Interesting comparison. I understand why the gag was re-worked. Someone wondered, "Why didn't Dagwood lock the bathroom door?" and they felt compelled to answer that question. All the same I feel the earlier version works better. In the thirty seconds we spend reading the strip we don't question the logic right away; first we respond to the surprise of seeing Dagwood hanging out the window. The newer version tips us off early that Dagwood is in the tub, which mutes the surprise of seeing him in the last panel.
However neither version addresses a more fundamental lapse of logic: Would visitors looking for Blondie really check in the bathroom, especially if the door is closed?
Knowing how strips are usually done, I can only assume Chic just needed to get it down and onto the next day's panel. Recycling the same joke a decade or two later is a good way to kep yourself from going insane coming up with a new topper.
But Smurfswacker is right, it is rather silly company would be going to the bathroom like that.
Interesting comparison. I understand why the gag was re-worked. Someone wondered, "Why didn't Dagwood lock the bathroom door?" and they felt compelled to answer that question. All the same I feel the earlier version works better. In the thirty seconds we spend reading the strip we don't question the logic right away; first we respond to the surprise of seeing Dagwood hanging out the window. The newer version tips us off early that Dagwood is in the tub, which mutes the surprise of seeing him in the last panel.
ReplyDeleteHowever neither version addresses a more fundamental lapse of logic: Would visitors looking for Blondie really check in the bathroom, especially if the door is closed?
Knowing how strips are usually done, I can only assume Chic just needed to get it down and onto the next day's panel. Recycling the same joke a decade or two later is a good way to kep yourself from going insane coming up with a new topper.
ReplyDeleteBut Smurfswacker is right, it is rather silly company would be going to the bathroom like that.