Overboard by Chip Dunham for October 21, 2008

I have to agree with Gweedo on this point. Chip has phased out almost all the old pirate crew, and taken the teeth out of the ones who are left. Talking dogs, mice, bizarre rabbits with ridiculous technology…this is all part of what I meant about the strip losing its direction and the humor and charm of the originals.

Why are the rabbits so freakin big?

Yes, and why are they using hi tech electronic equipment? For that matter, why are they even bothering being pirates? Might as well be a cruise ship now.

Oh please! You people have NO sense of humor!!

Brenzluv - rabbits have always been on the cutting edge of technology - after all, they were the first to come out with integrated rabbit ears….

Chip’s rabbits have always been advanced for their species… and they grow so big, David, because they’re eating all of Charlie’s veggies. :)

Personally, I beg to differ. I have a very well developed sense of humor, it’s just gone beyond the Family Circus level. Personally I think the strip started going down hill when it became “Louieboard,” and if one is willing to concede that you can’t just do pirate themes, then you must also concede there is no need to retain the pirates themselves. If that’s the direction you want, a cruise ship or a tramp steamer would do as well. Jim Toomey, for example, has seemed to do terrifically, and with greater humor and sophistication, with Sherman the Shark and his lagoon theme. I don’t say any of this to be mean, but more with a sense of regret, as I truly enjoyed the strip when it began. Now it’s kinda like “I can’t look away…”

hey doc, I think I understand what you’re saying, and one doesn’t look for repetition, like Family Circus, Garfield or Beetle Bailey. But I look at long running strips like Bloom’s County, Calvin & Hobbes, Dilbert, Sherman’s Lagoon, and many others that kept within their little comic bit of the universe, yet have stayed fresh or until, fearing stagnation, the cartoonist ended the strip. I think many of the ideas here are bit stale, and predictable. Somethings just aren’t meant to go on and on; much as we like them initially. Think of Barney Miller. But this is how we share opinions on these kinda things, and it’s good to discuss what we feel are the strenths and weaknesses!

Brenzluv, you talk about predictability. I for one truly enjoy repeats of some of the themes in this strip. After all, a lot of the “repeated” themes were used 10 years ago or so, and it’s nice to see them back again! They were funny then and they are funny now!

Doctortoon, I also have been reading and collecting strips for years, since I was about 5. Wanted to be a cartoonist but never worked out, marriage, kids, etc. I like comics that make statements and also make me laugh! “Calvin & Hobbes” and “Overboard” have been about the only 2, oh and the “Born Loser”, that almost always have me LAUGHING OUT LOUD! Many bring smiles, sometimes tears, like when Farley died(“For Better or For Worse”), but I JUST LOVE THE COMICS! And I’m a 54 year old mom with 2 teenagers! Good to know one never gets too old to laugh and enjoy the comics!!