Sunday, May 30, 2010

Mary Worth 761

Two Beatles songs in one week! First, "Doctor Robert," and now "A Little Help From My Friends." How awesome is this?

Well, it's almost as awesome as this:

You'll want to click on the image above to see a larger version.

So, how did I come about this strip? Faithful reader "phoebes from santa fe" sent it to me. In a box. With dozens and dozens of other strips from 1949 to the mid 1950's. I was stunned. Thank you so much phoebes. I think you must be the kind of friend John Lennon AND Paul McCartney were writing about (and Ringo Starr was singing about). You are one in a million!

Today's Full Strip

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow. That vintage ol' biddy Mary Worth sure seems full of spit and vinegar. I wouldn't mess with her for a hundred bucks, angel.

How did we get from that sassy old interloping broad, to the bland, condescending, walking self-help book we know and "love" today?

At least in the old strips, there was a chance for 'old lady fisticuffs' to break out!

Anonymous said...

... and is it my imagination, or did that old one actually move to four different locations in one strip? And introduce dramatic tension in a manner that makes the reader eager to know what happens next?

It's like a different comic!

Toots McGee said...

Hey Wanders, since Jad Fair contacted you to clarify the mistake that Karen Moy made in crediting lyrics to Daniel Johnston, do you think you'll be getting an email from Sir Paul over this latest inaccurate attribution?

Is that Emergency arrow an omen? I mean, we know that Mary can survive an arrow through the neck (because she doesn't need blood?) but can bonny Bonnie? Bonnie Johnson? That is one dangerous Emergency Department!

Wanders said...

@Toots: McCartney already writes to me quite a bit. It's gotten quite annoying really.

Imogene said...

Is bonny Bonnie saying that she feels better and more free than she has since the day she started spending time with Mary?

The old strip is truly wonderful. I can remember reading Mary Worth in the comics when I was a child in the 60s, but I'd forgotten her jowls and her lack of proper foundation garments. Good job, Phoebes!

Vicki said...

Awesome vintage Mary! Thanks for sharing. She looks soooo BADA$$!!!

In the world of Mary Worth, one can only feel truly "free" if they take up ice skating. Perhaps bonny Bonnie has signed up for the Tuesday night Beginner Adult Lessons at the Santa Royale Ice Rink. This could explain the "Emergency Room" arrow foreshadowing that's pointed right at poor Bonnie's noggin!

phoebes in santa fe said...

I had bought these on Ebay a few years ago when I thought I might write something about Mary Worth. I threw them in the top of a closet and found them last week when I closet cleaning and offered them to Wanders.

The difference between years' ago strips and current ones is marked. Amazing. The old Mary WAS a real bitch in many ways and she wasn't afraid to speak her mind. The new one is bland and she's surrounded by equally bland people. A shame, really...

Dr. Jeff Corey, M.D. said...

Has anyone seen my green Masters champion blazer? I wore it to the Bum Boat last week and now I can't find it!

Anonymous said...

Wanders: more vintage biddy, please!

hekates said...

Man, I am DYING to read those old Mary Worths! Vintage Mary is a woman I can look up to and aspire to her sheer awesomeness. Plus her clothes are better.

tuffenuf said...

Wanders, I vote to 86 the current MW's and show us the old, saved ones. Those are GREAT!!! Now I see why my 80 y.o. mother used to read Mary when I was a kid!

Judging from today's strip, I could never understand why. Back in the early 60's and 70's internet sarcasm was not around for all to enjoy, so there must have been a draw (no pun intended) in the panels themselves.

Thanks Wanders and Phoebes for the delightful and action-packed journey back through time!