Where Are The Fireworks?

You know, normally, holidays in the funny pages are a lot like television sitcoms. When a particular date on the calendar draws near, all the shows begin to show signs of appropriate decorum.

Which is why it's a little odd that The Orlando Sentinel has very little in the way of fireworks on this July 4th. Dagwood's wearing a patriotic shirt and cooking out in "Blondie", Dennis The Menace is in the corner with an American flag ("come on you guys, it's July 4th! I was just tryin' to show some INDEPENDENCE!") and Jeffy's got his fingers in his ears anticipating loud noises in "Family Circus".

Other than that - not even the armed services-friendly "Beetle Bailey" has anything to say on the subject. Ironically enough, the only visual fireworks in evidence can be found in "Doonesbury", as Duke and Honey witness the bombing of Al Amok in a stunning one-panel vista that perhaps sums up why there's less than the usual amount of flag-waving going on today.

It's not often that my name pops up in a strip either, as it does in "Mutts". Look! I'm the sound of a falling nut! (Surprise, surprise.....)

Happy Independence Day y'all ---