This strip is historic for more than just being the first actually funny strip; it is also the first appearance of the phrase "a momentary diversion on the road to the grave."
stilted » pro1 years ago
Yeah, rereading these, it is surprising how early the phrase shows up.
ambala » pro1 years ago
I love that two strips in, we have a pretty clear idea of Phillipe's role in the Onstad household.
He may keep it for the same reason as he keeps [kept] his childhood drum. Or it may not matter since this is still kind of proto-Cornelius as we know him now.
amberjunk » pro1 years ago
Because of a problem? Haha. I love Phillipe
mortshire » neu1 years ago
i used to regift other people's stuff all the time as a kid...oh, philippe, you make me regret my wasted childhood and resent your perpetual one.
alejandroadam » neu1 years ago
dood it's a comic strip. the medium give it that nature.
epicurus » con1 years ago
Personally I started at the beginning as well, but the difference is that I will admit the first ones are not nearly as "good" as the later ones (on average) instead of using a weird analogy and spelling a word with zeroes.
a_dude » pro1 years ago
Cornelius Bear has changed since this strip. the change has been Capital!
deadaluspark » neu1 years ago
this makes me laugh despite still not knowing what the hell phillipes "problem" is
twohundredninety » neu1 years ago
It makes me laugh because I don't know what the problem is.
tombsgrave » pro1 years ago
Phillipe's little flipperarm in the first two panels is just adorable.
u235 » neu1 weeks ago
I think his arms are supposed to be behind his back, as he hides his gift (and his problem) from view.
max » neu1 years ago
Such the good answer to that question. I see that. Mmmmmhmmm.
curdledboy » pro1 years ago
A grim, meat-hook philosophy. Brutal, apt, oddly touching. Words we can all live by...
tellumo » pro11 months ago
"Because of a . . . problem?" is a good (and possibly the best) answer to any "why" question.
hellofditties » neu3 months ago
"Because of a reason" is also a good reply.
kickstart » pro3 weeks ago
I've used it =)
riazm » pro11 months ago
I find myself having to ask "Why is it wet?" Altogether more than I would like
fineoakstructure » pro8 months ago
I always thought it wasn't so vague. I figured it Philippe is incontinent; we learn later that he has a bed wetting problem, so I think it fits?
petestart » pro9 months ago
The middle frame is the key here. Not merely because of the seminal phrase uttered by Mr Bear, but also because it speaks to the ultimate and enduring relationship that he and the otter share to this day.
brzbee » pro8 months ago
God, i love this strip... i first started reading the archives at The Party,so i missed out on the dada-ist humor of the first few strips.
sminniha » neu8 months ago
Can someone help me? Why is "momentary diversion on the road to the grave" such a famous line? I mean i love achewood, and i've read it in its entirety at least 3 times, and there are many other hilarious lines. why is this so famous?
echidnaboy » neu7 months ago
Because it's on a t-shirt?
phthoggos » neu3 months ago
Because of a problem?
u235 » neu1 weeks ago
Yes. That problem is mortality.
rowboat » pro2 months ago
If you have to ask, you'll never know.
morypcaina » con3 months ago
"Because of a problem?" is hilarious.
em2 » neu2 weeks ago
Yes! And so "is a momentary diversion on the road to the grave."
thegrouch » pro5 months ago
I don't know why the first strip is rated higher than this one. Nostalgia and sentiment is interfering with your objectivity, people!
susurrus » neu4 months ago
y'know, i shied away from achewood at first because i found the art too simplistic, and the humor... dumb... but then, i stuck with it for a while and grew to love it. i find when i go back and read the earlier strips, i "get" it better somehow. part of it is because i know the characters so well, but the other part of it illudes me. i have the feeling that this is similar to a lot of readers, so i don't think it's just nostalgia.
vice » neu4 months ago
Would be a 3, but Cornelius's "Just a momentary diversion" comment bumps it to a 4
boots » neu3 months ago
This was the first strip i saw, it's had me hooked ever since
rowboat » pro3 months ago
Oh, I get it, boots! It's your awesome idea to post this exact sentence on every single strip! Dude, that is so funny! You're totally getting inside my head!
Which reminds me: who does a guy have to blow to get spam-marking privileges around here? I think I've earned them by now. Meanwhile, those of you who do have them, go to work on this phony account, please. It is a waste of space. Thanks.
twoheadedboy » pro2 months ago
This is one of my all-time favorites. I truly don't understand why it isn't rated higher.
altffour » pro1 months ago
I agree with the hell out of you. The second panel rules, and "because of a problem?" is one of my favorite achewood lines ever.
daidai » neu1 months ago
Why don't people like this one more? It's got 2 brilliant one-liners.
mattylite » pro3 weeks ago
Wow, like 900 strips later I was reading Philippe's blog and "because of a problem" reappeared. Then I remembered it from this comic. Now I am telling everyone about it.
gladi8orrex » neu2 weeks ago
lol the kid gets corenelios a stompler not him but theordor a wets tompler. lol
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(marked lame by Nurdbot, farqussus, mrn, jmmfgd, I_Love_Kate)
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But maybe it was some stream of consciousness from the last strip via this: http://www.lysator.liu.se/~zap/stomper/index2.html
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Yes! Old School!
Old School!
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(marked lame by ImitationCrab, Jesler729, Deusoma, eric, equinn2006, Sargasm, DirtyAntaeus, PohlHoud, Jeef, alejandroadam, Epicurus, turnabout, mrn, dj)
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(marked lame by FVVS, EM2, rowboat, catgrl131, morypcaina, Tagrineth, MarkRowe)
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Which reminds me: who does a guy have to blow to get spam-marking privileges around here? I think I've earned them by now. Meanwhile, those of you who do have them, go to work on this phony account, please. It is a waste of space. Thanks.
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