The Era -- Day By Day

[Farace]

Comic strips are hard

Not helped by sometimes fuzzy scans, and especially not helped when Sunday color comics are scanned in B&W. Then again, newsprint was not especially high-res to start with.

 

[LizzieMaine]

("I believe," gleams Ignatius J. Quinlan, "that you will find this new signage fully to your liking." "Lemme see," sighs Joe, examining the boards as Inky passes them across the counter. "As you requested," purrs Inky, "I have arranged the display so that the pricing numerals might be easily interchanged as the exigencies of the present situation might require. And I include at only a small additional charge for time and materials a complete set of numerals in a bold sans-serif face that will command immediate attention. You note the skill in the execution of the brushwork. My twos have drawn particular commendation from knowledgeable clients." "Izzat how ya spell 'chicken,'" glowers Joe. "Wit' two 'n's'?" "Ahhh," gulps Inky, with a nervous smoothing of his moustache. "I spell it thus, a la Francaise, to provide a touch of the Continental je ne sai quoi." "Yeh," eyerolls Joe. "Hey, what's wit't'at pitcheh?" "Ah," repeats Inky. "I must confess to having -- ah -- misplaced the photograph of John Garfield that I used as a reference for past drawings, and I was forced to -- ah -- avail myself of an alternative -- ah -- image." "Why ya got me lookin' like I'm 'bout t' kiss somebody?" gripes Joe. "The -- ah -- only photograph that presented itself for immediate use," rattles Inky, "was an advertisement for Mr. Garfield's current cinema production in which he -- ah -- is seen in an intimate pose with -- ah -- Geraldine Fitzgerald..." "Whateveh," sighs Joe. "I shall put it on your account," glistens Inky. "And should you require..." The sales pitch is interrupted, however, by the arrival of two men in shapeless gray suits. "Ah," inhales Inky., hustling to the door. "Good day to you then." "Mr. Petrauskas," announces Sergeant Brosnan, displaying his shield. "Police officers, like to ask you a few questions." "YAWR," growls Joe, "t' two charactehs t'at got my wife bent outa shape. She ain' stopped tawkin' f' two days 'causea yez." "Yes sir," acknowledges Brosnan. "Like to ask you a few questions downtown." "I can't go," insists Joe. "I got a baby upstaiehs I can't leave alone." "Didn't realize you had a baby," notes Brosnan. "Your wife didn't mention..." "Ain't hers," declares Joe, as the detectives exchange a look. "I mean, ain't mine. B'longs t' Bink Scanlan. You otta know t'at, you was in'eeh tawkin' to 'eh. Anyways, she ain' home, she's oveh'r'inna City t'day. She got a job oveh t'eh dressin' up like a jawr'a instant cawfee." "I didn't quite get that, Mr. Petrauskas," puzzles Brosnan. "F' television," continues Joe. "You know, television. She dresses up like a jawr'a instant cawfee an'nen t'is ot'eh goil, Rosa, dresses up like a can'a plain cawfee an' goes around'eh awn rolleh skates." "On television," injects McManus. "Yeh," nods Joe. Brosnan leans closer and sniffs. "You a drinking man, Mr. Petrauskas...?")

("I am quite certain," jitters Inky, leaning into the telephone in the back office of Mozelewski's of Brooklyn. "Two police detectives are questioning Mr. Petrauskas even as we speak. No, I felt it prudent under the circumstances to withdraw at once, and therefore I do not know the reason for their visit. No, I cannot share this information with Mr. Leary. Mr. Leary for whatever reasons of his own does not inform me of his movements, and therefore I do not know where --- well, you needn't answer in that manner, I merely thought you should -- No, I do not know if they plan to ARREST -- Now see here, Sergeant, I believe that I speak for Mr. Leary when I suggest that you DO find out. Good afternoon!" Inky slams the receiver into its hook, and pauses to collect his sang-froid. As he preens, he does not notice that his conversation has been overheard. "He fin'lly done it," whispers Miss Kaplan. "Joe fin'lly kilt 'eh...")

("And I DON'T want one of those Jane Arden sheared rabbits!")

(Yeah, but can they skate like that dressed up as a can of coffee?)

(Those dimes add up, don't they Mr. Rickey?)

(That's one way to deal with an irrational plot twist. POP!)

(Sure, take away Mary's purpose in life.)

(We're getting a lot of "ums" out of this story.)

(Hey, it never stopped Billy Conn.)

(Better negotiate first!)

 

[LizzieMaine]

And in the Daily News...

Ew.

You've got three minutes, so get busy.

When Crispy grows up he wants to be Leslie Howard.

Wait'll they meet the REAL monkey!

And that's when you realize you'll never be a kid again.

Careful what you wish for...

It's lonely at the top...

Como? Not a chance. Haymes, maybe.

Junior, meet your new sister.

These store-bought costumes are ruining Halloween.

 

[LizzieMaine]

And in the Worker...

If they're going to question every owner and publish the results, I can't wait to see what Yawkey has to say.