Growing up, I remember each day that I saw the newspaper sitting out that I would open the comic page and read Family Circus first. I'm not sure at what age I understood it, but there was something about the drawing and the style and the characters that made them more real than some of the superheroes. No mater what, everyday that family was there and I felt like there was much more of a connection to that strip than to others, at least when I was young. Later of course I graduated to Calvin & Hobbes and other strips that might have been more edgy, but there was always something about Family Circus that drew you back and it never grew old. Although Bil's son has been drawing the strip for awhile now, it still is sad to know the creator and the inspiration, Bil Keane died this week at the age of 89.
Cartoons, comic strips and comic books--even lame ones--are a huge part of my life. Thanks for posting about this, Enty!
ReplyDeleteI still go to the comic strip page in the paper first. My favorite Family Circus were the Sunday strips with the dotted lines to show the roundabout path of one of the kids, usually Billy, took to get somewhere.
ReplyDeleteAlways loved Family Circus and marveled at how he never ran out of material with his small cast of characters. He offered a smile or a chuckle every time, and I thought it would last forever. He will be missed.
ReplyDeleteThanks for acknowledging this. Family Circus is part of our American culture. RIP Bil Keane.
ReplyDeleteI loved the "Not Me" ghost. And RJ I remember those Billy ones! What a throwback
ReplyDeleteI remember a particular strip-- Jeffy hugging his mother saying he loved how her perfume smelled of bacon, eggs and toast. I showed my mother and said She had the same perfume as the Family Circus mommy!
ReplyDeleteWas a fan of the dysfunctiona family circus website. Was Bil's long time special friend "Uncle" Roy Washington there at his side as well.
ReplyDeleteWhoa, I'm trippin' my nutsak in a frenzy of dikplay.
Thanks for bringing this to my attention, Enty! I did not know he'd passed away!!
ReplyDeleteFamily Circus was always the first comic I went to as a kid (and occasionally as an adult). His comics were sweet and funny.
The L.A. Times had a little write up on him/his life. Pretty interesting.
I guess I am the only one here who found his cartoons repetitive and, well, stupid. The dotted maps showing Billy's roundabout paths and "dead grandpa's ghost" were particularly annoying.
ReplyDeleteI always liked Family Circus because they were simple and cute. The kids were kids and not prococious smart-mouths with attitude.
ReplyDeletei recently bought one of his books at a garage sale. haven't read one since the 80's...loved his insight and humour. RIP. his daughter worked on Tangled and his other son is in animation as well i think. ;o)
ReplyDeleteI loved "The Family Circus." I remember sitting in the library and reading the books for hours as a kid.
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