Shannon Purcell: Enjoy things we can agree on in comics

Enjoy things we can agree on in comics

Every once in a while a story, event or work of art comes along that is so divisive that it threatens to tear apart even the tightest knit of communities, such as our beloved Pioneer Valley.

I am speaking of course of the highly controversial creation of artist Mort Walker: Beetle Bailey. Most of us are aware of the notorious 1962 Beetle strip which was censored for its audacity to show a belly button.

In troubling times, art tends to reflect society. It feels like just yesterday I watched friendships strained during heated debate over how Snoopy was handling his first 100 days in office as The Head Beagle. While some laugh and some are alienated by the subversive, challenging nature of works such as Beetle Bailey and Peanuts, let’s use this as an opportunity for dialogue bringing us together instead of pulling us apart.

And let’s enjoy things we can all agree on, whether it’s Dagwood’s comically large sandwiches, the haunting malaise of For Better or For Worse or the daily joy in discovering just how Dennis will annoy Mr. Wilson.

Shannon Purcell

Northampton

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