I am currently reading a biography of Charles Schulz, creator of Peanuts, arguably the greatest comic strip of all time. I haven’t gotten too far into it yet, but was interested to learn the supposed origin of Schulz’s nickname, “Sparky.” Schulz was born at a time when the character of “Spark Plug” the horse was captivating audiences all across the country in the panels of the comic strip “Barney Google,” and an uncle decided that, for unknown reasons, this would be little Charles’ nickname.
To me this was mostly interesting because it was pretty much assumed that anyone reading the book would recognize the name Barney Google. As in, “Oh sure, Barney Google, of the same Barney Google (And Snuffy Smith) cartoon that runs in my paper every day of the week.” Barney Google’s presence in the comic pages seems inexplicable to the daily reader because of its unfunniness. But it truly becomes bizarre to think about when you consider the fact that it has been in newspapers in some form for over 88 years. Some thoughts on this run:
A Recent Barney Google Comic
-When Barney Google began, people probably wondered if it could live up to the comics standard set by “The Yellow Kid”.
-When Ford ceased production of the “Model T”, Barney Google celebrated its 8th birthday.
-Remember how a few years ago, the sports media made it seem like the Red Sox had not won a world series since before man walked erect? Well Barney Google and the Curse of the Bambino began the same year!
-If The Simpsons were to air as long as Barney Google has existed, the voice of Homer, Dan Castellaneta, would have to live to be 119 years old.
-Barney Google has lasted longer than The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, , The Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Velvet Underground, CCR, The Replacements, The Hold Steady and The White Stripes combined.
-When the producers of Lost announced that the show would end after a sixth season, people thought to themselves “Well, it seems a bit drawn out, but it’s good that they’re ending while they still have something to say.”
-The greatest comic strip of all time was drawn for fifty years by a man who was essentially named after a character in a strip that continues on close to a decade after his death.
Who is keeping it alive? Do a flood of angry letters accompany threats to drop the strip? Is it maintaining a Milton-like presence, appearing in newspapers every day even though it was technically fired twenty five years ago? Or maybe over the decades the strip has silently amassed a “Sheinhardt Wig Corporation”-like grip over the world of American publishing. Don’t you think it’s odd that the Barney Google people haven’t filed suit against Google for trademark infringement? Well, maybe the name is just out on loan!
Edna’s prom theme? Barney Google!
In conclusion, the oldest woman alive was 26 when Barney Google debuted. I am currently 26 myself. I will be damned if I go before you, Barney.
15 responses so far ↓
1 Zoyx on Dec 18, 2007 at 6:34 pm
So when are the rights holders of Barney Google going to sue google.com’s kiester.
One of my childhood dogs (Irish Setter) was named Barney. He was a retard.
2 Bill Corbett on Dec 18, 2007 at 7:21 pm
Perhaps even scarier, Conor…
The Katzenjammer Kids debuted in 1897. It survived the entire 20th century, and… it’s still around:
http://www.kingfeatures.com/features/comics/katzkids/about.htm
Apparently civilization simply can’t get enough of these scampish, short-pantsed German kids and their heavily accented caretakers.
3 Jim on Dec 18, 2007 at 8:01 pm
The longevity of this strip is even more amazing when you consider that a large percentage of the readership it is directed to CAN”T EVEN READ!
4 Kleenex on Dec 18, 2007 at 8:50 pm
I hear that Jason Lee is in talks to star in a live action version of the Katzenjammer Kids. At least, that’s the rumor I’m working on.
I can’t believe the list of strips on the King Features site. Mary Worth? Rex Morgan MD? Prince Valliant? Who is reading these?
5 Bill Corbett on Dec 18, 2007 at 9:15 pm
“I can’t believe the list of strips on the King Features site. Mary Worth? Rex Morgan MD? Prince Valliant? Who is reading these?”
THE COMICS CURMUDGEON struggles with such questions, and other existential dilemmas related to the funny papers, daily. Very funny site:
http://www.joshreads.com
6 Kleenex on Dec 18, 2007 at 11:24 pm
That’s a great site, thank you Fedora!
7 wurwolf on Dec 19, 2007 at 5:33 am
There’s a very funny series of videos based on a Mary Worth strip here. I love the poses and the stilted dialog — just like Mary Worth!
And the Comics Curmudgeon rulz!!!11!!!!1
/me hopes the html works….
8 Conor Lastowka on Dec 19, 2007 at 8:25 am
Incredible. We can only hope Mother Goose and Grimm lasts as long.
9 Dallas on Dec 19, 2007 at 9:42 pm
I used to get mad at how my local paper kept running Peanuts strips for years after Charles Schultz died, thinking about all the brilliant and hilarious comics they might be giving that space to, but were prevented but the unbudgable loyalty of a bunch of stick-in-the-muds who confuse comfort with entertainment (what can I say, I’m cranky in the morning). But then they finally did drop it, and replaced it with a series of trial runs of new strips, and I have to say, I’d take that kite any day over the crap they’ve been coming up with. I mean, they just aren’t funny. And not even “That’s not funny!” not funny, which usually is. More like “watching the timer on the microwave count down” not funny. The best they’ve been able to come up with is a strip with one joke (a buzzard wants other animals to die so he can eat them), which is at least one more joke than any of the others they’ve tried. But still not that funny.
Do I sound bitter? I didn’t realize I was that bitter.
10 John H. on Dec 20, 2007 at 1:26 pm
I’m sorry guys, my elephant detector is ringing like mad, pointing to THIS room….
Barney Google hasn’t even appeared in the strip going by his name for decades, to my knowledge. It’s entirely Snuffy Smith and his loveable, soul-killing hillbilly antics.
It’s like how Dagwood Bumstead is the son on an oil billionaire who hooked up with a gold-digging flapper named Blondie Boopadoop, but you never hear about that stuff. It’s weird.
11 SarahCanuck on Dec 27, 2007 at 11:54 am
Baaaaaaaaaaaarney Google, with the great big google-y eyess . . .
Oh come on, please tell me someone else knows this song.
12 luke on Mar 30, 2008 at 2:51 pm
how old………. omg mad as u must be healthy as
13 Conor Lastowka on Mar 31, 2008 at 7:24 am
I see your point.
14 aspisaPiefmanyZet on Sep 2, 2008 at 1:11 pm
wow ))
its very unconventional point of view.
Good post.
realy good post
thank you
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