What’s Written on the Back of Hammy’s Eyelids?

People always ask me where I get my ideas.  I bought this one on Ebay.  Had to outbid Stephan Pastis and Darby Conley for it.

Over the Hedge:  Sparing no expense to entertain you since 1995.

Stephan Pastis: Smoking Crack in the Kitchen

Pearls Before Swine creator Stephan Pastis waxes nostalgic about his happy childhood.

Of Rats and Men

Mostly true story.  About nine years ago I sent an email to a buoyant, fresh-faced young cartoonist named Stephan Pastis to congratulate him on his just launched comic strip Pearls Before Swine.   The innocent young lad calls me.  I express admiration for Pearls.   I tell him he can quit his day job.   He says, “Gosh golly,” a lot and thanks me profusely.  I wish him luck.  We hang up.   Inwardly, I smile and think, “Misery, here comes company.”

Fast forward to nine years later:

At least he kept the hookers out of the shot.

Spork Dork

Tighty-whities look ridiculous on any guy older than four. Boxers are just not serious underwear.  The boys deserve our support.   That leaves boxer-briefs.   Sure, they’re like bike shorts with a handy outtake vent, but if you’re caught in a bank robbery and forced to strip to your underwear you’ll only look slightly less silly than the 300 pound guy in the baby banana hammock*.  Just one less delusional paranoid fear to worry about?

Over the Hedge:  Rationalizing crazy shit since 1995

*A tip-o-the-pen to Stephan Pastis, creator of  the comic Pearls Before Swine whose editor wouldn’t let him use “banana hammock” in his strip last week.  Remember, amateurs borrow.  Professionals steal.

Beastie Boyz-n-the-Wood

The most often asked question for any cartoonist is where do we get our ideas.   I give a lot of bullshit answers like all my ideas are all outsourced to Bangalore or I buy Stephan Pastis’ rejected ideas on the black market.  The truth is, I have no idea where my ideas come from.   I’m just grateful they come.  And that a few of them are memorable.

I threw the Beastie Boys into this one because I saw a video of them on American Bandstand in Dick Clark’s themed restaurant in the Newark airport.   I didn’t know at the time, I’d use them, but a few hours later, feverishly writing on deadline while changing planes in O’Hare, I needed a LOONS anthem and the idea of pudgy suburbanites and a wacky squirrel head banging to Fight For Your Right to Party seemed funny.   Admittedly, it was much funnier in Chicago than on the page.

Over the Hedge: the best airport written and inspired comic strip ever.

Jack update:   Slowly improving.  Bruising now all the way to his back legs.  Swelling has gone down a little.  He still looks like he’s gone 12 rounds with Randall Tex Cobb.