Believe it or not, the funnies still exist, and are just as mundane and dated as ever. But what if these seemingly innocent comic strips weren’t a source of escapism, but rather a commentary on what’s really happening out there in the world? They’d be a lot more depressing … and somehow a lot funnier.

Here are seven strips from the Maxim Syndicate.

 

 

Hagar the Horrible

 

Hi & Lois

 

The Family Circus

 

Peanuts

 

Dennis the Menace

 

Beetle Bailey