Thursday, December 11, 2008

Long Arms, Short Laugh

Bizarro is brought to you today by Very Tall Photographers.
I admit that this isn't a great cartoon. First, it isn't funny on a level beyond slapstick, and secondly, it's sort of a reach that global warming has gotten so bad that the ice caps have melted and flooded these people's home to the depth that a giant squid would be lurking outside their living room window. Also, there is the issue of water pressure, which would have smashed their windows long ago and typical window glass would most certainly not endure a small hole in it long enough to set up this scene and allow the woman to deliver her line. But that's cartoon logic for you.

I suppose I sacrificed logic and cleverness here in order to draw a fun picture. And that's fine sometimes. Lots of people read my comic because they like the art, so I'm guessing their are readers out there who enjoyed this image. I hope so, anyway.

Coincidentally, weeks after I drew this comic and a couple of days after it appeared in the paper, I was at that science museum in SF and took this picture of an octopus. I'm a big fan of tentacled critters – octopi, cuttlefishes, squids* – and got a kick out of seeing this one up close. I'm not certain whether octopi mind being enclosed in aquariums, I'm guessing they do. If so, I'm against this guy being cooped up here. I probably wouldn't have given this place my money if I'd known they had live animals in there.

Here's a pic of me and CHNW on the roof of said museum. As I mentioned in a previous post, the architecture of the place is the best feature.













*My apologies to squids for associating them with Rush Limbaugh.

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

What the hell is that crap all over your jacket? Its a nice look if your name is Michael Jackson.

Unknown said...

If you like tentacled creatures, then maybe you would be the first person I've heard of not to be totally creeped out by the "elbowed squid". Seriously, I've never seen an animal whose very existence made me so uneasy. The people I've shown it to have universally gotten unnerved too. *shudder*

Unknown said...

Also, bonus points for the fact that it was filmed accidentally by Shell Oil, unwillingly doing their part to advance human understanding of the deep sea environment.

Paul and Janene said...

Can't say for sure if the octopus you saw liked being in their cage, but this one let's people know when its bored

Penny Mitchell said...

I appreciate you apologizing to the poor maligned squidies, and I REALLY appreciate the laugh I got out of the Gas Bag, er, Limbaugh photo!

SAYOTTE316 said...

hahahaha

looks like WA told anonymous off now hes afraid to post ..


hahaha

ldisme said...

no one knows how and when Cthulhu will take his revenge

Eben said...

Hmm. If you like octopodes and squid, you might like this video of mine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxScTbIUvoA

Eben said...

Let's try this again: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxScTbIUvoA

leonsp said...

"But it's not man-made! It's squid-made! Squidopogenic globa... mmmmph."

Anonymous said...

How do you know Anonymous is a "He"?

Lake said...

Watterson always said that if he couldn't figure out a particularly funny joke, go for broke on the illustration.

Jodie said...

I love aquariums! SF also has a small one by the bay on Pier 39 called Aquarium of the Bay. You see actual bay creatures.

Daniel Joseph Sardella said...

Eben-

That Cthulhu song is great!!

Anonymous said...

I am truly sorry I don't post every hour on the hour, Sayotte. Now what is a WA?

Anonymous said...

I really love this cartoon. It made me laugh. For me it really hits the nail on the head. As I see it, there is something messed up with our weather, no one can deny that, unless you're blind and stupid. If it's global warming or natural, that I'm not sure, but it still doesn't change the fact something is going on.

I remember when the snow came around in October, and stayed until March/April where I come from in Norway. Now, you'll be lucky if you have snow lasting longer than two weeks. Latest winters has been rain, snow, rain, snow, rain, rain and so on.

Keep up the great work.

Unknown said...

My 'angry cuttlefish' video has been pretty popular on youtube... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-DusaSVHmM

Anonymous said...

Re octopots - octopusses - octopis - aww, cuttlefish!:
They are very intelligent and are noted escape artists. Really! (See Paul's post, above.) I suspect that yours is content where he/she/it is. Perhaps it goes walkabout after closing.

BTW I was sorry to read at another place that you and the CHNW were having problems. That happens; hope you both have been able to make the needed adjustments. She has just the nicest smile- in today's world you don't want to be without that.
Doug

Jezzka said...

oh, i'd like to cuttle some cuttlefish!! woooo...