Brace yourself for an attack of the snivels: here come the two saddest comic strips in the world (big nod of the head to Stuart for these). Certainly had me nearly crying on the way home from the take-away this evening...
Click this one to make it bigger, if necessary
I think I'm going to have to have another snivel again.
July 23, 2008 | Reply
The Calvin & Hobbes is, of course, fake (and classic; there's an alternate "final strip" with a similar theme but just with Calvin growing up, no pills necessary). But it's *still* not the saddest comic of all time.
That would be this one. (The YTMND link has music and shows the panels in order, but if you're a slow reader take the 2nd link to the full image, since you can't control the speed at YTMND)
Warning: this comic may prompt you to call your loved ones, so read it in the daytime, not when they're sleeping.
July 23, 2008 | Reply
Phoenix, I hate you for making me flood my keyboard with tears. Stuart/Rob, the Bert & Ernie and faux Calvin & Hobbs are undoubtedly sniffly, but the Animal Crossing one is a full-blown cry.
July 23, 2008 | Reply
Must be a girl thing. I found the Animal Crossing one kind of happy - I was expecting some devestating, crushing thing, but got a nice strip about a mother sets up virtual presents for her daughter to get after she died. Which I thought was quite sweet, really. A joyful thing, in fact.
C&H: death of childhood and destruction of imagination
B&E: death of a partner/friend who's never coming back and the occasional reminders and dreams of him/her that you'll get
I did end up having a brief cry while doing the washing up last night thanks to Bert and Ernie.
July 24, 2008 | Reply
A girl thing? I'm not a girl though...right? (looks for dangly bits, check. Whew!).
Also, isn't it her son, not her daughter? And you think it was kind of happy? Were you reading a different comic?
She wasn't setting up a bunch of presents for her kid to receive after she died, she was sending presents to her kid in a game her kid didn't play anymore. And getting teased by said kid for still playing that game while doing so. -- Her kid didn't know what she was doing when he teased her. He never had a chance to thank her for what she did. HAPPY?
@Rullsenberg: I'm sorry. It is a powerful comic, isn't it?
July 24, 2008 | Reply
Sorry. The drawing looked like a girl to me!
Okay, slightly sadder, but more in a "what a complete douche that guy is" kind of way. Seriously, he spent his mother's dying days mocking her for playing a game and then regrets mocking her and not being able to say thank you when some virtual gifts turn up? What a douche....