I have no idea what the author was trying to accomplish, and I don’t even think it’s entirely clear whether the two of them are supposed to be donning or removing their costumes.
P.S. While this is clearly “Arlo” material (even though it’s quite mild, Bill would almost certainly have relegated it to his separate Arlo page), the comic isn’t a candidate for an “Arlo award”: Yuval Robichek does webcomics, not a syndicated feature, so there isn’t anything “concealed” from an editor, it’s all there, perfectly visible.
Kilby: Agreed. I think it’s just some vague “Ha ha, what if Poseidon and mermaids were just people in costumes…” — but no real joke.
Well, as we do not have access to the actual Arlo Page, I thought that marking as Arlo Award would be an acceptable stand in. But Arlo Page is another Category we could have, so why not, eh? I’ve changed it to that, let’s see if anybody’s sensibilities are now better protected.
The question of whether the costumes are going on or off is precisely what led to this being also Categorized as CIDU. Also figuring where the party or convention was / will be held. (Maybe undersea??)
I see those questions as making this creatively mysterious, not devaluing the comic.
Or as phsiii may be suggesting, they could be living “in character” most of the time, and we’re catching them going on break where they get to walk around as humans.
I want to know how she intends to get into the water once she dons the tail. Or how she got to the car if she is removing it. Maybe he carried her?
And to get a bit more risque, how are they going to “do” anything when she has that thing on?
Reminds me of an old joke. Two guys are fishing when a mermaid happens to jump into the boat right into the lap of one of the fisherman. He looks her over for a minute and then tosses her back into the water. His buddy says, “Why???” and the first guy says, “How??”
What exactly is Poseidon donning or doffing, as the case may be? Unless it’s some kind of outsized genitalia, I don’t see why this would be Arlo of any kind — they’re putting on / taking off unexpected bathing attire — the nature of the joke is in the unexpectedness of the attire, which, barring something I don’t know about Poseidon, has nothing prurient to it.
I don’t think this strip goes for the knee-slapping funny punchline. Some panels appear to be poetic meditations on life (such as the color-coordinated beachgoers a few weeks ago). Yup the couple appear to be donning unusual swim attire. I don’t see it as anything risque.
Poseidon and the mermaid have day jobs (running investment pools? looking for New Wave acts?), and at the end of the day go back to their abnormal lives.
zbicyclist: Like Ralph and Sam! I like it.
@ larK (7) – I think it’s a pair of underwear (tighty-whities), or possibly a swimsuit (that the author didn’t bother to color in).
P.S. Arlo is in the eye of the beholder. I would agree with you, but I was only pointing out that Bill’s criteria were exceedingly sensitive. I guess he wanted to ensure that CIDU would always qualify for a “G” or “PG” rating, even if a large percentage of CIDU readers already seem to have reached retirement age. :-)
P.P.S. As a typical example, this “Chapped” comic was the last item that Bill posted to the Arlo page (on September 1st, 2020).
P.P.P.S. The Arlopage-URL still exists and works, but the access credentials are not available, so we cannot add new posts to it.
Where do you guys swim that a trident and crown are “swimming attire”?
Comics I Don't Understand 
Reminded me of this Perry Bible Fellowship:
I have no idea what the author was trying to accomplish, and I don’t even think it’s entirely clear whether the two of them are supposed to be donning or removing their costumes.
P.S. While this is clearly “Arlo” material (even though it’s quite mild, Bill would almost certainly have relegated it to his separate Arlo page), the comic isn’t a candidate for an “Arlo award”: Yuval Robichek does webcomics, not a syndicated feature, so there isn’t anything “concealed” from an editor, it’s all there, perfectly visible.
Kilby: Agreed. I think it’s just some vague “Ha ha, what if Poseidon and mermaids were just people in costumes…” — but no real joke.
Well, as we do not have access to the actual Arlo Page, I thought that marking as Arlo Award would be an acceptable stand in. But Arlo Page is another Category we could have, so why not, eh? I’ve changed it to that, let’s see if anybody’s sensibilities are now better protected.
The question of whether the costumes are going on or off is precisely what led to this being also Categorized as CIDU. Also figuring where the party or convention was / will be held. (Maybe undersea??)
I see those questions as making this creatively mysterious, not devaluing the comic.
Or as phsiii may be suggesting, they could be living “in character” most of the time, and we’re catching them going on break where they get to walk around as humans.
I want to know how she intends to get into the water once she dons the tail. Or how she got to the car if she is removing it. Maybe he carried her?
And to get a bit more risque, how are they going to “do” anything when she has that thing on?
Reminds me of an old joke. Two guys are fishing when a mermaid happens to jump into the boat right into the lap of one of the fisherman. He looks her over for a minute and then tosses her back into the water. His buddy says, “Why???” and the first guy says, “How??”
What exactly is Poseidon donning or doffing, as the case may be? Unless it’s some kind of outsized genitalia, I don’t see why this would be Arlo of any kind — they’re putting on / taking off unexpected bathing attire — the nature of the joke is in the unexpectedness of the attire, which, barring something I don’t know about Poseidon, has nothing prurient to it.
I don’t think this strip goes for the knee-slapping funny punchline. Some panels appear to be poetic meditations on life (such as the color-coordinated beachgoers a few weeks ago). Yup the couple appear to be donning unusual swim attire. I don’t see it as anything risque.
Poseidon and the mermaid have day jobs (running investment pools? looking for New Wave acts?), and at the end of the day go back to their abnormal lives.
zbicyclist: Like Ralph and Sam! I like it.
@ larK (7) – I think it’s a pair of underwear (tighty-whities), or possibly a swimsuit (that the author didn’t bother to color in).
P.S. Arlo is in the eye of the beholder. I would agree with you, but I was only pointing out that Bill’s criteria were exceedingly sensitive. I guess he wanted to ensure that CIDU would always qualify for a “G” or “PG” rating, even if a large percentage of CIDU readers already seem to have reached retirement age. :-)
P.P.S. As a typical example, this “Chapped” comic was the last item that Bill posted to the Arlo page (on September 1st, 2020).
P.P.P.S. The Arlopage-URL still exists and works, but the access credentials are not available, so we cannot add new posts to it.
Where do you guys swim that a trident and crown are “swimming attire”?