I know there will be those thinking the complaints are unfair, so allow me to explain: it’s not that we want Daphne in every single strip. That would get real old real fast. We also don’t expect every strip, not even every arc, to reinvent the wheel. We are okay with old jokes (take for example last week, a soccer arc where the kids lose yet again and a Sunday about Spitsy being weird).
But here’s the two difference makers:
1. Those strips tried to shake up an old formula (teddy was MC, they almost figured out a way to win, Spitsy on a swing next to Vern and Marge is just a rare visual)
2. When he just does what he always does, we all know where it’s going and we get bored.
Having read almost every single Big Nate strip, it takes a moment to understand why (besides repetition) the old jokes don’t work as well: he doesn’t tell them like he used to.
Take for example the famous “What Could Possibly Go Wrong?” arc from the titular collection: the first week jumps from the class to outside, the jokes range from “how could Nate forget” to “you stupid” to “yeah, breaking into her office couldn’t possibly go wrong”.
And that’s the real game changer! The rest of the arc show something we’ve never seen before, a heist from Nate and Francis. It changes up the jokes instead of just being “Ha ha Nate sucks”, Godfrey is more than justified in her reaction and we get a STORY.
It’s not about no daphne (tho she would help): it’s about no story. Big Nate was always a gag strip. Except for the ches tournaments where Nate got over his insecurities. The Jefferson arc where he overcame all odds. Every girlfriend’s first arc where he showed a heart. The Christmas he hugged Spitsy. Becoming class president and helping out in a soup kitchen despite originally just wanting to beat Gina. Jenny leaving for Seattle. Breaking up with toxic Trudy. Defending Artur from Marcus. Making up with Francis after proving he’s a good friend when it counts.
I know there will be those thinking the complaints are unfair, so allow me to explain: it’s not that we want Daphne in every single strip. That would get real old real fast. We also don’t expect every strip, not even every arc, to reinvent the wheel. We are okay with old jokes (take for example last week, a soccer arc where the kids lose yet again and a Sunday about Spitsy being weird).
But here’s the two difference makers:
1. Those strips tried to shake up an old formula (teddy was MC, they almost figured out a way to win, Spitsy on a swing next to Vern and Marge is just a rare visual)
2. When he just does what he always does, we all know where it’s going and we get bored.
Having read almost every single Big Nate strip, it takes a moment to understand why (besides repetition) the old jokes don’t work as well: he doesn’t tell them like he used to.
Take for example the famous “What Could Possibly Go Wrong?” arc from the titular collection: the first week jumps from the class to outside, the jokes range from “how could Nate forget” to “you stupid” to “yeah, breaking into her office couldn’t possibly go wrong”.
And that’s the real game changer! The rest of the arc show something we’ve never seen before, a heist from Nate and Francis. It changes up the jokes instead of just being “Ha ha Nate sucks”, Godfrey is more than justified in her reaction and we get a STORY.
It’s not about no daphne (tho she would help): it’s about no story. Big Nate was always a gag strip. Except for the ches tournaments where Nate got over his insecurities. The Jefferson arc where he overcame all odds. Every girlfriend’s first arc where he showed a heart. The Christmas he hugged Spitsy. Becoming class president and helping out in a soup kitchen despite originally just wanting to beat Gina. Jenny leaving for Seattle. Breaking up with toxic Trudy. Defending Artur from Marcus. Making up with Francis after proving he’s a good friend when it counts.
The novels.
That’s what’s missing.