Curtis (5/17/09)

I’m not a big fan of strips that take aim at contemporary television. For one thing, there are tons of great shows that are either in their prime (like Lost) just completed (like The Sopranos) or still going strong after long runs in syndication (like The Simpsons). But a more important point is that, even though there is plenty of muck to make one weep for the future (like Rock of Love), nobody is being forced to watch anything. That said, I was thoroughly taken with this depiction of Donald Trump as an angry duck who wields a pint-sized bat and threatens a trio of game show contestants. Sure, The Apprentice has been off the air for a few years, but this caricature is so inventive that I’m willing to overlook the fact that it’s not timely.

Curtis (11/2/08)

Wrigley Field is considered a baseball shrine by many Chicagoans, so when the old ballpark is finally torn down (or renovated) the Cubs are sure to make a killing on memorabilia. This is unlikely to include bathroom fixtures, however, as the the men’s rooms at Wrigley are equipped with long trophs instead of urinals. Then again, some fans are probably more than willing to empty out their savings to purchase an authentic Wrigley Field troph, stained with decades worth of (ahem) reprocessed Old Style beer.

Curtis (4/17/08)

Wow, that is one angry woman in panel three. Her facial expression looks like a mix between Uncle Ruckus from The Boondocks and the standard caricature of Dick Cheney. In that context, it’s not surprising to hear her ranting about eavesdropping on phone calls.

Curtis (3/22/08)

Some comic strips make a name for themselves by taking on the politics of the day. Curtis is not one of those strips, so it was surprising for me to read today’s installment in which the recurring barber character – who has hinted at his support for Barack Obama – is pressured into hanging a Hillary Clinton sign in his window by a mysterious woman who takes him for a CIA operative. It’s strange enough to pique my interest for the next week or so, although Aaron McGruder’s Boondocks would almost certainly be giving us more incisive – if less bizarre – commentary on Election ‘08.

Update: Turns out the barber character is supporting John McCain for president. Didn’t see that one coming.