I know this is meant to be funny and silly and lighthearted…
But this isn’t. By no means is this funny or silly or lighthearted imo, actually. Being a little afraid of something is one thing- having a phobia of it is more than another
I’ve never understood why Nate’s ailurophobia is always treated with such mockery, dismissiveness, and borderline cruelty. His phobia is a direct response to a traumatic attack he encountered as a child with a cat. Some outside the strip (let alone in it, as clearly seen here) mock that, discredit that as “not traumatic enough” or “too stupid/childish” to have created a real, traumatic-rooted phobia. But his body’s that was very, very real- and I hc it’s multifaceted.
I actually dive into that deeper into a fic I have planned. Nate gets the proper exposed therapy he needs to help him cope with this very real fear- and, ironically, even threatens to leave Francis behind if he doesn’t cooperate/continues to try and mock him
…..way back, when I was this creepy ‘lil kid, there was a HUGE fallen tree trunk that about 20+ of us guys would play “king of”…….we’d line up end-to-end, and you’d wrestle with whoever you met in the center to stay on the tree trunk……nobody thought of a trick like playing on someone’s animal fears then……we were all “brute strength, force & ignorance” types then….amazing that nobody got seriously hurt, THAT was usually the dark, largely unspoken phantom lurking in us Cold War era kids………
6/10, an actually funny joke, but Francis bringing Pickles ruins it. He should not have brought her, but if she came by herself, it would be fine. Maybe this foreshadows Nate threatening to leave Francis if he keeps bullying him like this.
You didn’t hear Nate when he EXPLICITLY SAID NO ANIMALS ALLOWED? What’s wrong with the people of this comic? Where has my childhood gone towards? Why can’t I read this strip and laugh out loud anymore instead of criticizing it?!
That was horrible of Francis. He’s done that so many times, but this is probably the most frustratingly passive aggressive one. I swear, I have had it up to HERE with that idiot, and Teddy honestly isn’t much better. You know what, I’m just gonna say it, Nate needs to dump these guys and get better friends.
the francis torturing nate joke is starting to become annoying just cruel francis knows nate has ailurophobia and instead of helping him through it he uses it for personal gain
Pierce, what is wrong with you? Making everyone hate each other IS NOT FUNNY. Plus, taking advantage of someone’s phobia is not slapstick, it’s cruelty. I have a phobia as well, and I could understand how nate would feel if he were a real person. Betrayed by his “best friend”.
Clarence about 1 year ago
How embarrassing
Not_Superman5711 (Merry Christmas) about 1 year ago
A tad reused. Still funny tho. Haha XD
BigNateFanForever1 about 1 year ago
Francis taking advantage of Nate’s fear, how @#£%* lovely of him, what a good friend.
0\10, HATE when he does that. If Nate did that..
YouSless Premium Member about 1 year ago
Now we need a 1V1 Francis vs Pickles!
ND Cool Z about 1 year ago
Long live the cat king
Many More about 1 year ago
Okay this is a pretty good one.
I’ve said this before but at this point I like the Sunday strips better than the actual arcs.
hariseldon59 about 1 year ago
Cats are Nate’s kryptonite.
The Doll Face about 1 year ago
I know this is meant to be funny and silly and lighthearted…
But this isn’t. By no means is this funny or silly or lighthearted imo, actually. Being a little afraid of something is one thing- having a phobia of it is more than another
I’ve never understood why Nate’s ailurophobia is always treated with such mockery, dismissiveness, and borderline cruelty. His phobia is a direct response to a traumatic attack he encountered as a child with a cat. Some outside the strip (let alone in it, as clearly seen here) mock that, discredit that as “not traumatic enough” or “too stupid/childish” to have created a real, traumatic-rooted phobia. But his body’s that was very, very real- and I hc it’s multifaceted.
I actually dive into that deeper into a fic I have planned. Nate gets the proper exposed therapy he needs to help him cope with this very real fear- and, ironically, even threatens to leave Francis behind if he doesn’t cooperate/continues to try and mock him
BenGMan about 1 year ago
Poor Nate. I will kick Francis’s butt.
bigger Nate about 1 year ago
What a Cat-astrophe if only he had a Cat-apult to get rid of him. Of course he’d have to Cat-ch him first. Ok I’m done.
Goat from PBS about 1 year ago
There’s a reason why a cat is nicknamed the King of the Jungle.
(Yes, I am aware lions live in the savanna. It’s a misnomer nickname)
Blaidd Drwg Premium Member about 1 year ago
Really like P1. How about a new comic, King Kat??
RLinGoComics ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ #StopP2025 #StoptheUA&ILWars about 1 year ago
NiCe TrY, nAtE.
Captain America: The First Avenger about 1 year ago
This is old
Captain America: The First Avenger about 1 year ago
3.5/10 still a bit funny but old
orbenjawell Premium Member about 1 year ago
…..way back, when I was this creepy ‘lil kid, there was a HUGE fallen tree trunk that about 20+ of us guys would play “king of”…….we’d line up end-to-end, and you’d wrestle with whoever you met in the center to stay on the tree trunk……nobody thought of a trick like playing on someone’s animal fears then……we were all “brute strength, force & ignorance” types then….amazing that nobody got seriously hurt, THAT was usually the dark, largely unspoken phantom lurking in us Cold War era kids………
The Nateorious B.I.G. about 1 year ago
Ignore the haters Pierce! I’ve been reading Big Nate since I was a boy. I’m liking your work recently.
markkahler52 about 1 year ago
If comics couldn’t tell their stories on the back of fears, worries and insecurities, thered be neither comics nor stories…
raybarb44 about 1 year ago
Wussy…..
prrdh about 1 year ago
I wonder if the cat regrets its being bloodless.
STUFF ENJOYER about 1 year ago
Hey, that’s cheating.
Chester the big boi about 1 year ago
Sticking out your gyat for the rizzler, your so skibidi, your so fanum tax, I just to be your sigma
Mike Baldwin creator about 1 year ago
This is why Kings always keep a can of cat repellent in their back pocket.
B@+m@n007 about 1 year ago
6/10, an actually funny joke, but Francis bringing Pickles ruins it. He should not have brought her, but if she came by herself, it would be fine. Maybe this foreshadows Nate threatening to leave Francis if he keeps bullying him like this.
Tennis Ball about 1 year ago
Yay an overused joke
Tennis Ball about 1 year ago
Man I am seeing full on essays on why phobias should not be messed with, so this days comic is straight up cancelled
Neat1Up about 1 year ago
You didn’t hear Nate when he EXPLICITLY SAID NO ANIMALS ALLOWED? What’s wrong with the people of this comic? Where has my childhood gone towards? Why can’t I read this strip and laugh out loud anymore instead of criticizing it?!
Strip rating: 0/10 Sigh…
Appel Pai about 1 year ago
That was horrible of Francis. He’s done that so many times, but this is probably the most frustratingly passive aggressive one. I swear, I have had it up to HERE with that idiot, and Teddy honestly isn’t much better. You know what, I’m just gonna say it, Nate needs to dump these guys and get better friends.
CrazyDave about 1 year ago
I want another sunday strip where nate nails francis and teddy back for being jerks to him
eced52 about 1 year ago
Excuse me while I go change my shorts.
BiggerNate91 about 1 year ago
I’m giving this strip one more chance. If tomorrow’s storyline is bad, then I’m done. I can’t take this anymore.
Martin Booda about 1 year ago
“A cat may look at a king.”
Teresa Burritt (Frog Applause) creator about 1 year ago
Cats ARE king.
good & evil about 1 year ago
whats yalls favorite rapper
Moongem1 about 1 year ago
the francis torturing nate joke is starting to become annoying just cruel francis knows nate has ailurophobia and instead of helping him through it he uses it for personal gain
Orange Crewmate about 1 year ago
Skill issue
blasthrough about 1 year ago
Pierce, what is wrong with you? Making everyone hate each other IS NOT FUNNY. Plus, taking advantage of someone’s phobia is not slapstick, it’s cruelty. I have a phobia as well, and I could understand how nate would feel if he were a real person. Betrayed by his “best friend”.
blasthrough about 1 year ago
You really had us going with the daphne strips, and now you’re ghosting her! Why? What did we do to deserve this?
sebastian.sr.ruiz 12 months ago
IDK
Big Jaz 6 months ago
Francis has gotten worse and worse. Using your best friends phobia to win a game/ prove a point is a dirtbag thing to do.