The Professional Webspace of Designer and Illustrator Kevin Cornell:
"Design, Art, and Lackluster Humor."
Going Nuts About Nuts
Here's the situation I've found myself in for the last few days. Halloween is fast approaching. I greatly enjoy posting holiday-themed comics. So I sat down to think of a good Halloween comic. Now, I've been doing these for a couple years now. The easy ideas have all come and gone. Thinking up a new one is getting difficult. And I want to do a one-off, which are a more challenging to construct than a multi-panel comic. But, I persevere, and come up with one idea that gives me a chuckle. And yet, I hesitate to post it.
The problem is the kind of joke it is. It is a filthy joke, and I am trying to quit the filthy joke.
Now, I'm not some sort of prude. I've made my share of filthy jokes, and worked extensively in the related sub-genres. The Bathroom Joke. The Sex Joke. My core competency was Genital-Focused Humor, with brief forays into Micturational Studies, Lampooned Copulation, and a fellowship in the Theory of Excremental Delight. And I was happy there, for a time.
But as I've gotten older, and sought to hone my craft, I've found these genres to be less and less fulfilling. There's nothing challenging about a filthy joke. There will always be someone who finds it funny, not for anything special I impart, but merely because they will always laugh at the subject matter. It's the comedy equivalent of feeding a squirrel a nut. No matter what nut you give it, no matter the quality, no matter how it's prepared, the squirrel will take it. These days, what I want to do is feed a squirrel a steak. That is the true challenge.
So.
Here I am... sitting on a perfectly fine joke. I've shown it to Kim. She laughed. And that's not an easy task these days, since we've been married long enough that she no longer has to pretend I'm delightful and witty. But this joke... it's a nut. It's definitely a nut. And no amount of polish can turn this baby into a sirloin. And the squirrels are hungry, for they are always hungry.
I'm...
I'm...
I'm sorry...
I'm just not strong enough.
Comments on this Article
There are currently 28 comments.
2. Reggebah
I for one am terribly disappointed.
The feet on the other side of the wall should have been Mojo's
3. xtina
BAHAHAHAHAA! The build up to that one-off was perfect...i'm still enjoying the nuttiness half an hour later!
4. bearskinrug
5. Barry Jones
I must have no imagination, I didn't see that one coming at all. lol.
6. testMonkey
I am happily a squirrel. A squirrel that loves his nuts — simple, small, and unexciting as they may be, thankyouverymuch.
BTW: I like Larry Craig's new disguise. Very clever.
7. swiftfalcon
Just had to chime in, I'm so very disappointed in you. You should have *never* apologized for such a masterpiece!
9. bearskinrug
Barry - Score! Surprise filth attack!
Testmonkey - Happily a squirrel, eh? Well, perhaps I could interest you in the "dirty-word-a-day" calendar I'm making? Hee...heh... actually... that's a pretty good product idea.
Swiftfalcon - I stand corrected!
Jonathan - Nuts do contain essential nutrients...
11. mary
I would have laughed longer if I didn't realize you just called me a mindless-squirrel. =)
12. Eric
I guess all modern mummies should wear toilet paper instead of white linen. It should be recyclable & easily decompose.
a clever idea!
13. bearskinrug
14. bearskinrug
Eric - Hehe - you snuck that comment in at the same time I was commenting! JINX!
15. Lydia Quinn
I think this is more than just a nut, to be honest, I think its bloody hilarious. If the standard of drawing was of less adequacy, than it would be a nut. :D xx
16. Ellyn
How could you cater to the masses so? I am very disappointed in you, Kevin Cornell.
Expect a group of punk comedians with fire-throwers and steaks to come knocking on your your door any day now. This is unforgivable!
....
And yet, you talked about offering steak and then offered a nut. This could very well be considered rebelling against rebellion. You did, after all, do the unexpected.
Hm. We'll let you off this time. And anyway, that was hilariously funny. ^_^
17. Phyllis
Eh, the all-star team of ninjas and I fight over the fax machine all the time, so that's nothing new. Me laughing like crazy at my desk, though, well, no-one's ever *that* happy to be at work ...
18. Sutter
With that set-up I expected something far more risque. Perhaps involving the mummies actual nuts. Having said this, it's funny not because of the bathroom but because it's just funny.
19. bearskinrug
23. The Far Side
As if my version wasn't base enough, now the viewer is inside the stall? Scandalous!
24. bearskinrug
Fuck.
This is another reason why I don't do one-offs. Someone already did em ALL.
25. Phyllis
Now, now, Mr. Larson, all the important parts are covered ... and embalmed ...
26. The Near Side
I bet Gary's version of this was subconsciously borrowed an old Gasoline Ally strip...
28. Carver911
Kev, you need to compare apples to apples, not nuts to steak. I mean after all, there are cashews and there are stadium peanuts. Allow me to say that sometimes I feel like a nut so I come here to BSR.co.uk and feel utterly satisfied. Keep up the good work. Now let me get back to my steak dinner...
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1. Joey Livingston
No no. This is prime rib.
LOL *giggle* *snort* *choke* *cough*