Comments on: Single and Looking to end this Sunday

By: B Holt

B Holt — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 05:47:47 +0000

Bummer. This was my favorite on ucomics.com. I liked Rufus, Andy, and Miller a lot better than Zoogie, and preferred “Out of the Gene Pool” as the title, so there was some fear this might happen. Miller and Travis made a great team, and I felt the Jackie-Andy interactions more natural.

Best Wishes to Matt Janz.

By: Bruce P. Sprague

Bruce P. Sprague — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 20:37:17 +0000

Well, I certainly don’t know why no one ever read it. I LOVED the strip. I first started reading it when it was run in a local paper as a test strip as Out of the Gene Pool.

For reasons I never understood, the strip was not picked up, so began a desperate Internet search for it, and finally found it. I enjoyed the strip thruout its evolution in “Single and Looking”, and still enjoyed its loopy sensibility and unexpected wit.

I will miss it, but I certainly hope Matt comes back with something just as off-the-wall and even more successful.

By: Declan Byrne

Declan Byrne — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 08:30:07 +0000

Rufus was actually what first drew me to “Out of the Gene Pool”.

It’s sad to see this strip go. There are strips nowhere near as good as “Single & Looking” making it big in newspapers. The comic industry can be so cruel.

http://www.duxtercomic.com

By: Bonnie Adler

Bonnie Adler — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 18:50:23 +0000

Needless to say I am quite bummed about the loss of your talent in the paper. In fact The W.Post didn’t even run your final Sunday strip but I saw it online. My single friends loved the new Single and Looking jokes. I’m so mad that someone made a decision that affects me and my enjoyment of the comics. [talking cats are way overrated] I wonder if there will be some uproar and you can come back. Til then, please continue your talent and perhaps make more books. :-) Loyal to the end – Bonnie

By: Phil Wohlrab

Phil Wohlrab — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 00:21:49 +0000

I actually always read Outta the gene pool/ S&L
whenever I got ahold of the comics section at the 10 Min oil change place. I thought the art made it stand out among other strips. I liked the way the voice bubble tails ended with a black dot. It’s interesting to note that both Bonannas and Out of the Gene Pool were Washington Post Writers Group winners of the Fine Toon Fellowship program years back. That was a really great contest, and a legitmate path for newcomers to get a syndication deal. It’s ashame they don’t do it anymore.

By: allison Barrows

allison Barrows — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 20:59:20 +0000

I can relate, Matt. Gone are the glory days when cartoonists could buy a summer house, a boat, send their kids to $$
schools – all on their comics output.

I enjoyed the strip and will miss seeing it my local paper. Best of luck. May you find new life for your characters in the new media. With any luck, I’ll see you there!

By: J.G. Moore

J.G. Moore — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 04:17:17 +0000

His last week of comics were excellent.

By: Jim Ryan

Jim Ryan — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 02:41:47 +0000

Maybe Mr. Janz could consider a direct-response model, setting up his strip online and building readership directly, bypassing the syndicates. He might even convince the papers to take this hot Internet phenom and publish it based on the online response, the way NEW ADVENTURES OF QUEEN VICTORIA launched.

OK, it may be a dream, but let’s face it: When the way product is disseminated is such that a small collective of gatekeepers effectively kills good material for petty reasons, it becomes time to reassess the whole model. If good creators can’t get an audience for the reasons stated above, it’s time to throw out that model and go directly to the fans without them.

By: Jude Mermelstein

Jude Mermelstein — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 02:37:33 +0000

Sad to say goodbye to Jackie & Madame Red; never found Rufus to be gross, he’s a cartoon, duh! Knew the writing (or drawing) was on the wall with the name change, but don’t understand the lack of syndication when NOT funny strips like Marmaduke and Heathcliff…and the obnoxious Girls and Sports…seem to be killing trees for no reason. Phooey! Hope Mr. Janz sells another idea & we can enjoy his talent again!

By: Charles Brubaker

Charles Brubaker — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 16:54:51 +0000

And note that Madame Red is carrying a fax machine, something she called dibs on in the previous Sunday strip.

I think this is the first time I’m actually sad that a strip I liked is ending. I’ve practically read this since the beginning, so reading it daily was pretty much part of my life for the past 6 years. I agree that the last strip was bittersweet, especially seeing Rufus and his family again after over a year.

As I said before, I hope that this isn’t the last we see of Janz.