That’s the turtle from the old comic strip Pogo. I think his name was Churchy LaFemme. On the 13th of every month, no matter the day of the week, he’d say “Friday the 13th falls on a [whatever day] this month!”
Pointless, threatening, and horrifying all at the same time. Yep—hits all of the buttons. (Well, except funny, but I don’t think that button works anymore.)
Some of you who have been watching the calendar know that in February, the strip will be celebrating its 15th anniversary.
The recent strips with the big numbers startling Victoria are indeed, as some have theorized, a countdown. And yes, the “95” this week points to Sunday, February 14, 2021.
Over the past few years, with our financial difficulties, losing one house and nearly losing another, I’ve suffered from a lot of stress. Then the pandemic hit. It’s become harder for me to keep coming up with gags for these characters. There is only so much you can do with cutout photographs, after all, and I doubt many of you will argue that the strip hasn’t suffered the past few years.
So, after long thought and contemplation, I decided that 15 years is long enough to do anything.
The strip will reach its 15th anniversary on Monday, February 8th, and the following Sunday, February 14, will be its last installment.
I’ve discussed this with my reps at the Syndicate, and while they are sorry to see the strip go, they understand my reasoning and support the decision. I want to emphasize that the decision to end the strip is mine and mine alone. I am not being pressured off the page or censored or anything like that. It’s just that the time has finally come to end the strip.
At this point, no decision has been made on whether or not the strip will continue in reruns. If you want to see the reruns, let the GoComics people know. As for my future, I do have some ideas for new strips, but will wait until an artist comes along for me to work with. The Fumetti days are over,
Those of you who have been sponsoring the strip on Patreon will want to cancel your sponsorship before February 1st.
Most folks won’t get the Pogo / Churchy LaFemme reference of Friday the 13th falling on a Friday!…but there are a few of us who still have our 1956 Pogo for President buttons…!!! ….and, bonne chance from now on….!
Actually, we Still say “Friday the 13th falls on a —-“ in our Family! :)Of course, I was born on the 13th of the month, so we have more incentive to keep the tradition alive.This brings back memories of my parents and all the Pogo strips we used to pass around. Thank you for this! :)
BE THIS GUY almost 4 years ago
Thanks. We all have calendars on our phone.
Snark-impaired almost 4 years ago
That’s the turtle from the old comic strip Pogo. I think his name was Churchy LaFemme. On the 13th of every month, no matter the day of the week, he’d say “Friday the 13th falls on a [whatever day] this month!”
pschearer Premium Member almost 4 years ago
THIS is the “big announcement” Pab pre-announced on Wednesday???
dwane.scoty1 almost 4 years ago
Maybe the Biggie is he will go back to having something Fresh on Sat. & Sunday?
TheWildSow almost 4 years ago
Churchy!
epaphus8 almost 4 years ago
Pointless, threatening, and horrifying all at the same time. Yep—hits all of the buttons. (Well, except funny, but I don’t think that button works anymore.)
Blaidd Drwg Premium Member almost 4 years ago
Pogo reference, but today I’d say: Guest appearance by Moscow Mitch McConnel.
SteveHL almost 4 years ago
I don’t think that there is a hidden meaning here. Pab is a major Pogo fan and frequently posts on a Pogo site.
Lydushka almost 4 years ago
it’s the second one this year and the first one started the states shutting down.. Looks like a possibility again.
DCBakerEsq almost 4 years ago
Lame-o
dwyntomlinson Premium Member almost 4 years ago
I go Pogo!
Major Matt Mason Premium Member almost 4 years ago
As Maine go o so Pogo go Key Largo,
Otsego to Frisco go to Fargo,
Okeefenokee playin’ Possum on a Pogo
Stick around and see the show!
Plods with ...™ almost 4 years ago
Little late, but her Maj should hold on to her knickers on Fri the 13th in 2020
Pab Sungenis creator almost 4 years ago
And now, the big announcement.
Some of you who have been watching the calendar know that in February, the strip will be celebrating its 15th anniversary.
The recent strips with the big numbers startling Victoria are indeed, as some have theorized, a countdown. And yes, the “95” this week points to Sunday, February 14, 2021.
Over the past few years, with our financial difficulties, losing one house and nearly losing another, I’ve suffered from a lot of stress. Then the pandemic hit. It’s become harder for me to keep coming up with gags for these characters. There is only so much you can do with cutout photographs, after all, and I doubt many of you will argue that the strip hasn’t suffered the past few years.
So, after long thought and contemplation, I decided that 15 years is long enough to do anything.
The strip will reach its 15th anniversary on Monday, February 8th, and the following Sunday, February 14, will be its last installment.
I’ve discussed this with my reps at the Syndicate, and while they are sorry to see the strip go, they understand my reasoning and support the decision. I want to emphasize that the decision to end the strip is mine and mine alone. I am not being pressured off the page or censored or anything like that. It’s just that the time has finally come to end the strip.
At this point, no decision has been made on whether or not the strip will continue in reruns. If you want to see the reruns, let the GoComics people know. As for my future, I do have some ideas for new strips, but will wait until an artist comes along for me to work with. The Fumetti days are over,
Those of you who have been sponsoring the strip on Patreon will want to cancel your sponsorship before February 1st.
Thank you all for 15 years of fun.
SteveHL almost 4 years ago
Sorry to hear that. Best of luck.
rfleisch1 almost 4 years ago
Sorry to see you leave the strip. As was said in Field of Dreams, “You were good, kid!”
aerotica69 almost 4 years ago
I will be so sorry to see this strip end. I hope there will be a couple more compilation books released to ease our suffering.
Teto85 Premium Member almost 4 years ago
Thank you for a great ride. Good luck and have fun.
jrbaskind Premium Member almost 4 years ago
I would like to see the strip in reruns.
dgardner55 Premium Member almost 4 years ago
Most folks won’t get the Pogo / Churchy LaFemme reference of Friday the 13th falling on a Friday!…but there are a few of us who still have our 1956 Pogo for President buttons…!!! ….and, bonne chance from now on….!
Quabaculta almost 4 years ago
Good luck to you and yours out there. I hope to see new strips sooner than hoped possible.
SavannahJim Premium Member almost 4 years ago
“We have met the enemy and they is T****!” Come to Waycross, GA and see Pogo on a Water Tower! Jan 5th, VOTE in the DAMN RUN OFF!
cha0ss Premium Member almost 4 years ago
Huh. I thought Churchy was a Mud Turkle. Apparently he’s a Sea Turkle.
Gweedo -it's legal here- Murray almost 4 years ago
Start here and binge read like never before !
https://www.gocomics.com/thenewadventuresofqueenvictoria/2006/02/08
I kicked in to save Pab’s house when he was in Jersey and again for the current one. Wherever you go in comicdom, keep this one, dear Sir.
Now that J. Francis Glynn is no longer with the company who is the sympathetic support person we can lobby around for New Queen Vicky reruns ?
Zool Premium Member almost 4 years ago
Actually, we Still say “Friday the 13th falls on a —-“ in our Family! :)Of course, I was born on the 13th of the month, so we have more incentive to keep the tradition alive.This brings back memories of my parents and all the Pogo strips we used to pass around. Thank you for this! :)
Darryl Heine over 3 years ago
Churchy La Femme from the old Pogo comic strip!