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Get Well, Pete!
I know. I don't read Sluggy anymore. But a few years ago, when I did, I e-mailed Pete because a dear friend of mine had broken her collarbone. I was wondering if he could possibly send a little Bun Bun-themed get-well card to her because she was a big Sluggy Freelance fan.
Well, Pete got back in touch with me and sent me an excellent Bun Bun card for Jess. I ended up e-mailing it to her rather than mailing the actual card, but she was touched by the thought (and the card). So... I'm returning the favor.
Before I stopped reading Sluggy, I kept urging Pete to take a break, that he needed a break, especially after such a powerful story as That Which Redeems. Well, events have conspired to give him that break. I just wish it hadn't been a broken bone that did it.
Get better, Pete. And thank you.
Robert A. Howard
------------------------- And I bet it still has more content than most government reports!
 (From Ozy and Millie. Click on image to see full-sized image.)
Another Ozy and Millie story looks to be coming to an end! Well, two actually since I tangented them last. *wry smile* I must admit, I'd have screamed like a little girl (despite not being one) if I had ended up holding a necklace woven out of 20 years of Napoleon's (or anyone, for that matter) nose hair clippings. My roommate did have something to say about that strip though... considering Napoleon sent a courier to his wife once saying "I will arrive in three days, don't wash," you have to wonder if he would clip his nose hair. Then again, he might... just so he could smell his wife better.
Personally, I'm more curious as to the Lego centrifuge, and what could have caused the Lego to melt. Then again, I might be better off not knowing.
I've rather enjoyed the last two storylines. They've been whimsical, delightful, and fun. Interestingly, we only had one real "one-shot" comic (of Millie in full plate armor - how did that girl get that armor on? And how was she moving around? Meh, I'm just reading too much into the comic...) before jumping into a new storyline, with Millie trying to escape blame for something that might very well have not been her fault.
(You know, you have to feel for Ms. Mudd. I mean, does she ever blame herself for Millie's behavior? Think of it... Millie is a very smart young girl... but often she waxes political. Many of her actions in denying culpability seem to be right from a politician's campaign book. But how much of this comes from watching her mother and her mother's career? I'm probably reading too much into this again, but what can I say, Simpson is just that talented in characterization that you do wonder these things about his characters.)
The fun thing about Ozy and Millie is, of course, not knowing where things will go next. Still, there are a couple of things I'd love to see. One is more on Millie's mom, perhaps her going out on a date with Ozy's dad or some such. She's a delightful character and definitely underused. The second... well, this is kind of silly I'm sure, but I'd love to see a story where we catch a glimpse at what Ozy and Millie would be like as teenagers. I could so see Millie dressed up as a Visigoth to make fun of Felicia (who dyed her wool black when she went Goth), Avery going insane because Timulty is popular in school (and he still isn't), and Ozy... well, I suspect Ozy wouldn't change much. Just be taller. *wry grin*
Whatever story happens next, I'm sure it'll be delightful and strange. Because that which doesn't kill them, makes them stranger. *wink*
Robert A. Howard
------------------------- As if the Killer Klowns weren't bad enough...
 (From Chibi Cheerleaders from Outer Space. Click on image to see full-sized image.)
Cartoonists are a strange and sometimes insane species. I should know, I was one for a bit, and only quit because my art wasn't very good. Still... sometimes I have to wonder what's going through the minds of my fellow creators. I mean... Chibi Cheerleaders from Outer Space? That just sounds too insane to be real. Naturally when I saw an ad for it (I honestly don't remember where, but if I were to bet money it would be on Alpha Shade), I had to click on it. And it's very much like a cheesy (but amusing) 50s horror movie... in manga form.
The basic premise of Chibi Cheerleaders is that a college student downloads an anime about Chibi Cheerleaders who are trying to get to the Chibi Cheerleading Convention, and shows it to his friends. One of them, a pretty geek-girl named Brady, is out of the room (bathroom break) when the important part of the anime comes up. Thus she is the only one of her friends who is not brainwashed by the cheerleaders' cheer.
You see, the Chibi Cheerleaders are real. They're aliens... and are planning on taking over the Earth. They're using an anime that they themselves are acting in to brainwash people into helping them in this plot. And everyone who sees the first episode is anxious to help them get to Earth safely.
As the series continues, Brady continues to be the one person not to succumb to the brainwashing. As the anime downloads continue, the brainwashing instructions continue. But if you did not get the first dose... then you're safe. A series of events keeps her from seeing the vital end scene. The first time, she was going to the bathroom. The second, the first alarm goes off right at the crucial moment. The third, a student interrupts her, asking for her help (and he proceeds to be brainwashed, and then gets all of his friends brainwashed, while she's busy trying to fix some other problem) so she again misses that crucial moment.
Brady's starting to realize something's wrong. Everyone who views this scene basically starts acting crazy, wanting to help the chibi cheerleaders, building a landing platform (out of wood), purchase plenty of ramen (which contain the tocopherals the chibi cheerleaders supposedly need), and more. She's eventually joined by another girl, who is completely clueless but at least hasn't watched the anime. Oh, and Tiffani (the other girl) was also a cheerleader at one time.
We're currently nearing the end of another chapter, with some friction starting between the original group of friends brainwashed and the latest victims. Also, the chibis have let slip just recently that they have explosives (er, we mean pyrotechnics!), thus giving Brady another clue to put things together, hopefully before it's too late.
Whatever happens though, it's sure to be hilarious.
Robert A. Howard
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