Subversive Element

54 comments

  1. Hey Tony. Stumbled on the podcast linked to this strip after a loooong time away from the blogosphere. Love it!

    Weirdly, I just had my hair dyed purple yesterday. Turning 50 soon, and I feel like such a cliche! (Woman hitting mid-life and having odd coloured hair.)

    For me, it is about not becoming the invisible older woman. My hair is grey-white, and I have no desire to pretend it isn’t i.e. do the usual dying it back to the colour it was when I was in my 20s, that many folk of my vintage do. I guess it is a case of saying (to whoever) “Yes, I may be getting old, but I will not be boring!” I have become aware – over the years – that I come across as unique, so I am choosing to lean into it. Has taken me a while to get to this point, but I am cool with it now (I think!)

    When I had turquoise hair a few years ago, a lass in a cafe thought it was so cool, I got extra bacon in my breakfast roll! So there is that. 🙂

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    1. Extra bacon in your breakfast roll is definitely nothing to sneeze at! I think I’m at the age where I need to start leaning into whatever the hell I am. Predictably, I still don’t really know what that is, so I’m glad you seem to have a handle on that. I don’t even know if the invisible older man is a thing in the same way as being an invisible older woman in this society, and actually I’m pretty sure it isn’t. Still, I’ve felt pretty invisible my whole life, so I’m kind of wondering it’s all much the same from here on in. I guess I’m going to find out either way. So glad you’ve rejoined the blogosphere. Welcome back!

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  2. I don’t have blue hair (had pink hair once just for fun and to shock), but I do have a tattoo and a nose (not a ring) but an opal stud. I am very rebellious it seems, or not anymore. Loved the strip and the podcast. Listened to it for the second time and enjoyed it just as much. Maybe I will get another tattoo now one that is more visible. 😁😁😁

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    1. You ARE rebellious, Summerhill, and what a glorious thing! I think that’s what this strip touches on for sure. We should all learn to be a little bit more rebellious in life, to assert our own individuality. It’s one of the most precious things about us.

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  10. Here in Germany, lots of ppl have all kinds of colors of hair & weird haircuts, even doctors and beaurocrats! Not everyone of course but enough. No one seems to care!

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  12. Reblogged this on listen to the babe and commented:
    This is it. This is what my ten-day Koh Mak holiday is about. It’s a mid-life revolution. What a bloody fantastic way of putting it. Check out Tony’s archives. You can also listen to his podcasts and feel like you’re getting news from another planet, his planet, a special one where words are tiny squishy jellyfish that sting a bit and remind you it’s wonderful to be alive…

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  13. I did Manic Panic Vampire Red streaks in the front of my hair once and I LOVED it! My husband used to play around & make it stand straight up on my head so he could call me Heat Miser!

    I love situations like the one you depicted here – I have a pretty large portrait tattoo on my left upper arm and I don’t make much effort to hide it when I’m shopping, etc. I kinda love it when mother’s pull their kids in the opposite direction when they notice me!

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    1. I don’t know why folks are so afraid though. I LOVE that kind of thing. I am definitely getting a tattoo of my own once I figure out where and of what. One thing I do know is that it HAS to be visible. That is a must! 😉

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  14. Dear Tony,

    I wore my hair in many exciting colors from roughly the age of 32 until 35. My favorite was purple. I had to go back to brown when I landed a corporate gig.

    The Incredible Hulk was popular at the time, and my son wanted to dye his hair green. I agreed to let him use temporary spray in color on the weekends. He and I earned a great many disapproving looks from people on the street, but we were having fun.

    All My Love,
    Jennifer

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  15. Vintage Single. As usual, there are multiple things to like and a subtly stated message as deep as one might care to look. One point off for some sub-par lettering in the third row, if I’m keeping it real; but overall, magnifico!

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    1. My sister wrote this strip, so she can deservedly take credit for that! As for the bad lettering, my crappy lettering pen at the time of lettering can take the fall for that. I will endeavour to make sure that doesn’t happen again! 😛

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  16. It’s kind of funny that people question these different colours of hair because the dye is sold on store shelves. I have to be honest that I always take extra notice of differently coloured hair. It just stands out because you don’t see it every day.

    Love this kid’s eagle eyes and his mother’s grimace 🙂

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    1. Yeah, it’s kinda fun when people do crazy things with their hair. It always brightens my day whenever I see a punk rocker with a mile high spiked do. It takes creativity and dedication to something like that!

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  19. like the new strip t is she for real or does vanity rule the day. is this a new character if so i already like her.cool work:}

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    1. I’m glad you liked it, mate! Yeah, she’s a new character that I intend to feature from time to time. She’s Ernest’s sister, and her name is Caprice. 🙂

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