Saturday, January 15, 2011

Bushmiller Studies: Why Does Sluggo's Hat Fly Off?

I'm so glad you asked that question! There are many reasons why Sluggo's hat flies off. Here are some of them:

Startled by a mechanical man

Jabbed in the eye with a gift-wrapped package

Startled by apparent geographical incongruity

Attacked by vicious dog

Fell down open manhole

Attacked by vicious flower

Startled by headless Nancy


Repulsed by future fat Nancy

Chased by police

Attacked by vicious Nancy


Frightened by owl

Punched in the face


Surprised by unexpected appearance of milkshake

 
Betrayed by kissing monkeys

Swish of the combable tail to the J-Walk Blog for the tip.

UPDATE: Four more added.

9 comments:

Matthew Hubbard said...

We also need a further study as to why sometimes we have movement lines associated with the flying cap and sometimes we don't. When he is punched, obviously he is moving and the hat isn't, so no movement lines, but when knocked off by surprise, there should be movement lines, so Bushmiller broke his own rules with the kissing monkeys panel.

Comrade PhysioProf said...

I always saw what you are calling "sweat drops" as a totally abstract indication of shock. Now that I am seeing them as sweat drops it is grossing me out a little bit.

J-Walk said...

A fine bit of work.

Next, consider an investigation of the use of dotted eye lines. Bushmiller used them a lot, and even the current Nancy writers use them from time to time.

See:

http://j-walkblog.com/index.php?/comments/classic_sluggo/

Peteykins said...

The dotted eye-lines are pretty cool, but I can only offhand think of a couple noteworthy examples. I suspect they use them more often in the current Nancy. I wouldn't know, though, because I won't look at the horrible post-Bushmiller Nancy strips. It's just utter blasphemy. It's like having another artist do Krazy Kat or Peanuts.

J-Walk said...

An early example of dotted eye lines. Aunt Fritzi, 1958

http://www.fritziritz.com/?p=89

Nixie Bunny said...

You are wonderful.

z7q2 said...

Epic Steele post followed by Epic Sluggo post. Outstanding work! What will complete the trifecta I wonder...

samael7 said...

I wasn't going to say anything, but Sluggo gets viciously attacked, like, a lot. I feel a little sorry for the shaved-head, pug-nosed rascal.

But unexpected milkshakes are awesome.

Paul J. Marasa said...

So we're watching a Star Trek episode with a subplot about a little slug they call "Sluggo" and I ask my 19-year-old son if he knows who Sluggo is and I search and find your site and tears have been rolling down my cheeks ever since. And my hat is missing. The Internet is a beautiful place where a 56-year-old English teacher can derive joy from the wisdom and wit of a pony princess. (Although I still think doing it in front of monkeys is worth the loss of one's hat.)