Split On ‘Zits’ While Many Teens Love The New Comic Strip, Others Believe It’s An Unfunny, Stereotypical Waste Of Time

When “Calvin & Hobbes” and “The Far Side” went off into comic strip never-never land, the funnies became a lot less welcoming for Inland Northwest teens.

“Peanuts” and “Dennis the Menace” are becoming more and more dated; Garfield just hasn’t been his usual hilarious self; and while “Dilbert” is occasionally amusing, it is mostly directed toward adults in the workplace.

Then came “Zits,” the strip focusing on the teenage trials and tribulations of Jeremy and those affected by his hormonal mood swings.

Some Spokane teens relish the new addition to the funnies. But many are not fond of “Zits” and the stereotyping of teens they say it does.

“I think ‘Zits’ can be really funny but I don’t like how it generalizes all teens to be like the comic strip because we’re not,” said Rogers junior Paula Zammit.

“I hate the way it stereotypes all teenagers,” added Paul Connelly, another junior.

Junior Ruth Riopelle said, “I think it’s an OK comic, but it makes fun of and generalizes all teens. If they want teens to read it, they ought to make fun of adults rather than teens.”

Junior Trisha Cumptom said, “I think the comic strip ‘Zits’ is stupid and I don’t get why it’s called ‘Zits’.”

“Zits” is the brainchild of Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman. They said they’re not trying to be experts on today’s teens with their strip. Their goal is to create a character people can relate to from their own experiences as a teen.

For some, it works.

“It’s very realistic,’ says Tasha Buckles, a Rogers junior, referring to a recent strip where Jeremy asks his mother to buy him something, saying she “owes” him that much. It backfires and instead of getting what he wants, he has to carry all the groceries.

Joe Barnes, a Running Start student, said the strip is “very ‘90s” in the way it describes the differences between teens and parents.

Jeremy’s mom is a June Cleaver wannabe who could get on any teen’s nerves, and his dad is an orthodontist who stresses the importance of flossing and sings “Puff the Magic Dragon” into the phone to get Jeremy to hang up.

“It’s very funny,” says Nathan Loreen, a Rogers junior. One of his favorite strips was the one in which Jeremy is playing basketball with his dad, who tries to put up a long shot, only to have the ball land in Jeremy’s arms two feet away.

“I couldn’t stop laughing. My stomach started to hurt,” Loreen said. “I’ve tried playing basketball with my dad. My dad’s better than (Jeremy’s) dad, but he still stinks.”

Another character is Hector Garcia, Jeremy’s best friend. Jeremy and Hector get along because they communicate so well - with one syllable sentences.

“I enjoy ‘Zits’ because I know guys who are a lot like that,” said junior Ellison Harder.

“It’s good that there is more stuff being geared toward teens in the paper,” said Tamra McGee, a junior. ” ‘Zits’ is a funny comic strip, and I hope to see it continue.”

Still, some think the creators should go back to the drawing board.

Junior Adam Mayer said, “I would rather read ‘Cathy,’ and I hate ‘Cathy’.”