Racine makes the funny pages -- but don't blink!

Here we are again: Racine makes the big time, but you have to be alert or you'll miss it.

Luann, created by Greg Evans in 1985, throws props to Racine in today's comic strip, published in more than 300 newspapers.

Poky Little Puppy, for those of you living under a rock, is a classic from Racine, published in 1942 by Western Publishing, one of the first 12 Little Golden Books. Says Wikipedia: "As of the year 2001, it was the single all-time best-selling hardcover children's book in English; according to Publisher's Weekly it had sold nearly 15 million copies."

If you've forgotten the story, a synopsis (caution: plot spoiler alert!) is HERE.

Cartoonist Evans won a Reuben award from the National Cartoonists Society for Luann in 2003 -- cartooning's highest award, also won by Charles Schulz (Peanuts), Milton Caniff (Terry and the Pirates) and Bill Watterson (Calvin and Hobbes) and a host of greats like Matt Groening, Will Eisner, Gary Larson and Garry Trudeau. Frankly, I don't put Evans anywhere near that pantheon -- but maybe I just don't relate to the trials and tribulations of high school girls. Give me a beagle or a stuffed tiger any day!