The Return of Stickman #1593

Finding the inspiration to this strip should be a piece a cake. My take on it would be how the insurance adjuster would look at the situation. Calling in that claim would be hard because you just know somebody is going to make a joke somewhere.

The Return of Stickman #1592

The Comic Critic Reviews "Soylent Green"

The movie Soylent Green was based on Harry Harrison’s book “Make Room! Make Room!” which came off the presses in 1966.  The counter-culture movement is waving its freak flag high, in protest against the war in Vietnam, rampant pollution, and discrimination. It’s not at all surprising that writers wrote alarming forecasts of what the future might hold if mankind didn’t change its ways. And it’s not at all surprising that several save-the-environment-themed movies would also be produced. A few years later, 1973’s Soylent Green provided a glimpse of a filthy, dystopian future where the only thing left is humans sweltering in their juices. The audiences who first saw it were still in a war with Vietnam; Nixon’s Watergate was happening; and peoples’ voices were being heard. The newly created Environmental Protection Agency had begun taking action against polluters. This movie contains the final performance of Edward G. Robinson, one of the truly great actors from a golden age in film. Unknown to the rest of the cast, Robinson was dying of cancer, making his deathbed scene in the film even more poignant. Charleston Heston, who had worked previously with E.G. in The Ten Commandments, was moved to tears in his own performance as acted across from Robinson. Robinson’s performance alone is reason enough to watch Soylent Green. But what remains most striking about this film is that all of its dire social and environmental warnings are still relevant today.

The Return of Stickman #1591

The Return of Stickman #1590

The planets aligned when Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure premiered. It was the end of the 1980s. California’s “Valley” pop-culture was at its height with style, language, music and Mall Culture. Bill and Ted were yet another couple of characters portraying the youth of that culture. And this movie could have easily come and gone, like so many other teen films trying to capture that unique moment in a bottle, were it not for some happy choices. One of those was hiring George Carlin to play Rufus. His respectability as a comedian added credence to the humorous story. While there is some sexual humor, it plays a side note. The real magic of the movie is in the characters Bill and Ted, played by Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves. While they are shown as airheads, they are first and foremost gentlemen. They are kind, considerate, and are polite without affectation. Even though their love is for Heavy Metal, they never aggressive except when defending honor. Their attitudes permeate Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure because they embrace life as an excellent adventure. The audience gets caught up in their optimistic joy. With a superb song selection, a most bodacious script, and some well-timed comedy, you will have a most excellent time watching Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure.

The Return of Stickman #1589