Messenger I Don’t Understand

Warning: This is probably the first time that an Oglaf comic has ever been posted to CIDU, and it may also be the last. Even though the strip presented below does not contain anything explicit or offensive, please be forewarned that the vast majority of Oglaf strips are (to quote one reviewer) “extremely, extraordinarily NSFW“. Please do not go searching for the Oglaf website unless you are prepared for (and approve of) its signature type of “pornographic sex comedy”.

This strip was published Sunday, 18-Aug-2024; there is one specific aspect that puzzles me:


The plot action is perfectly clear, in particular what the younger ruler is planning. What I simply do not understand is why the messenger appears to be supporting this plan, instead of informing the older ruler (who is supposed to be his boss) what the ostrich trap is intended to accomplish.

Meet my Aunt Bisle

Thanks to Usual John for sending this head-scratcher; and for introducing us to the work of Guillermo Saldaña. Here’s what Comics Kingdom offers as their “About” for Palurdeando:

Palurdo is an adjective; it means “rustic and ignorant.” Now, we turn this adjective into a verb. What do we get?

Palurdeando is a comic strip where everything has a place. From the simplest joke to the harshest critique. Although it has some recurring characters, such as Bernardino or Holy Pigeon and Little J, everything and everyone is welcome.

So let’s palurdemos for a bit.

All we really needed was the first panel

Sometimes the joke lands immediately and you don’t need it spelled out, or an attempt to cap it.


Here they aren’t strictly speaking separate panels, but the effect is the same.


Here, the name “Fading Sunset” in the first panel is much funnier than the predictable punchline in panel 3.


Can it count as a CIDU? Or just striking or absurd imagery? Part 2

(Part 1 can be found at this link.)

Some comics for which we could not answer “What is the joke here?” but OTOH could not in good conscience call a clear CIDU and devote a full daily standalone to.


No, we haven’t any idea, at least not if it’s supposed to be clever or a punch line. And does that mean the joke here is just … “What if there were traffic cops in outer space!”?


Shoehorning in a lovely Macanudo, not meant as funny but it claims to not be surreal either!


This one also may not perfectly fit the premise: I sort of see a joke, and it’s sort of funny. But mostly the point seems to be just contemplating the sad aspects of the absurdist situation.


Here’s one that Grawlix says showed up in his Facebook feed; apparently posted by the cartoonist, asking his public whether the cartoon makes sense. It probably does — there are good suggestions in the Facebook comments — but for some the main impression is just how strange it must be to meet this locomotive guy!


This one qualifies, not for absurdism precisely, but for startling incongruous backstory imagery. She’s going out, and her parents say “Don’t be late [getting back]”, all of which is perfectly normal — except she’s in a battle tank!

A GoComics commenter adds “Pero pasatelo bien” (“But have a good time”) — reminding me of my high school girlfriend’s mother, who would usually say “Be good! And have fun!”.