Frazz by Jef Mallett follows the adventures of an unexpected role model: an elementary-school janitor who's also a Renaissance man. While he's sweeping the hall, he's whistling Beethoven. Or Lyle Lovett. He paints the woodwork in the classrooms; he paints a Da Vinci on the cafeteria wall. He's a trusted authority figure who is every kid's buddy. He took the janitor's job while he was a struggling songwriter, and when he finally sold a hit song, he decided to stay on at school. Frazz appears in 200 newspapers worldwide, including the Los Angeles Times, Seattle Times, Chicago Tribune and Detroit News. "A few years back, I wrote and illustrated a children's book," says Mallett. "When I was traveling around reading it at school assemblies, I noticed that often, the most respected, best-liked grown-up in the building was the janitor. And I thought, 'Hmm, there's a comic strip in that.'" Often praised for its intelligent wit, gentle spirit and effortless diversity, Frazz won a Wilbur Award from the Religion Communicators Council in 2003 and 2005 for excellence in communicating values and ethics.
© Jef Mallett - All Rights Reserved.
Frank & Ernest by Thaves
Fred Basset by Alex Graham
Comments (13) (Please sign in to comment)
runar
said, 6 months ago
Why not both?
Richard S. Russell said, 6 months ago
Interesting aspirations. Mine almost all involve members of the opposite sex. But i suppose that’s probably too racy for a comics page where 2 healthy young adults like Frazz and Miss Plainwell (does she HAVE a first name?) seem to get most of their joint physical activity by running.
Leo Autodidact said, 6 months ago
@Richard S. Russell
Her first name is “Jane”
(If I’m remembering correctly, it hasn’t been mentioned for a while.)
Dave M said, 6 months ago
Last item on the bucket list should be to have an empty bucket list . . . just sayin’
Arianne said, 6 months ago
If it helps you to remember, think “plain Jane.”
I’ve always wondered if Mrs. Olsen’s first name has ever been revealed? Anybody know? If not, what would be a good choice? I’ve always thought of her as Eleanor, for various reasons.
Arianne said, 6 months ago
Since this is a Michigan strip….
I just saw on the news that Michigan has lost two beloved citizens- former Mich. first lady Helen Milliken and weathercaster and entertainer Sony Eliot.
Sony brightened everyone’s day with his puns and silliness on TV and radio, and I remember seeing him perform at the Detroit Zoo.
As for Mrs. Milliken, if you want to learn about a
true public servant, read here.
Our world was better because of them.
June Moffatt
said, 6 months ago
@Leo Autodidact
I think you’re right.
DutchUncle said, 6 months ago
@Richard S. Russell
It’s a euphemism. :-) Or maybe Frazz spends too much time on that bicycle seat.
Strod said, 6 months ago
So… Frazz taught Caufield how to swim and now Caufield is criticizing how Frazz swims?
Little ingrate.
6turtle9 said, 6 months ago
@Richard S. Russell
I think you are getting your aspirations and your fantasies mixed up.
comicsssfan said, 6 months ago
@zedman2222
Miss Plainwell’s first name is “Jane.”
Lynnskay
said, 6 months ago
@zedman2222
It hasn’t been mentioned often, but some of us older readers knew their name was Day. Still would have made a good trivia question.
Night-Gaunt49 said, 6 months ago
Frazz must not be a good swimmer.