Andy Capp by Reg Smythe for July 26, 2012

He’d do it for beer…would he?

Andy may not like the meal, but he insists on dining with the proper style…

Reg Smythe was the greatest British newspaper strip cartoonist of the 20th Century. So why don’t we treat him that way? Andy Capp: The Full Story

I googled “paella”… It doesn’t sound bad to me: Valencian paella consists of white rice, green vegetables, meat (rabbit, chicken, duck), land snails, beans and seasoning. The cartoon suggests it’s something gross; I don’t get it… (I think I would pick out the snails tho.)

While I understand that the typical English adventurer in culinary creativity might make so bold to occasionally eat an Indian curry, I have never understood the aversion to paela.I have enjoyed terrific paela in Spain and ( if I do say so ) make a pretty decent one, myself.No one has ever accused the U.K. of favoring haute cuisine -Gordon Ramsey notwithstanding. Most of the top chefs immigrate to countries where the consumer’s pallet is more refined and the diner’s are more adventurous. That said, I’m not sure I’m ready for Flo’s version of this time- honored Spanish dish.

In the real world Andy and Flo would’ve divorced or killed each other long ago. No children, no ties -except Andy to Flo’s wallet.

I don’t think you’ve had much experience with British food, have you? Darn sight tastier than hot dogs, canned cheese, aerosol butter etc. And as for that stuff that comes from Mac D, KFC, BK, please take it back.

Eldo’s dart post reminded me of a Benny Hill skit where the bartender is VERY nervously removing darts on “Ladies Dart Night”, with the back of his bald head full of bandages. I wonder if we could prevail on Number Three to do a mash-up of Benny Hill and Andy?

Feel free to finish your list elsewhere.

You missed the two important key word’s “British Cartoonist”.

@gmartin997There is no competition as to who was the “best” comic strip artist. Each stands on his own merit. Was Van Gogh “better” than Da Vinci?

((((((( Hugs for the best commentors at gocomics, the Cappers!!)))))))

Paella is a delightful Spanish or Basque dish. I don’t know what Andy’s on about. The way he’s carrying on, you’d think she’d offered him Coor’s Lite or the like!

It looks like something from the Beano but I know where it came from. Signed PigColli.

@beviek I really think she needs more private time with her parents and so I declined in favor of coming up a couple of days later.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>You are a wise MIL and a shrewd Grandmother-to-be. You DIL and son will bless you. When my daughter had my grandson, I was living in Arizona and she was in Florida. She asked me if I wanted to be there and I asked her if she needed me to be. She didn’t and I didn’t – for which she thanked me later. She said her room resembled Grand Central Station with everyone coming and going. She was very tired and stressed by the in-laws, outlaws etc.When, a couple of years later, she & grandson really needed me, I moved to Florida. Close – but not too close.

Got that one on vinyl and CD.

Peter Green is still going strong and in my opinion is better than Clapton. Best of all, though, is Mr J Beck..My band of the dead (so far): Jimi Hendrix, Keith Moon, Janis Joplin….only the deceased need apply.

Are any of them British as @ Paul Slade said in his comment? He was talking about British Cartoonists as @ Mr. Majestyk pointed out.

@EldoWhich Beano are you referring to?This one :.Or this one:

Mmmmm, I’ll give him a “call”.

Paella is delicious!! Much better than most British food I’ve had (and yes, I’m familiar with both!)

My earlier comment still stands:.

There is no competition as to who was the “best” comic strip artist. Each stands on his own merit. Was Van Gogh “better” than Da Vinci?

My point was that, if you look across all the ways in which this might be measured – including how long the strip’s lasted, original creator’s length of tenure, number of titles carrying it, combined total readership, international reach, merchandising value, spin-offs in other media – then Andy Capp, Peanuts and Blondie are in a class of their own.

And Andy’s the only British strip on that list.

Of those potential rivals you name, The Far Side lasted only 15 years (against Andy’s 55 and counting), Beetle Bailey claims a peak of only 200m readers (against Andy’s 250m) and Heathcliff lasted only 28 years under its original creator (against Andy and Reg’s 41).

No, it’s Spanish (pronounced pa-ay-a), a dish of rice generally with seafood (although other versions are available including vegetarian). It takes considerable time to cook (the veg version, which I got from a Tarla Dalal recipe book is excellent).

Here’s Reg’s Mother’s Florrie Smyth‘s residence at 37 Dunham, Hartlepool [right foreground].…………………………………………………………………..

If memory serves me rightly ( which at my age is something of a miracle ) Andy"s infamous canal is nearby. I’ve actually been in Hartlepool but it was more years ago than I want to think about. ( 1968 to be precise. )

That’s Hartleypoole. :)

due to a photobucket snafu.