Cul de Sac by Richard Thompson for July 23, 2023

I think Petey, just now being made aware of Tolkien BY Ernesto, establishes Ernesto as indeed real and not imaginary … TA-DA!

… on the other hand, there is something to be said for derivative.

Petey, you could choose a MUCH better imaginary friend.

I think Petey would enjoy “Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” in a few years. At his age perhaps the library has some Hardy Boys mysteries he could enjoy.

That’s an intricate pop up book there.

You’ll never get that squid back in the book.

Stuff that Alice likes always jumps out and tries to grab Petey!

I always liked those moments when my super-smart friends gave me credit for trivial quips!

Ernesto reminds me of a young George Santos, but more believable

I have twin daughters. They were like Alice when they were her age.

Ah, the Necronomicon. Love that book, even though it’s derivative, watered-down Allan Poe.

I’d read that… heck, I have read Harry Potter…

maybe he’ll get dragged into the book from all those tentacles. :D

Squidward’s favorite book as a kid.

Giant squids, and Tolkien, and podcasts, OH MY!

Kipling and kippled was the version in a Bertie Wooster story, if memory serves…

Peter likely won’t like Kipling then, either.

Never let pompous “experts” tell you what to like. They’re probably just pretending to be smart to cover up their own insecurities. I’m sure Dirk Dragonslapper is a fine book.

Tolkien created modern fantasy so his influence is inescapable. But you can’t just read The Lord of the Rings over and over. Besides, Tolkien has his limitations — he had real problems with female characters, for example.

Besides, we’re talking about a kids book, so some watering down is necessary. The Hobbit is watered down Tolkien.

Welp, back to “Little Neuro”…

Last panel is an absolute gem. Could’ve been used as a single panel and would’ve still been worthy.

Wow! I want the Pop-up Book of Giant Squids. One could have a lot of fun with that book.

Between giant wilting flowers and squid, Petey is having a very bad week.

Alice was later fined when she returned the book as it had a Kraken it

Poor Petey. Who knew the library could be so traumatic? Though it does seem like good fodder for the Zombie Toad graphic novel.

LOL! Who sez LOL instead of ha ha ha

The squid book is making Petey have flash backs of the flower attack

The first time I saw this one I laughed and laughed and laughed. Poor Petey!

Sign on a railway arch in South London – Giant Squid Farm coming soon

No criticism of Alice today. She’s just being enthusiastic about her book and showing it to Big Brother, with no harm intended.

But no criticism of Petey, either. He has walked into a Giant Squid-storm….

Is Ishmael (usually called Ishy) from Lio related to this squid?

I thought that Petey’s selection sounded good.