Dilbert Creator Scott Adams Presents His 10 Favorite Strips
Dilbert, the well-known comic strip by cartoonist Scott Adams about the office everyman and his crew of incompetent colleagues, was the first syndicated comic that focused primarily on the workplace when it launched in 1989. Five years later, it had become so successful that Adams quit his corporate career to work on it full-time.
It wasn't a straight line to success. Early versions of the comic were rejected by several publications, including The New Yorker and Playboy. It wasn't until an editor at United Media saw it and recognized her own husband in the character that it finally got its start, says Adams in his upcoming book "How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big."
Ever since, the comic has explored topics like the inefficiency of meetings, the uselessness of management, and the absurdity of office politics.
Exclusively for Business Insider, Adams looked through the archives and shared his 10 favorite Dilbert comics. Below, he explains why he chose each and counts them down to his absolute favorite of all-time.
10) Oct. 10, 2009: "Dream job"
Courtesy of Scott Adams
"This comic causes the reader to imagine a funny future in which Wally will only pretend to do the assignment. Humor sometimes works best when one suggests what is coming without showing it. People laugh harder when they need to use their imaginations to complete the joke.
"I also like comics in which characters are unusually happy about something trivial, evil, or selfish. That juxtaposition is always funny to me.
"Another technique I often use involves characters saying things that should only be thought. That creates the inappropriateness that gives it an edge."
9) Sept. 24, 2009: "Opportunities"
Courtesy of Scott Adams
8) Nov. 12, 2009: "Roll a donut in front of the cave"
Courtesy of Scott Adams
"A common humor technique involves juxtaposing something of immense importance with something trivial. The pairing of things that don't belong together makes your brain "sneeze" in the form of a laugh. In this comic, Wally is comparing his digestive system to Jesus rising from the dead. A dash of spiritual inappropriateness gives it some seasoning."
7) Dec. 3, 2009: "Reusable presentation"
Courtesy of Scott Adams
"I also like jokes that involve inappropriate solutions to problems. This one has both. When you can layer two humor triggers in the same comic it almost always works."
6) Dec. 9, 2009: "Catching up to competition"
Courtesy of Scott Adams
"Keeping true to the major theme of Dilbert, this comic highlights the uselessness of management. If you've ever had a boss, this one probably hits home for you."
5) Jan. 7, 2010: "Synchronizing excuses"
Courtesy of Scott Adams
"This comic is also an example of what I call an 'engineered solution.' Wally has cleverly synchronized his excuses to the thunderstorm. I find cleverness to be funny when it is in the service of selfishness."
4) April 13, 2010: "Asok's snout"
Courtesy of Scott Adams
"The second level is that we all know people who value form over function while being oblivious to how others view them. When you shine a light on irrational human behavior it usually triggers a laugh reflex."
3) Sept. 27, 2010: "Brain golfing"
Courtesy of Scott Adams
2) Dec. 2, 2010: "Old Johannsen"
Courtesy of Scott Adams
1) Nov. 9, 1993: "Unix programmers"
Courtesy of Scott Adams
"This might be my all-time favorite Dilbert comic. When I was on the speaking circuit I always used it to end my talks to thunderous laughter. It's naughty, clever, and it has a point of view. And it makes the reader imagine what happened before that moment shown in the comic and what might happen after. It's rare to pack so many elements in one comic."
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