Pearls Before Swine by Stephan Pastis for May 27, 2012
Transcript:
Pig: Hey, Rat. It's me, Pig. What's going on?? Rat: Chill. I know what I'm doing. 'Zits' wins every single newspaper comics poll. But 'Pearls' doesn't. With any luck, we'll confuse the marketplace and people will think 'Pearls' is that great strip about a teenager and his parents. So I'm gonna be Jeremy. And you're his dad. Pig: But what if people catch on? Rat: Can't happen. We look exactly like 'Zits'. Larry the Croc: Hey. Where all da zeebas? Pig: I think it happened. Rat: CUT!!
margueritem over 12 years ago
Dumb Croc!
Sherlock Watson over 12 years ago
Better get some Clearasil, Stephan — you’re covered with Zits.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~I’d love to know how many people did a double-take when they read the comic page today.
Some Asian Kid over 12 years ago
Plagiarism Shmlageiarism. All is fair in love and cartoons.
V-Beast over 12 years ago
heh, heh, you said ‘poll’.
thirdguy over 12 years ago
Props on the art work.
Sisyphos over 12 years ago
Don’t you other directors just hate it when some spacey extra accidentally wanders into a shot and spoils a perfect scene? And then you have to shoot it over and over again, because never again does it go so well as in the ruined take? Is it any wonder that scripts so often include the death of a croc or two?
kraftjeff over 12 years ago
So Steph did we borrow Jerry Scott by chance… and when do you get to mess up his strip as revenge?
zero over 12 years ago
If ZITS really wins whatever that award is so consistently, it makes one more reason most humans are cyphers. . ..
rusty gate over 12 years ago
Gotta love those crocs!!
rf_eq over 12 years ago
tranzitional comic
possiblekim over 12 years ago
Which begs the question GoComics.
WHy Zits is not on this website? it is a great comic.
hariseldon59 over 12 years ago
The last time Jeremy appeared in this strip, he was run over by a car.
SusanSunshine Premium Member over 12 years ago
Sigh…. it didn’t work….
THE REUBEN AWARD for Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year:Tom RichmondStephan was one of three nominees, the third being Brian Crane (Pickles.)For some reason that’s a different category from “Newspaper comic strips,” which this year was won by Glenn McCoy (The Duplex.)Zits wasn’t nominated…. but it’s very popular.The Reubens aren’t based on popularity.SusanSunshine Premium Member over 12 years ago
Mark Parisi (Off the Mark) did win for Newspaper Panel Cartoon.
As for why no Zits here…This is a syndicate website.It shows only the cartoons represented by Universal UClick….and it shows ALL of them.This is the artists display, or gallery, where newspaper and other editors can see what Universal offers and contact them about running their strips.Zits is not a Universal property.
Some other sites, like newspapers, show comics from various syndicates.They pick and choose — and pay to run the ones they want.Hillbillyman over 12 years ago
What is this? April Fools Day?
SusanSunshine Premium Member over 12 years ago
Womble…that’s long been a pet peeve of mine….and the bad news is they’ve changed the dictionaries to reflect the popular usage….so now we’re “wrong.”Same with the singular “their” that drives me crazy….as in “Someone drove their car off the bridge.”It’s considered acceptable now…. even in newspaper articles. You know, I never grammar or spell check anyone here, as this site is recreational, casual, and has no academic requirements.People of all levels of education and skill are welcome, in my eyes.But when it comes to paid writers being allowed to use those constructions….AAAAGGGHHHH.
The Old Wolf over 12 years ago
Zits had real appeal for me when I had teenagers in the house, especially when it first appeared. Pearls, on the other hand, appeals to my sociopathic side.
Brockie over 12 years ago
What amazing artistry…impressive
HighPeaks over 12 years ago
Wow! Pastis actually can draw hands and feet!
featherweight over 12 years ago
HA!! Epic work Sir Pastis
cubswin2016 over 12 years ago
I wonder if any money changed hands for this comic.
rockngolfer over 12 years ago
The Daily News has Zits. Well, you know what I mean.
Purple Morpho 2015 over 12 years ago
I didn’t know that they could do that…
Snoopy_Fan over 12 years ago
I LOVE when Pastis pays homage to other comics and their authors… ALMOST as much as I love his puns!
smalpmal over 12 years ago
I’ll admit it…I was one who did a double take….
gmu328 over 12 years ago
i had to do a double take … funny
i_am_the_jam over 12 years ago
I don’t like Zits that much. Jeremy continuously harasses his mother.
finale over 12 years ago
While my son was at home I kept looking for the camera and microphone that “Zits” must have planted in the house for cartoon ideas.
tigre1 over 12 years ago
WTF. Count me as one of the double-takers…sneaky Rat strikes again.
fmasroor over 12 years ago
I want Zits on Gocomics!
Varnes over 12 years ago
Susan, I’m usually a stickler for proper grammar, but I don’t mind that use of their….I fulfills a need. I think of it as the pronoun “You”, it is both singular and plural…"his and or her is just too awkward……..Besides, wut r u gonna do these days… ur rite tho!
GoodQuestion Premium Member over 12 years ago
Who knew rat was such a good artist?!? I thought he could only draw angry mobs with tortches . . . ☻
jbmlaw01 over 12 years ago
Clever, well done.
colloc over 12 years ago
Oddly enough, I can’t stand ‘Zits’.
jmartin1955 over 12 years ago
Incognito
pearlsarefuzzy over 12 years ago
I get Zits from ArcaMax, didn’t realize why it wasn’t available on GoComics. I did the obligatory double take today. WTG, Stephan. Two of my favorite strips in a meeting of the minds.
A_NY_Outlaw over 12 years ago
Poor Larry- always first in line at the parade of confusion.
dputhoff over 12 years ago
If Pastis had wanted attention, he should have disguised this strip as" Funky Winkerbean." Rat and Pig could be the gay couple going to Prom. And one of the crocs could be that old hag who protests. Heck, he should probably make Rat and Pig gay!
tazz555 over 12 years ago
Uh who will play his mom? Piggitta? Ok my guess is Goat will play Pierce, Zeebra will play Jeremy’s friend, and That female rat will play Sara
craigwestlake over 12 years ago
Stephen, I’m just impressed at your drawing skills…
Number Three over 12 years ago
The artwork is really good!
And the strip today is hiliarious.
xxx
1945writerDi over 12 years ago
I love the puns, the satire, and the social commentary in this strip. I always look for it in my newspaper as well as others that I reaqd when traveling. Keep up the good work.
Spyderred over 12 years ago
Pearls is witty. A comic about a spoiled kid is not. Except for Calvin.
rgcviper over 12 years ago
I absolutely love this one, as “Pearls” and “Zits” are two of my very favorite comics.
If only “Zits” were here on GoComics … Guess it’s not meant to be, though, based on what some others have said.
Fan o’ Lio. over 12 years ago
Zits isn’t worth a zit.
deadheadzan over 12 years ago
I double took!
HOFfridge over 12 years ago
BRILLIANT!!!! As always!!
EdFenster Premium Member over 12 years ago
Stephen was robbed last night!
CitizenThom over 12 years ago
I have to admit that I was disappointed when I flipped to Zits and didn’t see Rat,Pig, Goat, Zebra and the Crocs. I really do miss those days when get fuzzy, pearls before swine, and dilbert where doing cross referenced strips.
massha over 12 years ago
Did you see the credits/apology? (click on the magnifying glass). I too hope they won’t sue you, Mr. Pastis.
Hillbillyman over 12 years ago
I don’t even read Zits..I’ll take Pearls anyday. It’s much better.
bjballard1 over 12 years ago
@possiblekim There are several strips that aren’t hear. Thankfully my local paper still has them.
fritzoid Premium Member over 12 years ago
I like “Pearls”, I lke “Zits.” Both succeed doing what they’re trying to do, but they are trying to do different things. It isn’t a competition.
The Reubens, however, ARE a competition, and I’ve said before that Pastis being nominated every year and losing is probably better for the strip than if he ever wins. This way, he can milk the Susan Lucci angle for years to come.
By the way, the difference between winning “a Reuben” (which “Pearls” has done) and winning “the Reuben” (which Pastis has never done) is that a number of awards are given out at “the Reubens” each year, including (but not limited to) Best Newspaper Comic Strip, Best Newspaper Panel, Best Editorial Cartoon, Best Greeting Card Cartoon, and so on. However, “Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year” (notably, it refers to the creator specifically and not the creation) is the most prestigious, it’s the one they mean when they say the Reuben", and it’s the one that Pastis has now lost three years running (or is it four?). It’s also open to cartoonists working in ANY medium, not just daily newspaper strips (past winners include several Mad Magazine cartoonists, a number of editorial cartoonists, and Matt Groening, and one of the nominees last year was Glenn “Billy” Keane, who’s an animation director at Disney).
fritzoid Premium Member over 12 years ago
PS: I think the common denominator among a lot of strips which do NOT appear on GoComics (Beetle Bailey, Blondie, Zits, Baby Blues, Family Circus…a lot of old ones, but some newer ones mixed in), is that they’re syndicated by King Features. Looking at King Features’ lineup, the only one I see that appears on GoComics is “Shoe.”
stlarry1 over 12 years ago
i wish zits would appear on gocomics. along with other king features comics
XtremePearls over 12 years ago
whoooh larry!
fritzoid Premium Member over 12 years ago
I am he as you are he as you are me and we are all together.Goo goo g’joob, y’all.
There are ways to see the King Features roster online, but I link to it through SFGate.com (the San Francisco Chronicle’s online edition). At least sine the GoComics/Comics.com merger I only need to hit TWO websites to see all my comics, instead of three.
CoBass over 12 years ago
Dear Mr. PastiRegarding Jerry Scott, Jim Borgman, and the possibility of them suing you.Three words: Little. Guard. Duck.Two more words: Mr. Snuffles.You can decide who to send after who.
lefty891 over 12 years ago
Wow… how meta!!! or something…
Rakostump over 12 years ago
me love da crocks! :D
lin4869 over 12 years ago
Brilliant, Mr. Pastis! (Yes, I did a double take.)
Soroxas about 12 years ago
When I first saw this, I thought the newspaper comic format had changed
MichaelBarton over 6 years ago
me to i love zits it is so good
tonpat over 5 years ago
Zits is the best comic strip out there. Why not at go comics?
Ethan_Wang20271007 over 4 years ago
yah
jjmartin303 over 4 years ago
exactly
jjmartin303 over 4 years ago
also how about bc
sjkmagruder over 4 years ago
I agree. I love the comic ZITS.
TheJustinator over 4 years ago
Who opened the interdimensional portal in GoComics? I’m getting out of this place!
Bob da croc over 3 years ago
Why me no get charecter??
[Unnamed Reader - f1ad93] about 3 years ago
Why is not Zits on here?
s2104720 about 2 years ago
yes i love zits
janryd135 Premium Member about 1 year ago
Agreed
johnlarned74 6 months ago
As mentioned above… Please bring zits to the options. It would make my list complete!