All things considered, it’s pretty obvious what Michael is doing in Panel 1 and why he fell asleep so hard in Panel 2 that he left the light on and the girly magazine out for his mother to find. What is amazing is that this comic strip made it past the newspaper editors not only in 1992 but also today. I guess they considered the covers to be sufficient covering.
Little Mike is growing up. And Ma wants him to stay a sweet little innocent boy. Sorry Elly, but time marches on. And little boys grow up to be big boys. With big boys interests too.
My nana was staying at my cousins house and my little cousin told me that nana cleaned up. Everywhere.
Apparently, Nana went into teenage boy cousins room to tidy up and when he came home, all of his Playboy and Penthouse mags ( again, it was the 70’s, I am old now) were straightend up into neatly organized piles.
Nobody ever said a word about it. Except me and my cousin who still laugh about it 50 years later!
When I was in high school, I was reading The Carpetbaggers by Harold Robbins. It was not considered high schooler reading at the time. Heck, they couldn’t even teach Catcher in the Rye at the time and this book was risque trash. I made a book cover for it out of green paper so no one knew what I was reading.
And the next morning, Elly will still be screaming (at Michael and at no one in particular) about how he brought that trash into her house. And John, reasonable dad that he is, will try to calm Ellie down and explain to her that their son is a young man now and that it’s normal for him to be curious about sex and the female body. Then he’ll have a nice long chat with Michael about how not to depend on erotic magazines as good references on the subject.
The book that was all the rage when I was a teen was Zavier Hollander, It eventually was banned from school, where nearly everyone had a copy. We soon learned that one of our teachers was an “associate” of Ms Hollander.
“You have heard it said ‘Thou shalt not commit adultery’. But I say to you that any man who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery {or fornication} with her in his heart.” -Matthew 5:28
Had a friend in high school whose home caught fire and was gutted except for his playboy collection which his family found when cleaning up. Lesson I learned was not to keep my collection in the house!
Oh surprise, a young man looking at a girlie magazine. Woe is me. Go to any popular California or Florida Beach and the girls in those magazines are wearing so much more than the girls on those beaches…..
He got it from a friend. Let’s leave it at that. He is a male teenager with normal sexual desires and inquisitiveness. Female teenagers just do not have that.
HAHAHAHAAHAHA- one of the all-time best ones. Just this perfect, sweet, “Forever And Always” moment and then BAM! Right before the ending you get the twist! And Michael’s horrified look in the last panel makes you realize how bad it’s going to go for him.
howtheduck almost 3 years ago
All things considered, it’s pretty obvious what Michael is doing in Panel 1 and why he fell asleep so hard in Panel 2 that he left the light on and the girly magazine out for his mother to find. What is amazing is that this comic strip made it past the newspaper editors not only in 1992 but also today. I guess they considered the covers to be sufficient covering.
Templo S.U.D. almost 3 years ago
how did you acquire that reading material, Michael?
[Unnamed Reader - 8bb645] almost 3 years ago
Obviously the book wasn’t exciting enough
M2MM almost 3 years ago
I would have left the room and had it waiting at the breakfast table for him in the morning. THEN see what he has to say about it. >:-D
LastRoseOfSummer 1 Premium Member almost 3 years ago
I’m laughing out loud!
wjones almost 3 years ago
He was only doing what most young boy’s do. Mom will straighten him out.
JCB almost 3 years ago
Busted
Caldonia almost 3 years ago
How hot can it be, if it puts a teen guy to sleep?
PoodleGroomer almost 3 years ago
The stuff that dreams are made of.
amethyst52 Premium Member almost 3 years ago
They’re so cute when they’re asleep. :)
littlejohn Premium Member almost 3 years ago
Little Mike is growing up. And Ma wants him to stay a sweet little innocent boy. Sorry Elly, but time marches on. And little boys grow up to be big boys. With big boys interests too.
Asharah almost 3 years ago
Elly, he’s sixteen years old, stop treating him like a baby.
Orcatime almost 3 years ago
Some situations just need no words! LOL
Pet almost 3 years ago
My nana was staying at my cousins house and my little cousin told me that nana cleaned up. Everywhere.
Apparently, Nana went into teenage boy cousins room to tidy up and when he came home, all of his Playboy and Penthouse mags ( again, it was the 70’s, I am old now) were straightend up into neatly organized piles.
Nobody ever said a word about it. Except me and my cousin who still laugh about it 50 years later!
;-DYardley701 almost 3 years ago
I hope some dirty old man did not give it to him.
NeedaChuckle Premium Member almost 3 years ago
When I was in high school, I was reading The Carpetbaggers by Harold Robbins. It was not considered high schooler reading at the time. Heck, they couldn’t even teach Catcher in the Rye at the time and this book was risque trash. I made a book cover for it out of green paper so no one knew what I was reading.
wetidlerjr almost 3 years ago
Ha ha ha ha ha ha…
VegaAlopex almost 3 years ago
and to think I was so naïve that I didn’t even get the references from the National Lampoon when I was 17.
robm almost 3 years ago
I bet this is how at least one story in that book starts
bluegirl285 almost 3 years ago
And the next morning, Elly will still be screaming (at Michael and at no one in particular) about how he brought that trash into her house. And John, reasonable dad that he is, will try to calm Ellie down and explain to her that their son is a young man now and that it’s normal for him to be curious about sex and the female body. Then he’ll have a nice long chat with Michael about how not to depend on erotic magazines as good references on the subject.
TMMILLER Premium Member almost 3 years ago
The book that was all the rage when I was a teen was Zavier Hollander, It eventually was banned from school, where nearly everyone had a copy. We soon learned that one of our teachers was an “associate” of Ms Hollander.
BlitzMcD almost 3 years ago
Truth!!
trainnut1956 almost 3 years ago
If my experience is any guide, from the shop teacher’s bottom drawer, right next to the bottle of whiskey.
pheets almost 3 years ago
… he falls asleep reading that…
Gerard:D almost 3 years ago
Lynn’s Comments:
This is one of my favourite strips. I have it framed on my wall.
vaughnrl2003 Premium Member almost 3 years ago
So that explains those long showers.
USN1977 almost 3 years ago
“You have heard it said ‘Thou shalt not commit adultery’. But I say to you that any man who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery {or fornication} with her in his heart.” -Matthew 5:28
Johnnyrico almost 3 years ago
Lynn Johnston doesn’t seem to realize that porn mags don’t hold a candle to online porn.. Then again, this strip is so very dated..
Foob almost 3 years ago
Bad news for Michael’s future wife. Even Michael can’t stay awake for sex with Michael.
Bob Blumenfeld almost 3 years ago
So he fell asleep reading it? That’s tired.
mindjob almost 3 years ago
Wait until mom discovers the towel under his bed
this is summerdog almost 3 years ago
I would have been very embarrassed if my son knew I saw his “dirty magazines”. (that’s what we called them in the old days ; )
paranormal almost 3 years ago
He’s lucky that’s all he got!!!
lbhorton almost 3 years ago
Had a friend in high school whose home caught fire and was gutted except for his playboy collection which his family found when cleaning up. Lesson I learned was not to keep my collection in the house!
MRBLUESKY529 almost 3 years ago
Put the book down Mom and pretend you saw nothing. That would have best for everyone.
timbob2313 Premium Member almost 3 years ago
Good one Ms. Johnston
raybarb44 almost 3 years ago
Oh surprise, a young man looking at a girlie magazine. Woe is me. Go to any popular California or Florida Beach and the girls in those magazines are wearing so much more than the girls on those beaches…..
kab2rb almost 3 years ago
Woke up from a sound sleep, Michael you are in trouble.
marshalldoc almost 3 years ago
Wait ’till she washes his sheets…
Lady loves a joke almost 3 years ago
He was looking at it for the articles, Ma! You know – education. {Smirk}
DawnQuinn1 almost 3 years ago
He got it from a friend. Let’s leave it at that. He is a male teenager with normal sexual desires and inquisitiveness. Female teenagers just do not have that.
bucker39 Premium Member almost 3 years ago
HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
Brazos_HouTx almost 3 years ago
“Why are these pages stuck together?”
CoreyTaylor1 almost 3 years ago
Well Helly, have you learned to mind your own business NOW!?
lindz.coop Premium Member almost 3 years ago
It couldn’t have been too exciting…he’s asleep.
Tantor almost 3 years ago
They grow up so fast!
Jabroniville Premium Member almost 3 years ago
HAHAHAHAAHAHA- one of the all-time best ones. Just this perfect, sweet, “Forever And Always” moment and then BAM! Right before the ending you get the twist! And Michael’s horrified look in the last panel makes you realize how bad it’s going to go for him.
rfeinberg almost 3 years ago
Every male who read this strip had the same thought: At least when he fell asleep his PANTS were pulled up!!!
ehenwood almost 3 years ago
When updating these you’d think they’d switch to him being on a laptop…What teen now would read a porn magazine
gigagrouch almost 3 years ago
Be thankful that he shows an interest!
aussie399 Premium Member over 2 years ago
Is there a reason they only showed the top half of his bed????
leopardglily 4 months ago
You saw nothing, Elly.