The punchline to this comic exists in the unseen fourth panel and is funnier for being unseen. The third panel, meanwhile, is made funnier by the moment of uncertainty the absence of the obvious punchline causes. The second panel is made funnier when we realize--the uncertainty of the third panel having passed--that Bucky's not actually looking at the vase. And the first panel is made funnier by knowing just what kind of reflections Bucky means. And so maybe the punchline is in the first panel. And so maybe the first panel is the fourth panel. And it's at its funniest the moment you just catch sight of that.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Get Fuzzy: Reflections on a vase
The punchline to this comic exists in the unseen fourth panel and is funnier for being unseen. The third panel, meanwhile, is made funnier by the moment of uncertainty the absence of the obvious punchline causes. The second panel is made funnier when we realize--the uncertainty of the third panel having passed--that Bucky's not actually looking at the vase. And the first panel is made funnier by knowing just what kind of reflections Bucky means. And so maybe the punchline is in the first panel. And so maybe the first panel is the fourth panel. And it's at its funniest the moment you just catch sight of that.
Well played sir.
ReplyDeleteGet fuzzy doesn't always connect 100%, but it's remarkably good, and at its best (as here) it's a really impressive strip. The characterization, drawings, and gags are good, but Darby Conolly's sophistosticated use of the "grammar" of comics is what's really funny. The punchiline is rarely the punchline.
Darby Conolly's sophistosticated use of the "grammar" of comics is what's really funny. The punchiline is rarely the punchline.
ReplyDeleteYes. This is precisely right.