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Arnold (comic strip)
Encyclopedia
Arnold was a syndicated comic strip
by Kevin McCormick that ran at its height in 56 newspapers, including the LA Times and the Detroit Free Press
, from 1982 through 1988. The strip was characterized by an off-beat sense of humor and random interjections by the title character, Arnold.
Arnold often yelled "AIEEE" at random moments, and both characters had run-ins with the school cafeteria ladies—specifically Arnold, who referred to mayonnaise as WHITE DEATH at the top of his lungs. Tommy had a particular aversion to "wet bread." Tommy would often walk away from his football
coach wearing his helmet backwards, as apparently the coach did not think much of Tommy's suggestions.
Tommy occasionally brought a thinly veiled Christian attitude to his reactions to the other characters. Mr. Lester was often perplexed with Arnold at school.
Toward the end of the run, a baby brother to Arnold, named Sid, was born. Sid frequently grabbed hold of others by holding on with his mouth.
In the last strip, a giant bird grabbed Arnold and flew off with him. Kevin McCormick wrote to the fans of the strip in Detroit Free Press, "I was extremely gratified and happy to receive all the letters from Free Press readers concerning the demise of Arnold. I even had second thoughts. But, alas, it was too late. The gigantic bird had already swallowed."
Comic strip
A comic strip is a sequence of drawings arranged in interrelated panels to display brief humor or form a narrative, often serialized, with text in balloons and captions....
by Kevin McCormick that ran at its height in 56 newspapers, including the LA Times and the Detroit Free Press
Detroit Free Press
The Detroit Free Press is the largest daily newspaper in Detroit, Michigan, USA. The Sunday edition is entitled the Sunday Free Press. It is sometimes informally referred to as the "Freep"...
, from 1982 through 1988. The strip was characterized by an off-beat sense of humor and random interjections by the title character, Arnold.
Motifs
The main characters were Arnold Melville, a strange, volatile child; Tommy Jordan, his well-meaning but clueless friend; and Mr. Lester, Arnold and Tommy's schoolteacher.Arnold often yelled "AIEEE" at random moments, and both characters had run-ins with the school cafeteria ladies—specifically Arnold, who referred to mayonnaise as WHITE DEATH at the top of his lungs. Tommy had a particular aversion to "wet bread." Tommy would often walk away from his football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
coach wearing his helmet backwards, as apparently the coach did not think much of Tommy's suggestions.
Tommy occasionally brought a thinly veiled Christian attitude to his reactions to the other characters. Mr. Lester was often perplexed with Arnold at school.
Toward the end of the run, a baby brother to Arnold, named Sid, was born. Sid frequently grabbed hold of others by holding on with his mouth.
In the last strip, a giant bird grabbed Arnold and flew off with him. Kevin McCormick wrote to the fans of the strip in Detroit Free Press, "I was extremely gratified and happy to receive all the letters from Free Press readers concerning the demise of Arnold. I even had second thoughts. But, alas, it was too late. The gigantic bird had already swallowed."