Queerty reader Troy Robinson brought to our attention Wednesday’s edition of popular cat comic, Heathcliff. For those who’ve never heard of Heathcliff, he’s like Garfield sans the lasagna. Troy pointed out that in the panel, Heathcliff is in the penalty box of a hockey game and, via picture balloon, is calling the ref a fairy. Troy asks us, “Am I being oversensitive? Am I reading too much into this? Or is Heathcliff really calling the ref a “faggot”?”
What do you think? We’re still getting over the fact that Heathcliff is still around. Full panel after the jump.
GoodBuddy
Heathcliff isn’t carried in my local papers. Probably because it isn’t funny.
Jason
This isn’t honestly offensive, it’s just stupid. There’s really no humor on any level here.
bruce
not offensive!
I even chuckled a little.
Joe Mama
Not offensive. It’s showing that Heathcliff is a poor sport and acting immature, which is his character.
alex the sea turtle
I think it’s offensive so far as it says “it’s ok to call people fairys or fags if you don’t like them or what they have done” given that sports are considered macho I think it makes an even worst message.
Mike
I hate to state the obvious, but Heathcliffe is nuthin’ but a fricken “pussy” in any case!
Tim in SF
People still read newspapers?
t money
maybe hes calling him a drama queen
but not really offensive
hardmannyc
It’s the old “if a tree falls’ argument. Since no one reads it, it can’t offend.
JJ
I think it is time to put that cat to sleep
Brian
I think that when we’re desensitized to epithets, no matter how minor… we’ve lost the battle.
My Other Car's the Tardis
That Heathcliff! Such a rascal! And terribly un-PC, too.
greg
No, Heathcliff is a poor sport and an asshole, I wouldn’t read any more into it than that.
Johan
I think Heathcliffe is calling the ref a fairy.
And, if you check the caption, I’d say the artist is making a valid point: abusing your right to speech like that is likely to just land you in even worse trouble.
jimmy
I read Heathcliffe books when I was a kid and he is nothing like Garfield. He is just as #12 says, an irascible reprobate of a cat and this is completely within his character, or lack thereof.
James Greenlee
The joke is on Heathcliff (and Garfield). Orange and black cats are exclusively female. Well, there is the rare (and supposedly impossible) male, but they’re born sterile. So that “black and orange stray cat, sitting on a fence” in the Stray Cats’ “Stray Cat Strut” is in the same boat!