The Nietzsche Family Circus
Mar 15th, 2007 by Ned
Wow, it’s hard not to love the Nietzsche Family Circus, in which a random quote from Nietzsche is paired with a random strip from Bil Keane.
The insipid blandness of Jeffy, Dolly, et al. is skewered on the angry Teuton’s spear of righteousness, BUT the pompous old Kraut’s gassy bombast is deflated by the chirpy Keanesian bourgeoisie of Life at Home in the Suburbs. Despite nearly tripping the irony overload circuit-breaker, there’s something sweet and true about the resulting ensemble. It’s like finding an unhurt child in terrible car accident. (Spotted at Jeff Mather’s place.)
I, for one, always enjoyed those Sunday Family Circus cartoons that featured a long tortuous black arrow that traced Billy’s fun-filled trek through the neighborhood, chronicling all the hi-jinx that ensued. Yes, I said “enjoyed.” I know, I know. Bring on the hate.
I agree, those black arrow comics were the cream of the Family Circus crop. I just couldn’t stop looking at them until I had retraced all of little Billy’s steps. As I mentioned here once before, you really do have to give credit to a comic that inspires so much loathing. In terms of raw hate energy, Family Circus towers above other unutterably lame comics like Cathy or Garfield.
I think the family circus is lousy
Yeah, and nihilism is hardly the logical outcome of postmodern existentialism