The Dinette Set
by Julie Larson
The Dinette Set is a delightfully wacky single-panel comic with a large national following that satirizes middle class culture, juxtaposing thought-provoking observations with funny, absurdist background imagery. In scenes taking place within the house, a to-do list often hangs on the wall, containing off-the-wall notes that only sometimes pertain to the characters’ dialogue. Adding to The Dinette Set’s whimsical charm is Larson’s recent inclusion of a “find-it” word or object for readers to uncover, embedded within the elaborately illustrated panel.
The characters of The Dinette Set are a frustrating yet fun-loving lot who can be described as an odd mix of hyper-realistic folks who squeeze the life out of the American Dream. The Penny family serves up unintentional comedy by taking humorous situations literally and vice versa. They may not be the smartest gang or make the world a better place, but they are extremely happy with their ordinary lives in suburban Crustwood.
Appropriately enough, Larson first titled her panel “Suburban Torture” when she created it in 1990. She eventually changed it to The Dinette Set and it went into national syndication in 1997. It has built a large, passionate following since then and has become a staple in such papers as the Detroit News, Houston Chronicle, and The Record of Bergen County, NJ.
Larson was born in Lincoln, Ill., a small, quiet town surrounded by cornfields. With only three channels on TV and miles of open space around, she and her siblings had ample time and room to create their own fun. Today she lives with her three daughters in central Illinois, “playing the Pennys” when the mood strikes.
Current Samples
September 8th, 2010
September 7th, 2010
September 6th, 2010
September 5th, 2010
September 4th, 2010
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