Andy Capp by Reg Smythe for August 23, 2023

Handicapping

he bribed him with a pint, definitely.

Choose your friends wisely. And know what awaits you.

The First Rule of Survival in Barfighting: Always pick on a big guy. A big guy might hurt you, might teach you some manners. But DON’T go picking on a little guy. The little guy will likely just kill you.

That fella wouldmake a HUGE fight cloud!

I… have learned to avoid barfights!

Bill Owen is sometimes mentioned here as his character in “Last of the Summer Wine” was a lot like Andy Capp. I am currently reading a book called “Sherlock Holmes On Screen” and I have learned from this book that Bill Owen played Inspector Lestrade in four episodes of a six-part series called “Alan Wheatley As Mr Sherlock Holmes” back in 1951. Alan Wheatley would go on to play the Sheriff of Nottingham in “The Adventures of Robin Hood”. I recently mentioned seeing Bill Owen in an episode from that series. Unfortunately, there are no tapes of the first televised Sherlock Holmes series and it may never have been taped but broadcast live instead.

Now all Andy has to do is start one.

Just be the first to run out on the street and yell “fight!”

I’ve just read today’s strip for the second time and noticed that the man in the purple suit looks away from the big guy when asking him what Andy said. Presumably, he is looking at Andy while asking the big guy about Andy.

“So I bought the wee lad a pint” Dilly! Dilly!

Andy didn’t fall off the turnip truck yesterday.

It is Andy’ version of survival of the fittest!

Does EVERY man in Hartlepoole wear brown shoes?

Andy’s probably hoping he’ll come to his rescue, he’s likely to say “Not my fight”.

Must’ve bought Andy a pint!

So Andy does have a least a little bit of common sense.

I find it interesting that in a lot of the strips, one of the characters in the last panel will break the fourth wall and look at the reader.

“Friendly” eh?

xxx

Andy knows what side his toast is buttered on, before he becomes toast…

Is it really a friendly pub if there are brawls constantly going on?