What other comic strips would I like?
January 4, 2023 9:05 AM Subscribe
I love Macanudo. I also love Calvin and Hobbes, Cul de Sac, and Phoebe and Her Unicorn. I like Fox Trot, Get Fuzzy, Bizarro, early Peanuts, and Candorville. What else would I like?
This may be an impossible question, because taste in comics is so individual, but I'd love to hear any recommendations.
Thanks!
This may be an impossible question, because taste in comics is so individual, but I'd love to hear any recommendations.
Thanks!
Best answer: Herman and The Far Side, but both are old. You'll have to look on used book sites. Both are still very funny after many years.
posted by Enid Lareg at 9:12 AM on January 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Enid Lareg at 9:12 AM on January 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
Best answer: How about Ozy and Millie, also from Dana Simpson (of Phoebe and Her Unicorn)?
posted by esker at 9:21 AM on January 4, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by esker at 9:21 AM on January 4, 2023 [2 favorites]
We have similar taste, and I also like Pickles. And yes, seconding The Far Side - it's the best!
posted by hydra77 at 9:33 AM on January 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by hydra77 at 9:33 AM on January 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Lumberjanes, which although it's aimed at tweens is full of fun.
Dykes to Watch Out For is great, but avoid the newly-published compilation of every strip ever and try to find the older collections, which are much easier to read.
The collected works of Lynda Barry: Ernie Pook's Comeek, Marlys, Fred the Beat Poodle, etc. Her book One Hundred Demons is amazing.
The Moomins strips are republished by Drawn & Quarterly and are good fun.
posted by Lawn Beaver at 9:35 AM on January 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
Dykes to Watch Out For is great, but avoid the newly-published compilation of every strip ever and try to find the older collections, which are much easier to read.
The collected works of Lynda Barry: Ernie Pook's Comeek, Marlys, Fred the Beat Poodle, etc. Her book One Hundred Demons is amazing.
The Moomins strips are republished by Drawn & Quarterly and are good fun.
posted by Lawn Beaver at 9:35 AM on January 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
Strange Planet, Awkward Yeti (also known as Heart and Brain), Fowl Language, Foxes in Love, Zits.
posted by Melismata at 9:36 AM on January 4, 2023
posted by Melismata at 9:36 AM on January 4, 2023
Best answer: If you like the Far Side and Bizzaro, them I humbly submit Loose Parts. You can sample some here. You can learn more here. You can follow daily here. Full disclosure: it's my cartoon, now syndicated by the same people who syndicate the Far Side.
posted by lpsguy at 9:58 AM on January 4, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by lpsguy at 9:58 AM on January 4, 2023 [4 favorites]
Best answer: Definitely The Far Side
Pearls Before Swine
Also, based on your list, check out the very first three Garfield books. I'm not kidding.
posted by Mchelly at 10:30 AM on January 4, 2023 [3 favorites]
Pearls Before Swine
Also, based on your list, check out the very first three Garfield books. I'm not kidding.
posted by Mchelly at 10:30 AM on January 4, 2023 [3 favorites]
A bunch of legacy comics have been restaffed in recent years, and the current incarnations of Nancy, Alley Oop, and the Sunday Popeye (weekdays are old reprints) are all good.
posted by staggernation at 10:32 AM on January 4, 2023
posted by staggernation at 10:32 AM on January 4, 2023
Best answer: Wallace the Brave (This scratches the Calvin and Hobbes/Cul de Sac itch for me)
Agnes
No longer published, but all available in book: Piranha Club
posted by fimbulvetr at 10:42 AM on January 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
Agnes
No longer published, but all available in book: Piranha Club
posted by fimbulvetr at 10:42 AM on January 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Frazz is great, it's sort of like if Calvin grew up. Questionable Content is slightly more adult-oriented but it's really great and I recommend it to everyone. Start at the beginning if you have LOTS of time.
posted by Slinga at 10:43 AM on January 4, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by Slinga at 10:43 AM on January 4, 2023 [2 favorites]
nthing flabdablet's suggestion of Pogo. Walt Kelly is certainly one of the all-time greats & many consider him the GOAT.
One of the interesting things about Walt Kelly is that the Pogo books published during his lifetime consisted of comics made expressly for the books rather than rehashes of his daily strips as is common nowadays. As a result, for many years it was impossible to read his daily strips. Thankfully, Fantagraphics began publishing editions of all the daily Pogo strips around a decade ago, and they're still at it. They're available in beautiful hardcovers--which is really the best way to appreciate his masterful artwork--but also in Kindle format.
posted by slkinsey at 11:11 AM on January 4, 2023 [2 favorites]
One of the interesting things about Walt Kelly is that the Pogo books published during his lifetime consisted of comics made expressly for the books rather than rehashes of his daily strips as is common nowadays. As a result, for many years it was impossible to read his daily strips. Thankfully, Fantagraphics began publishing editions of all the daily Pogo strips around a decade ago, and they're still at it. They're available in beautiful hardcovers--which is really the best way to appreciate his masterful artwork--but also in Kindle format.
posted by slkinsey at 11:11 AM on January 4, 2023 [2 favorites]
Best answer: If I look at what you listed, I think sweet and kind with a continuing cast of characters (Bucky in "Get Fuzzy" is a total asshole, but he's the exception. Okay, Calvin is a jerk, too, but the essence of the strip is friendship).
"Mutts" might work for you. It's adorable.
I agree with "Frazz".
posted by It's Never Lurgi at 11:57 AM on January 4, 2023 [2 favorites]
"Mutts" might work for you. It's adorable.
I agree with "Frazz".
posted by It's Never Lurgi at 11:57 AM on January 4, 2023 [2 favorites]
Best answer: I'm not going to suggest a strip per se, but suggest that you subscribe to Funny Times which is a "newspaper" full of cartoons, and a few columns, that I think might line up with your interests. It originally was monthly but I think there are 10 issues a year now as they needed to manage their printing costs.
posted by TimHare at 12:07 PM on January 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by TimHare at 12:07 PM on January 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Try the new Nancy by Olivia Jaimes!
posted by ejs at 12:08 PM on January 4, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by ejs at 12:08 PM on January 4, 2023 [4 favorites]
Nthing The Moomins, an old queer comic about a loving family of adorable creatures (Moomins) who get into ridiculous situations, and Mutts, a still-running newspaper comic about a pet dog and pet cat that's more sweet/cute than funny.
Like an above commentator, I really liked Questionable Content, a currently running webcomic that was originally a sci fi comic about an indie boy caught in a love triangle, but is now an inclusive, LGBTQ+ sci fi romcom. It has a fair bit of swearing and crass jokes, as well as some storylines focusing on serious mental health issues and some sex (not usually explicit). It initially had a lot of casual violence and bigotry but phased that out over time. I don't know if it dovetails with your interests, but if you do want to try it, I think you might do better starting several thousand comics in - it began in 1999 and had a rocky start as its creator improved as a writer, a graphic artist, and a person. You can definitely read it from the beginning, online or in print, and the massive cast of characters might be easier to understand if you do, but just be aware that it becomes a much better comic as it goes on.
posted by spiderbeforesunset at 3:01 PM on January 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
Like an above commentator, I really liked Questionable Content, a currently running webcomic that was originally a sci fi comic about an indie boy caught in a love triangle, but is now an inclusive, LGBTQ+ sci fi romcom. It has a fair bit of swearing and crass jokes, as well as some storylines focusing on serious mental health issues and some sex (not usually explicit). It initially had a lot of casual violence and bigotry but phased that out over time. I don't know if it dovetails with your interests, but if you do want to try it, I think you might do better starting several thousand comics in - it began in 1999 and had a rocky start as its creator improved as a writer, a graphic artist, and a person. You can definitely read it from the beginning, online or in print, and the massive cast of characters might be easier to understand if you do, but just be aware that it becomes a much better comic as it goes on.
posted by spiderbeforesunset at 3:01 PM on January 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
Oh! And if you're willing to try a Marvel comic, I bet you'd like Ryan North's run of Squirrel Girl. It's about a computer scientist student with "all the powers of both girl and squirrel!" It's a fun, family-friendly, optimistic, inclusive, and self-contained comic, with a cute, cartoony, and body-positive art style.
Also, I honestly can't remember if they're collections of comic strips or graphic novels (it's been a while) but I feel like Babymouse shares an audience with Phoebe and her Unicorn. So, maybe worth a try?
posted by spiderbeforesunset at 3:08 PM on January 4, 2023
Also, I honestly can't remember if they're collections of comic strips or graphic novels (it's been a while) but I feel like Babymouse shares an audience with Phoebe and her Unicorn. So, maybe worth a try?
posted by spiderbeforesunset at 3:08 PM on January 4, 2023
Also! Baby Blues. It's a still-running newspaper comic about a family of three that focuses on the lighter side of parenting - sort of like Fox Trot if the kids were younger.
posted by spiderbeforesunset at 3:11 PM on January 4, 2023
posted by spiderbeforesunset at 3:11 PM on January 4, 2023
Best answer: Wallace the Brave is the best comic I have read in a very long time.
posted by terrapin at 3:46 PM on January 4, 2023
posted by terrapin at 3:46 PM on January 4, 2023
Another vote for Pearls Before Swine
posted by briank at 5:21 PM on January 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by briank at 5:21 PM on January 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
Try out Jane's World, which is in eternal reruns at GoComics.com (the creator, Paige Bradley, is on staff at the Charles Schultz Museum, so her comic strip credentials are impeccable). And, as matildaben said, don't miss Breaking Cat News!
Bloom County is a popular suggestion, but I find it was too topical at the time it was published to have aged well. Doonesbury, somehow, managed to avoid that
posted by lhauser at 6:27 PM on January 4, 2023
Bloom County is a popular suggestion, but I find it was too topical at the time it was published to have aged well. Doonesbury, somehow, managed to avoid that
posted by lhauser at 6:27 PM on January 4, 2023
Story Minute (Carol Lay - look for book collections)
Monkey Food (Ellen Forney)
Sherman's Lagoon (Jim Tooney, ongoing)
A lot of early 20th century comics are amazing. (All the boring strips that are still going after a century started out good.) Top of line IMHO: Dreams of the Rarebit Fiend (Winsor McCay).
Also seconding Pogo and the Moomins. (Now there's a meetup I wish had ever happened!)
posted by zompist at 6:36 PM on January 4, 2023
Monkey Food (Ellen Forney)
Sherman's Lagoon (Jim Tooney, ongoing)
A lot of early 20th century comics are amazing. (All the boring strips that are still going after a century started out good.) Top of line IMHO: Dreams of the Rarebit Fiend (Winsor McCay).
Also seconding Pogo and the Moomins. (Now there's a meetup I wish had ever happened!)
posted by zompist at 6:36 PM on January 4, 2023
Sandra and Woo is about a girl and her pet raccoon, very similar vibes to Calvin and Hobbes.
posted by ananci at 7:00 PM on January 4, 2023
posted by ananci at 7:00 PM on January 4, 2023
An old strip, contemporary to Bloom County iirc, called Downstown
Here is a book
posted by falsedmitri at 7:48 PM on January 4, 2023
Here is a book
posted by falsedmitri at 7:48 PM on January 4, 2023
Best answer: Non Sequitur, but specifically the strips that deal with Danae and her family in Maine. Danae has a lot of similarities with Calvin, though a little smarter and a little archer. (These alternate with one-panel strips that don't have recurring characters. Except for the bears.)
posted by mark k at 9:33 PM on January 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by mark k at 9:33 PM on January 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
Nthing Non Sequitur. It's got a silly, exploratory, sci fi vibe that's really fun.
posted by spiderbeforesunset at 11:14 AM on January 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by spiderbeforesunset at 11:14 AM on January 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: These are all SO GREAT!
I gave Best Answer to answers reminding me of comics I used to read and had forgotten about (Pearls Before Swine, Non Sequitur, Bloom County, Far Side - how could I forget Far Side?!?!?) and answers that recommended things I didn't know about (Frazz, Wallace the Brave, Nancy, and the delightful Strange Planet).
I'm having a harder time checking out things like Pogo (which I did sometimes read a bit, back in the day), Downstown, Moomins, but I will keep those on my radar in case I find the books, or other online mentions.
But ALL of these are FANTASTIC answers, and I am so grateful to all of you!
Thank you all so much!
posted by kristi at 6:51 PM on January 6, 2023
I gave Best Answer to answers reminding me of comics I used to read and had forgotten about (Pearls Before Swine, Non Sequitur, Bloom County, Far Side - how could I forget Far Side?!?!?) and answers that recommended things I didn't know about (Frazz, Wallace the Brave, Nancy, and the delightful Strange Planet).
I'm having a harder time checking out things like Pogo (which I did sometimes read a bit, back in the day), Downstown, Moomins, but I will keep those on my radar in case I find the books, or other online mentions.
But ALL of these are FANTASTIC answers, and I am so grateful to all of you!
Thank you all so much!
posted by kristi at 6:51 PM on January 6, 2023
Zits is written by a co-creator of Baby Blues.
The original gasoline alley strips are being collected in volumes as Walt and Skeexix
posted by brujita at 9:10 PM on January 6, 2023
The original gasoline alley strips are being collected in volumes as Walt and Skeexix
posted by brujita at 9:10 PM on January 6, 2023
Response by poster: Popping back in to say how delighted I was to get a suggestion for Loose Parts from the very creator thereof!
And I also wanted to say an extra thanks for the mention of Funny Times, which I think I used to subscribe to many years ago, along with the Santa Cruz Comic News.
I'm so grateful for all these terrific responses! Thank you!
posted by kristi at 2:31 PM on January 14, 2023
And I also wanted to say an extra thanks for the mention of Funny Times, which I think I used to subscribe to many years ago, along with the Santa Cruz Comic News.
I'm so grateful for all these terrific responses! Thank you!
posted by kristi at 2:31 PM on January 14, 2023
Ah I came to this late, but I can't recommend Adam Koford's Haircut Practice enough. (He's the guy who created The Laugh-Out-Loud Cats, if you remember them.) It's a deep homage to early Peanuts strips that also has a modern sensibility!
posted by JHarris at 9:45 AM on February 27, 2023
posted by JHarris at 9:45 AM on February 27, 2023
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posted by flabdablet at 9:07 AM on January 4, 2023 [7 favorites]