36 Comments
User's avatar
Jim the Geek's avatar

From an old guy who has reached the age of invisibility, thank you for making Rusty cool.

Plum's avatar

I absolutely love Rusty! He and Tabby are my favorites although I’ve gotten quite attached to the whole gang.

John Boyd's avatar

This old guy seconds that thank you.

UAO2's avatar

You and your comics are one of the few good things in life that I always look forward to. Cheers!🥂

Robert Nash's avatar

I haven’t worked retail in 50 years and I love your cartoons. The little signs in the background are a nice touch.

Kay-El's avatar

I enjoy your comics but you broke my heart that there’s no actual cat retreat. Actually, you broke my cat’s heart. :D

Stephen Beals's avatar

We, as a society, can fix that.

Just Start Creating!'s avatar

I lived your January comic this year. I turned to the guy standing close and said “Can I help you?”He said “They told me to stand behind you.” I said “You can stand behind me from further away.”

Stephen Beals's avatar

I like your response better.

Denise Heap (private)'s avatar

I think about you every time I go to my local Target (Hanover, Pennsylvania). Management must be exceptionally good. On Monday, people stood three deep in four staffed lanes, while self-checkout was empty.

Honestly? Gave me hope.

Stephen Beals's avatar

A well run store is a beautiful thing.

247kath's avatar

Omg I love Rusty. I think I’m getting close to “Too old to punch”😂🤣

Debra Waldorf's avatar

Thank you for the weekly gift of your comics. The smiles and chuckles are life enhancing!

DAVID's avatar

Happy New Year! Your comics always give me a chuckle.

Darcy Fiona McNair's avatar

Thank you for sharing your wonderful comics! I've worked Customer Service most of my life, and I can relate to all of your work! Happy New Year 🙂

Stephen Beals's avatar

A hardened soldier! I wish you happy customers who are regularly taking their meds.

Arrietty's avatar

Bit late, but Happy New Year! I love all your characters, but Rusty is my favorite. Keep at it!

Stephen Beals's avatar

Thank you and Happy New Year to you. I think the cutoff date is mid-February for Happy New Years, but it’s probably a question for Miss Manners.

Sergey Karneychik's avatar

I love this Substack, Stephen, it’s the one so cool I just can forget about everything and have a natural laugh. I had worked 6 years in Supermarket in Dublin North Side, and I have a sympathy for all of the characters you describe. Feeling attached to StBeals. Happy New Year to you from Ireland 🎄🇮🇪

Stephen Beals's avatar

Thank you so much. Ah, to be in Ireland. Someday!

majorfathead's avatar

I loved these instant follow, thanks for your humor. As a long time retail gremlin I see and understand almost all of these cartoons. They resonate with my soul.

Eric Burke's avatar

Your strips are always the first thing I read on IG and Substack! I’ve been out of retail management for 14yrs now but still visit stores as a sales rep so I still see the good and crazy that goes on in stores. The workers I visit are always the best part of my job 🍻

M Boland's avatar

You’re right - shopping cart fires are something I’ve never seen in a cartoon before; worth seeing! 😃 Your cartoons are what make this year better than other parts of the year, and I look forward to more of them making up for the other things that will make this year not as good as it could have been! 🤨 HNY…🥳❣️

Stephen Beals's avatar

Thank you so very much. I sincerely appreciate your reading them. Here’s to better shopping carts!

M Boland's avatar

Or fireproof? Hopefully, no one will use the reg ones to cart piles of books to a book burning — tho I haven’t heard of any lately!

Stephen Beals's avatar

Oooh. Scary thought. The people who want to burn books would have to figure out how to find them first. They usually never read them.

Lou's avatar

Happy New Year! Hoping for more Tabby in 2026.