Guff 6: Top Hats for Narwhals

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Octopus haberdasher

From the Editor

The sun is out in Seattle. We’ve had a decent run of weather lately for this time of year, so we moved the editorial meeting to lunch in Pike Place. While I waited for Artie and Inky, I ordered the grilled octopus appetizer and eavesdropped on the family at the next table - they were from Wisconsin, and the two kids, a boy and a girl, were trying to pull their parents away from their coffees to get over to the infamous Pike’s Place gum wall and stick their well-chewed Bazooka Joe to that long stretch of polyisobutylene and other people’s DNA. If you haven’t been, you’re not missing much, it’s pretty gross . The gum, not the octopus. The octopus is terrific. -Ed.

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Concept of the Week

There is an unwritten law of cartooning that says if you have a character that’s an octopus, it must have a top hat. You might remember Nickelodeon’s Oswald, or Orful from the old Laff-a-Lympics, or more recently the logo from Tapas. It’s not a hard rule, bc Squidward from Sponge Bob Squarepants only occasionally wore a top hat, but he might be the exception that proves the rule. Quick Google research bears out 2 things: (1) there is a surprising amount of literature online about the use of the octopus in editorial cartoons for propaganda purposes, dating back to the Russo-Turkish War in 1877; and (2) there is a long list of octopus sidekicks and secondary characters in Western popular culture, but there aren’t any truly great octopus cartoon heroes/protagonists, which feels like an opportunity to come up with a new franchise character. Anyway the reason for the prevalence of the top hat on these characters is no mystery. They need something to decorate their giant round heads. (This is why Spider-Man nemesis Doc Oc doesn’t count - he has a normal-sized head.)

Such was the subject of our lunch discussion, as we kept the octopus coming. And now, as in-house cartoonist, Artie has a little more material for his summer course curriculum, which will now include a full week on the ‘Law of Top Hats for Comic Octopi’, delving into octopus motifs on late 19th Century political propaganda maps, from Northern Europe to South-East Asia, in which octopods in enemy regimentals approach friendly shores from the sea with menacing looks and tentacles reaching inland, only somewhat undermined by the cute little top hats perched on their heads. This top hat comic isn’t very political, or menacing, & comes without a caption so I’m not really sure what it means. Other than Artie says it’s an illustration of the old adage that ‘If you’re going to sell a hat to a narwhal, you better make it a top hat’. That adage is about 5 minutes old because I’m pretty sure Artie just made it up as we were walking over to the gum wall.

Panhandling, down-on-his-luck Polar Bear

Anyway, the whole thing came up because there was a long, out of context sequence in CHICKEN, PICKLE, DUCK & BOB about an octopus top hat salesman who worked on an ice floe south of New Zealand, selling his wares mostly to narwhals - and opposite a down-on-his-luck polar bear who was panhandling one ice floe over. We cut it from the prototype because it felt like a tangent, and polar bears live in the Arctic, not Antarctica, but the characters are still percolating, possibly to return in a sequel. If we can find a good backstory. Ideas welcome. -Ed. #russoturkishwarof1877

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In the Offing

Offering Terms:

Minimum Investment: $10.00 /

Security Type: Revenue Share /

Raise: $20,000 - $50,000 /

Planned Launch: Oct 2024 /

Offering Terms: Minimum Investment: $10.00 / Security Type: Revenue Share / Raise: $20,000 - $50,000 / Planned Launch: Oct 2024 /

In Offering news, the votes are in, the focus groups have spoken, and we’ve moved Chicken, Pickle, Duck & Bob from concept to pilot stage. Without the narwhal. Or the polar bear. But this means we’re now “Testing the Waters” for for an official Offering of revenue shares to investors. You can RSVP for the anticipated offering now on the franchise pilot page.

Testing the Waters: No money or other consideration is being solicited, and if sent in response, will not be accepted.  No offer to buy securities can be accepted and no part of the purchase price can be received until an offering statement is filed and only through an intermediary's platform. A person’s indication of interest involves no obligation or commitment of any kind.

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Concepts in Development

As always, you can cast your votes on the latest ideas under consideration for development over on the Concepts page. Alas, my attempts not to sway the jury have successfully swayed the jury, as judged by the strong totals for Peanut Zapata, which is headed toward becoming the next offering in the offing. More highlights below:

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Feature: Bazooka Joe

The top-grossing gum-wrapper comic strip of all time

Seattle’s Gum Wall in Pike Place Market

I’m guessing most of the gum on the gum wall at Pike Place Market is Hubba Bubba. But if you were a kid growing up in the 90s, chances are you remember the iconic Bazooka Joe bubble gum. The pink wrapper, the classic comic strip inside, and of course, the sweet bubble gum that always seemed to lose its flavor way too quickly. But what you may not know is that Bazooka Joe isn't just a nostalgic treat from your childhood - it's also a thriving business that continues to evolve and innovate in today's competitive market.

Founded in 1947 by the Topps Company, Bazooka Joe quickly became a staple in the world of bubble gum. The brand's mascot, a young boy with an eye patch and a backwards baseball cap, became instantly recognizable to kids across the country. And let's not forget about the comic strips that came inside each wrapper - silly, pun-filled adventures featuring Bazooka Joe and his gang of friends that provided endless entertainment during recess and after school. But as the years went by, Bazooka Joe faced some challenges. The rise of sugar-free gum and changing consumer preferences meant that the brand had to adapt in order to stay relevant. Enter Bazooka Sugar Free, a line of gum that offered the same classic flavor without the guilt of sugar. And with new packaging and marketing campaigns aimed at a younger, more health-conscious audience, Bazooka Joe was able to carve out a new niche for itself in the ever-evolving world of confectionery.

But Bazooka Joe didn't stop there. The brand continued to innovate, introducing new flavors, limited edition releases, and even collaborations with other popular brands. From partnerships with Marvel Comics to special collector's editions featuring retro designs, Bazooka Joe proved that it could keep up with the times while still staying true to its roots. Today, Bazooka Joe is more than just a bubble gum brand - it's a cultural icon that has stood the test of time. With a loyal fan base that spans generations, the brand continues to delight consumers with its nostalgic charm and innovative products. So the next time you see that familiar pink wrapper on the candy aisle, take a trip down memory lane and enjoy a piece of Bazooka Joe - because some things never go out of style. -Guff