OK, I need some help here.
I’m working on a cartoon centering around a chocolate bar (I’ll explain more later) and I wanna run some of these past you:
1) Chocolate bar behind desk to another sitting across from him – “I’m sorry, we’re looking for someone with almonds.”
2) Man sitting at bar to giant chocolate bar next to him – “Whereabouts in Pennsylvania?”
3) Chocolate bar tied in chair to chocolate bar mobsters (one has a pot) – “Not the double boiler! I’ll talk! I’ll talk!”
Whatcha think? I’m kinda partial to the second one, but I’m worried it may be too subtle.
Any strong opinions on any of them?
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I like Number 1.
Number 2 is too subtle.
Number 3 makes me think of an interrogation room, with two chocolate bar police and chocolate bar mobster under a hot light. The mobster is starting to melt. Maybe one of the police says something like, "Talk now or you're fondue."
Definitely the second one, with the first one being a good alternative.
The second one made me smile when I read it.
Ooooohhh… I thought this would make this easier. Now I'm not sure either…
Seems like #1 is fairly safe thus far.
Any other thoughts?
(BTW, like the fondue twist!)
I'm a big fan of #2. However, I grew up in PA and have visited Hershey many times. I can't really say how clear it would be to other readers; but I personally thought it was really funny.
Maybe for idea #1, you could have the auditioning chocolate bar look clearly female, with the other bar being clearly male, and he says something along the lines of, "I'm sorry, but we're looking for someone with bigger almonds". Just a thought.
When I read the first one, I actually had the thought of, "We're looking for someone who's a bit more solid" (maybe the one guy is melting), or, "We're looking for someone with a bit more bite."
I also just thought of, "You've got to be a little nuts to want this job."
If you want to get to the New Yorker, then want you need is a rare and expensive chocolate brand for #3 in particular. And I would make the mobsters chefs. That said I loved #2 and anybody who knows chocolate will know what's in PA. Remember the cartoon about the bear that you sell to the teachers.
I'd say number one for definite, and I think the caption is fine. If you make it something that sounds like someone might say in an interview, as has been suggested, I don't think it's as funny. The line as it is is silly, a bit surreal, and works.
Didn't get the reference in number two, but then I am British and Hershey isn't big here. Didn't really go for number three. One is the one!
definitely number two. It takes a little thought, but so much the better.
Wow! Thanks for the great response everyone!
I think I'm still leaning toward #2. I think if I dress the candy bar in a Hershey's wrapper the joke should make a little more sense.
Honestly, I'm glad so many people got it!
OK. #2 it is. I think any joke that makes you work a litle bit is funnier when you get it. (I'll fill you in on why I'm doing this later.)
I think I'll still throw the other two in the old idea box. They're OK and probably salable.
And again, thanks for the bunches of repsonses!
Well I'm always a little late to the party, but I think #2 is terrific!
A,
Gotta go with #2: subtle, but not in an "I'm so witty, see if you can figure out what's funny about this" kinda way.
It is by far the funniest of the three.
Jason Kranzusch
As a fellow gag cartoonist, I still never know WHAT will sell or WHY, so I say SEND 'EM ALL!
I'll end up using them all, but I have a special usage (in-house, kinda) for one of them.
I'm really glad so many people understood #2!