When it comes to controversy in newspaper cartooning, political cartoons got nothin' on a new addition to the Comics page.
At best, and with luck and time, a new comic might eventually earn the affection of readers who begrudgingly accept the deviation from the ancient comic strip status quo. At worst, it could incite enough vein-throbbing villagers and baying dogs to turn any average American street corner into to set of a Frankenstein flick.
Well, you dear, sweet-hearted, highly-intelligent and unbelievably good-looking readers, I'd like to humbly introduce you to “Shrimp & Grits”, an all new nationally syndicated comic strip (drawn by yours truly) that officially launches this week. And if we can all agree to leave the tiki torches and pitchforks in the garage for just a minute, I think you'll like the cast of characters once you get to know them.
There's 7-year-old Shrimp Dubose, whose pursuit of spiritual enlightenment through fishing is being forever interrupted by the internet-driven insanity of modern living. Like a ball of tangled monofilament, Shrimp sees the intrusion of technology into nature as the tragic downfall of humanity and more generally, the most annoying aspect of day-to-day survival.
And the most common agent of that annoyance is her reluctantly adopted pet, a Facebook-addicted alligator named Grits. Whether it’s flirtations with online dating or a website scheme to sell online toilet paper in advance of the next pandemic, Grits is proof that not even the swamp is safe from the invisible tentacles of trending tweets, viral videos and internet advertising.
Along the way, you’ll meet the whole Dubose family (Floridian cousins to the famous North Carolinian Duboses who were immortalized in the panels of my uncle Doug Marlette’s classic Southern comic strip, Kudzu).
There’s Capt. Hugo Dubose: A soft-hearted shrimp boat captain and oyster pub owner raising a daughter who’d rather gut a fish than take ballet class.
There’s Shrimp’s older brother, Crawford “Crawfish” Dubose: A 20-something struggling to keep up with the newfound obligations of becoming a baby daddy and coming to terms with the fact that being “woke” takes on a whole new meaning with 3 a.m. diaper changes.
Shrimp's mama, Molly, died of cancer when she was younger, but she makes regular appearances in the strip by way of a cherished box of letters she wrote to her baby girl to serve as a reliable source of wit, wisdom and male-management instructions to help navigate Shrimp through the murky waters of growing up.
Shrimp’s indomitable granny is there to help, too. “Big Mama” Dubose is a heat-packing, politician-loathing Constitutionalist who can cook, hunt and cuss better than anyone in town. And we can't forget about Big Mama's prize hens, Dolly, Patsy and Loretta; three fabulous, free range ladies with a taste for red wine and George Clooney.
It's all set in the fictional town of Pensaloco — an old-school Florida fishing village that’s stuck somewhere between the old-timey pines of the Panhandle and the bedazzled bikinis of South Beach.
For better or worse, Florida is world famous. Whether through tourism or humiliating headlines, the Sunshine State never fails to provide the rest of the nation with entertainment, and I hope this 100% Florida grown comic is no exception.
As a dude who grew up doodling in this state, there are bits and pieces of many parts of Florida that have seeped into the comic. I still draw the lanky, brontosaurus-necked palm trees that I remember from childhood, poking their heads above scrub along the St. John's River on undeveloped ranch land in Central Florida. The fictional Gulf Coast setting is canopied by the sort of moss-drenched trees that shade much of Gainesville, and Big Mama's front porch looks like something straight out of Micanopy, Milton or Cedar Key, or any number of our state's magical destinations that still stand as vestiges of authentic, Old Florida.
And Pensacola peeps will recognize the dollar bills and moose head on the wall at "Molly's Oyster Pub" as imagery inspired by our famous steak-slinging saloon, McGuire's. (McGuire's first appeared in Jeff MacNelly's legendary strip "Shoe" after the legendary cartoonist visited Pensacola and took part in all three of the pub's advertised pastimes: "feasting, imbibery and debauchery." So maybe continuing the tradition will mean a little luck for Shrimp & Grits.)
But whether you're in Pensacola or Portland; Florida or Finland, the hope is that “Shrimp and Grits” will just be a little humor and home cooking for high speed times. I know we're all getting wi-fi blasted into our brain stems 24-7, but comics are a cool break from all that. Even if it's just for a minute, they give the mind a chance to calmly wander and the eye a chance to focus and pause on one frame at a time.
Besides, who doesn't want to see a comic about a talking alligator who's obsessed with becoming a Kardashian?
And as an added bonus for both readers and the cartoonist, there's no politics! (For the most part anyways, Big Mama has been known to cuss a liberal, or two.)
As important as it is to draw pictures that illustrate just how absurd and fraudulent politicians are, there's way more to life than politics and way more interesting topics than Matt Gaetz.
Shrimp & Grits will be a wander through all the other stuff in life, and candidly, that's a whole lot more fun for the guy drawing the pictures, as well.
Shrimp & Grits is syndicated by Creators.com and it officially launches Monday here at the Pensacola News Journal, Northwest Florida Daily News and Panama City News Herald. If you don't see it in your local paper, break out your tiki torch and raise heck! Or you can just look for "Shrimp and Grits Comic" on Facebook and Instagram to follow along on what Shrimp would describe as your "stupid smart phone."
In other words, don't feed the alligator. But feel free to friend him on Facebook! On behalf of the entire cast of characters, welcome to Shrimp & Grits and we hope you enjoy the visit!
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The Link LonkMay 30, 2021 at 07:30PM
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'Shrimp & Grits' coming to a Comics page near you! - Pensacola News Journal
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