Opus the Penguin Back In the Funny Business (Breathed to do new strip)

Washington Post ^ | 9.9.03 | Reilly Capps

[mhking]

After eight years away from newspapers, Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Berkeley Breathed is creating a new comic strip called "Opus," starring his beloved penguin of the same name.

The Washington Post Writers Group, which will syndicate the strip, is expected to officially announce Breathed's return this Sunday. The reclusive Breathed, who rarely gives interviews, could not be reached yesterday for comment.

The new strip will appear on Sundays in The Washington Post starting Nov. 23.

Breathed drew the wildly popular "Bloom County" and "Outland" comic strips, which introduced the world to the naive Opus and his hairball-spitting sidekick, Bill the Cat. "Opus" will run on Sundays only and will fill half a page in the comics section.

[mhking]

[mhking]

'Bout damn time!

Just damn.

If you want on the new list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

[Iowa Granny]

Welcome Back, Opus. I hope the Post puts this on line. I don't want to miss it.

[ZGuy]

Sounds great. Now if we could just get Bill Watterson to start drawing Calvin and Hobbes again. . .

[So Cal Rocket]

Best news I've heard all week!

[Behind Liberal Lines]

I really hope he brings back right-wing, hard-drinking, womanizing attorney Steve Dallas. That man was my personal hero. ;-)

[Elliott Jackalope]

Oh boy. Another "Sundays only" strip by Breathed. I can hardly wait. NOT!

Let's face it, if you don't have the energy to draw a daily strip, why bother with a "Sundays only" strip? Why sell it to daily newspapers? If Breathed wants to do a "once-a-week" strip why doesn't he come up with some new characters and sell the new strip to weekly newspapers?

I just don't get this "I'm retired, I'm semi-retired, I'm not retired, I'm retired, I'm semi-retired" nonsense. If he wants to do a comic strip in the newspapers again, then let him draw a daily strip. Is it THAT hard to come up with 3 or 4 new panels of illustrated humor a day?

[Grampa Dave]

My youngest son, age 35, and my trophy wife will be overjoyed with the return of Opus.

I would like to see our local rag replace Doonesdingleberry with the new Opus.

[Bikers4Bush]

Sweet!! I used to love Bloom County.

[subterfuge]

Aack!!

[dfwgator]

Now if only Gary Larson could come out of retirement and bring back "The Far Side."

[Elliott Jackalope]

Here's what we do. We get Watterson to draw the new "Bloom County". We get Breathed to draw the new "Far Side", and we get Larson to draw the new "Calvin and Hobbes". It would be great!

The best best episode of R. Crumb's "Mr. Natural" was drawn by Skip Williamson in a comic where the artists swapped their characters with each other. I'd like to see some of our more "mainstream" comic artists try that approach!

[Khurkris]

I am extremely happy to hear this news.

Really...I am.

[L,TOWM]

Should be a decent strip, but I really miss Bill D. Cat.

A fine role model for my 20something years...

[Khurkris]

You need a dandelion break.

[dfwgator]

Of course back when I read Bloom County, I was pretty apolitcal, but Breathed seemed to be pretty far to the left, he especially skewered Reagan. But he did also make fun of liberals too, but clearly Breathed is a lefty.

[TheBigB]

Woo Hoo! Billy and the Boingers Reunion Tour '03!!

[Frank_Discussion]

Awesome!! Bring back Starship Enterpoop, I say!

I have had a small Opus stuffed figure since high school (circa 1987) and it's sat on my desk at every job I've ever had. (Personally, I think either Opus or Bill are the only masculinely-acceptable stuffys available...)

[Frank_Discussion]

Lefty? Certainly, but he never quite seemed insane and out-of-touch like that Troodough bastige.

[dfwgator]

Woo Hoo! Billy and the Boingers Reunion Tour '03!!

Bring back "Death Tongue"!