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I love to wax nostalgic, thinking back to being a toddler, and, yes, I do remember, and watching Popeye on television. He was my idol and saint. Bluto was the devil. I fantasized being Olive Oyl, the damsel in distress, always fought over and always saved by you know who.

Later, I learned about newspapers and Charlie Brown, Lucy, Snoopy, and others of the Peanut’s gang became my heroes.

Then I started collecting cartoons, clipping them from the paper. Only funny ones, and they *had* to be funny. I started searching for yet more gems in print, which, as a teen, led me to Mad Magazine, Cracked Magazine, and even Playboy (would you believe I was one of the few who read Playboy for the cartoons); okay there was a little more to it than just the cartoons, but I found them very funny.

After awhile, I put cartoons aside to get on with real life, and, when I had the time, would take the time to find a funny one, which was not easy. My tastes were changing, and the cartoonists, and apparently other newspaper readers were not.

Enter Gary Larson’s Far Side. I was hooked on cartoons during the entire 1980’s and part of the 1990’s. Even on his worst days, Gary Larson found a way to make me laugh. A good Far Side, and they were usually very good, if not excellent, cut to the chase, and in a tiny one panel frame, told me more than the entire editorial page could convey in any newspaper. I was a happy camper. One of the saddest days of my life was when Gary retired in the early 1990’s.

I didn’t give up however. A few Far Side copycats were right on the scene such as Rubes, Close To Home, Strange Brew, and a few others. Then came Speed Bump by Dave Coverly, as funny as Far Side, sprinkled with a bit more sophistication.

Then came Rick London founder of Londons Times Cartoons; now, the top offbeat cartoon on the Internet. I have been following Rick’s creative ventures since 1997 when he launched this incredibly funny cartoon. There were less than 100 color cartoons up by 1998. By 2005, he had over 6500 cartoons up (mostly color) and now has nearly 8000. His site, not surprisingly, is one of the top Alexa rated sites on the Internet, luring nearly 5 million persons per year.

Rick now even has e-stores with the funniest and best quality/service funny gifts and collectibles featuring his cartoon images like LTSuperstore, RickLondonWear, RickLondonCollection, JustFunnyAprons, JustFunnyHoodies, JustFunnyGreetingCards, MirthGirthBirth, AThongInMyHeart, JustFunnyMousepads, and others. The funny gifts and collectibles are as funny if not funnier than the cartoons. I buy them by the bulk. The prices are good and they arrive fast! Friends love them as gifts.

This one man show, Rick London, is a talent who I believe will go down in history as one of the best.

Last 5 posts by Alexa Ferotina

• Only One Place I Will Buy Greeting Cards - March 18th, 2008
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Tags: Humor