Old school guys like Milton Caniff would have put in a header saying something like “sometime later” in the upper left of the first panel. But in a strip that doesn’t feel the need to include backgrounds beyond shadowy lines that ain’t gonna happen. Before everyone jumps all over me for that criticism let me say that I really like this strip and look forward to it daily. This strip’s story is told, it seems to me, almost totally through the facial expressions of the characters. The rest of the art can seem stiff and repetitive. Today’s strip is typical. You could reduce it to just the two faces and get pretty much the whole message. I believe Ms. Babcock is very very good at that. But there is something to be said for at least letting us know if she’s in a room or outside or wherever. In my humble opinion.
Considering that this is taking place in Mona’s bedroom its probably a relief that the background is out of view. It would be chaotic and jumbled very much in reflection of the occupant. Too much effort to draw in every panel and distracting to what’s going on in the foreground.It seems that everything that’s happened over the last couple months (only a few days cartoon time) has been leading up to today’s strip. Most of the imagery in Mona’s dream that pertained to Mona herself was of feeling out of control and needing change. Now she’s started asking herself some long overdue questions.
Buzza Wuzza over 12 years ago
Old school guys like Milton Caniff would have put in a header saying something like “sometime later” in the upper left of the first panel. But in a strip that doesn’t feel the need to include backgrounds beyond shadowy lines that ain’t gonna happen. Before everyone jumps all over me for that criticism let me say that I really like this strip and look forward to it daily. This strip’s story is told, it seems to me, almost totally through the facial expressions of the characters. The rest of the art can seem stiff and repetitive. Today’s strip is typical. You could reduce it to just the two faces and get pretty much the whole message. I believe Ms. Babcock is very very good at that. But there is something to be said for at least letting us know if she’s in a room or outside or wherever. In my humble opinion.
WelshRat Premium Member over 12 years ago
Yay! The CUTE hallucinatory rabbit returns!
Peabody-Martini over 12 years ago
Considering that this is taking place in Mona’s bedroom its probably a relief that the background is out of view. It would be chaotic and jumbled very much in reflection of the occupant. Too much effort to draw in every panel and distracting to what’s going on in the foreground.It seems that everything that’s happened over the last couple months (only a few days cartoon time) has been leading up to today’s strip. Most of the imagery in Mona’s dream that pertained to Mona herself was of feeling out of control and needing change. Now she’s started asking herself some long overdue questions.
Sisyphos over 12 years ago
Yes. And?
Julp over 12 years ago
Hmmm, good point. Do we ever see M. Smokey with any of the other characters. . . .?