An Immature Guilty Pleasure

"In 500 years, who'll know the difference?"

Such was the cry of Linus from Peanuts. It's one of the lesser known catchphrases, but I love it all the same. Linus was the only truly happy human Peanuts character - living in an idyllic world with his security blanket. On the occasions of Lucy's disturbance of this world, his reaction would be either to pretend to shoot her or to yell this catchphrase at her. It's now one of my favorite sayings. I would love a T-Shirt with that on it. (I have T-Shirts that say all sorts of sarcastic things on them. I make them myself.)

All our lives should be so simple and sweet as Linus's. With that short tangent done, I'd like to inform you all that today, May the sixth, is the J.G.'s Comic Srip/Book day. I've decided that if this blog is my kingdom than we need national holidays, hence this, our first. Hallelujah.

Just what is it about comics that make them so lovable? C'mon, tell me that you don't search through the newspaper on Sundays to find the latest installment of your favorite. I do, but of course, I'm Kat, and Ely has a thing about comments. Maybe it's the blend of graphics and text. Maybe it's the charming humor so often employed. Or maybe we should just let our inner child enjoy themselves and not ask questions.

But more on subject. Peanuts is the first strip we shall be honoring today. It is a classic, and we all love it to death. Why? Probably because it's such an accurate portrayal of childhood. Yes, I've thought about this. Peanuts is not often light-hearted. In fact, at times it's quite dark. If Charlie Brown were alive today, he would get called into Miss. T. (our beloved school counselor) for a short talking to, a hug, and a lollipop. There is bullying in Peanuts. Pulling away the football, anyone? There are unrequited crushes. Think Charlie Brown's "the red-headed girl." And such is life in Peanuts. Real, tangible, and identifiable with.

Not to mention the beagle.

Here's something a little odd. There are only two comic strips that feature black characters. Candorville and the Boondocks. Now I do love Candorville's down and out writer, Lemont, but the Boondocks have really stolen my heart. What are the Boondocks? Well, they are essentially the rantings of two angry kids, Huey and Riley Freeman. And they are bizarrely funny. But, true to my rather odd form, my favorite character is Ceasar, the half Jamaican boy who is a pro at lightening the tone and being a sweet, darling little socialist revolutionary. For their daily adventures, peruse www.boondocks.net. Or at least I think that's the address. Ceasar's the one with the dreadlocks.

I have never particularly liked Archie comics. Frankly, the perky, all-good attitude towards the teen years that they take put me right off them. But my siblings love them, and yesterday one was reading an Archie at the dinner table. I expected my father to scream, or Punjab her, because he hates when we read at the table, but his response was quite different. "Is that an Archie?" He gasped. He had read them as a kid as well, during the early Palezoic.

Why does the PotJH blog now have this as a holiday? I suppose the best answer is my answer to all things: Why not? Or 42, if you like. No, actually, the best answer is this. Comics are my favorite American media, aside from musical theatre. You really can't go wrong with comics.

And I've never said no to a good manga.

I remain, gentlemen, your faithful and obedient servant,

J.G.