No Joke: More Strip-Mining of Boston Globe Comics

January 9, 2023

For the past handful of years, the hardreading staff has diligently chronicled the Boston Globe’s chuckleheaded handling of its comics pages. Beset by a chronic case of schlimmbesserung (making something worse by trying to make it better), the Globeniks are forever replacing decent strips with inferior ones.

Representative reaction from us after a 2019 Globe reader survey led to wholesale changes in the comics lineup: “Seriously? Rose Is Rose instead of Get Fuzzy? Adam @ Home instead of Zippy? We’re sorry to say this, but Globe readers are idiots.”

Not to mention Globe editors.

On January 2 the Globe unceremoniously kicked Mother Goose and Grimm to the curb via this microscopic notice (actual size).

(To be sure graf goes here)

To be sure, no one has ever confused Mother Goose and Grimm with Calvin and Hobbes or The Boondocks, but Ma and Grimmy are like cartoon comfort food, which is more than you can say about Pardon My Planet, judging from its maiden voyage in the Globe on New Year’s Day.

Pardon my plaint, but that’s just not funny. More like grim.

UPDATE: Splendid reader Mark has informed the hardreading staff that “[a]pparently you’re not the only one who missed it. Mother Goose was back as of today.”

Indeed she was, complete with another microscopic notice.

Universal Hub’s redoubtable Adam Gaffin also weighed in.

Grimm situation at the Globe resolved

John Carroll reports he could not believe his eyes the other day when the Globe replaced “Mother Goose and Grimm” with one of those depressing strips about 20somethings being depressing.

The Globe’s Kevin Slane, though, reports the venerable strip is back today.

All’s well that ends well, yeah? Let’s hope the Globe editors stop all their strip teasing for a good long while.


Globe Relocates Comics Pages Willy-Nilly

June 30, 2016

The hardreading staff is a longtime devotee of Boston Globe comic strips such as Dan Piraro’s Bizarro, Bill Griffith’s Zippy the Pinhead, and Darby Conley’s Get Fuzzy, and we’ve long had a morning routine of reading the Globe Sports section, then turning to the back of the Metro section to read the funny pages.

Until yesterday.

When suddenly – magically! – the comics pages appeared at the back of the Sports section. (D6 and D7 for those of you keeping score at home.)

 

Screen Shot 2016-06-30 at 2.23.30 AM

 

No advance warning.

No Editor’s note.

No nothing.

And then today – poof! – the comics pages are back at the rear of Metro.

Hey, Globeniks: Some respek, eh?


Comic Strips Not ‘Living’ Large in Boston Globe

January 12, 2015

Well the new Living section (which replaces the late, unlamented G section) debuted in the Boston Globe today, and here’s how the paper’s press release touted the launch:

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The Boston Globe Launches New Living/Arts Section with Daily Themes and Fresh Content

Monday through Saturday section to feature everything from food to technology to parenting tips; debuts January 12

Boston (January 12, 2015) – The Boston Globe launched today the new Living/Arts section – a daily broadsheet section focusing on arts, culture, entertainment, and lifestyle. Previously the “g” section, Living/Arts is now bigger and bolder with a fresh design and collection of new compelling features and columns.

The Living/Arts section will include the Globe’s award-winning coverage of arts and culture, as well as family, events, books, style, restaurants, and nightlife, among other new features, in an engaging and eye-catching package.

The new section will revolve around daily themes, Monday through Saturday . . .

 

And etc.

There’s no mention in the press release of the comics pages, mainly because they’ve moved to the back of the Metro section. And, to all appearances, they’ve moved down in size as well.

G:

 

Screen Shot 2015-01-12 at 1.36.18 PM

 

Metro:

 

Screen Shot 2015-01-12 at 1.36.56 PM

 

It’s hard to tell from the Globe’s ePaper edition, but here’s an individual matchup.

G Zippy:

 

Screen Shot 2015-01-12 at 12.40.15 PM

 

Metro Zippy:

 

Screen Shot 2015-01-12 at 12.39.25 PM

 

The hardreading staff recycles so religiously, we don’t have an old G section lying around the Global Worldwide Headquarters for a paper comparison, but we’re searching elsewhere in hopes of putting an old-fashioned ruler to the strips.

Meanwhile, if any of you splendid readers can enlighten us further, please do.