Arlo and Janis by Jimmy Johnson for August 21, 2011

i dont understand this.

I don’t think giant yellow birds like that show up in Luddie’s back yard very often. Given the similarities between the bird and Arlo’s hair, though, they may show up in Luddie’s dreams—and he looks like he just woke up.

From the cat’s perspective, the bird just disappeared.One day I was standing in my neighbor’s back yard talking to her. Our dogs were with us. Suddenly a bird’s shadow streaked across the yard, shooting right through our little congregation. Her poodle gave chase, nose to the ground and barking. My dog just looked up.

The cat’s telling tales about the big one that got away.

Luddy only THOUGHT he was stalking a big yellow bird.

It was really Arlo’s hair, when he was lying in the grass.

A quick pounce made the startled Arlo jump up, thereby making the “bird” suddenly fly away……. and Luddy realised his mistake.

In the last panel Arlo’s annoyed and Luddie’s embarrassed.

Why is the bush just hanging in mid-air? And all the white space—run out of ink?

Arlo has a “Who me?” look. Luddie is annoyed. I think Arlo gave the bird a head start so Luddie wouldn’t catch the bird.

I think Susan is right, Sadly, as its 6:34 in the AM and I dont like to have to think when reading my comics.

That’s what threw me off – the lack of color for reference in the last panel

Ah Boots, you’re so patient, explaining what you want over and over again to your human. Very enjoyable Doc!

Like a good joke, a good comic should require no explanation.

I don’t get it. What’s the joke?

My experience is that cats always go after birds when given the chance, probably about once a day. They never, ever catch them (unless they find a wounded bird in the yard).So my interpretation is that today’s comic shows Luddie’s 4,913th near miss of catching a bird, which (as he does everyday) he goes to ‘tell’ Arlo about in great detail, the one that just got away.Arlo’s expression in the last panel is that of someone who’s heard it all before. Over and over again. Same ol’ story.

…glad you explained it, DirtyDragon…I was scratching my head over it…

Hey mysterious Kat! Good to see you!

I think he’s just telling about the “one that got away”. No one ever believes those stories….