Doonesbury by Garry Trudeau for July 20, 2011

I love these Red Rascal episodes!

Dad always have bad timing.

Come one, admit it, Vista Bill. You’re Walter Brennan come back to haunt us all!

Jeff Redfern’s febrile imagination is either going to kill him or make him rich writing comic strips.

Could’ve been worse. Dad could’ve walked in while Jeff was doing a striptease for his webcam …

Yeah, if Redfern Sr. thinks he can crack Sorkh Razil, he is indeed.

Ah, the beleaguered writer. So misunderstood!

Red Rascal is a master of disguise.

Is it just me, or do “Red Rascal @ Home” sequences feel a lot like “Calvin and Hobbes” strips?

I believe Rick Redfern should have a paternity test done. How could an idiot like Jeff be his progeny?

Calvin, all grown up!!!! I wonder where Hobbs is?

palin, I’m not so sure that the world of Jeff’s parents is any more “real” than his own. Metaphysically speaking, Jeff/Red Rascal has indeed brought his dreams to life, and somewhat successfully. Does that make him an idiot? How many others can say the same?

Ah, now it becomes so clear, like Calvin and his tiger, Hobbes!

You all make good comments. For me, the key is the “pull back” shot, where we see the world as the rest of the world sees it. In it, Hobbes is not animate; he is a stuffed animal. For Jeff, he is portrayed as sans headdress, indicating that it only exists within his own mind.

I wonder why Jeff tells the caller, “I work alone.” Does he plan to ditch Zipper his buddy and working partner in the last episode?

Oh, and what gives with Jeff’s anti-mullet?

My parents were smart and I’m an idiot.

It’s always a good laugh to come into the comments on D later in the day and see exactly how far away from the strip it’s gotten.

Without reading anything but this one comment, I’d say the anti-Murdocks have been singing the ding dong the witch is dead song and the neo-con-zis are telling everyone that the lib media is as evil cause RM’s Fox hath toldeth them thus.

Sorry if the old coot is getting as good as he’s given, but I’m sure his trophy wife will love him enough so he’ll die with a smile on his face. And all the libs around here are so busy saying there is no God.

Jeff’s so focused, you can tell he’ll have a successful future, if wathizname will bug-off

Since Israel is the most progressive country in the region, It’s not surpassing that gay Palestinians prefer to be themselvesin Israel. The biggest problem there is the ultra-religious, but you get that every where.

Looks like Trudeau only uses Macs in the strip.

Hi Fris!

Nice to see you posting. Did you just delete a comment?

Yeah, I can’t commit to any of my posts, and I still didn’t get the link right.

The computer in panel 3 looks like the corner of one of those 27 inch i5 Macs. Plus when ever Mike watches FOX you can usually see the stylish Mac stand, aaand it corresponds to the identity association that you were talking about a few days ago. Since Doonesbury is a Liberal/progressive strip it stands to reason that the characters would prefer Macs.

I also agree that Jeff’s not really an idiot. Just absent minded and so full of himself he does’t notice the needs and values of others around him. He also takes unnecessary risks. But no idiot could dream up such fascinating fantasies. Notice the first post today, that of Walter Brennan (via friendly ghost Vista Bill): “I love these Red Rascal episodes!”