Jeff is being twerpy, but also he's trying to individuate and show his father he's his own person. His dad poops on his ideas, his alter ego identity, etc. Jeff is trying to be his own man and live his own life, and his twerpiness is his way of telling his dad, "See I told you so" and "Now you can accept me as my own person." It may fail the "Honor thy father" statute, but it's a pattern played out in hundreds of millions of families worldwide.

I don't think Alex is so bad. She's just young. Most youth think the universe revolves around them. But Alex is educable and usually brings herself around. Jeff, on the other hand, will never change. And I suspect GBT won't let him get away with it completely unscathed.

Yeah, Jeff's a twerp. But it would be nice if Rick could be a bit supportive on this one. Of course, knowing Jeff's history, the book will be remaindered in: 3...2...1...

Finally I got it! Jeff has introduced the principles of Wall Street to the writing world. Nothing wrapped in attractive gossamer. When can we start trading futures? Derivatives anyone?

I, for one, hope that all 50,000 copies collect dust on book shelves. Jeff Redfern needs to get his head out of the clouds, his body out of his parents' house, and to stop living in this fantasy world that all of his ilk float in.

Seriously, I love the way Jeff is holding the book in his father's face just to be a complete and absolute prick about his perceived success to the people who have taken care of him well beyond the point he should have moved out. (Sure, he's the fault of their parenting to an extent, but is he so broken he can't see what he's like?) It's a tight contest between him, the equally self-absorbed Alex, and Funky Winkerbean's own nasty little criminal, for the comic character I find most disgusting. On the other hand, karma has already kicked Li'l Jeffy to the curb before, and I suppose it's getting geared up for another lesson...

These recent strips about Rascal and his dad are just wrong. Or rather, right. A dead-on reminder of me and my late dad over running a marathon together. We were like that because my apple didn't fall far from Dad's tree. Wonder if it's like that (subconscious bottom line) for DB's father-son pair?

Yes Jeff, this does indeed change everything. Ian Fleming sold Casino Royale and got an entire career. Stephen King sold Carrie and got an entire career. As annoying as Jeff is, and as sympathetic as I am to his long-suffering parents, I hope it works the same for him and the Red Rascal.

Deliver me from old dog - new dog generational competitiveness. Wild and crazy cheers for the utterly testosterone-tension of the third frame;  few can express seething fury with stone silence and pull it off. What a wonderful example for those who would "Honor thy father....."

There you have it -- the whole round of Redfern nuttiness in a nutshell.

Sons aren't supposed to do worse than their fathers, but when someone like Jeff Redfern has a blockbuster on their hands while Rick is a downsized journalist... If ever a picture was worth a thousand words, the expression on Rick's face in the last panel is.

Oh Papa, have pity on me. If I can't have Red Rascal's red-headed editor, I will throw myself into the sea!

Is it irrational to develop a complete and total loathing for a fictional character? I never thought I hate one as much as J.J., but Jeff Redfern just knocked her off the top of the list. He is what parents of Rick and Joanie's ilk have created and deserve. For all her arrogance, superficiality and instability even Alex shows some heart, compared to the complete waste of genetic material the Jeffs of the world are.

Jeff, dear Jeff. I'm so glad you're published. And I'd love to tell you why it amuses me so much -- but then I'd have to...well, you know.

It took me five years, but I have essentially read the entire Doonesbury corpus with help from your site. Thanks.

Alex isn't autistic. She's tiresome. Completely inner-directed. Even with Leo. I keep wondering when she (or Leo) will realize that Alex "loves" Leo for the same reason some parents INSIST, AT THE TOP OF THEIR LUNGS, that the doctors find something developmentally wrong with their child. "Oh, you may be a parent, but I, I (pause to pat chest for emphasis, put slight catch in voice) have a child with sufferitis. You can't understand how much of a sacrifice I, I (pat chest) make every single day." It's a game to these people. It isn't about others, it's about themselves and how they have to make sure that no matter what the event, they are the center of attention.

Is Alex on the Autism Spectrum?

I love the clash of generations between Joanie and Alex, and I love that they each enjoy the other's company.

Oh, Alex! Would that I were so young and stupid again...

I adore Alex. I find her a breath of fresh air.