A new line from J. Peterman?
Sorry, couldn't help it.
Ascots is fine and I have nothing of real substance to say about it.
Except to say that while Francis' expression in panel 5 is fine in and of itself, it's too similar to his expression in panel 4 to successfully impart his transition from confused to discomfited.
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It's a pretty US-only (or maybe north American-only) joke, though, since the rest of the English speaking world spell and pronounce it arse... Left me flat.
This strip is a good example of one of things I pretty much loathe about PvP - the use of the term 'gay' as an insult. I know it's intended as an 'in-character' expression (something only someone as immature as Francis would say) but I still find it offensive and a crutch Scott relies on for his strips a little too often.
It's not really an insult. It is, in fact, saying that the situation is one that a homosexual would be in. I mean really, who wears ascots but gays?
Actually, I was just thinking PvP had been better than usual lately and then he came back with another stupid "gaaaaaaay" joke. I didn't like it the first time and I didn't like it every subsequent time. Ass-cot is funny, "gaaaaaay" is not.
It is kind of being used as an insult, or at least in an insulting way, because it is being relied on as the punchline. To find that amusing necessitates an agreement with the implication that there are hetero things and there are homo things and never the twain should meet. Or that homosexuals are the riduclous "other."
Some people do feel that way, and maybe Scott feels that way, but you can't blame people who don't feel that way being turned off by this running gag. It's not a very good running gag in any case.
"riduclous" should be "ridiculous."
There are two sides to this coin. I think using gaaaay isn't particularly funny, and as this thread demonstrate, it clearly has the potential to insult.
On the flip side, that is how the character Francis acts...and I believe that authors should be able to create characters who do potentially offensive things. It's sort of a freedom of expression issue.
Still, he might want to let it go as a recurring theme, I don't think it adds much to the comic.
i agree with r.w. i know i heard a lot of kids saying "gaaaay" about 2 years ago, but it also seems that my kids and the other kids grew out of it.
scott should too
At least Scott didn't introduce the whole rigamarole of thug terms used as greetings to their "homies," such as "Fool," "nigga," "faggot" and "bitch." Because, really, in Francis's demographic, it's like 50% possible he would talk like that.
It's been so long since that "gaaay" thing that I presumed Scott had finally decided (realised) it had run its course.
The "It's okay because that's how the character talks" thing is a weak excuse, if you ask me. "I'm not saying it, my character is... the who *I* write". The difference here is that Scott writes it like this because he personally believes it's funny. Scott is simply the type of person who doesn't see the impact and that's just sad.
That what had run its course you bunch of uppity nerds? Francis is a "l33t gamer." Go on Live for five seconds and you have a dozen people who speak exactly like he does.
It's social criticism. Pull your heads out of your collective asses. You guys are in love with the smell of your own shit if that's the best you've got to complain over. TFSM had a legit complaint and all you crybabies have to bitch about is his usage of "gaaaay"? No wonder Scott dismisses you guys.
The problem is not that Francis behaves in a immature and offensive way, it is that he never, ever gets called on it.
A character's behaviour should not be assumed to reflect the views of the writer, but when a character does something offensive like this repeatedly and none of the other characters bat an eye, it does suggest that the writer is okay with it.
And even if it weren't offensive, it is a weak punchline that doesn't get any funnier with endless repetition.
The thing I look at is Brent's response because he knew Francis was making a stupid joke saying "ass-cots ha ha funny" So i think in PVP world Francis' comments are being seen as annoyances and nothing more.
FSM comment about Francis' expression is correct. It also made me chuckle because I imagined him walking over from the changing room with his mouth wide open like an idiot.
Oh and anonymus who said "Scott dismisses us" who the fuck cares. We're just talking between ourselves and its been proven in many different places that cartoonists are a tad bit sensitive when it comes to any type of criticism. Even if its just pointing out something small; its not like we're saying "PVP SUCKED BECAUSE FRANCIS' MOUTH WAS OPEN!!!!!!!"
As a side comment, I really liked the shadow on brent in panel two, it's little details like that which seem to make the art that much better.
I agree with r.w.mgree, I didn't find the strip offensive but I certainly didn't find it funny.
Hopefully this means we won't get a trite "cold feet" story.
Today's comic is what happens when you expect TOO MUCH from Scott Kurtz.
http://www.pvponline.com/2008/04/15/smooth-as-silk/
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