Overboard by Chip Dunham for August 16, 2009

The sharks lost their lunch, but Louie gets his. Yea!

Morning Crew!

I posted this way too late last night to be read, but feel strongly it should be read:

“Allan, this is for you (and thank you Gordonne for seeing it):

I am entitled to my opinions, just as you are entitled to disagree with them! I have said this all along. This forum is entitled “Comments,” not “Total Agreement with Majority Sentiment.” I didn’t see anyone appointed Master of Content. Personally I disagree that this strip is cutting edge any longer. It used to be. But Chip labors at times to make the point of the joke; and Pastis and Toomey alone far surpass him in cutting edge cleverness. The addition of the dogs, mice and bizarre rabbits, with the deletion of much of the original crew; took the strip away from the key impact of its original format. As has been pointed out, that’s Chip’s right and many appreciate it. There are times it still amuses and is interesting. If that deserves a “go somewhere else,” well, that’s your right to say, I guess; but you seem amazingly unclear on one of the founding concepts of this little Republic we live in, and it ain’t gonna happen. I calls ‘em the way I sees ‘em! But with the nicest intent! I’d NEVER, NEVER, NEVER tell you to take a hike or let the door hit you in the butt on the way out. You ought to be ashamed!!”

I apologize for its length. I do not recall initiating a personal attack on any crew member, and find allan’s invective to be poor conduct and a breach of ettiquette. I do not react well to bullying, which this is a form of, and do not yield to it.

The Captain knows the secret of Louie levitation. Now, can he convert this into strategic advantage against the green ship?

GOD MORNING CREWMATES! Can’t stay long - have to be at church! Egads, I’m late already aw well. I wish I could float like that … would cut travel time through Toronto a HECKUVA lot faster! HAHAHA

Anyway, My crewmates, have a great day, see you in around 10 hours!

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Benzlove - where did I ever mention your behind … please, do not put words in my mouth.

I am tired of people who read these strips - FBOFW, Luann, Monty, and the other 40 I read in a day - complain that the writer has ‘gone astray.” If you don’t like something, the simplist thing to do is NOT to read it.

Complaining about it on a forum such as this isn’t likely to have any impact and it just deters from the general enjoyment of the comic, and the discussion with the The Crew here …

I agree, you have a right to your opinion, but, that doesn’t mean we need to hear it. I don’t go around telling you what I think of GW Bush, or how much better I think Obama has been so far, then the last three Presidents before him combined.

I have nothing to be ashamed of, and I won’t apologize for stating my opinion on the annoying habit of others posting their opinions.

Overboard was in my local newspaper when it first debuted and I loved it. Unfortunately, it wasn’t too long until it disappeared.

Recently I found it online (after Louie, but before the rabbits and mice and Raymond). I don’t think there’s anything funnier than Louie. My god, look at his expression in today’s strip when he’s in the water. I also love Charley and the rabbits story line, Louie and his Lab calendar and one of the pirates who was dating someone who had a cat.

In the original strip I remember the pirates always trying to pick up women and being rejected but don’t recall much else. I just remember it being funny. I think it’s still great but I would say it’s better now. I wonder if there was were strips that showed Louie coming aboard.

This strip brightens my day and I think if someone no longer likes it, why do they continue to read it and criticize it?

All I can say is….GUYS! GROW UP!!!

Good Morning Crew.

I see that quite frequently where the people read certain strips everyday only to comment on how they don’t like them anymore. Maybe they are hoping they change or they just like controversy. Look at it this way. Many more people read these strips, than read the comments that one may not agree with.

BTW, my dog can do that also……at night …..in the dark……and when no one is watching!

If we come to the comics, it’s usually to get a laugh or a smile. If we come to this website, it’s usually because we find the comments interesting or want to share our own. Having said that, I am tired of the constant complaining and criticizing that having an anonymous account on the Internet brings. While we may have a “right” to voice your opinion, a lot of us have lost the ability to do that with respect and courtesy. I struggle with that as well, but try to think twice before posting. Finally, this is a website about comics for pete’s sake, and I think most of us would love to come and enjoy both the comics and comments without the bitterness. There are plenty of other websites to go to for that.

Sometimes I feel like Louie in the first panel, surrounded by sharks and feeling bleak and I just need some friends (anonymous or not) to help me rise above the things that bring us all down. Some of my other favorite comics, like FBoFW, have turned into daily nasty fights and that is sad. Overboard has always been an oasis for me, and I hope that doesn’t change.

One more thing, I don’t care if you’re a Bush supporter or an Obama supporter or somewhere in between, these are the comics (and not political comics), so why do people feel the need to deliberately twist the meaning of an innocent comic into something political. Again, there are other websites for that. You’re not going to gain supporters by making snarky comments on a comics site!

I love Louie’s bug eyes! Its very rare to see him stressed out.

Well, you’re all right in one way or another. I will leave you with the thought this is a public forum, not an admiration society site. If you all choose to O’Reilly any dissenting word, so be it. Allan, you did indeed tell me to let the door hit me in the butt on the way out. I am on the way out, but not by your arrogant dictat. Don’t bother answering, I won’t be here to see it…y’see, I have a life.

I’m just glad I’m here to read these fine comics everyday! I thank God for them and everyone of you! Louie being in it on any given day just helps make it sweeter.

Good Sunday morning to ALL the crew!

And now that everyone has received their allotment of sugar-

*+”,>!!!!

I KNEW IT! I KNEW IT!!!!I I knew it would not take long for my FAVORITE COMIC STRIP comment section to turn into yet another beyoutch and moan session!

Chip I miss some of the old characters. It is your strip, your right to do with it what you choose. You are the artist, not any of us here. But your strip is STILL THE BEST! Good job!

People, please don’t ruin this strip! C & H and FBOFW are getting ruined with this stuff! Don’t do it here!

GOOD MORNING CREW!!

I was out of town for a bit and am catching up now. It looks like I missed a confrontation. As I have posted here on ocassion previously, I have never backed down from a debate, and will go toe to toe with anyone on anything, but I do not do it here. I went over to State of the Union last week and was so bothered by the rhetoric that I went running back to Big Top for some fun and friendly conversation. We formed THE CREW because we were blasted for being too chatty. I certainly do not claim any priviledges here, or authority in any way over any one else’s remarks, but I am just having fun, and have hoped that others would do the same. After all, that’s what comics are intended for, at least in their origin. Those of us who spend time yacking at Big Top have imposed on ourselves a few simple guidelines, the primary of which is “BE NICE”.

I have been reading Overboard since it began, and share some diasappointment with others of you in the way Chip has developed the characters over the years. I was first drawn to it because I was a boat owner and always liked the pirate scene as a kid and Overboard was a perfect fit. It has drifted away from that quite a bit, and now focuses more on the animals than “boat stuff”. Remember, Raymond was on the Green ship and came along on the raids. At some point he just sort of moved in with our guys. The many women in Henry’s life have come and gone with no explanation or logic. I must realize that the nature of a comic strip lends to a degree of absurdity and illogic. That’s part of what makes it funny. When I was a teenager (a LONG time ago) I dabbled in comedy and comic writing just a bit and the strongest point that my teachers and mentors made was that exageration was paramount. Draw objects out of scale, defy logic, place characters out of position because it adds to the comedy. Perhaps that is inappropriate in some settings, but a present day pirate ship is so looney to begin with that I perceive Chip as following the rules of absurdity. Some days, I don’t get it either, but I always come here first and I always smile, even when I am saying, “Huh?”

I seldom go on a rant and this certainly is one, but I can not in good conscience apologize for it. I would encourage anyone to ignore me as they see fit.

I would hate to lose any regulars on this comment board, regardless of your opinions. I simply ask each of you to be respectful and exercise due restraint when disagreeing. Please note that I said “ask”.

Have a great Sunday!

Peace y’all!

I read this strip daily and I like it.

Me, too!!!!!

G’Morning Crew: Here’s my 2 cents worth:

There is no such thing as constructive criticism. Unlike policitcal cartoons, these cartoons are meant to make us smile, perhaps laugh, and if we’re lucky, forget about our problems for a few minutes. To paraphrase a great statesman: ”You can entertain some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can’t entertain all of the people all of the time.” If this isn’t your time, please don’t spoil it for the rest of us. Some people take reading cartoons too seriously, and cross that boundary that turns trek fans into trekkies. This is the writer’s world that he is giving us a glimpse at, not ours to dictate. It is not a democracy, Overboard is the sovereign state of Chip Dunham.

Donuts, anyone?

So, does anyone remember Snuffles, the levitating dog?

Big Top had a lengthy thread about the cartoon classics, and I somehow recall that there was a floating dog that appeared in the old Quick Draw McGraw cartoons.

This from Hanna-Barbera:

Snuffles was called into action when equine marshal Quick Draw McGraw was on the trail of a bad guy. But before Snuffles would use his “sniffing” abilities to track down the criminals, he first had to be fed a special doggie-biscuit treat. Pointing to his mouth, Snuffles directed Quick Draw to feed him.

When Snuffles swallowed his doggie treat, he began to joyfully swoon with delight (voiced by Daws Butler), hug himself, levitate into mid-air and then slowly return to earth as he concluded his joyful eating frenzy.

Snuffles’ snack-loving trait was later incorporated into the personality of a dog named Scooby Doo.

Another dog to euphorically float into the air was named Muttley, the villainous, fumbling henchdog of Dick Dastardly.

Rad, you CRACK ME UP!!!!

Fly, Louis, Fly!

So wait, all these people complaining that Overboard “jumped the shark” with Louie? C’mon, people, he LEVITATED the sharks, not jumped! ;P

I start my day, everyday reading the comic first…to have a good start to the day…

I love love love this strip… and Louie is great especially today ! I think he needs to met a Scottish Terrier… hint hint hint… oooooooo a Scottish pirate dog, just on a ship passing by maybe? arghhhhhhhhh…

@Shaliach: thanks for reminding me about Snuffles! I was one of the ones who mentioned Quick Draw yesterday, and although I remembered Snuffles as a character, I couldn’t remember the name. I have now been reminded (and have made a mental note of it so that i can remain the self proclaimed “master of all trivia”). i know i’m not, really; but i allow myself the conceit. as to the comments regarding “criticism” on this and other strips, others have said it at least as well as i could say it; so I’ll just sit with Radical Knight and have some donuts. You want some Earl Grey tea, Rad?

I agree yyyguy—I need some donuts, too! But I need that Nuked coffee with them!

I remember Snuffles. Charlie, don’t you dare let anything happen to Louie. Where would the ship be without him?

I enjoy this comic strip. I think it’s good the way it is.

Okay, I flipped back a page to see what the hoohah was about.

I’d like to see Charlie win one too, but I’m not writing the strip. I herewith heroically refrain from going into an only tangentially relevant 20-min. tirade against fanfic. Somebody gimme a donut to reward my self-restraint. Allan did not mention anybody’s posterior, but did paraphrase a common jape that usually includes mention thereof; Brenzluv may have been reading too quickly. Brenzluv’s jeremiad was a lengthy over-reaction to Allan’s briefly-stated dismissal. Wrapping himself in the flag was a nice touch. Upon first reading I felt that his basic point was legitimate: He’s entitled to have, and state, a dissenting opinion. If that were the end of it, Allan’s wish for his immedate departure, with the door bouncing off his … elbow, would itself have been an over-reaction. However, there’s a difference between dissent and trollery. In this specific instance, Brensluv did not appear to cross the line; but as Doc Toon reminds us, Brensluv has a history of this, and in the context of that history, this becomes just another brick in the wall. There *is* such a thing as constructive crit, but it occurs only in the context of a well-run writers’ group: i.e., when the story is still in progress and has not yet been published. That wouldn’t apply here. Digital Frog: “…cross that boundary that turns Trek fans into Trekkies.” Sir, I resemble that remark! “Overboard is the sovereign state of Chip Dunham.” Well put; I think I’ll swipe it. So is all griping beyond the pale? Heck no. But there’s an art to doing it in a balanced and considered way that doesn’t raise hackles or sour somebody else’s morning. And if you just want to get into a barroom brawl, fine; but go to a barroom where that’s part of the culture. (E.g., won’t catch me within 80 miles of SOTU, given what I’ve heard about the commenting community there.) In summary: if you have the rep of being mostly positive, such negative words as you feel obliged to share will carry more weight; but if you have the rep of being mostly negative, don’t expect a positive reception to anything you offer.

I remember thinking when I first saw this strip, “Man, this guy can’t draw for beans,” but the writing was so out there that I was hooked. I think the strip is just as funny as it ever was. I agree (not necessarily about the specific people named here, as I haven’t been reading the comments all that much) that some people seem to be here just to gripe about bad a particular strip is (there’s a guy over at Gasoline Alley just like that). I generally either ignore it or just roll my eyes (knowing that, somewhere, the guy FEELS IT!).

Wow. Chip, do you even read the comments? In case you do: I discovered Overboard 3 or 4 years ago when I moved to Detroit. I am a longtime comics aficionado, and I have about twenty favorites. But there are only two strips these days that I DO NOT MISS: Pooch Cafe and Overboard. Love the Overboard dogs. One of mine, Mario, looks and acts like Louie. By the way, speaking of levitation: Does anybody remember the way-back Peanuts strips featuring Lucy Van Pelt levitating with chewing-gum bubbles?