Comics with Twist Endings are a rare breed of humor—offbeat setups with hilarious surprises. And nobody crafts them quite like Jerry Van Amerongen in Ballard Street. These quirky, single-panel cartoons hook you in with seemingly mundane situations, then hit you with bizarre, unexpected outcomes that make you laugh and scratch your head all at once.
About the Artist: Jerry Van Amerongen
Jerry Van Amerongen is the creative force behind the beloved Ballard Street, which ran from 1991 until his retirement in 2019. Originally a corporate marketing professional, Van Amerongen pivoted to cartooning in the late ’80s and never looked back. His work earned multiple accolades, including the National Cartoonists Society’s Best Newspaper Panel Cartoon Award in 2004 and 2006.
Profile info Go Comics
1. Dog Bones and the Secret to Sore Ankles
Comics with Twist Endings often disguise their punchlines in plain sight. Walt’s mysterious ankle pain is hilariously explained when we spot dozens of dog bones rigged across the lawn like medieval caltrops—pure absurdity wrapped in domestic bliss.
2. Rocket Science, the Kevin Way
What could go wrong when you combine soda cans and detergent? Kevin’s backyard science experiment ends with a blast—literally. The chaotic aftermath, complete with airborne flip-flops, is a perfect twist in this comic catastrophe.
3. Moat Life: A Leisure Fortress
A quiet man on a grassy island surrounded by water. That’s just Bryce revisiting his moat-loving lifestyle. The gag here is subtle genius—his bizarre behavior is treated with such normalcy; it becomes hilariously twisted.
4. The Somersault That Never Should Have Been
Mr. Chambers clearly overestimated his athletic ability. The image of him crash-landing with pants over his head and legs midair delivers the gag perfectly. One of those comics with twist endings that’s all setup and spectacular payoff.
5. Dale’s Stone Age Tech Solution
Technology fails again—but Dale doesn’t. He smashes his uncooperative laptop with a rock, medieval style. It’s a hilarious twist on tech rage, where old problems get very old school solutions.
6. Ted’s Private Rituals
Ted slips away from a family gathering, only to don a party hat in front of a mirror in a private moment of bizarre tradition. These kinds of endings are what define Ballard Street—quietly strange and completely unexpected.
7. Tangled in Reception
A couple wires themselves up like human antennae, all for the sake of better TV reception. The deadpan absurdity of the scene is the kind of twist that turns a mundane moment into gold.
8. Slip ‘n Slide Nautical Edition
A man rowing a boat on a makeshift indoor waterfall? Naturally. His partner’s plea to focus on “balancing the boat” instead of going over the edge seals this gag with a wonderfully weird ending.
9. Seesaw of Doom
She warned him—but he didn’t listen. Now he’s mid-air on a precarious seesaw set against a brick wall. The twist hits hard: the comedy comes not from the fall, but from her smug “I told you so.”
10. Squirrel Sabotage
Nathan sits with shredded pants, humiliated and stunned. His wife, holding a newspaper, downplays the event—because, apparently, squirrel attacks are old news in this household. It’s the kind of ridiculous twist you never see coming.
Final Thoughts
These Comics with Twist Endings are a perfect showcase of Jerry Van Amerongen’s wit and mastery of the unexpected. From flying somersaults to medieval laptop solutions, Ballard Street delivers brilliant visual storytelling that’s strange, subtle, and side-splitting. If you love humor that sneaks up and surprises you, these comics are an absolute treat. Keep exploring the weirdly wonderful at TheHumorSide.com.
