Category Archives: Encore Presentation

A Farewell to Pandas

We knew this day was coming… the day when we would have to bid a fond farewell to the light and the hope of Washington DC, the inimitable Bao Bao. Here, in these pages, she is better know as Princess Pinky, the terror of Connecticut Avenue, purloiner of Banky Pigs, and tormentor of little brothers. I did not set out to make her a tyrant. It’s just how she evolved. And, I gotta say, she has been a blast to write and draw, and just because the actual Boa Boa is being sent to her ancestral homeland, it’s no reason that Pinky can’t remain here.

Sorry Bubba. She refused to go.

So, as she prepares for her journey later this month, let’s have a tribute to Princess Pinky!!!

Pinky tests her powers….

Pinky has always stood for…um…Pinky’s rights! Aw…this was a cake walk to what’s coming now.

National Zoo cub makes mom Mei Xiang disappear

Pinky gets her wand!

Princess Pinky is fooled by Mei Xiang at the National Zoo

Oh Princess Pinky, mom has a trick or two up her paw, I think…

Princess Pinky and her very first tutu, gifted to her by her big brother Tai Shan!

Pinky answers difficult questions from the press in her own way. So much for Fake News!

Don’t worry, we’ll bring you more of Pinky’s greatest hits all through February!

And hold on to your hats! Book 7 of The Panda Chronicles is making it’s way through production and will hopefully be available by the time of the Atlanta Cubvention! Stay tuned to this station. And in the meantime, make sure your library is up to date with all the other Panda Chronicles collections!

Panda On!
Bob T Panda!

Keep ’em laughing, Friday

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First of all, a big panda thank you to everyone who made a donation to the ACLU or Planned Parenthood so far. You have all of February to do so and get some very cool, not-available-in-any-store panda swag stuff. I’ll do my best to get stuff to you in a timely manner. See yesterday’s post for details! and per my campaign promise to provide a little lighter fare every Friday, so that everyone keeps laughing, (or fiddling while Rome burns?) here are some ‘toons from the past to keep the country’s humor deficit from reaching an apocalyptic level!

And a heads up, I am starting to compile the next collection of Panda Chronicles ‘toons in book form! It’s been a long time coming!

Now! On with the show! Start your engines!

Trick or Trick!!!!!!!

I'm not a doctor but I play one on television

The original panda kindergarten ‘toon!

Entertainer extraordinaire!

Hey! You didn’t use your buzzer!

Panda On!
Bob T Panda

One of these years I need to do a groundhog day cartoon!

The Year of the Rooster

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Yes, Chinese New Year, otherwise known as the Lunar New Year, starts tomorrow (January 28th, 2017) and continues until February 15th! This is the year of the Rooster. That sounds harmless, right? How much trouble can the panda kindergarten get into dressed up like chickens?

It was interesting to read this article, because I was unaware of some of the traditions associated with this event. Like, you’re not supposed to do any cleaning the first three days of the New Year, because you could wash away good fortune. Well, I can live with that. Um…I hardly ever clean anything. Was that too much information?

Anyway, we’ll have a brand new ‘toon for you on Sunday, but for today’s encore presentation, I thought I would post some of my favorite Chinese new year ‘toons from years past.

Huzzah!

The year of the bunny…..

Oh that panda kindergarten!

Huzzah! It’s The year of Pandas on Horsies!

Look out!!!! Oh, those triplets!

Well, the FIRE part had Mehitabel a little worried, but…

And, of course, my personal favorite…

the year of the dragon, panda kindergarten

Huzzah! it’s the year of the Dragon!

Panda On!
Bob T Panda

Have a fabulous furry Friday!

Fluffy Feline Friday: Mehitabel

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It’s been just over a week since the sweet Mehitabel went to eternal resting place in the back yard. I still miss her terribly, and even though I have decided to keep her memory alive here in the Panda Chronicles, the house is way too quiet and empty without her. How a house can be more quiet than it was when she was sleeping 23 hours a day, I don’t know, but it is.

Here are some of my favorite ‘toons starring the divine Miss Mehitabel!

Mehitabel thanks you!

first panda gender misidentification at zoo atlanta

Well, we do all look alike.

The panda kindergarten is “busy” …can you call back later?

Part 1 of Bob and Mehitabel’s explanation…

Look out Mehitabel! here comes the panda kindergarten!

Maybe someone else should release their tax returns, don’t you think?

And who could forget her starring role in The Wizard of Wu?

Mehitabel would like to register her protest about given the least sympathetic role in this adventure.

Stay tuned later this month for the outtakes and blooper reel!

We’ll have more of Mehitabel’s greatest moments in next week’s Fabulous ~~Furry~~ Feline Friday!

Panda On!
Bob T Panda

And now, a political message from The Institute for Contemporary Panda Satire: If you believe that affordable healthcare for all is important, please call your representative today and ask him or her to vote AGAINST the repeal of the ACA (Affordable Healthcare Act). Repeal will affect you no matter where your insurance comes from, as some of the provisions include things like preventing insurance companies from rejecting you or charging you more for pre-existing conditions, and keeping them from setting lifetime limits on coverage, which, if you or someone you know has been very ill, can affect you. There’s a bunch more good stuff that it does, including providing insurance for low income artists such as myself, at an affordable cost.

They had six years to come up with a better plan and they haven’t. Don’t let them repeal it without replacing it with something better!

31 Days of Pandas: The Year in Review

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We are grinding down to the very last days of the year, and what better thing to do than to review some of my favorite ‘toons from the past 12 months? Also I have run out of Mini Bob travel photos, so there is that too!

One of the things that happened this last year was I got an agent! Huzzah! Right now he is working on getting my graphic novel (about pandas, of course) out into the world. One of the things I am learning, is that publishing is a long process, but when you have someone who loves your story, you have a better chance that the right home will be found for it. Pseudo thumbs crossed. You’ll be the first to know when that happens.

Here’s my ‘toon about finding my agent…

Do you smell smoke?

I like to listen to the radio to find ideas for ‘toons. Here’s one about a new study on “healthy eating.” It was a study. It must be true.

Inspired by a TRUE story!

And here is another story about an important scientific finding...No fake news stories here!

Well, it is kind of funny, isn’t it?

Ha ha! This still makes me laugh! Tune in tomorrow for another brand new ‘toon!

Panda On
Bob T Panda

Fabulous Furry Friday

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Not only is it Day 2 of 31 Days of Pandas, it is also Fabulous Furry Friday, where we turn on the Panda Way-Back machine, and pull out some of our (okay, MY) favorite ‘toons.

But first, here is another photo from the Travels of Mini Bob!

At the Botanical gardens in Oxford, with The Cheshire Cat.

Nothing like a little yoga to mellow a panda….

Here is Babette being a very helpful panda. “Would you like to use my pen?”

A panda by any other name, would smell...well, they would just smell...

It’s never to early to start getting ready for The Panda Season of Love!

The secret lives of the wild panda!

What makes a panda run? Cuppycakes, of course!!!!

Have a Fabulous Furry Friday!

Be the Bear,
Bob T Panda

In the Tradition of Some of the Great…

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…popular cartoonists who often used political themes and issues for their cartoons, I thought I’d share some of my more political ‘toons that have appeared over the years. Personally I’ve always thought that humor with a little bit of a bite to it (pandas have very sharp teeth) are funnier than ‘toons that are merely cute and sweet. It may be a bit presumptuous of me to put myself in the tradition of Doonesbury, Pogo, and Bloom County, But I have always been drawn to the somewhat snarky. Calvin and Hobbes is not usually overtly political, but he dealt with some big issues from time to time. They are my favorites!

Enjoy!

Is it really all black and white?

Naughty bear or cuddly menace? You be the judge!

Vote for Bob!

A cartoon before pandas!

Babette has ..um…toned her wardrobe down in honor of this important occasion.

In the words of Winnie ther Pooh, “I think it’s time for a little something.

And one of my all time favorites….

How much can a small panda stand?

Panda On!
Bob T Panda

Panda On, Panda On

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Yes, I am panda-ing on, even in the face of my unease over what is to come after this devastating outcome to the election of 2016. Panda on, Panda on! We must panda on. We have lost so many bright stars from the sky: Gene Wilder, Leonard Cohen, Alan Rickman (sob), Prince, David Bowie, Bob Elliott, Harper Lee, Gwen Ifill, Muhammad Ali, Elie Wiesel (what must he be thinking right now?) and so many more. Some of my panda friends on Facebook have lost those nearest and dearest to their hearts.

Must we go on? In the words of Gene Wilder in his role in Blazing Saddles, “We must, we must.”

Panda On!!!!!

Feed me, Mama!

And how did Pinky manage to hack into my computer again?

Those darn emails…

Really, Pinky….It’s not nice to tease your little brother.

Nooooo! Not the PINK crayon!

Yes, there IS a Panda Chronicles Coloring Book! Get it HERE!

What is Pinky reading?

Now, more than ever….

Happy 100th day Birthday! More frosting!

And if you are looking for the perfect holiday accompaniment to your breakfast table…

Have yourself a Pandy little Christmas…

Be the Bear,
Bob T Panda

Have a Fabulous Furry Friday

And Now, for Something More Cheerful

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We are tired of gloom and doom. As is my practice, I am getting this post ready in advance, so while in real time, it is still election day, by the time you see this, it will all be over but the shouting. And the suing. Rev up your attorneys! It’s gonna be a bumpy ride! I don’t know about you, but I could use something way more cheerful to read today, so I looked in the archives to find some of the funniest, most light hearted ‘toons I had.

Enjoy and feel cheerful!

Pandas aren’t dopes!

just in time for the upcoming onslaught...a visit to Bob's First campaign!

Huzzah for the Cake Party!

Or how about some cuppycakes?

Visit the Panda Ranch!

What do you mean by “was?”

Bee-lieve!

Who says real life can’t be funny?

Well, That’s all for now! Stay tuned for more pandas and panda satire!

Be the Bear and have a Fabulous Furry Friday!
Bob T Panda

Note from the Panda in Chief: As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, it was assmbled before the election. As you may surmise, I am deeply distressed about the outcome of the election. Please take this group of lighthearted cartoons as a little respite from what ever anxiety, sadness, and fear you may now be feeling.

I don’t know how to process this news, or even how to go on, but I have been through bad times before, and this one is a doozy. Art is the way I process what I experience and feel. And so, the upcoming cartoons, with the exception of the next two (which were done before the election) may be…um…a little dark. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

I have to believe that we, as a nation will survive and maybe even thrive, even while I am not hopeful of that. Know that panda satire will prevail and will hopefully bring a bit of light into the darkness that surrounds us right now. Unless they arrest me. I guess that there is always that possibility.

#BeTheBear. #WeShallOvercome

Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

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Actually, no, NO! Parting is not sweet anything. I will not be philosophical about this. I don’t want them to go, but gone they are. Mei Lun and Mei Huan have gone on their journey to China today, as per the agreement that foreign zoos make with China. Cubs born away from China still belong to China. The fact that the Meihems went back a year earlier than expected makes the pill more bitter. Twinkies 2.0 are more than a year away from needing the Meihem’s rooms, so I don’t know why we had to give them up so soon. Parting, in this case is NOT sweet sorrow. It’s just plain sorrow.

Hmmph.

But in the world of Panda Satire, Bert and Ernie (the Meihem’s fictional counterparts) don’t have to go anywhere! They can stay right here, with Wu, Bubba, and Pinky! Huzzah! I mean, this is all fiction right?

So join me now, in my tribute to the Meihems (with a little help from their friends…)

Who can forget when the news of Twinkiegate first broke…

Atlanta twin panda cubs Mei Lun and Mei Huan and older prother Po

…or when we thought that they (and Po) were boys…

…or how they…um…turned into girls in the first place…

Huzzah! It’s The year of Pandas on Horsies!

Pandas are standing by to take your calls!

Sometimes, Pinky and the Meihems even got along….

Oh dear, the Mei-hem twinkies have made Pinky mad. Uh oh.

…for a little while, at least.

The friendship between Pinky and the Meihems has never been destined to run smoothly.

And who is this mysterious ally of whom they speak?

There are far to many stories of the Meihems (and Pinky! Don’t forget!) than I have room to share here. So if you don’t already have copies of Books 5 and 6 of the Panda Chronicles, now is a good a time as any to rectify that situation!

It’s Pink, but still kinda, um…dangerous!

Note the serious black cover!

Be the Bear
Bob T Panda

And don’t forget to vote!!!!!