Overboard by Chip Dunham for July 10, 2010

They are well trained, Henry! And saved you to live another day!

Morning Crew!

I notice some of the readers don’t like the mice in the comic. I think they’re great. They add something. I get the occasional mouse in my house , though. I’m not as fond of THEM.

Very good point men, Henry!

Good Saturday Morning, Crew!

Or die another day, Fellow Baby!

Good Morning, Crew!

Shore leave just isn’t what it used to be!

Yar Mates!

Lt. Col. Frank Slade:

There are two kinds of people in this world: those who stand up and face the music, and those who run for cover. Cover is better.

“Hoo-hah!”

Garlic breath, eh? Don’t the green ship guys know about Tic Tacs if they want to attack?

Why can all the animals talk except Louie?

Mornin’ Crew

HareBall, Louie’s the only one who hasn’t learned to walk on his hind legs. The mice, the ginormous rabbits, Scratch, Raymond…they’re all bipedal.

Louie’s quadrupedal posture puts strain on his esophagus which prevents any vocalization more complex than a bark. Think about it: Which do babies learn first - to walk, or to talk? To walk, of course! You can’t do the latter without the former.

Manitobaman:

I’m with you. I love the mice! Of course, I’m also pretty fond of the dogs and Gork.

HareBall: That’s actually a good explanation. Now the question is: why is Louie the only one who doesn’t walk on two legs?

A rough neighborhood… Unless the mouse is an interpreter, I think Louie’s super nose could have handled this job on his own. I don’t mind the mice so much, but they seem to have taken over the strip.

Good morning, Crew! Enjoy your weekend!

And good luck with finding a place to have dinner or a drink Cap’n Crow. Of course Louie’s always good “girl bait” while out on a walk but with a mouse riding shotgun…I think not.

Ratbrat: “Now the question is: why is Louie the only one who doesn’t walk on two legs?”

It’s a subconscious suppression of development, because by remaining non-verbal and “animalistic” he avoids the responsibilities that would come with bipedalism. Like the occasional regressive infantilism in older children, by remaining “helpless” he also remains the center of attention. His every desire is catered to, his misbehavior is instantly overlooked or forgiven. Louie is “His Majesty the Baby”, the Center of the Universe. Again, I believe it’s subconscious, but if Louie ever were to learn to walk and talk like Raymond, he’d likely be given jobs on the ship (or at least chores), and held accountable for their performance. And once you get started with that sort of thing, there’s no going back…

I have noticed that the green pirates are becoming more violent lately.

Avoiding a fight may be safer, but not nearly as much fun.

Raymond / Louie : Goofy / Pluto

On the Mouse Question, I’m torn. I like them, but it does seems like they’re taking over…

Spagged that flammer!

I really preferred the strip before the animals…when it was more mean-spirited fun.

The nose is mightier than the stealth.

diplomacyworld:

I believe that Louie was on board from the beginning. Ashore, with the captain he was a “chick magnet” The whole strip seemed to be a send up of work place politics and aggravations, sort of a pre-techy Dilbert. Of course there were attempted, and failed “hook-ups” ashore.Then Louie started to dominate followed by Raymond and rodents. I know it’s hard to write new stuff seven days a week 365 days a year but I wouldn’t object to subtle recycling.

Raymond and the Rodents: for any of you aspiring muscians I’ll donate the name to your band.