Yes, I was right. Four times, and a man being scared of a leaf is still not funny. I wasn’t sure of the point when this started, but it’s starting to form. I think it has something to do with administrators and the beginning of fall.
But I’m still not sure why it’s supposed to be funny enough to take up four comics. Must be writer’s block.
I am disappointed in the apparently limited vision displayed by some of the comments on this arc. Principal Spaetzle (a good Swiss-German name, btw, which the character doesn’t appear to be) is certainly not afraid of the occasional fallen leaf; the leaves are merely symbols, warnings, harbingers of the coming winter. (After all, in real life as in a particularly famous fiction, winter is coming.) Since school started weeks ago in most places in the US, and there have already been scenes in the classroom, I don’t see this as indicating fear of the school year . . . though perhaps the fall season leading up to the holiday event rush is a busier schedule time.
“Funny” doesn’t always have to be a laugh-out-loud. OTOH, I will grant that this has been a slow patch :-)
I am disappointed in the apparently limited vision displayed by some of the comments on this arc. Principal Spaetzle (a good Swiss-German name, btw, which the character doesn’t appear to be) is certainly not afraid of the occasional fallen leaf; the leaves are merely symbols, warnings, harbingers of the coming winter. (After all, in real life as in a particularly famous fiction, winter is coming.) Since school started weeks ago in most places in the US, and there have already been scenes in the classroom, I don’t see this as indicating fear of the school year . . . though perhaps the fall season leading up to the holiday event rush is a busier schedule time.
“Funny” doesn’t always have to be a laugh-out-loud. OTOH, I will grant that this has been a slow patch :-)
Four times with the same joke?!? I actually am now very much disliking this. Jef is making Principal Spaetzel look like a fool. He is not, he is a gentle, kind principal who has foibles like everyone. But, to have him be given this look of “shock and horror” about a leaf (symbolizing winter’s nearness) FOUR times now…. to me, is too much.
I still like the notion (even though not FOUR TIMES) that Spaetzel is simply not looking forward to winter. But, I am not sure that is how Caulfield and Frazz are viewing this.
treesareusThat might work, considering Labour Day is May 1, an analogous period, in New Zealand. Ignoring the difference between equinox and cross quarter day (six weeks), lest some nit-picker calls me on it.
I don’t see anything fall related on sunday, but I agree with everyone else. It was fine for one strip, questionable for a second one, but three is getting a bit long
Honestly, my favorite comics are the ones featuring Caufield’s friendly mischief on Mrs. Olson. In some ways, I see a tiny bit of myself at fourth grade in Caufield’s motivation to cause his personal brand of trouble. Before someone calls me arrogant I want to make this clear that I was NOT, nor do I pretend to have been even a fraction as smart as Caufield at that age, but when I was in fourth grade, the teacher was very strict in making people learn in the same way. For example, during the reading assignments, she’d make the class take turns reading passages in the book out loud, while everyone else followed along. I’d get bored with this, and start to read onward on my own to find out what happened next. When she caught me doing this, I’d be often yelled at by either the teacher or the principle. As I was terrified of this, I’d often start crying, and I would just be called a baby for doing so. (School went much better for me in 5th grade though, as the teacher was more reasonable)So honestly, when I see a fair bit of Caufield’s mischief, (Like reading Harrison Bergeron in class when that happened to him) I often wish that I had been clever/knowledgeable/brave enough to respond with the types of actions he performs.
Giving Spatzel the benifit of the doubt, maybe he does not fear the beginning of Fall so much as he is sobered by the responsibility he and his teachers have for preparing young ones for the future. Perhaps he considers the responsibility ahead of him, and the tremendous trust put in him by the public that he sometimes gets a bit overwhelmed.
I would like to believe there is more to this than the principal being afraid of a leaf.
All I can say is that it appears Jef is getting a little too impressed with himself. He seems to be in the process of developing a notable air of superiority that is ruining what has long been one of my three favorite comics on this site.
I am hoping to see more of the "Frazz’ we all love so much return to this page. There is too much talent at stake to continue wasting it on effete snobbery like this.
DutchUncleI got hit today by a double posting. Fortunately, the delete icon in the lower right corner was working on one of them (missing on the other), so I could avoid annoying readers with repetition (my comments may be another matter).
ian.a.thomson over 8 years ago
Am I missing something, but … why don’t these students ever get older and graduate?
Max Starman Jones over 8 years ago
Yes, I was right. Four times, and a man being scared of a leaf is still not funny. I wasn’t sure of the point when this started, but it’s starting to form. I think it has something to do with administrators and the beginning of fall.
But I’m still not sure why it’s supposed to be funny enough to take up four comics. Must be writer’s block.
DutchUncle over 8 years ago
I am disappointed in the apparently limited vision displayed by some of the comments on this arc. Principal Spaetzle (a good Swiss-German name, btw, which the character doesn’t appear to be) is certainly not afraid of the occasional fallen leaf; the leaves are merely symbols, warnings, harbingers of the coming winter. (After all, in real life as in a particularly famous fiction, winter is coming.) Since school started weeks ago in most places in the US, and there have already been scenes in the classroom, I don’t see this as indicating fear of the school year . . . though perhaps the fall season leading up to the holiday event rush is a busier schedule time.
“Funny” doesn’t always have to be a laugh-out-loud. OTOH, I will grant that this has been a slow patch :-)
DutchUncle over 8 years ago
I am disappointed in the apparently limited vision displayed by some of the comments on this arc. Principal Spaetzle (a good Swiss-German name, btw, which the character doesn’t appear to be) is certainly not afraid of the occasional fallen leaf; the leaves are merely symbols, warnings, harbingers of the coming winter. (After all, in real life as in a particularly famous fiction, winter is coming.) Since school started weeks ago in most places in the US, and there have already been scenes in the classroom, I don’t see this as indicating fear of the school year . . . though perhaps the fall season leading up to the holiday event rush is a busier schedule time.
“Funny” doesn’t always have to be a laugh-out-loud. OTOH, I will grant that this has been a slow patch :-)
Caldonia over 8 years ago
Frazz rolling his eyes at someone, what a shock.
Pipe Tobacco Premium Member over 8 years ago
Four times with the same joke?!? I actually am now very much disliking this. Jef is making Principal Spaetzel look like a fool. He is not, he is a gentle, kind principal who has foibles like everyone. But, to have him be given this look of “shock and horror” about a leaf (symbolizing winter’s nearness) FOUR times now…. to me, is too much.
Pipe Tobacco Premium Member over 8 years ago
I still like the notion (even though not FOUR TIMES) that Spaetzel is simply not looking forward to winter. But, I am not sure that is how Caulfield and Frazz are viewing this.
hippogriff over 8 years ago
treesareusThat might work, considering Labour Day is May 1, an analogous period, in New Zealand. Ignoring the difference between equinox and cross quarter day (six weeks), lest some nit-picker calls me on it.
toahero over 8 years ago
I don’t see anything fall related on sunday, but I agree with everyone else. It was fine for one strip, questionable for a second one, but three is getting a bit long
toahero over 8 years ago
Honestly, my favorite comics are the ones featuring Caufield’s friendly mischief on Mrs. Olson. In some ways, I see a tiny bit of myself at fourth grade in Caufield’s motivation to cause his personal brand of trouble. Before someone calls me arrogant I want to make this clear that I was NOT, nor do I pretend to have been even a fraction as smart as Caufield at that age, but when I was in fourth grade, the teacher was very strict in making people learn in the same way. For example, during the reading assignments, she’d make the class take turns reading passages in the book out loud, while everyone else followed along. I’d get bored with this, and start to read onward on my own to find out what happened next. When she caught me doing this, I’d be often yelled at by either the teacher or the principle. As I was terrified of this, I’d often start crying, and I would just be called a baby for doing so. (School went much better for me in 5th grade though, as the teacher was more reasonable)So honestly, when I see a fair bit of Caufield’s mischief, (Like reading Harrison Bergeron in class when that happened to him) I often wish that I had been clever/knowledgeable/brave enough to respond with the types of actions he performs.
Jeff0811 over 8 years ago
Giving Spatzel the benifit of the doubt, maybe he does not fear the beginning of Fall so much as he is sobered by the responsibility he and his teachers have for preparing young ones for the future. Perhaps he considers the responsibility ahead of him, and the tremendous trust put in him by the public that he sometimes gets a bit overwhelmed.
I would like to believe there is more to this than the principal being afraid of a leaf.
Max Starman Jones over 8 years ago
All I can say is that it appears Jef is getting a little too impressed with himself. He seems to be in the process of developing a notable air of superiority that is ruining what has long been one of my three favorite comics on this site.
I am hoping to see more of the "Frazz’ we all love so much return to this page. There is too much talent at stake to continue wasting it on effete snobbery like this.
hippogriff over 8 years ago
DutchUncleI got hit today by a double posting. Fortunately, the delete icon in the lower right corner was working on one of them (missing on the other), so I could avoid annoying readers with repetition (my comments may be another matter).