Comics That Haven’t Aged Well

Syndicate sites like GoComics and ComicsKingdom have a variety of reruns (or, if you prefer, vintage comics). But some of them don’t age well.

These are all old comics which are being repeated. There are certainly a number of old comics that we wouldn’t expect to see now (e.g. the drunken domestic violence played for laughs in old Andy Capp), but I’m limiting this to ones that I’ve currently found being repeated.

Here’s a few examples:


A fire at an asbestos factory (and there are still some) would likely be a major disaster, putting all those asbestos fibers into the air.


Mitch sent in this one, dated 1991.  George Burns was indeed long-lived, and continued performing into his very senior years — which is sort of the joke here, saying he might go on into the distant future.  But then he did die, in 1996 (at age 100).  


Concussions aren’t funny any more.


Hair tonics have historically been marketed as a way to make hair grow faster, but without much evidence. In recent years, there has been a shift towards more evidence-based approaches to hair care, with a focus on products that are supported by scientific research, such as medications like minoxidil and finasteride, which are approved by the FDA for the treatment of hair loss.


90 Years Ago in The New Yorker

August, 1933: More cultural references to decipher.

Did I miss some modern artifact (radio in 1933, or a refrigerator)?


There was a rather turbulent mayoral election in New York in 1933: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1933_New_York_City_mayoral_election

It took a while to find a candidate who would fly with the voters.



Euphemism?


Is Mooney someone we would have known?



The Yeast of our Problems

Maggiethecartoonist sent this in.

Per Wikipedia, “Kombucha is a fermented, lightly effervescent, sweetened black tea drink commonly consumed for its purported health benefits. Sometimes the beverage is called kombucha tea to distinguish it from the culture of bacteria and yeast. Juice, spices, fruit or other flavorings are often added.”

Who’s on the other side of this war? Is this one of those Culture Wars that’s been in the news so much lately?