Norwegian Comics: Pondus
It’s that time of the month again. Time for me to pack the sleeping bag, gas cooker, thermos and MP3-player, and camp outside the local newsagent. Waiting for days in eager anticipation. This is not like camping out for U2-tickets. This is big. What am I waiting for? The next edition of Pondus magazine, of course!
OK… I don’t really go to such lengths, but I would if needed.
Pondus is by far the most popular Norwegian comic strip to have emerged in the last decade. The strip, named after the main character, was the brainchild of cartoonist Frode Øverli and set a new standard for Norwegian comics. The style is fresh, the characters are well-developed and the jokes hit you where it hurts (meaning, your sides will split after reading a few strips…)
Pondus is the reflection of the average Norwegian male. He is a lovable family man with slight homophobic tendencies and a supernatural knowledge of English football. His motto is: “A sport without a ball is for questionable people!” Although the comic is highly football-themed, the sport gets ridiculed as much as it gets praised. So it also appeals to non-football fans (such as myself). I became a fan from the first strip, so much so that I have religiously bought every issue since.
The lead character is not afraid to speak his mind. Hip-hoppers, old ladies, computer geeks, goth-rockers, metrosexuals, law students, country music, men with hats, in-laws, Manchester United-supporters… nobody is safe from being the butt end of a joke. L-Jay says that this is not at all what Norwegians are like, but I think one reason for the comic’s popularity is that Pondus says what most Norwegian guys think. Like when an old lady unintentionally makes Pondus’ baby cry, and he simply responds “maybe it’s because of your ugly face”. It’s beautiful in its political incorrectness.
Pondus first appeared in newspapers in 1996 and graduated to its own monthly magazine in 2000. The strip has been translated into several languages, including Latin and Esperanto (forcing me to ask: why!?). I have come across a few strips in English, but I have yet to see an “official” English publication. I guess a lot of the jokes may simply be too crass for the English-speaking audience and would lose their spark when censored.
Below are a few “G-rated” strips, with my own translations added:
- Oh boy. Tough time of the year for some. You allergic to anything?
- Alcohol. I react by dancing!
- Oooh… that’s a little gross!
- I know! After an outbreak I have to stay indoors for days. Bright red in the face!
- If your inquiry is about a received invoice, say “invoice”. If it is about internet, say “internet”.
- Internet!
- If this is regarding your existing service, or you wish to become a subscriber, say “subscriber”. If this is a technical inquiry, say “user support”.
- User support!
- If your inquiry is regarding connection issues, say “connection”.
- Connection!
- If you think you will ever talk to a real human who will actually help you, say “idiot”.
- Idiot…!
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Table settings are very much a part of the tradition of serving cake.
Runes were the written language of the Vikings.
Confirmations were important for entrance into adult life. One had to have their confirmation to be able to work or get married.
The walking-street takes you from Central Station to the Royal Palace.
There is an opposition in everything. At the darkest time of the year, we celebrate Christmas. And at the exact opposite end, when the midnight sun is at its highest, we celebrate Midsummer.
Those are so good! Thanks for translating them, need to understand Weegie first but we have a gold edition of the comic, which im sure u have too. Had no idea it was that funny, especially the first one.
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from L-Jay
Yeah, Moose loves his Pondus. My personal favourite is Nemi. I got to read it in English when I was in London – the Metro freebie newspaper prints them.
This is absolutely hilarious! Know any links where i can read Pondus in English?
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from L-Jay:
There won’t be much as it’s not in English (at the moment) but there are some translations of a few strips floating around the web. We’ll get some links for you. Check back here in a couple of days.
Cheers
UPDATE:
Hm – the only site we knew of that translated Pondus into English was Opera.com but they have stopped the service and taken all the strips off. There is a time-lapse sketch you can watch at:
http://www.dagbladet.no/tv/index.html?clipid=16473
Our guess as to why Pondus is not translated into English is that it is too crass for an English audience. Even though it is published in the major newspapers in Norway, English censorship would not allow the strips to be published in the English speaking world. It is largely due to the difference in nature of the Norwegian language compared to the English. Remember Norwegians were once Vikings and even today their language would pillage and plunder any polite spoken society
That’s a shame – it sounds like a whole load of fun to me. Thanks anyways!
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From Moose:
The weird thing is that Pondus is available in Latin and Esperanto – but not English.
Stay tuned, though… I may look into the possibility to translate and publish a strip on this blog every now and then. Some of them are just too funny to keep to “ourselves”.