Life — September 20, 1923 — page 11: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Skippy Comic Strip Analysis This is a comic strip titled "Skippy—No. 24" featuring a mischievous young boy character named Skippy. The strip depicts his interaction with an older man (likely meant to represent an authority figure or adult). The humor centers on Skippy's streetwise language and behavior—he uses slang expressions like "stiff," "knock ya from undr ya hat," and "uppercut." The running joke involves Skippy's threats of physical violence (knocking someone out, swinging "for me thoughts") contrasted with his small, weak appearance, which undercuts the menace. The final panel reveals the punchline: despite all his aggressive talk, Skippy "didn't start nothin'"—suggesting his bluster masks cowardice or that the threat was empty all along. This reflects 1920s-30s urban youth culture and humor about street-smart children.