Tom the Dancing Bug - Saturday August 30, 2008 Comic Strip Licensing and Permissions

Transcript

Tom the Dancing Bug by Ruben Bolling The History of Doug Odyssey of an Unremarkable Cartoon Character The Saga Continues! In the mid-1960s, Doug made an embarrassing attempt to cash in on the super-hero craze. Doug: Uhn...must get to...flagpole... It was in the underground comix scene of the late sixties, however, that Doug hit his stride. His comic book "Sex, Doug and Rock & Roll" was an instant smash. Woman: I hear they're hiring at the Kwiky-Mart. Doug: Don't be a bring-down, baby. But Doug left that success after only one issue to try to attain broad commercial appeal. The seventies were marked by his obvious and ingratiating attempts to start a CATCHPHRASE. Doug: Don't mind me...I'm just naughty!! Dough: Toaster ovens on ice!! Doug: Looks like...I DOOD IT AGAIN!! Doug: GIANT WOMBATS! We're almost out of gas! Doug: This is some party! ROCKIN' RIBOFLAVIN! In the 1980s, Doug decided that "The big bucks are in the highbrow stuff", and made several appearances in original paintings. Doug: I'm ART, DAMMIT! But the overwhelming consensus was that he was NOT art, and Doug found himself scrounging for work in comics again. Bird #1: Hey, Doug! How ya doin', buddy? Bird #2: Are ya thirsty, Doug? In 1990, Doug landed a gig in an obscure comic strip and settled into the first semi-regular work of his career. Baby: Hey, Doug, betcha I can make you say "Kierkegaard." Doug: I'm just so tired...so very tired...

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