Every So Often, I Get A Hard Reminder Of What Comics Are Really About:

Subversion and Rebellion.

My wife was "let go" from her job today, along with a friend and co-worker of hers who is a die-hard fan and reader of this site. He's practically a Suburban Tribe Evangelist.

I remember when I was let go from Yesman & Puckerup's real world counterpart 3 1/2 years ago. It wasn't exactly a sad occasion, seeing as how management's behavior and personnel interactions had sunk so low you'd need a bathysphere to find them. Nine months later, I finally found a stopgap job that was much worse and paid 70% of what I made at Y&P. During that timeframe, this comic strip was born out of my hatred and indignation for shitty corporate behavior and the sad realization that commercial art, at least in some circles, is an oxymoron.

About a year ago, I finally landed my current day job, where the owners treat the employees like human beings. I consider myself quite lucky.

Folks, listen up. Especially those of you in college. What I am about to say is worth your tuition cost right here: Do what you want to do in this life. Don't listen to the TV when it tells you that have to have some high-powered, sexy office job and work it 16 hours a day so that you matter in this country. Don't let someone convince you that you need Donald Trump as a boss, an expensive car or two, a boat, an HDTV and a house 3 times bigger than you would ever need in order to be happy and "secure." I don't care who you are or who you work for, happiness can not be bought and job security does not exist anymore. Maybe our parents had it, but it's gone now. The only ones who are secure are the guys above you, and they're secure at your expense.

Corporate America has enough yesmen, enough cogs in the machine. It needs dreamers, daydreamers, artists and true creators to throw a wrench in the works at least once a day.

I know a lot of you who have yet to step into the adult workforce have seen "Office Space" and consider it this cool little cult film that the guy who created Beavis and Butthead made. Well guys, that is bullshit. "Office Space" is 200% non-fiction. It's not a comedy, it's a docu-drama-cum-tragedy.

If that wasn't enough piss and vinegar about for you, just wait until the next story arc.