Life — October 30, 1931 — page 12: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis of "Sinbad" Cartoon This is a humorous comic strip sequence titled "Sinbad" with the caption "An' the Gobbleuns 'll git you..." The strip depicts a woman (likely a mother or caregiver) using a classic parenting threat to frighten small children into obedience. In each panel, she dramatically drapes fabric over herself while children cower in fear, apparently believing she's a monster or supernatural creature. The final panels show the children fleeing in terror. The humor derives from the relatable domestic scenario: using scary tales and theatrical threats to discipline misbehaving children—a common parenting tactic of the era. The reference to "Gobbleuns" (likely from James Whitcomb Riley's poem "Little Orphant Annie") reinforces the folk-tale, bedtime-story quality of the threat. The satire gently mocks both parental discipline methods and children's gullibility.