I hate to be negative, but these daily strips prove time and again that the Family Circus is a shadow of its former self.
First of all, look at that crappy drawing. It looks like something from a bootleg dollar store coloring book. I know they never looked realistic, but their heads weren't always amoeba shaped. I'm pretty convinced that Bil Keane in nothing more than a Orville Redenbacherstyle figurehead, with little or nothing to do with the actual creation of the strip .. if he's even still alive! If his son -- occasional "guest" cartoonist "Billy" -- is actually doing all the work, i don't see why they don't just admit it.
Second of all, this strip takes the "non-joke" -- something the series has already perfected -- to a new level. "Your tummy could use some cake, Jeffy? And? That's it?" I keep re-reading it, thinking I MUST be missing something, but there is nothing.
(Note that Dolly seems to be looking right at the camera, something I don't think I've ever seen any of the family do. Billy Keane breaks down the forth wall!)
Compare to this sweets-related cartoon from the early 80s:
(sorry for the blurry phone photo)
This one of my top 5 favorite FC strips. Unlike the cake cartoon, this one makes me smile every time i read it. Look at how tired Billy's eyes are. Is he diabetic? But even on the edge of fainting, he never for a moment forgets how to turn a phrase.
Jeffy could really stand to take a page from Billy's book....but that's kind of always been true.
(Dedicated to Dower of Refuse, lover of sweets)
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