New Herald Journal comic strips — A primer

A look at some of the new comics premiering Tuesday, Jan. 25, and Sunday, Jan. 29 WuMo Frazz Luann Frazz follows the adven- Readers of all ages love tures of an unexpected Luann, a strip about the role model: Edwin “Frazz” trials of becoming a young Frazier, an elementary- adult. Known for its rich school janitor who’s also characters and intriguing a Renaissance man. While “what will happen next” he’s sweeping the hall, he’s storylines, Luann enjoys a reader loyalty rare on the whistling Beethoven. Or comic page, consistently Lyle Lovett. He paints the ranking among the top woodwork in the class- five in reader surveys. Greg WuMo celebrates life's most popular strips in rooms; he paints a Da Vinci Evans was voted Outstand- absurdity and bittersweet Europe. WuMo's inventive- on the cafeteria wall. He’s ing Cartoonist of the Year ironies, holding up a ness is reminiscent of their a trusted authority figure in 2003 by the National touch readers’ hearts as well funhouse mirror to our countryman Hans Christian who is every kid’s buddy. He Cartoonists Society, partly as their funny bones,” says modern world and those Andersen — if Andersen's took the janitor’s job while for his efforts in holding up Evans, who’s humorously who live in it. This comic fairy tales had been popu- he was a struggling song- Award from the Religion Luann as a fine example of touched on serious issues by writer Mikael Wulff and lated by sadistic pandas, writer, and when he finally Communicators Council in the positive power comic such as peer pressure, drugs, illustrator Anders Morgen- disgruntled office work- sold a hit song, he decided 2003 and 2005 for excel- strips can have. “My aim is to alcohol and young love. thaler has grown from an ers, crazy beavers, Albert to stay on at school. lence in communicating underground sensation Einstein, Snoop Dogg and Frazz won a Wilbur values and ethics. to one of the biggest and Darth Vader. Drabble Over the past two Tundra decades, the Drabble family has tickled readers’ funny Tundra is a comic strip both a lack of social status bones with outrageous written and drawn by and a lack of funding. Pri- antics. Kevin Fagan’s light- Wasilla, Alaska, cartoonist marily his job is to pay for hearted family strip chron- Chad Carpenter. The comic everything, especially any icles the zany mishaps usually deals with wildlife, damage that any of the of his offbeat characters, nature and outdoor life. animals living in his place especially goofball college Regular characters cause; this applies almost student Norman Drabble include Sherman the exclusively to Sherman. and his donut-eating father Squirrel, Dudley the Bear, He is above dumpster Ralph. Chad the Cartoonist, Andy diving with Dudley, but Lemming, Whiff Skunk, and only because he has Hobart the Wise. already been thrown out As a classically trained of the dumpsters of the The Duplex cartoonist, Chad makes a more classy establish- living that provides him ments.

FoxTrot Lola

FoxTrot is a comic strip Lola, an independent centered around the cha- woman in her late 70s, is otic Fox family with its widowed and living with three kids, two parents and her son and his family. a perpetually hungry pet Her unique view of life is iguana. While just about matched only by her fierce any topic is possible fodder, independence, wicked Once upon a time there was a duplex where a the humor in FoxTrot tends sense of humor and blunt, young bachelor named Eno and his dog, Fang, shared toward the geeky, with but often heart-warming an ultra-macho haven of beer, snacks, power tools occasional forays into the honesty. Everyone’s grand- and male-bonding. Suddenly, their lives turned co-ed super geeky. FoxTrot began ma may not be as witty as when Gina and her poodle, Mitzi, moved into the in 1988 as a daily strip but Lola, a sharpshooter who’s other half of their building, putting Eno and Fang’s has since cut back to Sun- busy living life to the fullest chauvinistic natures at odds. The Duplex is a dichoto- days only. and making sure everyone my of bath salts and sports balms, with only a 4-inch else does too. slab of drywall separating the two. The Argyle Red and Rover Sweater Red and Rover is about the deep, abiding love between a boy The Argyle Sweater is where one and his dog. Just like Charlie and Snoopy, 10-year-old Red and his should expect the unexpected -- faithful canine companion, Rover, forged their fellowship in a gen- where animals can talk, the imaginary tler time, when friends were forever and loyalty was unquestioned. becomes real, and politicians tell the Created by Brian Basset, whose Adam@Home strip has been truth. Creator Scott Hilburn’s single- syndicated since 1984, Red and Rover appeals to countless fans panel comic is a window into a world who appreciate its focus on friendship. Red’s 17-year-old brother, of humorous absurdity that has won Martin, plays the foil, while Red’s parents, Carol and Charlie, over legions of fans and taken comics attempt to keep everything running smoothly. It’s an ideal cast of fans nationwide by storm. characters.

Also be on the lookout for Doonesbury and Blondie, two reprised strips for The Herald Journal that need no introduction