The Return of Opus

SteveDallas · 09-17-2003, 09:34 AM

A lot of you probbaly know this already, but I haven't seen it here. And it is fitting, I suppose, that with my nickname I should make this posting. Berke Breathed will return to the comics pages once more!

http://www.berkeleybreathed.com/opus_returns.html

Mark Morford of SF Gate said it well:

Quote:

The comics page is a place of reprieve, exhalation, absolution. It is a place of pause, release, maybe even the rare and precious open-mouthed, coffee‹thru-the-nose laughter. It is a tension diffuser and stress reliever and a blessed distraction from the never-ending assault on the spirit wrought by the soul-curdling headlines on A1. You want to get a real sense of the state of the union? Sample the mindset of the general readership? Read the comics page. Just don't read the "Family Circus" -- ever.

And when the comics page suffers, so suffers the readership. It is a never-ending baffler as to why major papers don't double their comics sections, offer unbounded and more pointed humor and insight and art and take more risks in this area. Have they not witnessed the insane popularity of anime and adult cartoons and comic book conventions? God knows the talent is out there, and it ain't anything like the numbing gags of "Hagar the Horrible."

But Opus is the Man. Or rather, he is the Penguin. He shall be the start. He shall herald a new day for the comics page. Let us believe it, even for a moment.

Elspode · 09-17-2003, 10:57 AM

Now, if only we could get Bill Watterson to get Calvin and Hobbes back into print. Maybe that would move Gary Larson to resurrect The Far Side.

The world would be a much better place for all of that.

Griff · 09-17-2003, 11:34 AM

Any word on how many of the old characters will be returning? There is a movie coming as well.

xoxoxoBruce · 09-17-2003, 04:31 PM

I read it was just Opus.

revilo · 09-21-2003, 10:20 AM

I'm always suspicious of comebacks. Those in question have usually spent all the money they got from us the first time around and are back wanting more.
Like 70's rock bands!

SteveDallas · 09-21-2003, 10:39 PM

I hear you revilo, and I'd agree in most cases. But as far as I'm concerned, Breathed left Bloom County and Outland behind when he could easily have milked it for years more. If he feels the urge to come back, I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt at least for a while.

revilo · 09-22-2003, 05:12 AM

Rumor has it that when Berkeley spoke at the National Cartoonists Society's
Reuben Awards in May he somehow managed to insult everyone there with his arrogant comments and insults directed at Trudeau and
Charles Schulz widow.

Elspode · 09-22-2003, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by revilo
I'm always suspicious of comebacks. Those in question have usually spent all the money they got from us the first time around and are back wanting more.
Like 70's rock bands!

Aerosmith and Kiss are playing KC Wednesday. I would have given them my money (a) if I'd had any after the orgy of spending associated with viewing downloaded media, and (b) if they hadn't been sold out. Now there's two 70's rock bands who have the public's number!

Elspode · 09-22-2003, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by revilo
Rumor has it that when Berkeley spoke at the National Cartoonists Society's
Reuben Awards in May he somehow managed to insult everyone there with his arrogant comments and insults directed at Trudeau and
Charles Schulz widow.

I can see how one might try to toss a few insults at GB Trudeau, but Charles Shultz' widow? Is nothing sacred?

Tobiasly · 09-22-2003, 08:20 AM

I seem to remember Breathed saying he retired Bloom County because he wanted it to be remembered as ending in its prime, instead of after it jumped the shark.

Then he ran that insipid Outland for a while, and now he's bringing back an Opus-only strip, which probably will also suck (although I hope not). So much for letting Bloom County die with dignity!

wolf · 09-22-2003, 10:04 AM

Integrity does not buy milk, eggs, or pay the mortgage.

SteveDallas · 09-22-2003, 05:46 PM

I actually liked Outland.

You know, the more I think about it, the more I think this is a mistake. Not the comeback per se, but using Opus. Those of us who loved Bloom County back in the 80s will never be able to look at Opus without seeing the shades of his comrades from the original strip. Still... we'll see what he does.

SteveDallas · 05-10-2004, 01:45 PM

Yawn.

There's some nice stuff in it. It's funny. It looks good.

The bottom line is, I'm discovering I simply cannot get into a strip that only comes out once a week.

Crimson Ghost · 05-14-2004, 06:53 AM

This is great. I'm glad to see that Breathed is returning.
Now, everyone, all at once:
"Run with the Devil!
Shout Satans might!
DeathTongue!
DeathTongue!
The Beast rises tonight!"

Just make sure no-one turns you into a zucchini.

blue · 05-14-2004, 05:59 PM

Abso-frickin-lutely amazing!!

I've seen your name here 1000 times and never made the connection 'til now. My wife constantly reminds me that I am "the least observant" person she knows.

As for the new cartoon, either my tastes have changed dramatically or the new Opus strip really sucks. I suspect the latter cause I don't think one "outgrows" Bloom County.

09-17-2003, 10:57 AM	#2
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	Now, if only we could get Bill Watterson to get Calvin and Hobbes back into print. Maybe that would move Gary Larson to resurrect The Far Side. The world would be a much better place for all of that. __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

09-17-2003, 11:34 AM	#3
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	Any word on how many of the old characters will be returning? There is a movie coming as well. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

09-17-2003, 04:31 PM	#4
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	I read it was just Opus. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

09-21-2003, 10:20 AM	#5
revilo Neophyte-in-training Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Lenexa, KS Posts: 3	The Return of Opus I'm always suspicious of comebacks. Those in question have usually spent all the money they got from us the first time around and are back wanting more. Like 70's rock bands!

09-22-2003, 05:12 AM	#7
revilo Neophyte-in-training Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Lenexa, KS Posts: 3	More Opus Rumor has it that when Berkeley spoke at the National Cartoonists Society's Reuben Awards in May he somehow managed to insult everyone there with his arrogant comments and insults directed at Trudeau and Charles Schulz widow.

09-21-2003, 10:39 PM	#6
SteveDallas Your Bartender Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Philly Burbs, PA Posts: 7,651	I hear you revilo, and I'd agree in most cases. But as far as I'm concerned, Breathed left Bloom County and Outland behind when he could easily have milked it for years more. If he feels the urge to come back, I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt at least for a while.

09-22-2003, 08:20 AM	#10
Tobiasly hot Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Jeffersonville, IN (near Louisville) Posts: 892	I seem to remember Breathed saying he retired Bloom County because he wanted it to be remembered as ending in its prime, instead of after it jumped the shark. Then he ran that insipid Outland for a while, and now he's bringing back an Opus-only strip, which probably will also suck (although I hope not). So much for letting Bloom County die with dignity!

09-22-2003, 10:04 AM	#11
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	Integrity does not buy milk, eggs, or pay the mortgage. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

09-22-2003, 05:46 PM	#12
SteveDallas Your Bartender Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Philly Burbs, PA Posts: 7,651	I actually liked Outland. You know, the more I think about it, the more I think this is a mistake. Not the comeback per se, but using Opus. Those of us who loved Bloom County back in the 80s will never be able to look at Opus without seeing the shades of his comrades from the original strip. Still... we'll see what he does.

05-10-2004, 01:45 PM	#13
SteveDallas Your Bartender Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Philly Burbs, PA Posts: 7,651	And my final judgement is..... Yawn. There's some nice stuff in it. It's funny. It looks good. The bottom line is, I'm discovering I simply cannot get into a strip that only comes out once a week.

05-14-2004, 06:53 AM	#14
Crimson Ghost Larger than life and twice as ugly. Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,264	This is great. I'm glad to see that Breathed is returning. Now, everyone, all at once: "Run with the Devil! Shout Satans might! DeathTongue! DeathTongue! The Beast rises tonight!" Just make sure no-one turns you into a zucchini. __________________ We must all go through a rite of passage. It must be physical, it must be painful, and it must leave a mark. I have no knowledge of the events which you are describing, and if I did have knowledge of them, I would be unable to discuss them with you now or at any future period. Don't waste your time always searching for those wasted years

05-14-2004, 05:59 PM	#15
blue Operations Operative Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Northern WI Posts: 739	with my nickname Abso-frickin-lutely amazing!! I've seen your name here 1000 times and never made the connection 'til now. My wife constantly reminds me that I am "the least observant" person she knows. As for the new cartoon, either my tastes have changed dramatically or the new Opus strip really sucks. I suspect the latter cause I don't think one "outgrows" Bloom County. __________________ If you spot a tornado, always remember to point at it, yell "tornado!", and run like hell.

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