Proctor's strip humorless and possibly plagiaristic

The efforts of Josh Proctor in his role as a cartoonist for the Daily Wildcat should be re-examined. Mr. Proctor's attempts at creating comics have ultimately offended many readers and have not made evident any original personal creativity, which the Wildcat comic cartoonists usually express. (Hell, the 'SockQuest' thing was original, though boring).

Mr. Proctor's comic strip "Big Bag O' Happy" resembles Max Cannon's cartoon "Red Meat" which appears in, among many other media, the Tucson Weekly. Mr. Cannon is a fine artist of considerable wit, and most likely has worked incredibly hard to earn the respect his column has established. The Daily Wildcat needs to determine whether Mr. Proctor's depictions of humor are too similar to Mr. Cannon's copyrighted publication, before continuing to publish and promote Mr. Proctor's strip.

(Mr. Cannon's publication typically features three identical image panels, each with varied text; the third panel usually carries the punch-line. Also, "Red Meat" has always featured a phrase of twisted humor above the panels, between title and by-line. For identical imagery, note Mr. Proctor's strips of last week).

As well, Mr. Proctor's comic of Monday seemed (to me) to be an indication of Mr. Proctor's true lack of humor. Not only did the comic barely make any sense (most 'offended' people don't 'piddle in their panties' due to that which offended them). Mr. Proctor again seems to be copying Mr. Cannon's "Red Meat," which also generates humor in using off-the-wall banter and clever vulgarity. It's likely that Mr. Proctor desired to be controversial in re-addressing a subject for which he was slammed already (the Pope thing) - and retaliated in haste, without fully remembering the proper way to copy someone else's work to best reproduce the results the originator is known for. Mr. Cannon is a funny cartoonist and very unique visionary; Mr. Proctor is neither.

Wildcat: Please examine the indicated evidence and determine whether continued publication of Mr. Proctor's "comic" is necessary - and legal.

By Dan Howarth (letter)
Arizona Daily Wildcat
May 2, 1997