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Mmmm, peanut butter and Shelly sandwich...
 (From Wapsi Square. Click on image to see full-sized image.)
Well, I've devoured the archives and caught up on just what is going on here. And I must say, this comic is proving to be quite interesting. From Monica (the large-breasted lass who's reported to be the central focus of the comic) to Tepoztecal (the Aztecian God of Alcohol, who is keeping an eye on Monica), to Owen (who had been Shelly's primary romantic focus for a while - focus, I say, because she never admitted to Owen how she felt for him and Shelly was a bit upset when he settled down to date one specific girl after she gave him advice to go with someone who was right in front of his eyes).
The cast is large and varied and the storylines are equally so. We've had our dark moments in Wapsi Square. Monica has her own inner demons that threatened her well-being. Tepo accidently summoned some guardian golems (he summoned them as drunk frat girls) and they've stuck around out of a sense of amusement. We've seen the gang gathered together in their favorite bar, or on their own seperate stories (like Monica at work in the Museum, or doing social events for said Museum (which she hates), or Shelly working at the garage her dad owns, or even Shelly, Owen, and Jacquline in their punk band (Fermented Banana) either as they practice or on the road.
Yet while the storyline is intriguing and I'm rather curious about Monica (who has several gifts that have been hinted at but not expanded upon), what drew me in was Shelly and Heather. There has been a bit of backstory building with Shelly and her mom's death. It's been a shadow hanging over Shelly for nearly as long as we've known the character. And Heather, a relative outsider, seems to have stirred up that nest of inner emotions, by becoming close to Shelly in a way that scares our diminuative lass. (Indeed, it seems that Heather may very well be the catalyst that allows Shelly to forgive herself for something that was truly outside her control.)
Today's strip is a cute reminder of that, and of Heather's interest in Shelly. I'm not sure that Shelly is in fact gay. She might be bi, and it might be that... well, I personally believe that love can transcend gender, and that an otherwise-straight person might find someone of the same gender and fall in love with them. They're not gay... instead, they're just in love with that one person. (Likewise, I think that gay people can sometimes fall in love with someone of the opposite gender and have their sexual orientation shift - but just for that one person, and if the love fades or something happens to end that relationship, the person returns to their normal sexual orientation. Be it straight or gay.) (Heh. Sorry for the tangent. But that's what I'm infamous for. *grin*)
Shelly's dad seems to care a great deal for his daughter. We've seen this in the past (he sees her as his "little girl" in one rather touching strip). I am curious though what is coming up, and what he'll think of Heather. How is Heather going to be introduced to him? And is she going to slip up and admit her feelings for Shelly in front of Shelly's dad? (And how will he react?)
Still, whatever happens, today's strip is just entirely too cute and enjoyable with Heather trying to shake those "naughty naughty thoughts" out of her head. Hey, we've all done similar at one time or another! *grin*
Robert A. Howard
------------------------- Now that's using the ol' noodle!
 (From Ozy and Millie. Click on image to see full-sized image.)
Ozy and Millie is one of the few gag-a-day strips I regularly read. To be honest, I live for the storytelling strips. I don't care as much for jokes as caring for the characters and wanting to know what they're up to. But Ozy and Millie is something different, and quite special.
It was another of my early strips, a third-generation comic that I started reading because of Alice! While the characters are animals, it's not a furry comic. Not really. Instead, it's more along the line of "Pogo" and "Bloom County" with the characters just being animals - and children, at that.
There's something special about a child. They can say something, see something, and cut through the illusion. They often speak their mind and that's that. There's no beating around the bush, no lying to keep from hurting feelings. Instead, there is reality as they perceive it, and if it's shocking, then it helps focus attention on them as well.
So a comic that has two cute fox-children (one a red-fox, that being Millie (naturally enough), and the other an artic fox (Ozy)), a wide assortment of characters (both child and adult), and quite a bit of insanity. But it's so artfully done that you return each day with a smile and wanting to see more.
What's more, the comic will follow a story for a short while (sort of like a child) until things get boring or end, and then it's off to the next wild adventure! Really, Ozy and Millie is what newspaper comics should be, and it's a shame that it's not syndicated. Then again, that would force David Simpson to rein in his own creativity and listen to editors, and that could very well crush the childlike innocence of this comic (even when it wanders into political waters).
The comic has its own following, that is zany enough that some fans color past comics (and do a fine job of it, too!), or translate it into Russian, German, even Latin!
Anyway, I'm not sure what else I can say except go read it! You don't need to read the archives. But there are some quaint little stories, and we learn some more about both Millie and Ozy's past (and their missing parents - Millie's dad, and Ozy's mom). So when you have a chance, start reading the archives. You just don't need to read them to understand what's going on. *smile*
Robert A. Howard
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