What's interesting is that it's a regression of the 'stache back to how it was pre-"Sex Funeral."

not feeling it. 'cept for the 'stache.

I too need to borrow some money.

I have a hard time disagreeing with this. Lyle's line is just priceless. Lyle's line IS Achewood! :kicks pennyarcade into a well:

Ok, well I don't see why you get lamed and I don't but ok. Completmentary chubby for you, Mr. Riot (because I assume that your name is Rowboat Riot).

The time before Mr Bear was established as old and worldly is really awkward.

not really.

Yeah. In retrospect, at least.

The fake TV is an element I miss in the later strips.

I agree that it seems weird looking at earlier strips written before the characters were really given personalities. Less satisfying...it seems like a whole different comic.

All these earlier strips are very Phillipe-central. As fantastic a character as he is, the introduction of Ray and Roast Beef are fundamental to Achewood's success.

However little gems of character development appear, and we learn a little more about Lyle here, and his atypical relationship with Phillipe.

That's pretty much the reason I gave it a 5, too. My favourite early strip.

Lyle is basically the only character who hasn't changed.

It's a lot like real TV, actually...

Classic Lyle.

dress shirt with sleeves ripped off, indeed classic Lyle

Fun fact: Lyle wasn't seen for a week after this strip ran.

This is the first one that really clicks with me.

One of the few instances that I can claim that Achewood vocab or phraseology has entered my everyday use. Whenever I'm introduced to someone in what I consider an overtly important way, my first instinct is always to rest my elbow on something and say "Listen, I need to borrow some money."

The last panel.

If it had been the Mr. Bear Play, Lyle would have been breaking the fourth wall in the worst way.

Early on Achewood seemed to be about a bunch of stuffed animals doing anything to keep boredom away.
This is one of my early favorites just because Lyle epitomizes the worst thing that can happen when watching TV.

This is not the worst thing that can happen when watching TV.

The worst thing that can happen when watching TV is clearly displayed in The Ring.

If a stuffed tiger hit me up for money I would be buggin on a level harder than that of some chick coming out of a TV to get me.
D:

This may be my favorite Achewood strip that doesn't feature Lie Bot.

A modern day "Mr Bear Show" would be a gem of tele-visual entertainment at a time filled mostly with rubbish reality TV and sketch shows.

I love this one. So good.