Article

2008-01-08 -Obits-

T.K. Ryan's 'Tumbleweeds' Comic Strip, Begun In 1965

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Posted by Anonymoose 2008-01-08 08:17|| || Front Page|| [4 views ] Top

#1 (from Editor and Publisher)

Tom K. Ryan will end his "Tumbleweeds" comic Dec. 30 after 42 years.

The "cowboy comedy strip," which also includes Native-American characters, is distributed by King Features Syndicate.

The news about "Tumbleweeds" ending was reported on Alan Gardner's Daily Cartoonist blog.

Posted by Anonymoose 2008-01-08 09:03|| 2008-01-08 09:03|| Front Page Top

#2 Tumbleweeds was very popular in the 1970s, but then overnight became politically incorrect because it depicted Native Americans, the "Poohawk" tribe, so it was pulled from most newspapers.

It depicted life in a miserable and isolated Old West town, "Grimy Gulch", populated by an assortment of stereotypical and moronic western characters. Near to the town was an 'F-Troop' type US Cavalry stockade and their enemy the Poohawk tribe, both of which were filled with fools and ne'er-do-wells.

The main character, Tumbleweeds, was a shiftless slacker cowboy with a broken down horse. He was pursued by the town's only adult woman, the homely, cross-eyed and desperate Hildegarde Hamhocker, who expressed her affection for Tumbleweeds with flying tackles and attempts to drag him to the office of the Justice of the Peace, the disreputable Judge Horatio Curmudgeon Frump, for marriage.

Posted by Anonymoose 2008-01-08 09:21|| 2008-01-08 09:21|| Front Page Top

#3 And who could forget Claude Clay, Undertaker?

Posted by M. Murcek">M. Murcek 2008-01-08 11:06|| 2008-01-08 11:06|| Front Page Top

#4 Motto: You Stab 'Em, We Slab 'Em.

Posted by Thomas Woof">Thomas Woof 2008-01-08 11:33|| 2008-01-08 11:33|| Front Page Top

#5 Alt. Motto: You Plug 'Em, We Plant 'Em.

Posted by Thomas Woof">Thomas Woof 2008-01-08 11:34|| 2008-01-08 11:34|| Front Page Top

#6 Dang, I can't remember what his horse's name is.

Posted by Deacon Blues">Deacon Blues 2008-01-08 12:19|| 2008-01-08 12:19|| Front Page Top

#7 One of my favorites as a kid.

Grimy Gulch: just down the road from Vapid City.

And isn't the Poohawk tribe the only one that will claim Ward Churchill?

Posted by xbalanke 2008-01-08 12:27|| 2008-01-08 12:27|| Front Page Top

#8 I can't speak for the humans, but the rest of us hominoids really don't want him.

Posted by Abdominal Snowman 2008-01-08 12:48|| 2008-01-08 12:48|| Front Page Top

#9 Cast of Characters:
Tumbleweeds
Ace
Limpid Lizard
Hildegard Hamhocker
Bucolic Buffalo
Lotsa Luck
Judge Horatio Curmudgeon Frump
Screaming Flea
The Chief
Claude Clay
His horse's name is the same as mine. Ace. Dopey me.

Posted by Deacon Blues">Deacon Blues 2008-01-08 13:37|| 2008-01-08 13:37|| Front Page Top

#10 More characters:
Col. G. Armageddon Fluster
Snookie McFoul
Snake-Eye McFoul
Echo
Pajamas
Wart Wimble

Posted by Deacon Blues">Deacon Blues 2008-01-08 13:39|| 2008-01-08 13:39|| Front Page Top

#11 One more:
Hogarth Hemp the hangman.

Posted by xbalanke 2008-01-08 15:45|| 2008-01-08 15:45|| Front Page Top

#12 Claude Clay offering a special on cremations:

"Ashes to ashes, and dust to dust, son.
Get where you're going with internal combustion."

Posted by Anonymoose 2008-01-08 17:50|| 2008-01-08 17:50|| Front Page Top

#13 His website says that a number of Indian organizations are fans.

Posted by James">James 2008-01-08 18:14|| http://idontknowbut.blogspot.com]">[http://idontknowbut.blogspot.com] 2008-01-08 18:14|| Front Page Top

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