Off the Mark by Mark Parisi for December 27, 2022

Santa should wear Teflon®

Never do a near vertical takeoff before checking to see if the reindeer have completed their potty break.

Gesundheit.

Santa look like he was dragged thru the mud.

Looks like he got stuck in the flue.

Our flue’s shot.

Rather interesting drawing she’s got on the wall…

He just needs to hit the showers and be taken to the cleaners.

And get lots of rest for next year.

According to legend when Santa is unwell then Ninja Sloth take his place to do delivery. You never knows when he comes and goes.

Guess what Santa’s side hustle is.

A flea and a fly in a flue. Were imprisoned so what could they do? Said the fly “let us flee”, said the flea “let us fly”. And they flew through a flaw in the flue. Santa is neither a fly nor a flea.

Or flew.

Santa soot it coming.

Santa: “Oh, Soot!!!”

Hope that’s not a human body chart under the balloon.

Poor Santa he got SOOT on his SUIT.

After a while, Santa became allergic to soot!

Scrape it all off and you’ll have enough to give her a lump of coal.

Mark Parisi, I think you are the most clever cartoonartist ever. Seasonal flue, indeed. My brain thanks you.

Charcoal actually is good for you in some ways. Creosote, not so much.

Aw chute, that’s gonna put a damper on things.

He just needs to go back to the North Pole where Mrs. Santa will take care of him. She’ll make him a nice hot cocoa for after his shower and while his clothes are in the wash.

…and a little burned out as well!

Roger Kaputnik (always seen in the doctor’s office) in his Santa costume.

Nearly made an ash of himself!