The Argyle Sweater by Scott Hilburn for December 20, 2020

From some guy named Rudolph the Red.

Fortunately, Rudolph came along ages and ages before Chernobyl ever had its problems.

This is not right. Olive didn’t even get a chance to make fun of him yet.

His tail probably does the same thing.

Won’t be a full moon but will be nicely placed if it’s clear.

“Actually, I drink a lot, Santa.”

Ah, finally. Now we know thanks to the origin prequel.

I do not think Chernobyl has a welcome sign!

From what I’ve heard about the wolf population at Chernobyl, Rudolph wouldn’t have lasted five minutes there with that nose.

That is more than a little dark.

Okay, Hillburn, you win the holidays.

This is just freaking MEAN (and hilarious!)

Q: Who can run as fast as Rudolph but not stop as fast?

A: Adolph, the brown-nose reindeer.

This strip gave me a good laugh, many thanks Scott!

Oddly enough, the whole exclusion zone around Chernobyl and the city of Pripyat is a thriving wilderness now. It has become the largest wild animal sanctuary in Europe. A bit too far south for reindeer/caribou, though.

https://www.science101.com/meet-the-extreme-new-wildlife-of-chernobyl/

punch line: Rudolph the Red knows rain dear! (anyone know the set up?)

Colluding with Russians, Santa? For shame!

I saw a similar joke on MAD magazine around 1988. It was a parody of the poem, and it went “Rudolph the Russian reindeer—radiates until he glows—he slept around Chernobyl—he has plutonium in his toes…” Wish I had bought that issue and/or memorized the whole poem. :D :D :D

As Paul Harvey used to say, “Now we know the rest of the story”.

Like Wisconsin fishermen, best cut off his belly fat just to be sure.

And then there is the other version of the story, based on true events, of mushrooms being the source of the “flying.” Early people had a close almost symbiotic relationship with caribou and used them for many aspects of survival. The caribou would purposely seek out specific types of mushrooms with psychedelic effects. The people used these mushrooms too, but somehow figured out that in the urine of the caribou, the psychoactive constituents were greatly enhanced. That’s how the flying reindeer came to be part of the story and why the amanita mushroom is so often part of a depicted christmas scene.

Now, how do you explain the flying?

I always say the heck with Radiation Safety – I want Superpowers!

… and once again, the literal takes the guts out of a cute idea.

Hmm, well, they DID call it the red forest.