Who hasn't in their innocent youthful preadolescence enjoyed the irreverent and nihilistic comedic trio known affectionately as The Three Stooges? While the "stooges"filmed dozens of "shorts" more than seventy years ago their violent yet somehow sweet-natured eye-gouging, face slapping and violent shenanigans brought smiles to thefaces of their fans. Unfortunately when that same behavior is viewed through the eyes of a contemporary adult the silliness that was so amusing and belly laughinducing in youth now, when experienced in adulthood, is anything but amusing. In this cartoon the legend among cartoonists, the celebrated Gerald Skrlin has placedMayor Dyster in the middle of a Siamess trio (note the clever play on words that indirectly references the messy state of the city)...Curly, Dyster and Larry. Just asstooge Moe was the ring leader of the original stooge insanity so too is Mayor Dyster the ring leader of this trio of dipsticks. While the original stooges slapped andeye gouged their way across the movie screen of a long-gone Hollywood, Skrlin's three stooges abuse and confuse the city residents. And that's not the least bit funny.
Harvey Montague Sneed
Art Critic