Cartoonist Doug Marlette got used to hearing people mix comments about his humor with references to Almighty God.
After all, one of the main characters in his syndicated comic strip “Kudzu” was the Rev. Will B. Dunn, a deep-fried Southern preacher who always remained optimistic, even as he battled with the insanity of modern life (especially trendy Bible translations).
Meanwhile, Marlette’s political cartoons often inspired readers to barrage editors with the kind of God talk that cannot be printed in family newspapers.
There was, for example, his caricature of Pope John Paul II wearing a “No Women Priests” button. The caption said, “Upon this Rock I will build my church” and Marlette drew an arrow pointing at the pope’s head.
Another infamous cartoon showed an Arab terrorist driving a truck containing a nuclear bomb. The caption: “What Would Mohammed Drive?” A cartoon on my office wall — a gift from Marlette as I left the Charlotte Observer — shows PTL televangelist Jim Bakker kneeling before a dollar sign that towers over a stone altar framed with candles. Bakker proclaims, with his boyish grin, “Gimme that old time religion!” The cartoonist knew he was playing with holy fire. You can’t draw Jesus climbing Calvary on Good Friday — carrying an electric chair — and not expect people to react.
Marlette insisted that his goal was to remind his fellow believers to practice what they preach.
I would have said that Pope John Paul did practice what he preached about women as priests (as have countless Orthodox bishops and protestant preachers). So perhaps Mr. Marlette might have been a bit more clear – or straightforward – about his goals, which is, itself, a form of “practicing what you preach”.
Marlette was indeed offensive at times. But his ‘Kudzu’ character of Rev. Will B. Dunn was both humorous and insightful MOST of the time. I especially enjoyed his (barely) enduring the jibs from the feminist parishoner, and the ‘church league softball tournaments’.
You know, I never really found Kudzu funny. But everyone I knew thought it was hilarious. It made me wonder if I had lost my sense of humor, but I still laugh out loud at the Simpsons, so maybe there’s hope for me yet. :+)
Anglicanum,
And I can’t stand “The Simpson’s”, but I liked “Kudzu” — most of the time (not always). Go figure!
Doug Marlette was an equal opportunity offender when it came to religion. You could tell he had a religious background because his humor was backed by “inside knowledge.”
Here’s one poking fun at Episcopalians from the T19 archives: http://titusonenine.classicalanglican.net/?p=17496