Here’s a disturbing strip whose shocking, graphic portrayal of institutional abuse seems like it was pulled directly from Orwell. There’s also the distinct flavor of Terry Gilliam’s Brazil, particularly the use of pleasant fantasy to escape horrific reality. The most unsettling part of this strip for me? The panel directly before the Kmart reveal, which shows a purple-hued Opus screaming as he is violently yanked from his “happy place.” Yikes.
I’ve been reading Opus ever since it debuted, and this is the first strip I’ve genuinely enjoyed. Don’t get me wrong, it’s good to see Berkeley Breathed back on the comics page. His drawing is colorful and his strips take full advantage of their Sunday panels. But he’s not really adding anything to the current political conversation, or even to the comics page. That’s why I was surprised to see today’s strip, complete with narrative momentum, a strong political point of view, and (dare I say), humor.
The Daily Funnies 