Lio by Mark Tatulli for October 18, 2014

That boy Lio ain’t right. (I wonder if actor Jeff Daniels is in that group.)

That sign should read “Arachnophobia Support Group 5:00-5:02 PM”

Well, you could say it’s a form of graduated exposure therapy.

Too much effort by Lio. Because you are never more than 6 feet from a spider he only needs to get the dozen or so already in the room to show themselves.

Lio’s been hanging with Calvin again!!!

Now, that’s downright mean, Lio!—But fun! Will they run in panic or be frozen in terror? You should video-record this, Lio!

I love spiders and snakes, don’t understand those fears at all. And I am an official senior citizen lady.

Fear of spiders and snakes is a survival instinct, because both of those things are aggressive, bite, and many are poisonous, some lethally so. A human child (or adult) who just happily walks up to spiders and snakes and tries to play with them would probably not live very long in more primitive times, and sometimes even today. Thus, the instinctive fear evolved.

What’s the big deal! Leo is just fishing for the “catch of the day”…

Oh no!

Sorry, while I usually like this strip, exploiting peoples’ fears just isn’t funny.

Cruel Lio, nightmares will ensue.

Love this one.