Ramblings' Journal

Doonesbury to run strip with "head on platter" on 4/23

The Sunday, April 23 strip of Garry Trudeau's comic strip Doonesbury will feature the "image of a head on a platter."

Lee Salem, editor of Universal Press Syndicate, referred to the strip's content as "an unfortunate coincidence," explaining, "Given its timing following the recent grisly tragedy in Iraq, and the realities of Sunday color-production cycles, we felt we should call this to your attention."

Universal is planning on offering an alternative strip for those papers who don't wish to carry the potentially offending one.

According to Universal, Trudeau plans to post this message on his Web site the morning of May 23.

"Most Sunday sections are prepared five to six weeks in advance, and today's strip was unfortunately overtaken by events. I regret the poor timing and apologize to anyone who was offended by an image that is now clearly inappropriate."

D'oh! Timing is everything, ain't it?

Posted by mhking at May 14, 2004 05:15 PM