You know that feeling when you open the Sunday paper—or more likely, scroll through a comic app—and you see two guys standing in a single, wide panel just waiting to groan-trip you with a pun? That’s the magic of frank and ernest comics today. It’s one of those rare beasties in the funny pages that doesn't just survive; it thrives on being exactly what it started as back in 1972.
Honestly, the world has changed a ton since Bob Thaves first sketched these two. We have smartphones, AI, and billionaire space races now. But Frank and Ernest? They’re still there. Sometimes they're cavemen. Sometimes they’re two planets chatting in a vacuum. Sometimes they’re just two guys at a lunch counter.
The Weird Logic of Frank and Ernest Comics Today
What’s wild is how the strip stays relevant without ever really "aging." While other legacy strips feel like they’re stuck in a time capsule of 1950s housewifery or 1990s office culture, frank and ernest comics today use a shapeshifting gimmick. It's brilliant, really. Because the characters can be anything—a pair of shoes, two molecules, or historical figures—the humor stays fresh.
Tom Thaves, who took the reins after his father Bob passed away in 2006, hasn't missed a beat. He kept the "team" approach to gag writing. Did you know Bob Thaves was one of the first guys to openly admit he didn't write every single joke? He'd actually look through Writer's Market for contributors. That tradition of sourcing the sharpest, most "punny" observations from a wider pool of brains is why the strip doesn't feel like a stale one-man show.
Why Puns Aren't Just for Dads
People love to hate on puns. They call them the "lowest form of wit." Total nonsense. A good pun requires a specific kind of linguistic gymnastics that most people just can't pull off on the fly. In the landscape of frank and ernest comics today, the wordplay is the point.
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- It forces you to think for a split second.
- It plays with the double meanings of English in a way that’s almost educational.
- It hits that sweet spot of "so bad it's good."
Take a classic example: The guys are at a "Department of Redundancy Department." It's a simple visual, but it works every single time because it’s a universal frustration wrapped in a silly bow.
Staying Power in the Digital Age
You'd think a comic strip that debuted during the Nixon administration would be struggling to find an audience in 2026. Nope. Frank and Ernest comics today still reach millions. Why? Because they were digital pioneers. Long before your favorite webcomic was a glimmer in an iPad, Thaves was experimenting with digital coloring and interactive websites.
Back in 1997—yeah, when we were all still using dial-up—the Frank and Ernest website was already doing 3-D characters and searchable archives. They were the first strip in over 1,000 newspapers to actually put an email address in the panel so readers could talk back. That’s some "forward-thinking" energy right there.
The "Everyman" Who Is Also a Toaster
The core of the humor is that iconoclastic attitude. Frank is usually the talkative one, a bit self-centered but charmingly so. Ernest is more naive, often accidentally upstaging Frank with a bit of "unconscious wisdom."
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Whether they’re playing the role of "Malaprop Man" or just two guys complaining about the price of coffee, they represent us. They’re the observers. They aren't political in a "red vs. blue" kind of way. Instead, they poke fun at the absurdity of everyone. They lampoon pomposity wherever they find it—the boardroom, the lab, or the Pearly Gates.
How to Get Your Daily Fix
If you're looking for frank and ernest comics today, you've got options. You don't need to hunt down a physical newspaper (though they're still in over 1,200 of them).
- GoComics: This is the easiest way to see the daily strip and the Sunday big-panel versions.
- The Official Site: frankandernest.com is still kicking and has a massive archive. You can search by keyword, which is great if you're looking for a specific joke about, say, taxes or dinosaurs.
- Social Media: They’re pretty active on the usual platforms, sharing both new stuff and "classics" that feel weirdly relevant to current news.
The licensing side of things has also blown up lately. You’ll see them on greeting cards, calendars, and even apparel. There’s something comforting about a comic that doesn't try to be "edgy" or "dark." It’s just smart. It’s a minute of your day where you get to appreciate a clever twist on the English language.
What We Can Learn From the Thaves Legacy
Success in the creative world usually means evolving or dying. Frank and Ernest did something different: they built a framework that allows for infinite evolution. By not being tied to a single setting, they avoided the trap of becoming a "legacy" act that only older generations understand.
When you look at frank and ernest comics today, you aren't seeing a relic. You're seeing a masterclass in observational humor. It’s about the "average Joe" navigating a world that’s often confusing, bureaucratic, and just plain weird.
If you want to keep up with the latest puns or dive into the 50-year-plus history of the strip, start by checking out their searchable database. It’s a rabbit hole of wordplay that’ll keep you busy for hours. You can also follow their "Today in Years Past" feature on the official site to see how much (or how little) the world’s problems have changed since the 70s. Honestly, it's a bit of a reality check. But at least it's a funny one.
For the best experience, try reading the Sunday strips. They usually feature a series of rapid-fire puns around a single theme, like "The Robotics Department" or "The Physics Lab." It’s like a mini-sketch show in a single image. Keep an eye out for their licensing deals too; the 2026 collections are reportedly bringing some of the most iconic "sign-based" gags back into print for a new generation of fans.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Visit GoComics to set up a daily email alert so you never miss a strip.
- Browse the frankandernest.com archives using keywords related to your job or hobbies—the sheer volume of specific gags is staggering.
- Check out the "Justo y Franco" version if you’re looking to brush up on your Spanish; it’s one of the most widely syndicated translations in the world.