Sunday Funnies

November 4th, 2007

If SpiderMan moved to Dayton, where would he live? What about the Peanuts gang? Hi and Lois?

Columbus real estate blogger, Maureen McCabe, recently posted about some comic strip characters moving to different areas in Columbus, but she left out Doonesbury. She said that no community in Columbus felt right for them, but she did consider Yellow Springs. I agree! Yellow Springs is the perfect place for Doonesbury. And it got me thinking about where other comic characters would reside in the Dayton area.

Blondie: Okay, I’m sitting here looking at the comics and it’s now obvious to me that I’m going to have some difficulty with this little exercise because I don’t read many comics, but to me, Blondie would probably live here in Huber Heights, north of I-70 most likely. Maybe in a Walton model?

The family from For Better or For Worse seems like they would appreciate a historic home, in a small town. Tidy lawns, community oriented… downtown Tipp City? You know- small independently owned shops: coffee, and bookstores, and a toy store, the library is right there. I think they would like Tipp City quite a bit.

Zits, anyone? Everyone? Zits could live anywhere. It’s a universal situation- teenage life. Not so much about a particular family or lifestyle, more about teenage angst, which can’t be geographically defined. Dilbert as well. Cube dwellers know no bounds. Sad, isn’t it?

Beetle Bailey is a no brainer. While Wright Patterson Air Force Base housing is not the barracks, or the Army, it will work for our purposes.

Brewster Rocket? I’ve never read this before, but if it’s space travel then here’s my idea: Have you ever been to the Bookery in downtown Fairborn? Comic books and strategy games, D&D, and science fiction? There is probably an apartment over a store front in downtown Fairborn. That’s where I would put those space travelers. I wouldn’t get a commision from a sale with this move, but they could go visit the Bookery regularly and be right at home. They would be happy there, that’s good. Looks like Prince Valiant could be their time traveling neighbor.

Moving on. Jump Start would live in Kettering or perhaps Englewood. Of course I see them in Huber Heights too, but I already have Blondie here and don’t want all the horde all the comics here in Huber. Maybe we can move Blondie to Kettering and Jump Start can live here. Today’s strip has a child losing his shoes out the car window, that’s something I frequently see on Huber streets.

Peanuts live in Troy. I know this for a fact because a pumpkin patch plays such a big role in this comic strip and Fulton Farms has huge pumpkin patch, one of the last in the area.

Rex Morgan might like Beavercreek, don’t you think? Or, a better idea, depending on how hip he his (I don’t read this comic, so I really don’t know) he might enjoy the downtown Dayton life. Loft living, or a historic home, walking to all the cultural events. I can see that, can’t you?

Cathy is a shopaholic. Every time I peek in on her she is trying on clothes. Okay, let’s find her a nice place, nothing too big, a condo perhaps? The key thing is that it is close to a mall, and sorry Centerville but for her, she is going to want to be close to a new mall. Out to Beavercreek and the Fairfield Mall and The Greene, right?

Batman isn’t a comic strip but he is a comic book character, so we will find him a home as well. Batman lives in the historic Grafton Hill neighborhood. I don’t think you can find a cool home like his anywhere else in Dayton.

I don’t Get Fuzzy, but there are animals involved. Lots of animals. If you are looking for an agricultural area, then go west young man. I’m thinking Trotwood or Brookville, there is still tillable farm land to be found west of Dayton.

Last and perhaps least, Mary Worth lives in Oakwood, of course. I don’t think you would see Mary Worth bicycling in that get-up, putting lost puppies in her bike basket anywhere else but Oakwood. The question is: Does she live east or west of Far Hills?

Stick a fork in me. That’s my creative exercise for the day. Your turn- am I wrong? Who did I leave out? Let me know what profound thoughts you might have on this serious matter.

20 Comments »

  1. Maureen M. says

    I have never even heard of some of your cartoons… Dayton Daily Sunday Funnies? Yet I remember Mary Worth from growing up. I had not thought of that comic strip in years. Good neighborhoods for all those characters from what I remember of the Dayton area communities.

    Yellow Springs is perfect for Doonesbury. Thanks for the mention.

    November 4th, 2007 | #

  2. Teri Lussier says

    Yes, these are from the Dayton Daily. I was wondering why I don’t read the comics very often and after poking about there today it became clear to me. It’s kind of a sad lot of “funnies”.

    Mary Worth is still the silver haired matron of whatever community she lives in. However I believe she’s had botox and some work done. I distinctly remember her with more wrinkles. ;-)

    November 4th, 2007 | #

  3. Art Blanchet says

    I like Prince Valiant, which isn’t in my local paper (bummer, but it’s fun cuz it bugs my kids). Val loves the royal digs at Camelot, but can live anywhere. Got any place for the Upwardly Mobile that have already arrived - or a vacation home for the low profile-keeping nobles??

    Need a fireplace with a mantle for the Singing Sword, too.

    Thanks.

    November 4th, 2007 | #

  4. Teri Lussier says

    Art- I never read Prince Valiant, I glanced at it today and a knight from the round table (cue Monty Python) was fighting a pteradactyl. I figured the sci fi/ fantasy bookstore was a good place for them. They may need to move to Grafton Hill with Batman- there are some castle-esque historic homes there. Or Oakwood, west of Far Hills, is probably a better fit. Big homes, some old money, rich fantasy lives, and fireplaces over which a sword could comfortably hang. And sing? Really? It sings? Show tunes? Psychobilly? Covers of the Spice Girls? Does it take requests?

    November 4th, 2007 | #

  5. Art Blanchet says

    Val doesn’t often fight pre-historice beasts, unless you count Vikings (not from Minnesota) and Goths and Kelts and such. Must be an acid flashback from his days at Woodstock Shire.

    As for the Sinnging Sword - don’t mees with Val’s steel or it’ll be wailing dirges for you as you sport a new “do” - one that starts at your eye brows. (Here’s the part where I flash Ye Olde Gande Signes).

    November 4th, 2007 | #

  6. DB says

    You only named 3 out of 5 of my favorite comics… sniff sniff.

    Where is Calvin and Hobbs gonna stay? What about Les Moore? Beetle would live in anywhere there is a bed, and Blondie, she’s classy but you got to have a huge kitchen for Dagwood.

    Zits.. not sure where Jeremy would live maybe in an urban ghetto considering his messy room, but his dad is a dentist so you would assume they would stay in a fairly decent house with little to no crime. Maybe in a huge subdivison?

    November 5th, 2007 | #

  7. Teri Lussier says

    Derek! It’s great to see you again.

    I know. I did leave a few of my own favorite strips out, but they are no longer running. Calvin and Hobbes being one of them, and Calvin lives with me. Bloom County is another favorite, and Bill the Cat is acking in Art Blanchet’s house.

    Les Moore, hmmm, we had Les Moore, but no Moore, and I can’t recall a thing about it. This is not the same Les Moore who is buried in the Boot Hill Cemetery, is it?

    Blondie is fine in Kettering. We can find a nice home with a big kitchen there.

    I stand by my reasoning that Zits is anywhere. The condition of a teenager’s room is more indicative of being a teenager, than a geographic location, but Dayton is full of subdivisions, so we would have no problem.

    November 6th, 2007 | #

  8. Maureen M. says

    Calvin and Hobbes is no more? I remember my mother explaining to me about Hobbes. I did not get that he was a toy. I was in my 20’s…

    I could see Blondie in Kettering. I think Blondie was on my list too… Maybe she was Upper Arlington.. not the high end of Upper Arlington, just a comfortable family home in UA. We may have to fight over them…if they are considering both Dayton and Columbus.

    November 6th, 2007 | #

  9. Teri Lussier says

    Maureen, I think Calvin and Hobbes last ran around 94? Calvin shows up on the back of pick-up trucks all over Dayton, and you can buy entire collections of the strips in book form. Kind of like The Far Side. Another great comic. I think they live with me as well…

    November 6th, 2007 | #

  10. Ashley Drake Gephart says

    Teri - This is great! I don’t know your area so I will assume you did a good match up. But I was placing all the comics in my town as I was reading this. I may have to use these idea as well.

    November 9th, 2007 | #

  11. Teri Lussier says

    Hi Ashley-

    When I read Maureen’s post I did the same thing- it would be hard not to start thinking about it, that’s one of the things we do isn’t it? We help people find great houses.

    Nice to see you again.

    November 9th, 2007 | #

  12. Maureen M. says

    And Goran Utvan (?) on ActiveRain started it… he did Spiderman moving to Chicago from NYC though…tall buildings to leap in a single bound… wait that is Superman. Spiderman uses webs to get around from one huge edifice to the next. We are a lot more residential and suburban, Hi and Lois, The Family Circus people, etc. all make a lot more sense in Central Ohio. Spidey would probably take the first transfer available back to a big city from our market.

    November 10th, 2007 | #

  13. Teri Lussier says

    Maureen thanks for giving credit where it’s due.

    I think your expanding of that idea will likely spark multiple posts about this.

    November 11th, 2007 | #

  14. Maureen M. says

    thats what makes blogging fun for me. the more the merrier

    November 11th, 2007 | #

  15. Eric Blackwell says

    Hi Teri;

    What a great idea…I have been racking my brain for the last little bit for equivalents here in Louisville. But the biggest challenge is that I haven’t read the funnies in FAR too long. It is a casualty of not reading the paper anymore.

    And Maureen…while I appreciate you giving credit where it is due, I just wanted you to know I am a big fan of yours as well. I don’t get near as much blogging time as I’d like…but it’s a good read.

    Best to both of you;

    Eric Blackwell

    November 16th, 2007 | #

  16. Teri Lussier says

    Hi Eric- I confess I had to sit down with the paper in front of me to write this. I rarely do more than glance at the front page any more. But this was fun writing it, and a great idea for any other RE bloggers in your office.

    Thanks for stopping by.

    November 16th, 2007 | #

  17. Maureen M. says

    Gee thank Eric. I read the funnies about once a month anymore…

    OSU has cartoon (or is it comics?) library, I have Columbus cartoon bloggers in my blogroll… if they read my blog they probably think… what a dork.

    November 16th, 2007 | #

  18. Eric Blackwell says

    Your welcome.

    BTW- Best to both of you in THE game tomorrow…OSU HAS to beat the team to the North…

    I’d wish you both a Happy Thanksgiving, but I am sure that “Best Wishes and I hope they stomp Michigan” carries much more sentimental value right now…:mrgreen:

    Aw, what the heck. Happy Thanksgiving too!

    November 16th, 2007 | #

  19. Teri says

    Hey Eric, You’re alright! ;-)

    Happy Thanksgiving to you too.

    November 16th, 2007 | #

  20. Rocky VanBrimmer says

    a lame-o comment to drive traffic to my site -:lol:

    March 31st, 2008 | #

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