CSotD: Humor should never be too Forced
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Yesterday, I mentioned the idea that cartoonists probably do the medium no favor with cultural references that you have to be 50 years old to get.
I have no idea how "Star Wars" references fit into that concept, since, on the one hand, it seems to be an eternal classic while, on the other, the constant re-editing and fussing with content means that sharing the original with your kids is nearly impossible and, meanwhile, some fans are so disgusted with the re-makes that they refuse to get their children involved at all.
Even if they could.
The references could become immortal if George Lucas would release original versions of the films along with "Director's Cuts" to satisfy his apparent obsession with what he wishes he'd done instead of creating immortal movies that millions of people have loved.
Then parents could raise their children on the saga just as they raise them on "The Wizard of Oz" (and you know which one I mean) and "It's a Wonderful Life" and should, if they really want to create literate citizens for the world, also make sure that, when the kids are old enough, they see "Philadelphia Story" and "It Happened One Night" and "Casablanca" — the version in which Major Strasser fires first — and "The Godfather" and perhaps "The Godfather Part II" but never, ever "The Godfather Part III," in which Jar-Jar Binks becomes consigliere to the Corleone family.
In any case, today's "Dog Eat Doug" is a two-tiered comic. It's very much a gag aimed at those who will catch the cultural reference — and many with toddlers will get it — but it's still a cute strip for those who don't, and that's a key to good comics. Except when you are satirizing currently hot topics, you do best if the strip is capable of standing alone, with the reference being an accent and a wink to the faithful, an added joke for those who get it.
(Though I realize that, in this particular case, if Doug were capable of standing alone, there'd be no gag at all.)
Brian Anderson handles this concept well. He has also done some "Dog Eat Doug" story arcs in which Sophie, the chocolate Lab, wears a fedora and goes through adventures. For the person landing on this planet from Mars, the strips are still a funny imaginary action sequence. For everyone else, the Indy Jones knock-off adds a laugh and helps him build an audience of loyal fans who enjoy the extra wink.
But, for the most part, you don't have to get the references to enjoy "Dog Eat Doug."
Though it helps if you've lived with a baby. If you've lived with a baby and a dog, even better.
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