MEDIA

Comics - the Times They are a Changing

For the last 2 weeks, reader's of the Globe and Mail's cartoon section have had a surprise. The paper -- which targets middle and upper class white collar business people, executives, and the like across Canada -- has had 2 of its 6 multi-panel Canadian comic strips become deadly serious.

Betty, the life and times of a plump blonde in her 30's, her stereotypical husband and video game addicted teen son, suddenly focussed on her desk job at a major company and the threat of re-organiation and layoff with the surprise arrival of a new CEO.

While Betty's job future is still up in the air, that of the main character of Fisher is not in doubt. Fisher -- also in his 30s, married for a few years and now father to a young son starting school -- often pokes fun at his workplace, an advertizing agency: his grim boss, Mr. Mogul and the often silly slogans and jingles he and his colleagues come up with to flog product.

But now, the company is suddenly downsizing and Fisher get laid off immediately.

Friday, May 18, 2012's episode sees him sitting on a park bench forlorn.

Through the recent story lines in Betty and Fisher the Great Recession and its impact on North American society is suddely highlighted.

It has been 3 or more years since the Recession began, and comics are usually not 'early adopters' to new ideas and situations, but now, it seems, the world of comics cannot escape the grim reality of close to 10% unemployment and corporate layoffs to the middle and upper classes.

The Company Men (2010) highlighted the layoff crisis that has devestated the U.S. middle and upper classes, and now it has hit Canadian consciousness and the Globe and Mail's comic strips -- that till now focussed on making us laugh.