Pearls Before Swine by Stephan Pastis for January 20, 2012

Could’ve been worse. At least it wasn’t Guard Duck.

Timing is everything…

Wow…that’s a good one. It’s get everything we want in an epic: action, danger, drama, love, a troubled protagonist and a volatile protagonist. I am genuinely impressed.

The big question is…will the strip be better or worse without the cartoonist? Be sure to stay tuned…

Clearly a fine tribute to Binkley, the snorklewacker and the formidable Mrs. McGreevy from Bloom County Babylon: Five Years of Basic Naughtiness.http://tinyurl.com/75djuvb

He’s baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack

I know how Rat throws the axe. Easy: he’s mad and determined. You know how short people are.

Pig saves Stephan

Uh, just blowing off steam!

Pig! Cartoon-Pastis! Did neither of you notice woosh woosh woosh THWACK? Sadly, the comic strip is not yet completely filled with love. In fact the upper half of it is filled with murderous intent. Hurry out of town, cartoon-Pastis, while you can still run!

Axe not for whom the bell tolls…

Pastis is losing control of his characters!!!

How can Stephan think Rat is upset — I mean, look how much he missed him.

BTW Firedome, that’s Pig talking.The only time Pig might understand “irony” is if, say, the tap water tasted like nails.

First, buy a large mousetrap. Second, buy a large chunk of cheese. Then…

If you axed me I would say this is wrong.

he is right …..hes ’ a little upset’

Maybe after a 12 pack Rat will realize that he did get an all expense paid trip. Just not somewhere where he wanted to be.

… that was a close one!

Rat, you’re releasing it too early again!!!

Wow, Stephan barely missed the chance to shout “Oh my God! There’s an axe in my head!”

Marcus: HAHAHAHA!!! I’m liking this Rat character!

Chibi-Robo: Lucky Stephen. He almost lost his head!

…good thing pig wanted a hug..this could have been the last strip :)

Good thing he was on his Guard and Ducked. At least he put a shirt on today.

Fifty Ways to Cleave Your Loved Ones by Rat Simon.

I think Stephan is worrying needlessly; Rat really takes a shining to him.

I can’t believe the little rat got back from Siberia so quickly. The strip could have had a reprieve from him for a week!

Rat must have had some wicked spin on that axe to get it to hit and hold that way.

++++

That’s Rat for you — always giving and giving. Axes and insults and abuse — but he never stops giving.

SO, ya, “The Rat came backthe very next day.”

Nice battle axe!

BANG!

Mind your heads!

xxx

I like how Rat thinks—direct and shallow. Keeps things impossible to misunderstand. He just needs to work on the release of the axe a bit. I dislike subtlety.

Right, antagonist. I was typing too quickly to catch the mistake, but that’s what I meant.

Thank dog Stephan has on pants today.

Two kinds of cleaving going on today.

YES RAT! YOU CAN DO IT!