Editing Monty (comic strip)

{{Short description|American comic strip by Jim Meddick}}
{{Infobox Comic strip
|title=Monty
|image=MontyCartoon.png
|caption= Monty
|creator=[[Jim Meddick]]<ref>{{cite book |last=Strickler |first=Dave |title=Syndicated Comic Strips and Artists, 1924-1995: The Complete Index |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=olAOAQAAMAAJ |year=1995 |publisher=Comics Access |location=Cambria, California |page=180 |isbn=0-9700077-0-1}}</ref>
|current=
|status=Running
|syndicate=[[United Feature Syndicate]]<br />[[Newspaper Enterprise Association]]
| altnames = ''Robotman''<br />''Robotman and Monty''
| publisher = Topper Books<br />[[Andrews McMeel Publishing]]<br />[[Plan 9 Publishing]]
|genre=Humor
|first={{start date and age|18 February 1985}}, as ''Robotman''
|last=
|url={{URL|http://www.gocomics.com/monty}}
}}

'''''Monty''''' is an American [[comic strip]] created, written and illustrated by [[cartoonist]] [[Jim Meddick]]. The strip began as '''''Robotman''''' starting February 18, 1985. The title changed to ''Monty'' in 2001.<ref name="Holtz"/>

==''Robotman''==
The comic strip began as ''Robotman'' on February 18, 1985.<ref name=Holtz>{{cite book |last1=Holtz |first1=Allan |title=American Newspaper Comics: An Encyclopedic Reference Guide |date=2012 |publisher=The University of Michigan Press |location=Ann Arbor |isbn=9780472117567 |page=333}}</ref> It originally depicted the exploits of a small [[robot]] from outer space visiting Earth, living with the ordinary Milde family.{{citation needed|date=March 2016}}

''Robotman'' originated as a character created by British musician [[Peter Shelley]]. Shelley later worked with [[United Feature Syndicate]] in an attempt to push Robotman via [[marketing co-operation|cross-marketing]] toys, records, videos, and other merchandise.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://ignatz.brinkster.net/rman/ritems.html |title=Robotman Items}}</ref> In 1985, [[DIC Enterprises]] produced a 90-minute television special called ''Robotman & Friends''.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Lenburg |first1=Jeff |title=The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons |date=1999 |publisher=Checkmark Books |isbn=0-8160-3831-7 |access-date=6 June 2020 |url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780816038312/page/317/mode/2up |page=317}}</ref>

The syndicate desired to have a comic strip featuring the character; they had asked [[Bill Watterson]] to incorporate the character into ''[[Calvin and Hobbes]]'' as a condition of syndication, but Watterson refused.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Christie |first=Andrew |date=1 January 1986 |title=Bill Watterson |url=http://lattaland.com/ultra-rare-bill-watterson-interview-from-honk-magazine/ |magazine=[[Honk!]] |publisher=[[Fantagraphics Books]] |volume=1 |issue=2 |pages=28–33}}</ref> The job was then passed on to Jim Meddick, who created the family setting and the other characters. As the strip progressed the design of Robotman changed considerably as Meddick's style evolved.{{citation needed|date=March 2016}} Within about 18 months after the strip debuted, the merchandising of the Robotman character had declined, and eventually the comic strip was left as the only active license for the character.<ref name="hogan"/>

In the 1990s, Meddick changed the strip so that instead of the Mildes, Robotman began living with a geeky inventor named Monty, introduced in the January 20, 1993 strip.<ref name=toonopedia>[http://www.toonopedia.com/monty.htm ''Monty''] at [[Don Markstein's Toonopedia]]. [https://archive.today/20240527185350/https://www.webcitation.org/6fruSD1pG?url=http://www.toonopedia.com/monty.htm Archived] from the original on March 8, 2016. [http://toonopedia.com/robotman.htm Robotman (1984)] at Don Markstein Toonopedia. [https://archive.today/20240528012109/https://www.webcitation.org/6nlc2IDm1?url=http://toonopedia.com/robotman.htm Archived] from the original on January 24, 2017.</ref>

During contract negotiations, the syndicate approached Meddick with a request to change the name of the strip to ''Monty'' and to deemphasize and remove the Robotman character from the strip. This was due to an ongoing difficulty in marketing the strip with the name ''Robotman''. (For a brief period, the strip was rechristened ''Robotman and Monty''.)<ref name="hogan">{{cite web |url=https://www.hoganmag.com/blog/man-and-robotman-the-jim-meddick-interview |title=Man and Robotman: The Jim Meddick Interview |access-date= 2020-12-01|work=Hogan's Interviews |publisher= Hogan's Alley}}</ref>

Robotman was gradually phased out of the strip through a farewell storyline in 2001 in which he left Earth to find love on the planet Diskelion. The series continued as ''Monty'' in April 2001, with Robotman's place in the strip being taken by space alien Mr. Pi.<ref name=toonopedia />

== Storylines==
As the website announces, the comic strip "spoofs [[suburbia]], trashes tacky TV shows and offers [[absurdism|absurdist]] commentary on everything from hosing down [[spider monkey]]s to the latest [[conspiracy theory]]." Monty Montahue, the brainy, bumbling bachelor who's unlucky in work and love, is the star of the strip.

Explains Meddick, "I've tried to create the comic strip equivalent of ''[[Monty Python's Flying Circus]]''. The name 'Monty' is a nod to the influence that show had on my humor. In my cartoon just about anything can happen &mdash; this way, the ideas and characters always stay fresh."<ref>[http://www.comics.com/comics/monty/html/about_comic.html Monty at Comics.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060513234533/http://www.comics.com/comics/monty/html/about_comic.html |date=2006-05-13 }}</ref>

== Characters ==

=== Current cast ===
* '''Monty Montahue''' is the protagonist and titular character. He is an odd, optimistic nerd who often comes up with strange inventions and works odd jobs. Monty was introduced to the ''Robotman'' strip in the early 1990s. In 1996, it was revealed that Monty was brainwashed of his past life as a government scientist when he invented Robotman. Monty is typically depicted as socially awkward, having poor dress skills and has a prominent nose but no chin. He takes on various (often very nerdy) hobbies and daily occupations, regularly failing because of a mix of goofiness and excessive self-confidence.
First Appearance: Early 1990s <ref name="gocomics.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.gocomics.com/monty/2001/04/02 |title=First Monty by Jim Meddick for April 02, 2001 |publisher=GoComics |date=2001-04-02 |accessdate=2022-08-31}}</ref>
* '''Fleshy''' is a skinny, hairless housecat resembling the [[The Pink Panther (character)|Pink Panther]] cartoon character. Fleshy is remarkable for his being the complete opposite of [[felidae|feline]] attitudes: he is goofy, fearful, unable to catch even the most innocuous of butterflies. Fleshy is frequently shown to be entirely uninterested while in the presence of people, but once alone, he shows his intelligence to be on par with humans. He has a son, who was abducted (and then returned) by the same aliens that took Robotman.
First Appearance: April 2, 2001<ref name="gocomics.com"/>
* '''Moondog McHorney''' is the only true friend of Monty. He's a chronic [[beer]] drinker, and his house is one of the biggest centers of [[entropy]] in the world.
First Appearance: April 14, 2001<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gocomics.com/monty/2001/04/14 |title=Monty by Jim Meddick for April 14, 2001 |publisher=GoComics |date= |accessdate=2022-08-31}}</ref>
* '''Pilsner''' is Moondog's cynical [[Psittaciformes|parrot]], who often seems to be smarter than his owner, but still hasn't managed to understand that the other parrot he sees in the mirror is himself.
First Appearance: April 23, 2001 <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gocomics.com/monty/2001/04/23 |title=Monty by Jim Meddick for April 23, 2001 |publisher=GoComics |date= |accessdate=2022-08-31}}</ref>
*'''Dehlia''' is Monty's casual girlfriend. She works part-time with him in a [[Halloween]] pop-up store.
First Appearance:September 19, 2015 <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gocomics.com/monty/2015/10/19 |title=Monty by Jim Meddick for October 19, 2015 |publisher=GoComics |date= |accessdate=2022-08-31}}</ref>
* '''Professor Xemit''' is a [[time travel]]er from the year 2525 who came to visit the early 21st century and wound up living with Monty for a while and still visits occasionally.
First Appearance: April 9, 2007<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gocomics.com/monty/2007/04/09 |title=Monty by Jim Meddick for April 09, 2007 |publisher=GoComics |date=2007-04-09 |accessdate=2022-08-31}}</ref>
* '''EB3''' is a cyborg and a friend of Professor Xemit's. Small in stature and painted white, he frets incessantly about the fact that he has a "P-word" (in his case meaning [[pancreas]], not what you might think it means). Monty often tries to reassure about his pancreas anxiety ("I have one. Doc has one. It's nothing to be ashamed of!"). He has shown romantic interest in a [[vacuum cleaner]].
First Appearance: October 14, 2008<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gocomics.com/monty/2008/10/14 |title=Monty by Jim Meddick for October 14, 2008 |publisher=GoComics |date= |accessdate=2022-08-31}}</ref>
* '''Sedgwick Nuttingham III''' is a privileged child who inhabits a mansion somewhere in Monty's neighborhood.  His only companion is his faithful manservant Jarvis, who does anything that Sedgwick desires, from carrying ammunition as Sedgwick hunts Fleshy, to serving as a human target for snowballs, darts etc.  Sedgwick's parents do not appear in the strip.  The characters have occasional contact with Sedgewick's father, but he is usually away on business and rarely home.  Sedgewick's Aunt Polly lives in the mansion and exercises some parental control, but is not seen in the strip.  Auntie Nell appears sometimes. The only other characters that Sedgwick interacts with besides Fleshy are various doctors and psychologists.  Sedgwick is highly conservative politically, elitist, and convinced of his innate superiority to all others. First Appearance: May 11, 2009<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gocomics.com/monty/2009/05/11 |title=Monty by Jim Meddick for May 11, 2009 |publisher=GoComics |date= |accessdate=2023-08-12}}</ref>
* '''Jarvis''' is Sedgwick's aristocratic butler, with a politely sarcastic sense of humour. First Appearance: May 11, 2009<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gocomics.com/monty/2009/05/11 |title=Monty by Jim Meddick for May 11, 2009 |publisher=GoComics |date= |accessdate=2023-08-12}}</ref>

=== Previous characters ===
* '''Robotman''' the original character for which the comic was originally named. He was portrayed at first as visiting Earth, but was later revealed to have been built by Monty in a secret government project. He originally lived with the Milde Family.
* '''The Milde Family''' was the original supporting cast for Robotman during the 1980s. They portrayed an American middle-class family that lived in suburbia. It was made up of Robotman's best friend Oscar who was an insecure boy about 10 years old, his cynical teenage brother Gary, and their parents. When the strip shifted focus away from Robotman, they stopped appearing.
* '''Bruce'''; Robotman's evil twin. He too was phased out after Monty's debut.
* '''Olga'''; was one of Monty's girlfriends in the mid-90s.  She was a personal trainer, large-boned and muscular, in contrast to the out-of-shape Monty.
* '''Loco Ohno''' was Monty's on-again/off-again girlfriend, a parody of [[Yoko Ono]]. She was cynical and artistic, very different from the optimistic and technology-minded Monty. She was a devoted feminist, often finding men being the root of evil.
First Appearance: April 16, 2001<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gocomics.com/monty/2001/04/16 |title=Monty by Jim Meddick for April 16, 2001 |publisher=GoComics |date= |accessdate=2022-08-31}}</ref>
Last Appearance:April 27, 2004<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gocomics.com/monty/2004/04/27 |title=Monty by Jim Meddick for April 27, 2004 |publisher=GoComics |date= |accessdate=2022-08-31}}</ref>
* '''Gretchen''' is a coffee waitress on whom Monty has a crush.  She, however, does not return the feelings. She's a friend and is currently single.
First Appearance:
*'''Lorri''' (also spelled ''Laurie'') was Monty's aggressive girlfriend. She works at a garage.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web|url=https://www.gocomics.com/monty/2004/09/29 |title=Monty by Jim Meddick for September 29, 2004 |publisher=GoComics |date= |accessdate=2022-08-31}}</ref>
First Appearance: September 29, 2004<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

* '''Chimpy''' was a talking [[Common chimpanzee|chimpanzee]]. Chimpy constantly attempted to demonstrate his superiority to (or at least parity with) human intelligence and culture, but in fact, he was not particularly bright. For example, he attempted to use a circular saw as a hammer. He left the strip for no apparent reason two years after his debut.
First Appearance:July 3, 2001<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gocomics.com/monty/2001/07/03 |title=Monty by Jim Meddick for July 03, 2001 |publisher=GoComics |date=2001-07-03 |accessdate=2022-08-31}}</ref>
Last Appearance: December 20, 2003 <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gocomics.com/monty/2003/12/20 |title=Monty by Jim Meddick for December 20, 2003 |publisher=GoComics |date= |accessdate=2022-08-31}}</ref>
* '''Dave-7''', formerly known as Mr. Pi, was an alien from [[Rigel]] and served as Monty's straight man. Dave-7 lived with Monty. He was very logical and deeply involved in studying sciences such as [[quantum mechanics]]. There were occasionally ominous references to his race's plans to take over the earth. Nothing has come of them yet. The closest they ever got was to the moon. Then Chimpy got his hands on Dave-7's fleet-command-device, thinking it was a video game, and annihilated the entire fleet.
First Appearance: April 2, 2001<ref name="gocomics.com"/>
Last Appearance:
* '''Giggles''' the Gumdrop-Eating Bear was introduced when Robotman met him in a "coping with cuteness" support group. His relentlessly cheerful personality is embraced by readers and syndicate executives who love him and his tie-in merchandise, but the other characters find him creepy and off-putting.

== Books ==
Several strip collections have been published:
* ''Robotman Takes Off:'' 1986 by Topper Books.
* ''Robotman: The Untold Story''  1988 by Topper Books.
* ''Cyberpunktrek: With Robotman and his Evil Twin Bruce''  1990 by Topper Books.
* ''Primary Crullers: A Robotman Book'' 1997 by [[Andrews McMeel Publishing]]. 
* ''The Prehistoric Robotman'' 2003 by [[Plan 9 Publishing]].

== Plot milestones ==
* [[Patrick Stewart]], the actor who portrayed [[Jean-Luc Picard]] in ''[[Star Trek]]'', once tried to kidnap Fleshy. It appears Stewart was his former owner. Eventually Monty manages to take Fleshy back, thanks to his abilities in [[race walking]].
* While attempting to emulate [[Spider-Man]], Monty was bitten by a radioactive [[ladybug]] and became '''Ladybugman''', whose superpowers include ladybug senses (the ability to sense when and where [[rainbow]]s will form, which [[caterpillar]]s are aggressive, when a [[leprechaun]] is lying, and when somebody is crabby and needs a nap), a hard shell, the ability to sew, the ability to instill guilt in others, the ability to flutter through the air, and the ability to emit a malodorous fluid ("Actually... he's always had that ability" - Dave-7).<ref>[http://comics.com/monty/?DateAfter=2006-05-01&DateBefore=2006-05-13&Order=s.DateStrip+ASC&PerPage=20&Search=&x=19&y=15 Comics.com - Monty - Ladybugman]</ref>

== Notable spoofs ==
* There was a three-week spoof of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'': Monty's "The Lord of the Thing".<ref>[http://comics.com/monty/?DateAfter=2004-03-29&DateBefore=2004-04-17&Order=s.DateStrip+ASC&PerPage=50&Search=&x=58&y=9 Comics.com - Monty - "The Lord of the Thing" spoof]</ref>
* In March 2006, there was a two-week spoof of the [[television]] series ''[[Lost (2004 TV series)|Lost]]'', where Monty found himself shipwrecked on the island. In this spoof, Monty discovers that the [[Others (Lost)|Others]] are actually the castaways from ''[[Gilligan's Island]]''.<ref>{{cite comic
 | Cartoonist = [[Jim Meddick|Meddick, Jim]]
 | Title = Monty
 | Date = March 1, 2006 – March 18, 2006
 | Publisher = [[United Feature Syndicate]]
 }}</ref><ref>[http://comics.com/monty/?DateAfter=2006-02-27&DateBefore=2006-03-18&Order=s.DateStrip+ASC&PerPage=50&Search=&x=43&y=17 Comics.com - Monty - "LOST" spoof]</ref>
* Following a transporter accident, Robotman and Mr. Spock exchanged ears.  This had to be rectified by the Vulcan Ear meld.
* After assuring Monty that he would be unaffected by the [[Y2k bug]], Robotman became a [[Theodore Roosevelt]]-like character.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.gocomics.com/monty GoComics' Monty archive]
*[http://ignatz.brinkster.net/rman/rman.html Unofficial Robotman & Monty Archive]
*[http://jimmeddick.com/ Jim Meddick's website]
{{United Media Comics}}

[[Category:American comic strips]]
[[Category:Comics characters introduced in 1985]]
[[Category:1985 comics debuts]]
[[Category:Gag-a-day comics]]
[[Category:Fictional inventors in comics]]
[[Category:Science fiction comics]]
[[Category:Satirical comics]]
[[Category:Metafictional comics]]
[[Category:Self-reflexive works]]