June 19 marks the day for new comics in the Sunday paper.
The Great Bend Tribune is excited to introduce fresh, new comic strips to you. We hope you will enjoy them, as we tried to pick comics that would be appropriate for all ages. We’ve also kept a few of our readers’ favorites.
Here are the new features you’ll find on the Sunday Comics page:
Big Nate: Aspiring cartoonist Nate Wright is the star of Big Nate, the daily and Sunday comic strip distributed by NEA since 1991. Nate is 11 years old, four-and-a-half feet tall, and the all-time record holder for detentions in school history. He’s a self-described genius and sixth-grade Renaissance Man. Nate, who lives with his dad and older sister, enjoys pestering his family and teachers with his sarcasm. Wright has also written The Big Nate book collection that includes “I Smell a Pop Quiz: A Big Nate Book,” “Add More Babes!” and three e-books from ipicturebooks.com: “Big Nate Makes a Splash (the Sunday Strips),” “Pray for a Fire Drill” and “Dibs on This Chair.”
Reality Check: Cartoonist Dave Whamond offers an offbeat view of the world in Reality Check, that exposes the hidden hilarity in everyday situations with a thoroughly wacky look at life.
“I just frame some of the silliness of everyday life in the comic and invite people to take a double-take — to look at life from another angle,” explains Whamond. “Reality Check is more a state of mind than anything else. The characters could be people you know — maybe even a bit of yourself — but the names have been changed to protect the innocent.”
The Argyle Sweater: Scott Hilburn is the creator of The Argyle Sweater. It is a comic panel where one should expect the unexpected — where animals can talk, the imaginary becomes real and politicians tell the truth. This comic is a window into a world of humorous absurdity.
The Buckets offers a realistic snapshot of modern family life: the worries, the mayhem and the often-overlooked rewards. Examining everyday chaos with a healthy sense of humor, it strikes a chord with parents who juggle the many demands and the mild insanity of raising a family today.
“The Buckets is for anyone baffled by human behavior and the most exquisite comic strip for those willing to see their behavior objectively,” says author Greg Cravens. It is the story of people who enjoy their weekends more than their jobs — wandering in and out of The Outdoor Galore Store, the woods, the skate park, the river and trouble. They’ll risk their lives and limbs to entertain the reader by entertaining themselves.
The Amazing Spider-Man, created by Stan Lee, centers on hard-luck high school student Peter Parker. When Peter is accidentally bitten by a radioactive spider, he gains superpowers.
Bizarro by Wayno and Dan Piraro gives an eccentric, exaggerated and bizarre look at everyday life. Hidden symbols in this comic include: eyeballs, dynamite, rabbits, shoe, fishtail, a smoker's pipe, an alien spaceship, upside-down birds soaring and a slice of pie.
Mutts, written by Patrick McDonnel, explores the special bond between best friends Earl the dog and Mooch the cat and their guardians. This shows them living their life the way it should be, sharing friends, food and naps. Mutts has merchandise for sale online and they donate to animal rescues across the globe.
Slylock Fox and Comics for Kids by Bob Weber, Jr. is another one our new comic strips that has “spot the differences,” puzzles, games, drawing lessons, and a cast of furry characters that solve mysteries and teach young readers about art, nature, pets and health.
Free crayons for Tribune readers
We invite children (or adults) to come by the Great Bend Tribune to pick up a free box of crayons. Use the crayons to color the comics or complete the puzzles and games.
We did give a few children a preview of the comics with a box of crayons. After they finished coloring they then made hats and boats from the newspapers.
