SUNDAY FUNNIES-A Decidedly Disney Hook

In the years I have collected non-Disney cartoons that make reference to Disney, The Far Side simply leads the way. Gary Larson is an astute observer of the media and popular culture, and the sheer number of cartoons he has devoted to Disney mirrors how ingrained within our culture the media giant has become. Interestingly, although the cartoons are current (from the last twenty-five years or so), most Disney references refer to the creations done under the tutelage of Walt Disney. We are to gather from this that Mr. Larson also has good taste (although his cartoons do enjoyably cross the line from time to time). This cartoon is a perfect example. Captain Hook has received many incarnations in the numerous portrayals of him; from Dustin Hoffman more recently and all the way back to J.M. Barrie’s original 1902 creation. And yet, it is the decidedly Disney version that is used.

The caption reads: “OK, Mr. Hook. Seems you’re trying to decide between a career in pirating or massage therapy. Well, maybe we can help you narrow it down.” (Click on the cartoon for a larger image.)