Swamp The Comic Strip

Posted by Jo Murphy Jun 4, 2007

Gary Clark was born Brisbane 1954 and graduated in commercial art in 1972. He worked in advertising; progressing to cartooning in 1978. Swamp has been appearing in newspapers in Australia, New Zealand, and Scandinavia since 1981. A funny, lively but simple cartoon strip has captivated audiences ever since.

"Led by Ding Duck, the Sludge Surfing Dump Rats - Wart and Mort Frog - Swamp is a down-to-earth look at a bewildered society thriving in an ever-increasing complex world."

Readers can check in each day or subscribe to the comic strip to be delivered by email. Some teachers might want to post it to the white board or the window and start the day with a classroom chuckle. Posting a cartoon and challenging the students to come up with a 'funny' daily is a good way to get the creative juices flowing and hone the drawing skills in daily exercise. Perhaps you could challenge the class next door.

The website has

• a workshop section with lessons that are set to grow.
• 'fun stuff' section which is interactive. Students are invited to come up with a caption for a cartoon strip. These activities are a great way to get the kids involved, and can serve as a Literacy Booster. Students will soon realise that they have the ability to brainstorm a host of good ideas.
• There are colouring pages and clip art packages that will help the busy teacher come up with fun on a wet afternoon.

The Learning Place a Queensland Education Website is running a competition to bring Gary Clark into a Queensland classroom. The winner of the competition will be learning how to cartoon from the icon himself.

Stay tuned as I talk about that competition and the benefits it will bring to all classes that attempt to master the art of the avatar!