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Comic Strips

Rooting Out Comic Strip Porn

Published: August 7, 2026 1 minute 12 comments

Arlo and Janis by Jimmy Johnson – July 27, 2026 (originally March 20, 2000)

The Galveston County foofaraw over the Brad and Toni shower scene in Luann is now dragging the Arlo and Janis mermaid rerun sequence into the debate as readers mock the Daily News’ overly modest actions taken in regard to their comics page.

An August 3 letter to the Galveston County Daily News editor (or here):

The Daily News canceled “Luann” because someone thought it was “pornographic.”

By that same logic, you need to get rid of “Arlo and Janis,” which has lately been portraying Janis as a topless mermaid who doesn’t even know what a bra is for (she wears it on her head).

Pure pornographic filth. Now we know why they’re called comic “strips.”

I hope The Daily News will do the right thing and remove “Arlo and Janis” just as you removed “Luann.” …

Arlo and Janis by Jimmy Johnson – July 31, 2026 (originally March 25 , 2000)

An August 7 letter to the Galveston County Daily News editor (or here) from one who apparently didn’t understand the sarcasm intended by the previous letter writer:

Anyone who considers “Luann” or topless mermaids in comic strips pornographic is in serious need of mental health.

“Arlo and Janis” is one of the few strips worth reading, along with “Luann,” which should be brought back.

UPDATE:

An August 8 letter about the August 3 letter (or here):

As for “rooting out pornography,” I just knew that was coming. When I saw the bra on the head in what seemed like a dream of Arlo’s, I just knew someone was going to jump on it.

I never saw any actual nakedness or “pornography.” It was kind of funny, and this coming from someone who’s been called prudish…

With a note from the editor about the original letter writer:

Editor’s note: Just for the sake of accuracy and fairness, the reader who called the braless mermaid pornographic did so sarcastically to make a point about the newspaper dropping “Luann.” 

Yeah, isn’t the debauchery that has overtaken the comics pages in the past 90 years disgusting?

Captain Easy by Roy Crane – December 2, 1934

Feature image from the July 30, 2026 Arlo and Janis.

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Comments 12

  1. Compared to Jimmy Johnson’s venerable tradition of sneaking R- and X-rated elements past the syndicate’s censors into “Arlo & Janis“, these current “strips” are not worth more than a PG-rating.

    P.S. Bill Bickel invented an “Arlo Award” at Comics I Don’t Understand (cidu.info) for comic strips that managed to sneak NSFW material onto newspaper pages. (Since web comics are self-published, and do not have editors, they did not qualify.) Bill’s official FAQ claimed that the award was named for Arlo Guthrie, but everyone knew where the name really came from.

  2. A family member of mine watched Disney ‘s Fantasia for the first time when it was released in VHS. He was disgusted by the nudity and said Walt would roll over in his grave if he knew his company was producing such filth. Of course, I had to point out that Fantasia was 50 years old and one of his proudest achievements.

  3. The bluenoses only see the visuals. “Seeing” the words and scenarios would involve too much thinking.

  4. I’ve lived 46 years a few miles south of Galveston county. While there are many kind and tolerant Texans, Yahooism predominates public discourse and touted as “Texas values”. The caricatures and stereotypes of ignorant chauvinists has a large basis in fact.
    We’re the rodeo buckle of the Bible Belt. I still find it hard to believe they can be that proud of being that stupid.

  5. many years ago when i as a newspaper artist in changing times had to do page layout more and more was at odds with mgmt whe the layout was about an art show contain nudes (wyeths helga show comes to mind) i of course want to include but they didnt. they of course won in the end… a minor (ironic) retribution: i got HR to take down the risque erte in the lobby

  6. To the Daily News…
    Concerning the Arlo & Janis controversy… I generally read only about four comic strips in my local paper. One of them is Arlo & Janis.
    After I viewed the one with the mermaid wearing a bra as a hat -I felt it was very funny – so funny that I wanted to send the artist an email telling him that it was sooo good and hilarious. That search led me to this site. Perhaps the offended party should widen their search for moral decency by advocating brassieres for cows.

    1. Frank, on Facebook there is an Arlo and Janis Fans group. Please check it out and see if you’d like to join it.’
      Thanks for reading the strip and I’m glad you enjoy it.

  7. I wonder how some people would respond if their paper carried 9 Chickweed Lane? That strip just had a one-week arc centered around one of the twin’s (Lolly? Polly? They are identical and interchangeable) fixation with her husband’s toes. Yesterday’s strip had her licking his toes to his immediate sexual satisfaction. In a public swimming pool. I can’t imagine any paper still carries the strip but if it did, there would be a huge outcry about such a scene.

    2. Even as a web-only comic, 9CL generated enough controversy (and/or complaints) that McEldowney got GoComics to disable comments.

  9. Of course the Arlo Award was named for Guthrie – according to Jimmy Johnson, Arlo Day himself was named for Guthrie.

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