Oh, they'll pay.
August 7, 2008 2:07 AM Subscribe
These are top-notch.
posted by Happy Dave at 2:42 AM on August 7, 2008
posted by Happy Dave at 2:42 AM on August 7, 2008
Wait, these aren't Bill Watterson orginals.... are they?
posted by Wanderlust88 at 2:49 AM on August 7, 2008
posted by Wanderlust88 at 2:49 AM on August 7, 2008
Wait, these aren't Bill Watterson orginals.... are they?
It's a little known fact that Watterson is a huge Microsoft fanboy (mainly because of the XBOX).
posted by Pyry at 3:01 AM on August 7, 2008
It's a little known fact that Watterson is a huge Microsoft fanboy (mainly because of the XBOX).
posted by Pyry at 3:01 AM on August 7, 2008
No, they're Alfred E. Neuman originals…
posted by blasdelf at 3:08 AM on August 7, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by blasdelf at 3:08 AM on August 7, 2008 [1 favorite]
Wow. Roast. Still, I'll take a Jobs product any day, over...
posted by punkbitch at 3:39 AM on August 7, 2008
posted by punkbitch at 3:39 AM on August 7, 2008
From this Flickr comment:
I’d like to give credit to the writer and artist of that Calvin and Jobs satire. It was written by Jacob Lambert and drawn by Gary Hallgren. It’s from a two page spread in the current issue of MAD Magazine. It’s the Super Hero issue. Yep, the same issue that has the Sucker City Ad in it. The one that caused so much concern and then repentance from the folks at Circuit City. The Circuit City saga is here: www.gizwiz.biz.
MADly,
Dick De
Dick DeBartolo
MAD’s Maddest Writer
posted by vacapinta at 3:56 AM on August 7, 2008 [2 favorites]
I’d like to give credit to the writer and artist of that Calvin and Jobs satire. It was written by Jacob Lambert and drawn by Gary Hallgren. It’s from a two page spread in the current issue of MAD Magazine. It’s the Super Hero issue. Yep, the same issue that has the Sucker City Ad in it. The one that caused so much concern and then repentance from the folks at Circuit City. The Circuit City saga is here: www.gizwiz.biz.
MADly,
Dick De
Dick DeBartolo
MAD’s Maddest Writer
posted by vacapinta at 3:56 AM on August 7, 2008 [2 favorites]
The artist draws Calvin's hair differently than Watterson.
posted by ryanrs at 4:05 AM on August 7, 2008
posted by ryanrs at 4:05 AM on August 7, 2008
Wow, just seeing some new material drawn in an entirely passable homage to Watterson's style is enough to get me all happy and excited. I'll second the Effing Brilliant as well.
posted by tehloki at 4:07 AM on August 7, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by tehloki at 4:07 AM on August 7, 2008 [1 favorite]
1. Wow, these are really well done.
2. Wow, this guy really hates Steve Jobs.
posted by papercake at 4:21 AM on August 7, 2008 [2 favorites]
2. Wow, this guy really hates Steve Jobs.
posted by papercake at 4:21 AM on August 7, 2008 [2 favorites]
I'll take a Jobs product any day, over...
...a Gates one: Yes
...a Torvalds one: No
posted by DU at 4:40 AM on August 7, 2008
...a Gates one: Yes
...a Torvalds one: No
posted by DU at 4:40 AM on August 7, 2008
Brilliant. I really enjoyed those. Thanks for the post!
posted by Goofyy at 4:46 AM on August 7, 2008
posted by Goofyy at 4:46 AM on August 7, 2008
I'll show these to my mother next time she makes fun of my laptop.
posted by louche mustachio at 4:49 AM on August 7, 2008
posted by louche mustachio at 4:49 AM on August 7, 2008
I am going to have to start reading MAD magazine again. And somewhere Hobbes is spinning in his grave.
posted by Daddy-O at 5:04 AM on August 7, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by Daddy-O at 5:04 AM on August 7, 2008 [1 favorite]
DU: You have not used a Linus Torvalds Product™ unless you've written Linux kernel code, used git (his DCVS), or used sparse (his lint tool).
Calling the Linux kernel from userspace does not count, especially when you do it through several layers of abstraction.
posted by blasdelf at 5:41 AM on August 7, 2008
Calling the Linux kernel from userspace does not count, especially when you do it through several layers of abstraction.
posted by blasdelf at 5:41 AM on August 7, 2008
2. Wow, this guy really hates Steve Jobs.
Satire ≠ hatred.
posted by i_cola at 5:50 AM on August 7, 2008 [3 favorites]
Satire ≠ hatred.
posted by i_cola at 5:50 AM on August 7, 2008 [3 favorites]
Someone needs to do Calvin and Gates..
funny stuff here... but it made me want to go buy an AirBook...
posted by HuronBob at 5:56 AM on August 7, 2008
funny stuff here... but it made me want to go buy an AirBook...
posted by HuronBob at 5:56 AM on August 7, 2008
I liked the part where he says Jobs's products are uncreative derivatives of other people's work.
posted by ryanrs at 5:57 AM on August 7, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by ryanrs at 5:57 AM on August 7, 2008 [2 favorites]
I'm trying to figure out why Calvin is even used, and all I can get is the lame almost-ryhme in the title. Calvin could be anyone or no one, all the character does is stand there and say "What's the punchline, Mr. Jobs?" and then Jobs says something to make himself look bad.
posted by Harkins_ at 5:59 AM on August 7, 2008
posted by Harkins_ at 5:59 AM on August 7, 2008
Watterson also used that formula on occasion.
posted by ryanrs at 6:13 AM on August 7, 2008 [4 favorites]
posted by ryanrs at 6:13 AM on August 7, 2008 [4 favorites]
Hmm... I may actually pick up a copy of MAD for the first time in 20 years.
posted by wfrgms at 7:07 AM on August 7, 2008
posted by wfrgms at 7:07 AM on August 7, 2008
I liked the part where he says Jobs's products are uncreative derivatives of other people's work.
posted by ryanrs
Yeah, that hit me, too. Maybe this is just my personal hobbyhorse, but at this point I just don't see lot of value in somebody taking an existing, beloved property and tweaking it to make a lame little point. Basically, I think Family Guy strip-mined that practice so heavily that the ground will be unproductive for the next 10,000 years or so.
On the other hand, it's MAD, so it's not like I'm disappointed to see hackwork from someone I trust or anything...
posted by COBRA! at 7:08 AM on August 7, 2008
posted by ryanrs
Yeah, that hit me, too. Maybe this is just my personal hobbyhorse, but at this point I just don't see lot of value in somebody taking an existing, beloved property and tweaking it to make a lame little point. Basically, I think Family Guy strip-mined that practice so heavily that the ground will be unproductive for the next 10,000 years or so.
On the other hand, it's MAD, so it's not like I'm disappointed to see hackwork from someone I trust or anything...
posted by COBRA! at 7:08 AM on August 7, 2008
Calling the Linux kernel from userspace does not count, especially when you do it through several layers of abstraction.
neckbeard's a little scratchy today, eh?
posted by quonsar at 8:04 AM on August 7, 2008 [7 favorites]
neckbeard's a little scratchy today, eh?
posted by quonsar at 8:04 AM on August 7, 2008 [7 favorites]
In the last four years that I've had a Mad subscription, I'm continually surprised at how good it is. They're running strips by Joey Sayers and other "more edgy" comic artists, they're political and I haven't had a month where I thought it wasn't worth the money.
That said, while I think Jobs is ripe for a satire, this is a joke that would have been best as a single strip. By the end, I was like, yeah, yeah, I get it.
posted by Gucky at 8:04 AM on August 7, 2008
That said, while I think Jobs is ripe for a satire, this is a joke that would have been best as a single strip. By the end, I was like, yeah, yeah, I get it.
posted by Gucky at 8:04 AM on August 7, 2008
These are cute, but it bothers me that C&H is being used this way. I'm sick of seeing him pee'ing on everything or worshiping. Although this seems like legitimate satire, its pretty sad to see this excellent cartoon being twisted to promote certain views.
Also, I love the idea of a Steve Jobs stuffed doll. World's best/worst xmas present if made real.
posted by damn dirty ape at 8:04 AM on August 7, 2008
Also, I love the idea of a Steve Jobs stuffed doll. World's best/worst xmas present if made real.
posted by damn dirty ape at 8:04 AM on August 7, 2008
Funny stuff, cheers.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 9:03 AM on August 7, 2008
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 9:03 AM on August 7, 2008
The art is...well, better than I could do at imitating Watterson. Not that that's saying much.
Not impressed with the content. JOBSSUCKSAMIRITE?
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 9:19 AM on August 7, 2008
Not impressed with the content. JOBSSUCKSAMIRITE?
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 9:19 AM on August 7, 2008
Yurite. If Mad hadn't had two pages to fill, they could have run one of those Calvin-pissing-on-a-logo truck window stickers with an Apple logo drawn in, plus an URL to any random Gizmodo Apple post comment thread.
posted by Halloween Jack at 11:11 AM on August 7, 2008
posted by Halloween Jack at 11:11 AM on August 7, 2008
Can someone clue me in to the appeal of Steve Jobs? What makes him the only white male billionaire head of a multinational corporation not worth hating on?
Is it the turtlenecks? It's the turtlenecks, isn't it?
posted by rocket88 at 11:36 AM on August 7, 2008 [1 favorite]
Is it the turtlenecks? It's the turtlenecks, isn't it?
posted by rocket88 at 11:36 AM on August 7, 2008 [1 favorite]
I'm sorry, I disagree with your equating this with peeing Calvin stickers. This is done with respect and fidelity to the source material, those stickers are just obnoxious appropriations that don't care about anything except Calvin's character design, and which display a great misunderstanding of Calvin's personality.
The deciding factor, for me, is that the artist behind these strips is obviously familiar with Calvin and Hobbes, while the sticker makers seem to neither care about, or be aware of, anything else about C&H than Calvin's appearance. In fact, it seems the sticker makers are feeding off of each other more than the strip, which can be seen in how newer versions of those decals feature characters that look progressively less like Calvin, and more like a generic (hateful) kid.
posted by JHarris at 11:36 AM on August 7, 2008 [5 favorites]
The deciding factor, for me, is that the artist behind these strips is obviously familiar with Calvin and Hobbes, while the sticker makers seem to neither care about, or be aware of, anything else about C&H than Calvin's appearance. In fact, it seems the sticker makers are feeding off of each other more than the strip, which can be seen in how newer versions of those decals feature characters that look progressively less like Calvin, and more like a generic (hateful) kid.
posted by JHarris at 11:36 AM on August 7, 2008 [5 favorites]
Maybe this is just my personal hobbyhorse, but at this point I just don't see lot of value in somebody taking an existing, beloved property and tweaking it to make a lame little point. Basically, I think Family Guy strip-mined that practice so heavily that the ground will be unproductive for the next 10,000 years or so.
Wait, let me get this straight. Mad Magazine, arguably the most influential satirical magazine ever published in English, who have been running satires exactly like this one every single month for more than fifty years, should go ahead and throw in the towel because of... Family Guy?
Wow. Just wow. Next you'll also be firing off a letter to Rolex, asking them to stop treading on ground that's been "strip mined" by Swatch.
Fershlugginer kids these days...! It's enough to make me wanna potrzebie.
posted by vorfeed at 12:19 PM on August 7, 2008 [7 favorites]
Wait, let me get this straight. Mad Magazine, arguably the most influential satirical magazine ever published in English, who have been running satires exactly like this one every single month for more than fifty years, should go ahead and throw in the towel because of... Family Guy?
Wow. Just wow. Next you'll also be firing off a letter to Rolex, asking them to stop treading on ground that's been "strip mined" by Swatch.
Fershlugginer kids these days...! It's enough to make me wanna potrzebie.
posted by vorfeed at 12:19 PM on August 7, 2008 [7 favorites]
What, Jobs worry?
posted by not_on_display at 1:54 PM on August 7, 2008
posted by not_on_display at 1:54 PM on August 7, 2008
This didn't seem to me to be driven by any hate for Jobs, more an amused disdain for his pretensions coupled with a desire to get as much mileage as possible out of the initial pun. And the art is great; don't underestimate the level of skill required to copy or parody another artist's style so well that, if it weren't for the subject matter, the viewer would think it was the artists.
posted by aeschenkarnos at 3:24 PM on August 7, 2008
posted by aeschenkarnos at 3:24 PM on August 7, 2008
"Can someone clue me in to the appeal of Steve Jobs?"
Sure he's a bully. But he's the bully that took on the big bully (Gates) and he has products that are a thousand times sexier.
posted by pwb503 at 3:26 PM on August 7, 2008
Sure he's a bully. But he's the bully that took on the big bully (Gates) and he has products that are a thousand times sexier.
posted by pwb503 at 3:26 PM on August 7, 2008
It has to be said that Dick DeBartolo has a remarkably classy and polite way of saying "this material was not yours to post."
posted by George_Spiggott at 5:50 PM on August 7, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by George_Spiggott at 5:50 PM on August 7, 2008 [1 favorite]
Maybe I've just read entirely too much Calvin & Hobbes in my lifetime, but I honestly don't see why people are referring to this art as skillful reproduction of Watterson. To my eye they look nothing like Watterson's artwork (especially Calvin's mom in the last strip).
posted by shakespeherian at 6:11 PM on August 7, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by shakespeherian at 6:11 PM on August 7, 2008 [1 favorite]
I have to say that I agree with Shakespeherian, the art is not a dead ringer. Calvin's mom's eyes are too far apart, and Calvin's eyes are too ready to slip into Squinty Evil mode. And Watterson's Calvin would never stand up to Moe like that.
But for the sake of a series of gags about Steve Jobs, the art is more than adequate.
posted by JHarris at 6:19 PM on August 7, 2008
But for the sake of a series of gags about Steve Jobs, the art is more than adequate.
posted by JHarris at 6:19 PM on August 7, 2008
Huzzah! That was great. Written exactly like a C& H strip too.
posted by AzzaMcKazza at 6:36 PM on August 7, 2008
posted by AzzaMcKazza at 6:36 PM on August 7, 2008
Can someone clue me in to the appeal of Steve Jobs? What makes him the only white male billionaire head of a multinational corporation not worth hating on?
It's a multinational corporation he started it in his garage and built with fanatical personal devotion to product design. For example, in the first Mac GUI he made the developers re-layout the calculator program so often that they wrote another program to let him drag the buttons around himself. Whether you think the products are better or not, he sure sweats blood for them, and his fanaticism is contagious.
So, although I'm not personally in lurve with him, and I'm not really down with hating on billionaires indiscriminately, he is pretty unusual.
posted by jhc at 8:49 PM on August 7, 2008
It's a multinational corporation he started it in his garage and built with fanatical personal devotion to product design. For example, in the first Mac GUI he made the developers re-layout the calculator program so often that they wrote another program to let him drag the buttons around himself. Whether you think the products are better or not, he sure sweats blood for them, and his fanaticism is contagious.
So, although I'm not personally in lurve with him, and I'm not really down with hating on billionaires indiscriminately, he is pretty unusual.
posted by jhc at 8:49 PM on August 7, 2008
Can someone clue me in to the appeal of Steve Jobs?
Imagine a world with no personal computers.
I know. How could such a world be possible?
posted by dhartung at 10:50 PM on August 7, 2008
Imagine a world with no personal computers.
I know. How could such a world be possible?
posted by dhartung at 10:50 PM on August 7, 2008
Wait, let me get this straight. Mad Magazine, arguably the most influential satirical magazine ever published in English, who have been running satires exactly like this one every single month for more than fifty years, should go ahead and throw in the towel because of... Family Guy?
No. Mad Magazine, the influential satirical magazine which has light-speeding off into irrelevance since I was in knickers, should at least have the fucking dignity to avoid jumping onto the Family Guy bandwagon of making every joke, "Hey! I put two unrelated things that you recognize together! Ha ha!"
I suppose Mad was doing Crazy Cultural Substitutions back in the day, but I think it's gotten worse now, and it certainly wasn't the crushingly ubiquitous universal humor formula that it is now.
posted by COBRA! at 5:23 AM on August 8, 2008
No. Mad Magazine, the influential satirical magazine which has light-speeding off into irrelevance since I was in knickers, should at least have the fucking dignity to avoid jumping onto the Family Guy bandwagon of making every joke, "Hey! I put two unrelated things that you recognize together! Ha ha!"
I suppose Mad was doing Crazy Cultural Substitutions back in the day, but I think it's gotten worse now, and it certainly wasn't the crushingly ubiquitous universal humor formula that it is now.
posted by COBRA! at 5:23 AM on August 8, 2008
COOOOBRAAAAA!!, stop. You're trying to mark off an entire field of humor as obsolete. Just because Family Guy stomps it into the ground every episode doesn't make it any less funny -- just less funny when viewed in proximity to Family Guy. Not all of us view the world through Seth Green-colored glasses.
And, this was written with much more wit than the typical Family Guy "Remember that time we verb with famous person ?" bit.
posted by JHarris at 1:27 PM on August 8, 2008
And, this was written with much more wit than the typical Family Guy "Remember that time we verb with famous person ?" bit.
posted by JHarris at 1:27 PM on August 8, 2008
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posted by nonreflectiveobject at 2:25 AM on August 7, 2008