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Dunham pays tribute to pet dog in “Overboard”
Chip Dunham, the creator of the comic strip “Overboard,” paid tribute to his 13-year old canine companion, Basil, in the June 30 edition of the cartoon. Basil passed away on May 30.
Basil inspired the character of Louie in the strip, and also helped create the common theme within the strip of the dogs, Louie and Raymond, loving steak and hamburgers from the pirates’ grill, says Dunham.
“If I never had Basil, I never would have had Louie. I should have been feeding Basil steak every night. He got his share, but he gave a lot in my life and gave a lot to the strip, and I really miss him,” Dunham said.
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Community Comments
July/3/2008 @ 7:55 am
Poignant anecdote for a wonderful strip.
July/3/2008 @ 10:17 am
A great way to remember Basil in a consistantly great strip.
I, coincidentally, lost my cat on Tuesday, so my strip protrayed a different style tribute.
July/3/2008 @ 10:18 am
My thoughts are with Mr. Dunham during this time of loss…
July/3/2008 @ 5:56 pm
Uh…
I’m fortunate to say that I’m lucky that the worst thing that has happened in my life thus far was the death of my dearly beloved cat of twelve years. That cat was a better friend to me than most people I have known.
That said Louie was the downfall of the strip. Instead of being a unique, quirky, morbidly funny strip about pirates it turned into another stale strip about pets.
Overboard is poorly written and predictable. If you really like endearing humor there are plenty of better strips out there like Mutts.
And before someone decides to read a few words and go on irrational emotional tangent: I am not happy the guy’s dog is dead. I just think Overboard pretty much lost its unique comic flavor after Louie was introduced. I never even believed Overboard was funny until a friend showed me an anthology of his work pre-Louie.
July/4/2008 @ 4:27 am
They say timing is everything in comedy.
It also plays a role in criticism of comedy.
July/4/2008 @ 11:56 am
Alan, what’s your email address? I have something I’d like to send you.
July/4/2008 @ 2:00 pm
Sorry, I was seeking your email address Aaron. I know you emailed it to me when you left the paper, but I can’t seem to track it down.
July/5/2008 @ 10:56 am
The funniest bits are with the rats/people. So tongue in cheek, dry, wit. Been reading Overboard for 4 yrs…? I think, awhile anyway. Good, funny strip.
Small prayers for Basil. I too have lost pets and know the sorrow.
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