So we have the real overlords, who are running a computer simulation which is our world. In that simulation there’s a (simulated) cartoonist who draws simul-simulations who think they’re real.
But what I want to know is who is simulating the real overlords? Is it turtles all the way up?
Don’t worry, Pearls. After Pastis gives up the toast, Andrews McFeel will turn over production to the same mystery team doing Andy Capp 25 years after Reg Smythe passed.
Sorry Stephan, when you die your strips will go to rerun heaven, check out all the dead resurrected strips being rerun (May they all rest in Peace knowing their creation will live on forever) – and Rat I hope that cheers up your Tuesday – “Immortality” or in your case, immorality…
Or you go into reruns. Although in the past Pastis has been critical of retired cartoonists who take up spots in papers that could go to new strips instead, so maybe he won’t follow their example.
BE THIS GUY about 1 year ago
Don’t worry. You won’t feel a thing.
BasilBruce about 1 year ago
And in the afternoon, he did rest on the sofa.
marilynnbyerly about 1 year ago
No, there will be book collections and newspaper reruns. Legend says that Charles Shultz has been dead a hundred years and nobody knooooooows.
ronaldspence about 1 year ago
today’s strip reminds me of the Truman Show
sirbadger about 1 year ago
Even if you are real, you will eventually go ‘Poof.’
Gary Williams Premium Member about 1 year ago
Of course, it is true, at least that is what I believe.
Erse IS better about 1 year ago
So we have the real overlords, who are running a computer simulation which is our world. In that simulation there’s a (simulated) cartoonist who draws simul-simulations who think they’re real.
But what I want to know is who is simulating the real overlords? Is it turtles all the way up?
GROG Premium Member about 1 year ago
What? Your children won’t take over the strip when you’ve passed on.
Bilan about 1 year ago
Haven’t they heard of reruns (or reprints)?
markkahler52 about 1 year ago
And if you REALLY think of it, all Charlie Brown was, was ink on paper, yet….
Ink blot Premium Member about 1 year ago
Pastis opened the curtain dividing the celestial from the terrestrial! That makes breaking the 4th wall seem mundane.
twstd about 1 year ago
Oh no, Stephan! They will be on the Internet forever
c001 about 1 year ago
“Blondie” ist now in the third(?) generation, B. C. in the second. Scrooge McDuck), Gyro Gearloose and the Beagle Boys survived Carl Barks by far.
iggyman about 1 year ago
Have a taco quickly while you still can, Rat!
hariseldon59 about 1 year ago
The irony is that Rat is always trying to do Pastis’ bodily harm.
TwilightFaze about 1 year ago
You’re forbidden to die, Stephan. We can’t keep losing more awesome folks.
Lotus about 1 year ago
Forget Clapton. Pastis is God.
Chris about 1 year ago
unless someone else takes it over, but it still wouldn’t be the same.
RitaGB about 1 year ago
I’ve often suspected that cartoonists and writers like to play god.
Gent about 1 year ago
Oh look. It Stephen almighty.
akachman Premium Member about 1 year ago
Please take care of yourself, Stephan. Your work is important.
bpscg about 1 year ago
Kilgore Trout. That is all.
Uncle Joe Premium Member about 1 year ago
Don’t worry, Pearls. After Pastis gives up the toast, Andrews McFeel will turn over production to the same mystery team doing Andy Capp 25 years after Reg Smythe passed.
monya_43 about 1 year ago
Well, it’s Fat Tuesday! Happy Mardi Gras everybody!!!
Goat from PBS about 1 year ago
I guess Stephan isn’t letting anyone else draw Pearls. No rerunning or passing of the torch here.
jmartin1955 about 1 year ago
That was great – a classic Pearls.
dadoctah about 1 year ago
“Tough luck. I also made Tuesday.”
Steverino Premium Member about 1 year ago
He broke the 4th wall.
Ellis97 about 1 year ago
It’s not like the characters have broken the fourth wall many times.
Ignatz Premium Member about 1 year ago
Stephan Pastis is the Red King.
Zebrastripes about 1 year ago
Fat Tuesday! ☺️ All it would take is one hell-ova big eraser to end Rat and Goat! Gasp!
Mel-T-Pass Premium Member about 1 year ago
So the syndicate can’t hire a ghostcartoonist after you go?
poppacapsmokeblower about 1 year ago
Your universe consists of three square boxes representing the passage of time. Your time is discrete, ours is continuous. Best wishes to all.
richdell about 1 year ago
At first glance, I thought that was Stephan’s head on a Chinese balloon.
rossevrymn about 1 year ago
So, no crappy, sub-par assumption by another “cartoonist” to continue the empire?:
txmystic about 1 year ago
Tuesdays are ruined just by being Tuesdays…
KEA about 1 year ago
I sometimes wonder if we’re all not just the dream of some unimaginable entity who has a bad sense of humor
T... about 1 year ago
Sorry Stephan, when you die your strips will go to rerun heaven, check out all the dead resurrected strips being rerun (May they all rest in Peace knowing their creation will live on forever) – and Rat I hope that cheers up your Tuesday – “Immortality” or in your case, immorality…
zeexenon about 1 year ago
Well, you are only a bunch of one’s and zero’s.
well-i-never about 1 year ago
“Don’t look behind the curtain!”
Katje about 1 year ago
No, when the author dies, some other author just takes over and comes up with better jokes… :P And better drawings… :D
iggyman about 1 year ago
Speaking of corrupting an author’s work, Dicken’s “A tale of two Cities” we substituted as S for the C, and switched the T for the S © and it quite a different story “A Sale of two TittI@s!”
The Fly Hunter about 1 year ago
Pastis is getting very depressing lately. I hope he’s okay….
Althea Webb Premium Member about 1 year ago
This is a very disconcerting strip.
John Jorgensen about 1 year ago
Or you go into reruns. Although in the past Pastis has been critical of retired cartoonists who take up spots in papers that could go to new strips instead, so maybe he won’t follow their example.
Birdman47 about 1 year ago
Just like “The 13th Floor” and “The Matrix”.
rshive about 1 year ago
Wonder whether there’s selective poofing.
Sisyphos about 1 year ago
Cartoon-Boy, the Creator, has spoken his Word! Heed him, ye lower creatures! For the love of Pastis, do not unbelieve yourselves out of existence!
Renatus Profuturus Frigeridus Premium Member about 1 year ago
Stephan broke the fifth or sixth wall.
Gym Sock Nose Guy about 1 year ago
This might be the first time we’ve seen a panel bend like that.
DaBump Premium Member about 1 year ago
So many of us are so smug in thinking that we’re never going to meet our Maker… it’s going to be an awful shock when it happens.
198.23.5.11 about 1 year ago
If that’s God,I’m converting to athiesm
Swirls Before Pine about 1 year ago
The"1/0" webcomic also has the creator interacting with his characters.
Michie Z Premium Member about 1 year ago
it would ruin my Tuesday, too !
Needabettername about 1 year ago
didnt happen to nancy
wordsmeet about 1 year ago
We all live in a cartoon world then? :D