Opus: too hot for the WaPo

[rquoter]Many Won't Run Next Two 'Opus' Strips With Sex Joke, Islam Reference

By Dave Astor

Published: August 24, 2007 1:50 PM ET

NEW YORK At least 25 of the 200 or so "Opus" client newspapers might not run the Sunday-only comic's next two episodes, which feature Islamic references and a sex joke.

That's according to Washington Post Writers Group Executive Sales Manager Karisue Wyson, when contacted today by E&P. WPWG Editorial Director/General Manager Alan Shearer added that more than 25 clients might not use the strips because the syndicate hasn't heard from about 150 of the 200 papers it alerted.

"Whenever something lands close to the edge, we give editors enough notice" in case they want to run substitute comics, said Shearer.

Berkeley Breathed's Aug. 26 and Sept. 2 strips -- which comprise sort of a two-part series -- show the Lola Granola character wanting to become an Islamic radicalist (and wear traditional Muslim clothing) because it's a "hot new fad on the planet." Content also includes what Shearer described as "a sex joke a little stronger than we normally see."

Wyson said some client papers hesitated to run a sex joke and others won't publish any Muslim-related humor, whether pro or con. "They just don't want to touch that," she said.

Violent protests took place after a Danish paper in 2005 published cartoons picturing Muhammad.

Shearer told E&P that WPWG checked with a couple of Islamic experts to see if the "Opus" strips might be offensive, and they said the comics were OK. But he understands why some papers might still be wary.

The syndicate executive did add that some readers who don't see the new Aug. 26 and Sept. 2 "Opus" strips in their newspaper might be upset that they weren't published.

WPWG's feeling about Breathed's two upcoming strips? Wyson said the syndicate knew there'd be some controversy connected with them, but noted: "We want people to get engaged and excited when they read the newspaper -- and especially when they read the comics."

Shearer added: "It's a good thing when people are talking about the comics."

Papers not using the Aug. 26 and Sept. 2 episodes can publish reruns of "Opus" -- whose creator did the Pulitzer Prize-winning "Bloom County" strip in the 1980s.[/rquoter]

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