Before I get started on this week’s strip, I’d just like to take a moment to say farewell to one of my childhood icons, one Mr. Evel Knievel. The famous motorcycle-ridin’ daredevil passed away on November 30, at the age of 69 from a terminal lung condition. Evel Knieval was one of the very first pop culture icons (aside from the Sesame Street gang and the Star Wars crew) that I really latched onto as a young whippersnapper. At the age of 4, I must’ve gone through about a hundred of those Evel Knieval toy motorcycles with the little rubber Evel Knievel action figure attatched. I don’t remember actually watching any of his ridiculous bus or canyon-jumping stunts, but like KISS and Star Wars, the guy’s face was plastered absolutely everytwhere in the 1970’s. Evel Knieval was part Elvis, part Stuntman, part lunatic, and all American. Rest in Peace Evel.
This week’s Boxcar strip wraps up the epic three part Tire Swing saga, and it goes out in a blaze of glory…literally! Sometimes the best Boxcar strips are the ones that are banged out in a few minutes, and this one is definitely a shining example of that. I originally did a cute little Diogee physical-gag strip where he discovers the tire swing and gets into some minor hijinks, but a little over a week ago Marc thought the tire swing saga deserved a finale with a little more “oomph”, so we sat down and Marc came up with the idea of the Devin using the tire swing for target practice (a variation on the classic quarterback throwing the ball through the tire), and I suggessted another “Robot one-ups the boys” ending where he vaporizes the poor tire swing. Sheesh…you’ve really got to feel bad for Ben and Devin at this point, dont you? Robot’s pretty much destroyed everything they own!
My favorite thing about this week’s comic is the third panel. That close-up on Robot’s eyes with the beams coming out is awesomely done in the Mighty Marvel Manner! It looks straight out of a George Perez or Jack Kirby cosmic epic. That smoldering imprint of the tire swing is super-cool as well and as always, Devin’s reaction is simply classic. The facial expressions just keep getting better and better each week.
Well, I hope none of you are too sad to see the tire swing go. Don’t worry too much, Ben and Devin are resourceful kids, they can get another tire! See you next week everyone!
