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A lot of comic strips are a product of their time, as they are a commentary on current events. Some are more timeless than others, but I've found that many thi

A lot of comic strips are a product of their time, as they are a commentary on current events. Some are more timeless than others, but I've found that many things that were funny at the time I saw them just aren't now. Or, they are only entertaining because I lived through the events they refer to. A good example is going back to old SNL episodes, or Tonight Show monologues. Stuff that I remember laughing about back in the day, feels like when someone tells you a joke that you don't get, then explains the context. You then "get" the joke, but it isn't as funny.

the_af 8y ago
> A lot of comic strips are a product of their time Yes, and even those are worth reading. Newer is not better.
dwd 8y ago
I get what you're saying - Doonesbury is maybe a good example of one that you really had to be there. On the other hand a lot of the classics that do have a time based cultural context can still be very funny. Take Asterix where a lot of characters wore the faces of contemporary celebrities or politicians, but that was a secondary joke so they still maintain their appeal. The Simpsons and South Park also have a lot of cultural references but the early seasons are every bit as funny now. Classics like Marge vs the Monorail still hold up as the core theme is one that keeps repeating every generation, but a guest appearance by Leonard Nimoy wont mean anything to a new audience.
- the_af 8y ago
  As an aside, I loved Asterix as a kid and wasn't aware of any contemporary personalities! It has stuck as one of the favorite comics of my childhood -- along with Lucky Luke -- to the point me and my brothers can quote randomly from almost any issue. As an adult, I noticed the modern world references, but maybe because of the ties to my childhood, they remain secondary. Asterix and Lucky Luke are timeless and a beloved part of my youth :)

the_af 8y ago

> A lot of comic strips are a product of their time Yes, and even those are worth reading. Newer is not better.

dwd 8y ago

I get what you're saying - Doonesbury is maybe a good example of one that you really had to be there. On the other hand a lot of the classics that do have a time based cultural context can still be very funny. Take Asterix where a lot of characters wore the faces of contemporary celebrities or politicians, but that was a secondary joke so they still maintain their appeal. The Simpsons and South Park also have a lot of cultural references but the early seasons are every bit as funny now. Classics like Marge vs the Monorail still hold up as the core theme is one that keeps repeating every generation, but a guest appearance by Leonard Nimoy wont mean anything to a new audience.

the_af 8y ago
As an aside, I loved Asterix as a kid and wasn't aware of any contemporary personalities! It has stuck as one of the favorite comics of my childhood -- along with Lucky Luke -- to the point me and my brothers can quote randomly from almost any issue. As an adult, I noticed the modern world references, but maybe because of the ties to my childhood, they remain secondary. Asterix and Lucky Luke are timeless and a beloved part of my youth :)