Olympic Event
Cidu Bill on Jan 14th 2009
Okay, at first I was convinced the birds were referring to the target practice they were about to engage in — because that’s generally what birds perched on telephone wires in comic strips do. But now I’m thinking Heathcliff seems to be Rollerblading or somesuch. Or could it be… something else???
Filed in Bill Bickel, CIDU, Heathcliff, Olympics, comic strips, comics, humor | 30 responses so far
johnjon Jan 14th 2009 at 06:23 pm 1
I’m not sure what’s going on either, but there seems to be snow on the ground and rooftops. Maybe something to do with ice? Hmmmmmmmmm…
Wayne Jan 14th 2009 at 06:24 pm 2
Looking at the snow?? on the roofs, this is a winter scene. Maybe Heathcliff is wearing sox?? Maybe a better artist could do the joke justice.
Austin Jan 14th 2009 at 06:29 pm 3
I spent a good deal of time thinking about this this morning and the best I could come up with is that Heathcliff is such a badass mofo, he would easily win gold in the Olympic event of “strutting”.
But that’s a bit of a stretch, I know.
Frank Jan 14th 2009 at 07:06 pm 4
Is Austin’s “badass mofo” being carried by two dogs or riding on the back of a couple similar to a skate or ski board. Think standing up on the back(s) of (a)horse(s) in a circus or rodeo.
Frank Jan 14th 2009 at 07:07 pm 5
Should be a question mark in there.
Michèle Jan 14th 2009 at 07:16 pm 6
Those don’t look like rollerblades to me. They look like bunny rabbits. Obviously, the next Olympic sport is Bunny Stomping.
eeyore19 Jan 14th 2009 at 07:31 pm 7
My vote’s for the birds using Heathcliff for target practice.
Pinny Jan 14th 2009 at 08:03 pm 8
My vote’s for the strutting.
johnjon Jan 14th 2009 at 08:08 pm 9
After doing a little research, I’m positive those… things… connected to his stomach are supposed to be feet.
Evidence: http://images.gocomics.com/images/uclick/features/crhea/crhea050111.gif
Hence I’ll cast my vote towards the struttin’ side.
@Austin, thanks for the laugh. Your comment is far funnier than the comic itself.
B Jan 14th 2009 at 08:17 pm 10
Is he side-struttin? His feet look like he should be riding sidesiddle, but he obviously has no horse. Or maybe it’s that he’s a fat cat and the fact that he’s walking at all is Olympic worthy? Oy. This one is confusing.
B Jan 14th 2009 at 08:18 pm 11
Ha. I mean sideSADDLE. Or maybe he invented sidesiddling and will therefore have an Olympic event made out of it because of its awesomeness.
Brent Jan 14th 2009 at 08:48 pm 12
Heathcliff is apparently a natural for the paralympic racing events for double arm amputees that have had a leg to arm transplant.
(Really, he only has feet on his left side, both of which are rear paws (as shown in the link).)
Nicole Jan 14th 2009 at 09:55 pm 13
I am going with publishing unfunny comics
David N Jan 14th 2009 at 11:56 pm 14
Bunny Slipper Skating, maybe? An event who’s time has come …
johnjon Jan 15th 2009 at 12:19 am 15
Okay, I think I’ve come up with something.
I was looking back at old Heathcliff comics online (http://comics.com/heathcliff/?DateAfter=2008-01-01&DateBefore=2008-12-31&Order=d.DateStrip+DESC&PerPage=50&Search=&x=16&y=9&Page=1) and I was almost positive that the comic this discussion is about was related to the fact that Heathcliff NEVER walks on all-fours.
But then… eureka! Check THIS out:
http://comics.com/heathcliff/2008-08-18/
I still have NO idea what either comic is about, but it does make me wonder if any other comics that look just like these two are out there. Just one more missing clue will make everything come together–I’m sure of it! This is turning into some sort of weird Heathcliff conspiracy or something.
Frank Jan 15th 2009 at 12:48 am 16
johnjon - Your evidence is persuasive.
johnjon Jan 15th 2009 at 01:18 am 17
After (too) much thought, I think I understand what’s going on here. I’m not sure if this is a larger series than the two presented, but there is a common theme. We’re being distracted by the prominent presence of Heathcliff when we should really just be interpreting the scene as every day mundaneness. That is, except for the conversations the birds are having. Therein lies the joke. The joke is the sneak-peak into the bird’s conversations. Birds discussing “something” as being a future olympic sport (e.g., the previously mentioned “target practice”), birds discussing golf technique, other general absurdity, etc. etc. You get the idea.
Whew, a long way to go for some dull jokes! Oddly satisfying to figure them out after all that though.
That Idiot Ivan Jan 15th 2009 at 03:49 am 18
All of his weight is on his left feet, and both right feet are moving forward in unison. Isn’t this an unusual gait for a cat? Camels, yes, so they rock from side to side, and “Ship of the Desert” stuff…
Or else it’s his impression of Phil Collins’ “I Can’t Dance.”
Dave Jan 15th 2009 at 05:12 am 19
my vote is that he’s skating along the (frozen) sidewalk. I think we are seeing 2 of his legs side on, with the other 2 hidden from view, also note the movement lines behind him. pretty badly drawn though if i’m right….
Ooten Aboot Jan 15th 2009 at 07:27 am 20
IMHO, Ivan’s no idiot. Heathcliff’s gait is like that of a pacing horse. Cat racing will be featured in the next Olympiad, and Heathcliff is in training.
Powers Jan 15th 2009 at 07:35 am 21
It’s just target practice. Heathcliff is only in the strip because his name’s on the title.
John B. Jan 15th 2009 at 08:07 am 22
This strip doesn’t need analysis. It’s pretty darn obvious. 1. It’s poorly drawn and 2. The birds are using Heathcliff as target practice. Nothing more to see here. Please move on to the next strip.
eisenhomer Jan 15th 2009 at 01:30 pm 23
I think I have it, based on johnjon’s remarkable research: The Olympic event is……
how many nonsensical punchline can the artist make up for a single drawing!!!!!!
Dan Jan 15th 2009 at 03:43 pm 24
Yep, just a poorly drawn Heathfield walking.
Mark M Jan 15th 2009 at 04:06 pm 25
Is that supposed to be snow on the roofs? If so, that’s poorly drawn too.
june Jan 15th 2009 at 11:54 pm 26
Is that snow or is it mounds of bird poop??
Matthew Jan 16th 2009 at 07:55 pm 27
I’m with John B.
Powers Jan 17th 2009 at 10:12 am 28
I think part of the problem is that the drawing is intended for a two-inch square on newsprint, not a 700-pixel web graphic. At the smaller size, the little quirks of the drawing are much less noticeable.
Chuck Jan 19th 2009 at 06:12 am 29
Looks like sidewalk ice skating to me.
Pinny Apr 27th 2009 at 09:34 pm 30
Well, it looks like today’s (April 27, 2009) Heathcliff clarifies this older one:
http://comics.com/heathcliff/2009-04-27/
The birds, who are about to drop some guano on Heathcliff, are considering their “target practice’s” potential as an Olympic event.