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by **Throbbin Johnny** on Thu Jul 19, 2001 3:20 am

J.Diddy has to agree with Mike: It wasn't funny.Good concept, but maybe it would've worked better as a caption instead of a word balloon. Maybe the caption would read : Harry wasn't quite sure if the age old "No cutsies" rule also applied to GOD or not."The first panel of yours Johnny didn't like, art wise or writing wise. On the halo's, maybe lose the wire connecting the head and halo. The gag has potential, though.Johnny is working on developing a panel for the nutrition dot-com he works for, and is finding out what it's like to draw/write a panel vs. a strip. Johnny likes using captions. It tends to add a more insightful humor feel to the gag, IJO...Hope Johnny's IJO was worth somethin'."Throbbin' Johnny

by **Yupyop** on Thu Jul 19, 2001 6:13 am

Depends on the editor. Everyone reacts differently. There are an increasing number of syndicated comics dealing with religion.
But as I've said before one can worry too much about such things. As a humor cartoonist your job is to be funny. There is a reason syndicates give their cartoonists editors. You should focus on being as funny as possible and let your editor worry about the rest.
The problem I had with the gag is I didn't find it funny. What was the line for and what was God's reaction to the angel? I felt like I was reading panel two in a three panel strip.

by **Yupyop** on Thu Jul 19, 2001 6:24 am

Let me make clearer one point. I realize the line is for the cafeteria, but why would God need to get in line? What kind of lines would Heaven have? Would it work better if God reacts to an angel cutting in line?

by **Wimpystuntmen** on Thu Jul 19, 2001 7:05 am

Hmmm interesting,
From my POV I found it funny because:
1. It's absurd that God had to line up in the first place
2. The angel had the gaul to challenge God.I must admit I did slap the art together but I've been struggling a bit with time and other things in life at the moment. Point taken about editing. Don't edit, just cartoon.

by **Wimpystuntmen** on Thu Jul 19, 2001 7:12 am

Johnny,
I've been writing the panels for years and only recently went into strips. I wrote 31 for my new strip in less than 2 weeks and found it a breeze .... until I hit the wall and haven't written anything since.I like doing both though. I couldn't say which is harder. I must admit most of my earliest panel stuff was captions but over time it has changed slightly. I don't know why? I need to start drawing the strip as the concept may have more potential than Elephant Tales since there's too much of similar content and quality already out there.All your opinions are always welcome and considered.

by **Wimpystuntmen** on Thu Jul 19, 2001 7:22 am

Just went for a walk and that panel popped into my mind and yes, a caption would have worked better to more clearly express my intention. Maybe I'll re-write and re-draw it. God needs to look more magnificent for a start.

by **Yupyop** on Thu Jul 19, 2001 7:28 am

This gag has possibilites, so lets tear it apart <IMG SRC="http://www.keenspace.com/forums/smile.gif">
A cafeteria in Heaven. What would it serve? Would "Today's Special" be a stew called "Food For the Soul"? Or maybe that's the cafeteria's name?
Lines in Heaven. God is in a movie theater like ticketbooth. Line One is for manners. Line Two is for beauty. Line Three is for brains.
Joke One: Angel cutting in line. CAPTION: Sam learns cutting in line is wrong when God moves him to first in line for some place warmer.
Joke Two: Ugly man in beauty line. Beautiful woman says to him, "First time?"
Joke Three: The line for brains. All the angels are facing the wrong way.
Jeff, humorists have long made fun of angels without much trouble. Its God some people are sensitive about. If you can avoid using the Big Guy you are less likely to offend. But I wouldn't toss a great gag because it features God. After all God must have a great sense of humor...He created Man.

by **Wimpystuntmen** on Thu Jul 19, 2001 11:44 am

Taking the 18th as an example, this type of gag wouldn't be offensive would it? I'd like your opinions because I never cease to be amazed at some of the things that offend people. I wonder, would an editor let this gag run?

by **Throbbin Johnny** on Fri Jul 20, 2001 2:24 am

Hey now! Just re-read J.Diddy's post, and sure didn't intend for it to read as blunt as it did!! No offense meant, wimpy. Johnny was in a foul mood last night. The kind where you avoid human contact you're in such mood...GOD gags are under-used, IJO. BIZARRO has had some good ones. Don't recall any FARSIDE ones, though. Too bad. There's so many situations that could be satired. GOD being abruptly disconnected from AOL(as happens often)...in a rush now, but there are many possibilities.Writing for a panel vs. a strip has been fun. Johnny always done a strip, never tried a panel. It's nice to switch it up. Change gears. Some gags have been in Johnny's head that are suited for a panel. Think J.Diddy will switch it up like this from now on. By the way, how do you like The New Breed? Good to deal with? Good response time? Johnny's panels will be headed that way soon...Keep plugging away, wimpy!! You too, Mike. Give Telly and Speed my best."J.Diddy

by **Yupyop** on Fri Jul 20, 2001 5:39 am

God must have enjoyed Wed gag because He hasn't let Friday's gag update yet.
As the original Yupyop might do, I realize I took both sides of the question. And like most "experts" got it wrong both times. We all edit ourselves everyday. We may not say what we are thinking because we don't want to offend who we are talking to. So "let editors worry about" is too simple of an answer. Avoid using God is a stupid comment on my part. For Heaven's sake He's in today's "Mr. Boffo", and often appears in such strip as "Frank & Ernest". No one seems to mind.
So what the hell is my answer to your question? How about if you are respectful for others beliefs and you are funny few will object?

by **Pinot** on Fri Jul 20, 2001 6:45 am

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>On the halo's, maybe lose the wire connecting the head and halo.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> NO WAY! The wire on the halo is the best part! That made me laugh.I prefer NOT using or even reading captions. I think they're way over done, they automotically make you think "Far Side", and they don't force you to be as pithy as word balloon do. I like I got the joke, Jeff. I would have liked it better if you made it more obvious that this is God and the angel behind him is whispering behind his hand to the next guy in line, THERE HE GOES CUTTING AGAIN. If God is looking facing forward but with eyeballs looking towards them, so much the better.

by **Pinot** on Fri Jul 20, 2001 6:50 am

Speaking of Far Side, when I asked Lee Salem if he is familiar with Loose Parts, he said something like, Yeah, another Far Side clone. He said 85% of the panels he sees are Far Side knock-offs.

by **Yupyop** on Fri Jul 20, 2001 10:01 am

I would never tell Dave but I enjoy "Elephant Parts" much more than "Loose Parts". Jeff is funnier on a more consistent basis. I think Lee Salem's comment shows how hard it is to do a panel today. Strips such as "Get Fuzzy" can rip off "Garfield" and no one cares. How many strips out there feature pre-teen girls or single white male losers? Yet the panel cartoonist can't escape the shadow of Larson. It doesn't seem fair.
BTW, one of the questions I didn't get to ask Dave was about his belief his panel features stand up comedy. Instead of random gags why not feature a regular character who is a stand up comic. I wonder what his response would have been.

by **Yupyop** on Sat Jul 21, 2001 9:55 am

Gee you do one gag about God and He crashes all Keenspace!

by **Wimpystuntmen** on Sat Jul 21, 2001 11:48 am

Thankyou everyone for your input. Yup Yop, big call on Loose Parts. I'd like to see how consistent I was over a period of time doing a gag 6 or 7 days a week. Three's hard enough but certainly helps keep my quality up.BTW Keenspace is not working at the moment for whatever reason (as you know).Dawn, I've had the gag for a while and drew it from my original sketch which had the halo connected by the wire. I can't remember if I intended it to be like that, but now on reflection I think it works well with the intended absurdity of the gag. This is definitely going to be one gag I'll be re-working in future.Johnny, I must admit I haven't heard back from the New Breed. They would have had it in their hands for nearly 4 weeks now. Mail takes about 5 days from the U.S. so who knows what's happening there? I would have thought they might have emailed if they were interested. The greeting card company I occassionally do cards for here in Oz rang the first time we dealt and since then it's been all email which is good since they're over the other side of the country. I've never had anything but rejection letters from the syndicates so I don't know how a successful submission would go?Looking from a financial aspect, I think the only money I'd make from a panel is through occassional spots in something like The New Breed or perhaps writing the odd gag for already syndicated single panel cartoonists. I do believe the future is in writing a strip - which slowly I'm doing. When I've got a few done I'll post them here for feedback.

by **Wimpystuntmen** on Mon Jul 23, 2001 4:20 am

You're not kidding. I can't believe its still not up. Or maybe he justlikes it so much ....

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