Customer Reviews

The Dog Is Not a Toy: House Rule #4

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1 star:		(4)

 

 

Darby Conley and "Get Fuzzy" have found a lifelong fan in me. I haven't felt this way about a comic strip since Calvin and Hobbs. Both strips share the same kind of laugh-out-loud humor about things that everyone can indentify with - ESPECIALLY pet owners and PARTICULARLY cat owners (or is it, humans who belong to cats?).

GF and C&H also share the ability to make you laugh in almost any frame of the strip. In other words, it's not your standard and very tired "set up, set up, set up, punchline." Sometimes the funniest part might occur in the first frame or in the middle frame. Occasionally it might just be a word, like "Smacky," the name of Bucky's doll (the line, "I'm packin' Smacky" still makes me laugh to think about it, though regrettably that particular strip is not in the book).

Conley also brings Bucky and Satchel alive as it seems very reasonable and natural to have a cat and dog interacting and speaking with people (none of the "thought bubbles" you associate with pet strips like Garfield). And though both animals act very human, Conley still manages to capture and nail the essence of feline and canine behavior.

There are very few books that I find myself revisiting once I've read them. This is one of them. Mr. Conley, if you're reading this, I offer my heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for your work. When can we expect the next book?!?! How about a stuffed Bucky or Satchel?

In the meantime, I'll content myself with starting each morning with the daily strip at comicsdotcom and perusing "This Dog is Not a Toy" whenever I need a good laugh.

"Get Fuzzy" chronicles the day to day life of Rob and his "friends" (pets) Bucky, the psychotic (is there any other kind?) cat and his hapless, loveable shar-pei Satchel. This comic is the most precise, dead on accurate portrayals of pet life ever written. Artistically, "Get Fuzzy" is one of the most detailed comics out there (artists and other funky people will love Conley's attention to detail - like lamps that are plugged in, slogans on shirts) and really well drawn (check out Bucky's little belly and alarmingly astute facial expressions). Sometimes he doesn't even need words and you will be rolling on the floor laughing. But he uses words well, too. My favorite aspect of the comic is that the character development is extremely advanced. Satchel, Rob and Bucky (and even Rob's dad and my favorite character, Joe Doman)have distinct, hysterically funny and spot-on personalities. Almost every strip of "Get Fuzzy" gets a laugh ... but funny though it is, it is also poignant. Satchel, an innocent in a mad, mad world, offers moments of "Oh, Satchel!" when you remember that pets aren't just for entertainment, they're part of a symbiotic relationship - we need them, and they need us. In short, I LOVE GET FUZZY. I am the proud owner of a Satchel and a female-Bucky (I know, you pity me yet you are strangely drawn to my world) and I discovered "Get Fuzzy" last year. Any pet owner should read this comic - not only are you not alone, you are in great company!

These hilarious cartoons will bring a wry smile to anyone who has owned a cat or dog, better still both! Satchel is a podgy, easy going character, a little naive and slow on the uptake; while the cat is warped and probably related to Lucretia Borgia. Luckily the cat is primarlily interested in fish otherwise the household would be doomed.

What raises these cartoons above the ordinary is that the cat and dog reflect on human foibles and act like mini humans but with dog and cat desires. When typically human machinations are used to obtain some fish, somehow the absurdity of it all is laid bare.

This all makes it sound rather pretentious, but its not (not so sure about the reviewer though!) They are hilarious!

The strips in "The Dog Is Not a Toy" are great but they and the strips in "Get Fuzzy 2, Fuzzy Logic" are both included in the
"Groovitude" anthology. So don't buy this one if you already have "Groovitude."

I grew up with a Siamese Cat & my sister has had 2 Golden Retriever's. Darby Conley hits the nail on the head when portraying Dog & Cat (especially a cat with siamese blood) behavior. I find myself either chuckling or laughing out loud at this strip. The fact that Bucky & Satchel have these anthropomorphic qualities is what makes this so endearing. You really feel for their "guy" Rob. Deep down inside you can see that Rob really loves Bucky.

Even if you could somehow ignore the comedy involved with this book (lots of luck to you on that one), the artwork is fantastic!! You can almost feel Satchel's wrinkles - and you definately CAN feel Bucky's fang!! I flew through this book the first time, and with my shoulders shaking and my eyes tearing, reading the actual words was a challange. The second time 'tho, I really paid attention to the artistry involved - which made me even more in love with this strip!!! Mr. Conley ... congratulations on a terrific product. WHEN DOES THE NEXT ONE COME OUT?!??!!!!

I was thrilled to see Darby Conley finally has a collection of his Get Fuzzy strips for sale. It cracks me up the way Rob's pets have human abilities like talking on the phone, ordering food in a restaurant, and picking out movies to watch. At the same time, they are very much cat and dog-like. Bucky the cat can be vain, think he's "all that" (even stealing Rob's Volkswagon's symbol to wear around his neck as his "sign") and play people to get what he wants whereas Satchel is a sweet, well-meaning, but not especially bright dog. Somehow, though, you see glimpses of Bucky's softer side and every so often Satchel will come up with a zinger to put Bucky in his place. Like real people, they're predictable only to a point. Rob's pets interact with anyone who crosses their path; the fact that they can speak with everyone instead of just their "owner" adds another level of hilarity to the strips. I highly recommend this book; especially if you have pets you'll find yourself laughing out loud.

I was a late comer in appreciating the humor of this strip. When it first appeared in our local paper about a year ago, I was slow on the uptake and did not read it right away. What a mistake! I now cut each daily comic out of the paper and store it away, periodically going back and reading past strips. When the book came out, I immediately put my order in. Having a sealpoint Himalayan, in past a Siamese, and currently 3 bulldogs, I can appreciate what Darby Conley is doing here. He hits the nail on the head with the personalities of this wonderful pair (Bucky & Satch) of animals! And poor Rob, thank goodness he appears to have the patience of a saint. People with animals must possess this quality. I recommend this book to anyone who loves animals and is lucky enough to share their home with several.

Bucky and Satchel perfected it! As the Garfield comic strip has gotten older, we've seen Jim Davis struggle to keep it fresh. Don't get me wrong, I own every single garfield book out there, but Get Fuzzy has definitely come into it's own as a successor to the throne. The adventures of Rob, with Bucky and Satchel are even funnier then Garfield, because in contrast to Garfield, Bucky and Satchel actually can talk and interact to humans. They are very up to date with the times, and will talk about issues that happen in real life in the strip quite often. One of my favorite strips is the one where Rob won't give up his Red Sox hat to Bucky, so Bucky goes out into the world and finds a Yankees hat much to Rob's mismay. As a Red Sox fan, I love how Conley is a huge Red Sox fan and portrays that in his work. As I've grown up, Garfield has grown with me, but now I feel I've grown out of that and into Get Fuzzy. Highly recommended for a good laugh!

I couldn't believe the comic strip. I actually laughed out loud at Bucky, Satchel and Rob's irrepressible antics. The comic strip was the first thing I looked at when I opened the paper in the morning.

Then - while browsing at a book store - I found it . . ."Get Fuzzy: The Dog is Not a Toy (House Rule #4)," Darby Conley's first book. Yes Virginia. . .there is a Santa Claus!

If you haven't met Bucky, Satchel and Rob yet, this book is a great introduction to the threesome. Bucky the cat is so irritating, he's lovable. Satchel, the mixed breed canine, has a heart of gold and gives everyone - even Bucky - the benefit of the doubt. Their human, Rob, is the glue that holds everything together.

In no time at all you'll be believing the three are real and you'll wish they lived next door to you. Don't miss this opportunity to laugh out loud.