Welcome to something different—and yet the same.
A few weeks ago, I ran a Last Kiss written by Tony Isabella that promoted support for the writers and actors on strike.It was intended as a one-off. But then…I received an e-mail from my pal Andy Mangels.
Andy’s the author of a flabbergasting number of comics, graphic novels and pop culture books. He is an idea factory. And his latest idea was that it’d be fun to see Tony’s dialogue used again—this time coming from a man instead of a woman.
Idea for today’s comic sent to John by Andy Mangels.
Andy even mocked up a carefully cropped romance comic panel with that dialogue. (See at left.)
Now the idea of running a Last Kiss with the same dialogue in a short period of time concerned me. How would readers react?
But I did like the idea of shifting genders as an experiment and novelty. And I loved the idea of supporting writers and actors again. Indeed it inspired me to write a writers strike gag of my own. (See last Friday’s Last Kiss.)
So here here’s Andy’s version of the gag. I know the art used in comic can have a big affect on how readers perceive the comic. Does it make a difference here? I’ll be interested to see how readers react. —John Lustig
Original Vintage Art & Text
Art by Charles Nicholas & Vince Alascia from the story “Coffee and… a Kiss, Darling!” in First Kiss #8, April 1959. Published by Charlton.
Curious to see more? Click the link above to read the entire vintage comic book for free on ComicBookPlus.com’s presentation of the comic. The story begins on Page 28.
MAN: It’s dull here with the writers on strike.
MAN: I miss them hitting on me...
MAN: ...and how they’re so grateful...
MAN: ...when I let them take me out!
WOMAN: And even more grateful afterwards.
WOMAN: Once you’ve been with a writer...
WOMAN: ...no other lover will do!
CAPTION: A public service announcement from Last Kiss.
CAPTION: Support the writers (and actors) on strike!
1959 Art: Charles Nicholas & Vince Alascia Color: Diego Jourdan Pereira
Layout & Muse: Andy Mangels
Writer: Tony Isabella
djp_LK721--Just Guy
FK08.3.3.1
“Stop being so stupid!”
“Well how stupid do you want me to be?”
“A little less dumb than people who bought advance tickets for “The Marvels”, but not quite as stupid as Jussie Smollett.”
“So about the level of co-workers who send you TikTok videos?”
“I said stupid. Not dumb@$$!”
_______________________________________________________
Who can insult a guy
While asking him for change?
Who’s never really happy
Without a reason to complain?
The Douchebaaaaaag!
The Douchebag can!
The Douchebag can
Cos what she stuck up in her keester
Is about a cord of wood.
Alright kids. Stop singing. You. The fat one. Go fall into the river of boiling chocolate. The rest of you, get on this boat after you’ve taken your hit of shrooms.
Hurry up! Your childhood psyche isn’t gonna scar itself you know!
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The gag works for me either way John. Though if you really want it to pop, you should give the dialogue to a still of Wambi! Jungle Boy!
Oh! Or maybe Slapso!
Everything is funnier when Slapso’s involved. Everything.
Happy Friday.
Feel free to call me Slapso. Unless you think you might object to me living up to my name.