Pearls before Swine - Cyclists are Fascists in tight pants

[Tony T]

http://assets.amuniversal.com/75b590e08a3a01332b32005056a9545d

https://www.facebook.com/PearlsComic/?fref=nf

[oldpotatoe]

http://assets.amuniversal.com/75b590e08a3a01332b32005056a9545d

Aarrrg, ya beat me to it!!

Cycling humor in the morning-nice!!

[fiamme red]

Cycling humor in the morning-nice!!I don't know, if a right-wing radio host was inciting hatred of cyclists by calling them "fascists," we'd probably be calling for his resignation.

As one commenter wrote: "Yesterday it was bash top knots. Today it's bash cyclists. Think it's time for me to find another 'comic' strip. Too many haters here. Ciao..."

http://www.gocomics.com/pearlsbeforeswine/2015/12/30

[Tony T]

As one commenter wrote: "Yesterday it was bash top knots.


"Sometimes you just have to save people from themselves"

https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/10171891_10153804389833764_470341526149060240_n.jp g?oh=3af2f66671d67a2dc6176c4f15318847&oe=5709E716

[Red Tornado]

Every now & then I listen to a guy on talk radio who is a New Yorker transplanted to San Francisco. Kind of an extremist in a lot of ways, and not that I agree with everything he says, but he is entertaining. Sometimes just plain outrageous, and he gives me a reason to chuckle on the drive home occasionally.
Anyhoo, he likes to ride around town on what I'm guessing is a townie bike of some sort, so I figured he was probably supportive of cyclists in general. But no, he has often railed against us elitists in lycra, who look down our noses at everyone else and think the roads & paths were created solely for us. Kinda shocked initially but there are many factions within the cycling world, so live and let live I guess. Thought his viewpoint sorta ties in with the cartoon. I'm guessing some of you know of whom I speak.

[Tony T]

Anyhoo, he likes to ride around town on what I'm guessing is a townie bike of some sort, so I figured he was probably supportive of cyclists in general. But no, he has often railed against us elitists in lycra, who look down our noses at everyone else and think the roads & paths were created solely for us.

Obviously he hasn't seen the "Pyramid of Humanity" :)

http://flyingpigeon-la.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/pb130113.jpg

[bcroslin]

guy who scribbles for a living is trolling hard. best not to feed him.

[Tony T]

guy who scribbles for a living is trolling hard. best not to feed him.

How do we do that? ;)

[Ken Robb]

I think this strip is usually hilarious. Successful satire requires taking at least a grain of truth to ridiculous extremes.

[oldpotatoe]

I don't know, if a right-wing radio host was inciting hatred of cyclists by calling them "fascists," we'd probably be calling for his resignation.

As one commenter wrote: "Yesterday it was bash top knots. Today it's bash cyclists. Think it's time for me to find another 'comic' strip. Too many haters here. Ciao..."

http://www.gocomics.com/pearlsbeforeswine/2015/12/30

Geez, I kinda look at the 3 cartoon panels as a total package, a 3 panel cartoon, nothing more. I guess some would call it 'bashing cyclists' and right wing this or that but it's a 3 panel cartoon...

[Red Tornado]

Obviously he hasn't seen the "Pyramid of Humanity" :)

http://flyingpigeon-la.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/pb130113.jpg

Yeah, I think that cartoon pretty much sums up his impression of how cyclists view non-cyclists. To go further, he thinks that's how "serious" cyclists even view other not-so-serious cyclists. Kinda soured me on him a little after I heard some of his comments. Personally, I'm happy to see anyone on a bike regardless of what discipline or their reason for riding; as long as they're out there turning the cranks. Think he's letting the few bad apples spoil it for him. The majority of cyclists I associate with, competitive or non, are pretty decent folk on and off the bike.

[Tony T]

Any cartoonist that can get Bill Watterson (Calvin and Hobbes) to do a few "guest strips (https://stephanpastis.wordpress.com/2014/06/07/ever-wished-that-calvin-and-hobbes-creator-bill-watterson-would-return-to-the-comics-page-well-he-just-did/)" can't be all bad :)

[bobswire]

Any cartoonist that can get Bill Watterson (Calvin and Hobbes) to do a few "guest strips (https://stephanpastis.wordpress.com/2014/06/07/ever-wished-that-calvin-and-hobbes-creator-bill-watterson-would-return-to-the-comics-page-well-he-just-did/)" can't be all bad :)

Sure, like a politician taking bribes, err I mean "donation" from the Kochs. :)

[Tony T]

Don't pull a muscle with a stretch like that :D

[bobswire]

Don't pull a muscle with a stretch like that :D

It's called satire. ;)

[Tony T]

Another favorite:

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/8d/57/8a/8d578a42ee346646ef84f42f06891717.jpg

[russ46]

Thanks for sharing. I enjoyed it. While as always a minority, there are some members of a CT cycling club I run into sometimes that would probably take offense to the cartoon.

[zmudshark]

FWIW, the cyclist is supposed to be Jef Mallett, who does the comic strip 'Frazz'. Stephan Pastis is a friend of Jef Mallett's.

It's all in good fun.

https://www.facebook.com/PearlsComic/photos/a.254744753763.172598.132583843763/10152607980733764/

http://assets.amuniversal.com/46421e904738013153f3001dd8b71c47

http://assets.amuniversal.com/77ac9a205660012f2fd300163e41dd5b

[bikingshearer]

I mostly like "Pearls Before Swine," but on occasion his humor and satire become a bit too mean spirited for my taste. Some of his Jeff the Cyclist strips are among them - some, not all or even most. Some of his strips about his apparently ex-wife are a bit tacky and/or mean, too.

By comparison, I can't think of a time when I thought "Calvin & Hobbs" was mean spirited or tacky.

Since PBS is so good so often, I can forgive the occasional faux pas.

[zmudshark]

I mostly like "Pearls Before Swine," but on occasion his humor and satire become a bit too mean spirited for my taste. Some of his Jeff the Cyclist strips are among them - some, not all or even most. Some of his strips about his apparently ex-wife are a bit tacky and/or mean, too.

By comparison, I can't think of a time when I thought "Calvin & Hobbs" was mean spirited or tacky.

Since PBS is so good so often, I can forgive the occasional faux pas.

Jeff, dropped one 'f', because it's lighter, to become 'Jef', as least according to Pastis (look it up). :beer:

Interestingly, some folks thought Jef Mallett was actually Bill Watterson, but Bill Watterson has only done one comic strip since he retired... and it was for Stephan Pastis.

Three strips, starting here (I hope):

http://www.gocomics.com/pearlsbeforeswine/2014/06/04#.U5KCEV7irwI

That there is full circle.

[Tony T]

Jeff, dropped one 'f', because it's lighter, to become 'Jef', as least according to Pastis (look it up). :beer:

https://thecomicninja.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/pearls-before-swine-maximum-efficiency-small.gif?w=640

[fiamme red]

"And that's why I try to run them over."

Not funny. :no:

http://assets.amuniversal.com/de9b6ed0e4df012fed51001dd8b71c47

[Louis]

In a side comment, but related to this thread: there is zero, and I mean ZERO doubt in my mind that Calvin and Hobbes was the greatest comic strip of our times.

The level of original zaniness, the creativity, the art work, the relationships between Calvin and nearly everyone else (Hobbes obviously, his parents, Suzie Derkins (sp?), his teacher, etc, etc) the handling of all sorts of serious topics, Spaceman Spiff, the Transmogrifier (sp?) basically the whole thing was awesome. Oh, and how can I forget all the various types of insane snow-creatures?

1985 - 1995 was IMO the high-point of comic strips in our generation.

There are of course other good ones (The Far Side, Dilbert, etc) but C & H stands alone at the top.

[Tony T]

1985 - 1995 was IMO the high-point of comic strips in our generation.

There are of course other good ones (The Far Side, Dilbert, etc) but C & H stands alone at the top.

Bloom County (and it's back again almost daily on Breathed's facebook page)

[bikingshearer]

Jeff, dropped one 'f', because it's lighter, to become 'Jef', as least according to Pastis (look it up). :beer:

Interestingly, some folks thought Jef Mallett was actually Bill Watterson, but Bill Watterson has only done one comic strip since he retired... and it was for Stephan Pastis.

Three strips, starting here (I hope):

http://www.gocomics.com/pearlsbeforeswine/2014/06/04#.U5KCEV7irwI

That there is full circle.

Thank you for that. You made my day.

[unterhausen]

I love Jef the cyclist and the pyramid of humanity is the greatest thing ever

[rounder]

In a side comment, but related to this thread: there is zero, and I mean ZERO doubt in my mind that Calvin and Hobbes was the greatest comic strip of our times.

The level of original zaniness, the creativity, the art work, the relationships between Calvin and nearly everyone else (Hobbes obviously, his parents, Suzie Derkins (sp?), his teacher, etc, etc) the handling of all sorts of serious topics, Spaceman Spiff, the Transmogrifier (sp?) basically the whole thing was awesome. Oh, and how can I forget all the various types of insane snow-creatures?

1985 - 1995 was IMO the high-point of comic strips in our generation.

There are of course other good ones (The Far Side, Dilbert, etc) but C & H stands alone at the top.

Pardon me...but I believe that Peanuts was the greatest cartoon ever. I mean, I know that lots of people liked Calvin and Hobbs...but did they ever do a Christmas show? Did Calvin and Hobbs ever do a Halloween Show? I mean really...How can you say it was the greatest cartoon ever if they never did a Christmas show or Halloween show??

Just kidding...Best New Year's wishes to all!!

[fiamme red]

Pardon me...but I believe that Peanuts was the greatest cartoon ever. I mean, I know that lots of people liked Calvin and Hobbs...but did they ever do a Christmas show? Did Calvin and Hobbs ever do a Halloween Show? I mean really...How can you say it was the greatest cartoon ever if they never did a Christmas show or Halloween show??http://41.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l6j299Y4Eo1qcbk91o1_1280.png

[rounder]

http://41.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l6j299Y4Eo1qcbk91o1_1280.png

Exactly!

[Ronsonic]

Loved the PBS cyclist series, thanks for posting this, I'd missed them.

We gotta admit that some of our fellow riders are not entirely well oiled machines, and I don't mean that in a squeaky chain sorta way. And Jef is one of the classic failure modes. In a world where a regional (Mississippi/Louisiana regional FFS) over 40 racer get busted for doping to beat a field of ten, uh yeah, there's guys taking this way too seriously.

The best of course was Calvin's dad taking up the bike and Calvin's later exploration of serious bubble gum, including a subscription to "Chewing" magazine. Another funhouse mirror in our world.

[Louis]

Not to quibble, but Peanuts was from a different generation. It started in 1950. It did continue until 2000, but we're talking apples vs oranges.

[Tony T]

The best of course was Calvin's dad taking up the bike and Calvin's later exploration of serious bubble gum, including a subscription to "Chewing" magazine. Another funhouse mirror in our world.

.

[Dead Man]

It's a guilty pleasure. I don't agree, but I chuckle anywAy.