From the editors @ Universal Press Syndicate

A little tale about hype vs. quality

 

Here at Universal we're know for our fondness of many things: the laughter of small children, the poetry of Mario Lopez and high-quality comics that don't let you down in the humor department.

We also enjoy a delicious and refreshing beverage from time to time. With that in mind, came a story we'd heard about PBR being so similar in flavor to Stella Artois that you could not taste the difference. In other words, why would you pay a premium for Stella when could have PBR at half the price?

At first many were skeptical, we heard responses like, "it can't be," "no way," and "who the hell took my salad dressing out of the fridge!?" 

So we decided to have a taste test. That's right a "taste test." And let me tell you, tongues were a waggin'!

Could a resurgent Milwaukee beer favored by hipsters dethrone the proud Belgian that was first brewed in 1366? (BTW, there's no truth to the rumor that the Brussels Bugle first purchased "Beetle Bailey" in that same year, so knock it off).

And remember all those stories your mom told you about quality being on the inside, and it's not always the most expensive thing that's the best and sometimes the underdog can win? Well ... she was wrong. Of the 23 people who took the test 20 correctly identifed Stella as the better beer. 

Next taste test: Royal Crown Cola vs. Shasta Cola. Be there.

-JG

How do things like this happen?

 

-JG

We're No. 2! We're No. 2!

This easily feels much better than a few weeks ago when we were No. 8 on something! 

It really doesn't even compare. Does eighth place even get a medal in the Olympics? I mean, even if it does, it's probably some lesser precious-metal medal like Bismuth or possibly tellurium.

Oh my gosh ... deep breaths. They say it's going be great, but then when you actually get here you realize that it's impossible to articulate how high you'll feel and that all your life's work and all of those who laughed at you and slapped you around as a child ... well, who's laughing now? Huh, Wayne Kiesel? How you like me now, Wayne-y?

-JG

Sacha Baron Cohen's next role? Sarah!

 

check it out here ... hysterical.

-JG

In the Sticks (beta animation)

Here's a prototype animation we did for the In the Sticks last year. I think it came out pretty well ... lip synching was off a little and some sound effects and music might have helped deliver the punch line better. The flag whips too quickly too ...though perhaps a hurricane was approaching.

-JG

* Can you guess the voice actor, brother of a Hollywood bigshot?

My favorite out-of-context panel today

 

-JG

No truth to the rumor ...

... that the salesman in this week's W.T. Duck series is based on our syndicate sales VP, John Vivona. None at all. No similarities. So let's just stop the rumor-mongering, oui?

Oh, sure they both have mustaches, glasses, comb their hair back and wear lots of bling ... but other than that. Nothing.

 I mean, come on, John Vivona doesn't even wear a coat of feathers (and hasn't since 1998) and the salesman duck (above) is a 2-dimensional character ... I can personal attest that John Vivona is a least 25% more dimensional than that.

-JG

Q is the snootiest middle initial ever

Right?

-JG

Pepe (BTW: it's pronounced "pay-pay"), what in the world are you doing?

 

This made me laugh long and hard. But I have no idea what's going on. Anybody?

-JG

Thompson, Gammill & Turnbloom

 

No, Thompson, Gammill & Turnbloom (from left) isn't a late 70s progressive rock supergroup reforming for a reunion tour where the tickets are $125 and all they do is play music from their new album instead of their hits which is what the people have paid to see ... they're three u/u cartoonists having the time of their lives at SDCC this past weekend.

And yes, Bruce Jenner and Tom have the same plastic surgeon.

-JG