Say what you want about the Los Angeles Times--and yes, I know, the Times is not exactly the best newspaper out there--but it does have a pretty strong comics section. And in these freaky times, isn't it comforting to at least be able to enjoy two pages out of the newspaper?
What's great about the comics sections in the L.A. Times, Chicago Tribune and Washington Post is their willingness to keep things fresh by constantly giving new strips a chance. And in case you haven't noticed, we've entered a new generation of comics. Where the last generation was highlighted by the late, great strips "Calvin and Hobbes" and "The Far Side," this generation is led by three very solid, very character-driven strips: "Boondocks," "Get Fuzzy" and "Zits." (Bubbling under, I also like "Frazz," but I don't think that one is widely distributed enough just yet for much notice.)
Unfortunately, too many parts of the country still rely on tired old strips like "Hi and Lois" and "Hagar the Horrible." For those of you still dealing with 1970s-era strips, here's the update:
The Boondocks revolves around 8-year-old Huey Freeman, the eternally scornful champion of the dispossessed.
Get Fuzzy is a wry portrait of a single, mild-mannered ad executive and his two pets: temperamental cat Bucky and gentle pooch Satchel.
Zits chronicles the life of 15-year-old Jeremy Duncan, his family and friends, from his teen-age foibles to the insecurities of growing up.
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