This is the day, the big day, when Sheldon, the cute-kid-funny-animals-social-comment-and-nerd-culture-reference comic by Dave “Famous for Hot Sauce Labels” Kellett makes a full break from the corporate straitjacket of comics.com in favor of the looser fit of sheldoncomics.com.

And for his first day in the wide-open world of independent webcomics, free of the oppressive editorial thumb of United Media (a fully-integrated, worldwide licensing and syndication company), Kellett immediately addresses the volatile controversy over M&Ms Colors and features a shocking illustration of a fat guy eating in his undies.

(for an unexpurgated version of this picture go here)

Just pulling your leg, Dave, you know I love you like the talented brother I never had. It’s just that I first viewed this comic moments after being “a fat guy eating in my undies”.

Normally, I do not react much to the frequently odd or surreal content of The Family Circus (unlike some people), and the comic has been a target of various ridicule for so long (some of it approved!)that it’s easy to just let the weirdness slide. But this Sunday depiction of “The Family Zoo” just creeps me out for various reasons.

* Elephant Dad’s nose and ears
*Giraffe Mom and Ostrich Dolly’s long necks (hasn’t the African tribe that did that to their women died out?)
* Lion Billy on Elephant Dad’s back
* Jeffy (whose real-life equivalent has taken over the strip from dad) is the only primate
* Koala P.J. seems happier with his koala parent than he ever was with Mom and Dad

It seemed only right that another comic chose this Sunday for an odd “meta” strip that takes a shot at the Circus. Silo Roberts:

I had only recently begun to appreciate this strip’s quirky humor (or maybe its quirky humor had improved in the last couple months) and I wondered if the “moving away” storyline meant an “overhaul” of the 2-year-old comic with a new bunch of secondary characters or if the cartoonist, Rob Cabrera, was bringing it to a conclusion. A quick trip to Silo Roberts.com provided the answer:

SILO ROBERTS Ends After Successful Run in Syndication
Although it has been a wonderful two years and change drawing the SILO ROBERTS comic strip, it is time to move on to new challenges in the world of animation and interactive games.
I thank everyone that enjoyed reading the strip throughout it’s run. And I will be forever grateful to United Media for making a lifelong dream of being a nationally syndicated cartoonist a reality. They truly are the best syndicate in the world, and I will miss working with them.
As for the future of SILO ROBERTS, I will say this… you haven’t seen the last of him!
Live and be well,
Rob

I could comment that if it had been a really “successful run”, United Media wouldn’t let him quit after only two years. And don’t you just hate a guy whose “lifelong dream” becomes a reality before the age of 30. Of course, this is also a guy who has already been a teacher and a stand-up comedian. (Personally, I realized my lifelong dream at the age of 20, becoming a radio disc jockey and ’sidekick’ to a Los Angeles morning show star. I have since learned that I was a pretty lame dreamer.) Anyway, as soon as the last strip is official, I’ll be writing up a tribute post to Silo like my one for Franklin Fibbs, but a little less gushing-with-praise. (As I said earlier, I had only recently begun to appreciate it.)

I leave you for now with a word from the Family Circus’ Billy: