to really tickle and annoy the heck out of you. Aaargh. Just the thought of it has me shaking my head and rubbing my ear.

He’s found Sleepy Hollow.

Look out or he will bury a bone in there.

Snort, snuffle, whine.

Durwood is about to leap up, oh, about 2 feet from the ceiling.

Wet willies from Little Benny, not how ole Dur thought this nap would end.

While we’re looking on (with anticipation) where is Dur’s other hand? Under the pillow? Why is the pillow split?

Inquiring minds etc…….

Good thing Benny’s not looking into my ear….

he might be scared….. seeing clear through, and out the other side.

Meanwhile…. I know what some of you are implying about Durwood and/or poor little innocent Benny…

and while I have no proof one way or the other as to Benny’s intent,

I’m fairly certain Durwood has been accidentally put into an ambiguous situation, due merely to some confusion on the part of the colorist.

Now, before you go blaming the colorist…. I need to say ….

YES, it was a bit careless….

But I know one colorist and once read an interview with another.

They have about ten minutes to examine and color a strip….

IE, they’re given one not-well-paid hour to color a whole week,

with the cartoonist doing his/her own Sundays, if there are any.

They rarely get any instruction, the exception usually being on strips with continuing characters, the color formulas for some of their hair and skin tones.

So…. with Jerry van A’s loose drawing style, I do believe the colorist got confused between the plaid and plain bits,

and mistook a hand for part of the bedding.

My amended version:

https://s10.postimg.org/5ulfiaecp/Ballard_St_Benny_Jan_30_18.png

Tell me whether you agree!

Meanwhile… for the sake of our UK readers….

please be careful with the words “wet willies” unless you mean those double entendres….

that is, unless you have the same suspicions as WoodEye.

Good boy, Benny. Empty and wide open.

Terrific Tuesday to you MUDD !

Good morning Mr. Mudd!

Playing the nose whistle.

My cat does the same thing. Not sure what she sees in there.

Very cute and funny really. Like the dog.

This one made me laugh out loud!