Close to Home Comics By John McPherson are a hilarious reflection of everyday absurdities we all encounter. These single-panel gems shine with deadpan delivery, quirky characters, and offbeat punchlines that make the mundane feel delightfully ridiculous. Whether it’s parenting fails, awkward doctor visits, or suburban quirks, McPherson has a comic for it. Let’s dive into 10 of his most brilliant and laugh-out-loud creations.
Artist Bio John McPherson
John McPherson is the creator of Close to Home, a long-running single-panel comic that has graced newspapers since 1992. Known for his dry wit and sharp observational humor, McPherson takes the bizarre moments of suburban life and stretches them into punchy, laugh-worthy visuals. With a background in engineering, his unique perspective shines through in gags that often involve absurd inventions, awkward social norms, and offbeat takes on family life. Close to Home has been syndicated by Universal Press and appears in hundreds of papers worldwide. McPherson’s signature style involves exaggerated character expressions and ordinary situations taken to hilarious extremes. His ability to find humor in the small, strange details of life has made him a favorite among fans of smart, relatable comics.
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1. Empty Nest Coping Mechanism
Jim finds himself the target of a bald eagle nesting on his head as a way to cope with his children leaving home. This comic turns the classic “empty nest syndrome” into a literal, visual gag. McPherson cleverly combines emotional emptiness with absurd physical comedy to deliver a truly memorable punchline.
2. Romantic Budgeting
Instead of buying expensive Valentine’s Day cards, a long-married couple simply reads greeting cards to each other in the store. The satire on frugality and love after decades of marriage is both sharp and sweet, highlighting how romance evolves in hilarious, practical ways.
3. Tiny Apartment Problem
A pest control worker arrives to find a rodent infestation—but with full balconies and furniture. This comic exaggerates the common pest issue to a ridiculous degree, turning mice into miniature apartment dwellers. A perfect example of McPherson’s flair for surreal everyday satire.
4. Speeding Excuse
In court, a woman argues she was speeding because she was heading to the dentist. The absurdity of using dental fear as a legal defense makes this strip pop. It mocks our all-too-human habit of justifying anything under stress.
5. Uber Getaway
Bank robbers scramble into a getaway car only to discover the driver is an unsuspecting Uber contractor. The comic skewers modern gig culture with a clever twist on crime cliches, turning a tense escape into ride-share chaos.
6. Weight Watchers Cheat
A woman cheats the scale at her weigh-in by pulling on an overhead pipe. This visual pun highlights the desperation and denial we often bring to health checkups. McPherson captures insecurity with exaggerated hilarity.
7. Mobster Mercy
Mobsters preparing to throw a man off the dock graciously give him a flipper for one foot “to have a fighting chance.” The dark humor and mock sympathy make this one of McPherson’s best absurdist takes on crime tropes.
8. Ear Emergency
A doctor calls for Raid after spotting a bug in a patient’s ear. This unexpected shift from medical procedure to pest control is classic Close to Home, where the ridiculous is always just beneath the surface of routine life.
9. Parenting Evolution
Three parents relax while their youngest child climbs a utility pole, contrasting their relaxed attitude with their earlier overprotectiveness. This strip speaks to generational parenting burnout and how standards can hilariously slip over time.
10. Last-Minute Project
A kid wakes up his parents in the middle of the night about a diorama due for school the next day. Every parent can relate to this late-night academic emergency. McPherson nails the dread and panic of forgotten schoolwork in the most relatable way.
Final Thoughts on Close to Home Comics By John McPherson Close to Home Comics By John McPherson capture the absurdity of everyday life in a way that makes you laugh, wince, and nod in agreement—sometimes all at once. If you crave comedy that hits uncomfortably close to reality, check out more brilliant panels at TheHumorSide.com and never look at suburbia the same way again.
