Everything’s Relative
I think I was a gullible kind of kid, tragically unsuspicious. I pretty much accepted the wisdom and truth of anything my elders told me, no questions. Santa Claus? Of course! Tooth Fairy? Sounds logical! Electoral College? Makes sense to me!
But even I thought there was something intrinsically fishy about the nontraditional families of cartoon characters. Where did all these “nephews” come from? And why do they always bear a clone like resemblance to their “uncles”? Where are the supposed birth parents of these mischievous offspring? I mean, we know all these star characters have girlfriends, sometimes several, but what about their invisible siblings? Later in life I discovered that at least Disney went to the trouble of identifying the mother of Huey, Dewy and Looie in one, lonely cartoon (Donald gets a note from his sister, Dumbella.) But at a dangerously tender age, I picked up on the fact that when Popeye’s brood said their prayers at night, they wound up “God Blessing” everyone within hailing distance (including Bluto!) but didn’t bother mentioning THEIR OWN PARENTS!
Always had a lot of respect for Sylvester. He had a son. Period. No awkward or unconvincing excuses. So what if the little tyke was chronically ashamed of his father, at least the old man owned up to the kid’s paternity.
Of course, it did make you wonder where Mrs. Sylvester was…
Dave Kirwan
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On March 8th, 2006 at 12:00 am
And why so many multiple births, in a day pre-fertility drugs?
On March 8th, 2006 at 12:00 am
I’m relatively unsuspicious, too, but I think if all my cousins started looking like my dad, I might get a clue. But family relationships in cartoons always gave me something to think about. Like Orphan Annie. I always wondered where her mother was.
On March 9th, 2006 at 12:00 am
Wow, something else to worry about now. Where DO all those nephews and nieces come from? I’m just a naive old dope. I find it most disconcerting that Donald Duck is considered pornographic in Finland, because he wears no pants. Please address this burning issues in future topics, Mr. Kirwan. PS — you were recommended by a good friend of yours and mine, the Crazy Catwoman of Duluth.
On March 13th, 2006 at 12:00 am
Sylvester Jr’s mom is in at least two cartoons, A MOUSE DIVIDED and GOLDIMOUSE AND THE THREE CATS. She’s the (stereo)typical henpecking spouse in relation to Sylvester, as I recall.
Mickey Mouse’s nephews, Morty and Ferdie, are also explained rather overtly in the comics at least. They’re (obviously) the sons of Mickey’s sister, who does appear now and then. They live with her a lot of the time. This is why Mickey can spend a month off chasing the Phantom Blot and not worry about what’s going to happen to the kids.
On March 22nd, 2006 at 12:00 am
wow these are old poasters!