Comics I Read, Part One

It is said that comics are the most-read part of a newspaper. Seeing how I've stopped reading the newspaper on a regular basis after I started reading comics online, I'm sure that is true for many other people as well. But that introduction is irrelevant, because I won't be talking about newspaper circulation or reading habits or any of that... I'll just be talking about the comics I read, and why.

Apartment 3-G
Apartment 3-G is one of the slowest moving soap strips out there right now. The current plot involve Lu Ann, who has been terrorized by the ghost of a painter who winds up killing all his victims because he uses too much of his "power" to make them finish his paintings. After a terrifying encounter, Lu Ann hit her head really good and is now in a coma after suffering much blood loss. Tommie, seen there, is one of Lu Ann's roommates in 3-G. Not pictured is the vicious Margo, who's utter disdain for lifeforms is surpassed only by her dry, witty humor. Even at that, this strip remains so completely BORING that it's fun to read, for entertainment value only.

Ballard Street
Ballard Street reminds me of the type of comic strip I would probably make; completely, utterly RANDOM. There is no real rhyme or reason, it just is. And I love it for it.

Bizarro
A Rubes-Far Side-type comic, half the run of Bizarro is the coloring job. The other half, of course, is that it is a one-panel comic that is completely random and, well, bizarro.

Dick Tracy
I don't even read this strip because I like it. I mean, the artwork is chronically terrible... Women's lips ALWAYS, ALWAYS look like moustaches. Just look at panel three! And the stories are so contrived and stupid, even if the target audience is 9-years-old. I've tried dropping it from my daily read, but it always feels empty without it. Curses!

For Better or For Worse
The wordiest comic of them all! And, I'll be honest... I've been reading for months now and I still don't know who anyone is. And they all look alike. And, it usually makes very little sense. Current plotlines involve: a charity, moving, stuff getting better, stuff getting worse.

Mary Worth
Ha! First, "Drew" has to be at least in his mid-20's (he's a doctor) and he looks about 14 in the second panel. But, he also thinks that a Charterstone Condominium Pool Party sounds like a swell time! I think we've wrapped up the Vera Shields plotline, which included her meeting with her brother for about 60 seconds, resulting in both of them not hating each other any more. Vera, turning into a uber-feminist, decided to drown her sorrows and psychological problems by becoming a sworn workaholic. I should also point out that the strip shown above is a lot more exciting than the past 4 months, whose plotline included: whining, self-doubting, crying, anger, whining, and more whining. In thought bubbles, no less! I kind of understand why it's one of the lesser-read comics out there. But also? It's still pretty rocking awesome.

Rex Morgan, M.D.
I'm still a little bit of a newcomer to this strip. But, I was there when this current plotline started, so let me catch you up: Heather Avery's husband is lost at sea. Possibly dead. (He's not.) And logically, the son, Hugh, would be in line to succeed the dad at Avery International. Heather does not want this. NOBODY wants this. So a plan was set into motion where Rex Morgan would pick up Hugh at the airport and distract and delay him from getting to an emergency boardroom meeting on time. June Morgan, Rex's wife, would then drive Heather to the meeting where she would be elected chairwoman. After many fun mishaps, it all happened according to plan. Except... Hugh is suspicious of Rex for stalling at the airport and wants revenge for not becoming chairman of the company. Heather, in a bit of a peace offering, is having dinner with Hugh (her stepson, who she does NOT like AT ALL), and invited June Morgan over for dinner. Currently, this is my favorite soap strip, above Mary Worth. (You can thank Vera for that!) It also has some of the best artwork on the comic pages, too.

That's it for this installment... come back soon for part two!

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