Darrin Bell’s Candorville is in trial mode at the Raleigh News & Observer – a conservative southern paper, and as he writes on his blog, timing couldn’t have been worse.
Naturally, the week with which we introduce their solidly-conservative readers to Candorville happens to be a week that discusses civil rights by lampooning a closeted Republican Senator who trolls for gay sex in public restrooms. The readership is predictably amused.
The paper’s online forum has four conversations right now with some very negative reviews. From his blog, Darrin asks fans and readers of the News & Observer to support his feature in the comments.
“From his blog, Darrin asks fans and readers of the News & Observer to support his feature in the comments.”
But ONLY if you live in North Carolina and read the News & Observer. If you don’t, no cheating please.
Clarification, Alan: Many of the readers in and around the Raleigh area might be “conservative,” but the paper sure as h-e-double-hockeysticks ain’t. The edit page is reliably left of center (Dwane Powell’s the edit’toonist there), and the news coverage tends to reflect mainstream liberal concerns. (I lived in the Triangle for two decades prior to landing in this Brigadoon-in-the-Poconos, and speak from experience on this matter.)
That said, Darren looks like he’s trying to stir up the hornets with his strip. So, congratulations!