boblipton
Most of the Jerry on the Job cartoons look like little more than two or three of Walter Hoban's strips stuck together, but this one is different and much better. The strip was an early, absurdist strip of the type that peaked -- for an old comic strip fan like me -- with Bill Holman's "Smoky Stover". So early is Jerry in the evolution that it appears simple and stupid, but it was actually much more daring for its day and important in the evolution of what are today called "the cartoon laws of physics." This one is amusing in its early use of the rubber tire school of animation as Mr. Givny informs Jerry that they are out of coal for the train. The passengers who appear behave amusingly and when the train itself takes on anthropomorphic life, it makes its own sense -- outrageous for the day, even if slightly banal for fans of "Thomas the Engine".For historical purposes this is a must see, although in terms of viewing pleasure it ranks a good deal lower... but definitely still worthwhile.
