Strange Brew by John Deering for May 01, 2014

Or sponsored by that well-known US store.

Bummer of a birthmark.

That was the first thought that crossed my mind too TJ. I miss Gary Larson.

@TJDestry

Bummer of a birthmark, HAL.

A cartoonist who re-dos a Larson cartoon either:

1. Isn’t familiar with Larson (that would be odd and show a lack of knowledge as The Far SIde is the perennial paragon of single panel cartoons.

2. Thinks no one else knows or remembers Larson’s work (that’s a slight to the audience).

3. Doesn’t care (that’s a slight to the audience and the cartoonist himself)

4. desperate to come up with a cartoon (that means it’s time to turn in your pen)

5. Is suffering from medial condition that causes memory loss ( that cartoonist is not responsible)

6. Likes to purposely do remake cartoons to see what kind of reader commentary he can drum up.

7. Doesn’t like Gary Larson.

8. Doesn’t like deer.

9. Doesn’t like deer who like Far Side cartoons about deer.

10. Isn’t aware that if you’re going to “re-do” a gag, that you should do it in such a way that you both honor the original cartoonist and make the re-do in such a different way that it has its own unique take on a particular theme.

11. The cartoonist wants to see if the syndicate is asleep at the editorial switch.

Not sure which one of these apply – except for number 11. That’s a definite.

PS. When you re-do a cartoon – at the VERY least – acknowledge, in writing on the cartoon “apologies to…”

DanReynolds,

Get off your high horse. This is not a remake of the classic Larson cartoon. Just because Larson did a cartoon of a deer with a target on its chest doesn’t mean that every cartoon reminiscent of that idea is a ripoff. It’s just a variation on the idea. An acknowledgement (not an apology, which usually refers to a parody or satire) to Larson might be nice if the cartoonist were truly inspired by his work, but it isn’t required.

I want to know. Did he get Santa’s permission to get the tat’?

Tigdi,

I don’t think “Get off your high horse” is a particularly mean-spirited expression. I was indicating that I felt that Dan was being a little high-handed in compiling his rather elaborate list of reasons of why a cartoonist would re-do someone else’s work, especially when I also thought he was totally off-base in asserting that this cartoon was a re-do in the first place. Everyone is indeed entitled to his or her opinion, and I was simply expressing mine – which included feedback to the cartoonist as well.

Since the subject has been broached, someone here doesappear, at least superficially, to be suffering from a medial(sic) condition. No.5 on the list ( or was it No. 5000?) My guess would be Obsessive Compulsive Disorder -just acasual observation. Moving on to paraphrase an expert,sometimes a tattoo is just a tattoo.

Actually, I thought of Larson, today’s growing fascination with ink (like with “millennials”), and how today so many are willing to do it (the worst things in many ways) to themselves!

DanReynolds: All good points. The new young kids will learn someday.

Frankly, if you think my pointing out the obvious was out of line then I can only surmise it’s because:

1. You aren’t familiar with Larson’s work 2. You’re a cartoonist who likes to re-do Far Side cartoons3. You just don’t like comments that include lists.

I’m not sure if your last comment was directed at me, Dan, but I don’t think you pointed out the obvious at all, because this simply isn’t a re-do of a Far Side cartoon. I am very familiar with Gary Larson’s work and, as I already noted, there’s nothing wrong with using a similar idea or being inspired by someone else’s work. Absolutely no plagiarism here.

My personal preference is to see new material or old situations done in a totally new and creative way.