Jef Mallett

I'm really enjoying this strip; it combines good humor, sublety of wit, charm and affability, a nice confident art line, the assumption that people are basically pretty nice (but not without their faults), and a main character whom I would have to rank among my favorites in the comics. And it even occasionally teaches me a new word (callipygian, trebuchet, palter? Look them up!). Who would expect all this from a strip about a high school janitor?

"Frazz" has become one of my favorite current strips, and features one of the most admirable (yet human) characters I have seen in the comics. Frazz (for "Frazier", his last name; no real first name yet) is a 30-year-old high school janitor, who is also a successful songwriter, triathelon participant, mountain biker, renaissance man, tongue-tied around the charming Miss Plainwell, who stays at his job because he loves the kids. The strip never gets saccharine, though, as Frazz with gentle show more humor imparts life's subtler lessons to the kids he loves. Frazz would have made a great teacher, but perhaps he does more good in this way, unhampered by paperwork and standardized tests. There is also an interesting and well-realized supporting cast, representing a wide range of diversity without getting all P.C. about it. The kids are undoubtedly more world-wise and educated than real elementary school kids would be, something like the "Peanuts" kids with a more modern worldview. And they do realize what they have in Frazz. A fine, nearly great strip. show less

This strip is fast becoming a favorite of mine, and Frazz is emerging as one of the most likeable and admirable characters in the comic strip universe. And yet, this school janitor / songwriter / biker-runner comes across as quite human, down to his long-term shyness as regards the lovely Miss Plainwell (although I have yet to see any negative traits to his personality at all). Thankfully, thanks to some intervention from student Caulfield, he does finally succeed in making a romantic show more connection with the object of his affections. And as usual, this collection is chock-full of pearls of wisdom and nuggets of humor. Me like. show less

This comic is funny for the right reasons. It is intellectual and sweet, kind of like "Calvin and Hobbes."