For contractual reasons I can’t show you a Dilbert comic before it appears in newspapers. But I can show you this cropped image from a comic that I planned for 6/24. Unfortunately it didn’t make it past the editors at my syndication company, United Media. They felt that many newspapers would object.
[missing image]
As you can see, the image clearly shows Asok’s naked buttocks. I don’t doubt that newspapers would object; surely some of their readers would complain. It’s a business decision, and I respect that.
But what exactly is there to complain about?
The image isn’t sexual. It’s difficult to imagine a minor looking at that image and deciding to become a gay hooker.
The objectionably naked part of Asok is one curved line. Should we also avoid the letter “C” because it looks too much like a butt crack? And don’t get me started with the letters “OO.”
The image of Asok isn’t scatological because I specifically drew his buttocks to be non-pooping. So unless a turtle head pops out (to quote Austin Powers), it’s innocent on those charges too.
Still, I do agree that people would complain. So I redrew him wearing huge underpants, and that seemed even funnier to me.
[missing image]
And then I redrew his butt crack on the underpants. I wonder if anyone will complain.