Pearls Before Swine by Stephan Pastis for March 11, 2012

lol

It’s all in the mind of the beholder.

Woul’ve been awkward if Blondie were doing the Vulcan salute; Rat’d suspect she being a Trekkie.

Stephan, you could remove him very easily.

I suddenly feel like I want a really really huge sandwich…

If you are looking at Blondies hands … You might be gay.

It wasn’t a gang sign in the 1920’s. You know, when Blondie was relevant and funny. Seriously, it’s time to retire any cartoon over fifty years old.

Rat is an hysterical hypocrite. Of course, the City of Chicago just recently had a huge controversy along these lines….

I agree with Rat. “Blondie” should have been removed from papers AGES ago.

Some of us like Blondie! My husband can identify with some of Dagwood’s antics. It’s easy enough not to read a comic if you don’t like it. Just this morning we both had a good laugh at Dagwood. And the strip has kept up to date with modern trends.

I just can’t think of a response that wouldn’t be lewd….

It doesn’t have to be a real gang symbol.

Today’s strip is a satire of the stupid real-life controversy mentioned by Sisyphos….

A 15-year-old kid won the annual contest to design the City of Chicago parking sticker, but a week later his design was tossed out after some people thought the hands he drew might be flashing gang signals.

He and his art teacher both say they’re not…but the city clerk says it’s the perception that counts and not the intent.The kid is heartbroken …. and the runner up withdrew her design because of all the attention.

btw — funny link Sisyphos, thanks — but it goes to another satire… so I explained the background.

Coulda just posted THIS LINK, I s’pose.

looks like all those cans of beer rat has consumed have finally caught up with him.

Who knew Blondie was gangsta?

There must be something wrong with the constellations when Rat spouts something politically correct.

Reminds me of that article where the kid won some drawing contest but lost because of some ‘gang signs’.

I never noticed it before, Blondie’s fingers are always positioned like that. Weird.

I could be wrong. But I think it’s the sign for “west side” or “west coast” or something like that.

Oh, MAN… She’s got CLEAVAGE… what would David Letterman say? “She’s got that ‘slutty stewardess cleavage’!” I’m SOOO glad we don’t live in a double-standard world, koff, koff, hack.

Blondie is sooooo classic. And only Rat would recognize gang signs.

The ‘sign’ was intended for the comic strip next to hers entitled “Our gang”.

She also only has 4 fingers.

Blondie’s nighties..legendary..ps,we used to get three papers that all ran comics,now we get none

Ohhhhh Rat, Stephen is right in the last panel.

LOL LOL xxx

I guess that means Kelly dolls (Barbie’s youngest sister) are also flashing gang signs. They have their fingers stuck together like that too.

I’ve got no problem with “Blondie.” It’s well drawn, about as funny (or unfunny) on a regular basis as most of the rest of the strips on the page, and Dagwood is a character for the ages. Besides, it has broad appeal; it’s popular all around the world, because it deals with universal issues: work, food, family.

Those who complain that the so-called “dinosaur” strips are keeping newer stuff out of the papers have a point, but they don’t keep better strips off the comics pages. The good ones will find their way in. Besides, you who are complaining about them here are reading your comic strips (at least some of them) online. You can easily choose to read the strips you like, and avoid the ones you don’t, with no worries about how many will “fit” into your computer every day.

Keep in mind that Blondie was originally a flapper girl who spent her days in dance halls before she settled down with Dagwood, so she might have kept company with the wrong crowds.

Dagwood is the head of a little-known gang: The One-Button Shirts.

You have to admit, for being an 82 year old comic strip character, Blondie looks pretty good.

California Love! West Coast! Who knew Blondie was a Tupac and Dr. Dre fan!

LOL! Didn’t see that one coming!

they should have retired blondie when they celebrated their fiftieth anniversary. or at least make her and dagwood older,and have grand children.

WESTSIDE!

she killed 2pac

The Blondie comic strip is as old as my grandfather, which was made in 1930 by Chic Young and if he were alive know, Rat’s guess could have been right but really this an 82-year comic strip after all, 20 years before Peanuts which Pastis has been inspired by.

You won’t feel that way when you’re over 50 years old

Four fingers, like Yakuza. I know clearly what are you trying to mean.