Nancy Classics by Ernie Bushmiller for January 03, 2025

The Devil you say!

Well, at least Sluggo is a better neighbor than Herb Woodley on “Blondie”—he never returns ANYTHING he “borrows” from the Bumsteads!

Of possible interest, Bushmiller aligned literacy with most of his characters, an exception perhaps being SPIKE.

I think that Ernie almost over indulged with storms of perspiration, to express shock & fear, as in nine beads in the first & second panels & seven beads in panel #2.

LOLs!

The grim reaper appeareth!

Nancy, of course, reads at 90 degrees to her light source, so she doesn’t see Sluggo approach and spoil the joke.

Nancy and the power of suggestion.

Nancy’s at deaths door and the devil’s a knocking.

I found a great quote that is relevant to this strip.

Former President Jimmy Carter and his wife visited a friend and “their home was falling down around them with holes in the roof.”

“It’s good on clear nights . . . We can see the stars from our bed.”

Sluggo you real scared nancy

Of course you did, Sluggo! Right at the precise time too!

Did Nancy faint?

Put the gun down, Nancy . Everything’s alright.

There is something about a graphic event in panel #four that fascinates me.

Either the left-hand or right-hand handle for the clipper appears vertically, as if Sluggo is wearing a necktie.

One of those handles delivers a contrast with the pattern of Sluggo’s t-shirt, by suggesting a tie being present.

Part of the clipper drawing provides a suggestion of the tie having a knot at the top.

Another Bushmiller gag that may also be a puzzle. I dunno. Maybe Bill Griffith knows. I will check my copy of ”Three Rocks”.