Bullseye with Jesse Thorn cover image

Bullseye with Jesse Thorn

Cartoonist Bill Griffith on "Nancy" and "Zippy the Pinhead"

Feb 9, 2024
29:18

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Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The simplicity and iconic aesthetic of the Nancy comic strip allow it to focus on surreal and abstract jokes, reflecting on the nature of comics themselves.
  • Ernie Bushmiller's decision to transition from detailed illustrations to a super iconic and simplified style with Nancy made the strip stand out among other cartoonists, leading to its recognition and success.

Deep dives

The Iconic Aesthetic of Nancy: Simple and Abstract

Nancy, a beloved and influential newspaper comic strip, stands out with its iconic aesthetic. The characters are depicted in simple, almost generic forms that represent something much more complex. The drawings are clear and easily recognizable, with Nancy's perfectly round, frizzy hairdo and her distinct red bow. The strip's simplicity allows it to focus on jokes that often have a surreal and abstract quality, serving as a reflection on the nature of comics themselves.

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