Doonesbury by Garry Trudeau for August 10, 2010

What NOT to say to your boyfriend. Alex in panel 4. A sign that Alex has lost interest in Leo.

I disagree. Alex is just surprised and pleased.

Leo is no dummy, that’s for sure.

Could be she’s losing interest… it’s the kind of question you’d ask your buddy, not so much your romantic interest. But Alex is a complex character, hard to say.

There have been hints in past stories that she doesn’t think much of her looks, and she’s kind of sad about it; so “surprised, flattered, curious” could be just a spontaneous reaction. “Really? People think I’m attractive? Who? Where?”

The important thing is that Leo is keeping an eye on her.

You bad, Sheik.

Her insecurity is easy to explain. Alex inherited the “Doonesbury” nose.

I’m absolutely in Baslim’s court.

Nobody else here quite gets it, do they?

Good one Trudeau. This one’s hilarious.

randgrithr: the important thing to do is to dissect every bit of humor until it has been safely defused.

I’m enjoying the arc - and I think this interaction is rather sweet.

An MIT grad is not someone on the short list? Can you say “trophy hubby”?

bleeep straight, not stupid!

“Olive drab and gray matter don’t necessarily clash.”

Those who think Alex is losing interest in Toggle must have never met an engineer (or engineering student). That’s exactly the kind of questions we ask.

Like who for example, Pumpkin? No way Hunny Bunny. N-n-not stupid.

Both Toggle and Alex have been portrayed as being a little neurotic, and as they gain confidence with each other they’ll start to see their place socially in the rest of the world. It’s all part of finding themselves at that age. Alex wrote herself off “babe” status a long time ago. It’ll be interesting if she takes it further, and indeed Leo has something to worry about.

Yes Alex, the highest quality guys. They know gold when they see it!

@sandfan, GT takes liberal (ahem) licence with everybody’s noses. In panel 1, for example, Leo seems to have a unicorn somewhere in his gene pool.

Great strip. Very human. I think Alex is really cute, and if she can read this, I’ve been checking her out.

GOOD ANSWER!!

A touch of jealousy + a dash of compliment = spice in life. They seem to be playing the game right.

Plus4 you’re right.

Stebon yesterday accused GT of changing course because of the current political situation.

But, as you pointed out, GT has always addressed all aspects of life not just politics.

Mike,

Just wait. Stebon will come in last and ruin everything.

Toggle definitely has his bleeep in one sock!

I just love this thread - and remember folks, Alex has never been all that positive regarding her physical presence. A lovely young lady, smarter’n airy a hog, and no clue as to the reality of her.

Toggle is another of that generation America is lucky to have. Broken as he may have been, he is a gem.

MargueriteM is right on the money.

Alex is used to seeing all the guys check out Drew, that the thought of anyone besides Toggle checking HER out never occurred to her.

And Toggle made the right decision. It’s one thing to be jealous. It’s quite another to be stupid.

I take it that Mike Price—-along with others who, a short time ago, were roused to adolescent fantasizing by the SP doll—-finds Alex to be a wholesome cartoon replacement for Grandma Palin. Voyeurism usually IS “rancor-free,” and besides it offers a vulgar escape from politics (as Bill found in the Oval Office).

Leo is one of my favorite new characters. He is, also, the only male character of the younger DOONESBURY generation who is worth anything. Compare (Contrast) him to (with) those losers Zipper & Jeff, or that sleazebag, Earl. The younger DOONESBURY females–Alex, Samantha, Drew, & Melissa–are head & shoulders their male counterparts, Leo excepted.

palin drome, get over yourself. That “Genuis” thing is a joke.

Love the honesty between these 2!