There is a certain gentle simplicity that shows with Todd and Penguin, something found in far too few comics these days. I will admit, one of the first things I thought of was “Bloom County” though Penguin is far more child-like and naive than Opus ever was. I quickly realized that instead, this comic was more kin to Ozy and Millie or Alice. It’s about imagination and friendship and the delightful curiosity of children, be they human or penguin or young fox girls.

Of course, there’s a lot more to TaP than just a sense of child-like innocence. Penguin can be rather mischivious, and selfish (yet not in a mean sense, but an… unrealizing sense… Penguin just doesn’t realize sometimes that his selfishness can be hurtful, no matter how accidental. Again, this is a very child-like quality of Penguin) and yet he can also enter into a world of fantasy within the blink of an eye.

What makes Todd and Penguin so special is Penguin’s friends (and not just his owner/guardian, Todd). Mr. Bear is a cute mix of Hobbes (of Calvin and Hobbes fame) and the darker side of childrens imagination, though unlike Hobbes, most of the time he’s just a stuffed teddybear instead of the imaginary and mobile self that Penguin sees. Oscar is another, more recent friend, and as much foil as friend really. He’s Holly’s cat, and has a cat’s inherent self-centeredness which drops from time to time to reveal someone who’s not bad at all, despite his flaws. And of course, there’s Holly, who is more centered in Todd’s world (being his girlfriend and more) instead of Penguin.

And then there are Sally and Jessika. Sally was the girl next door, Penguin’s best friend (even more than Mr. Bear, really), always willing to give Penguin a cookie from school, or to watch TV with him, or anything else. And then Sally’s family moved away. These things happen. People move. And Penguin moved on… and met another young girl who was a bit sarcastic and mean even, but Penguin became friends with her, and life moved on.

So tonight’s update, part of a long list of strange and surreal updates, was truly surprising. Sally may be back. May, because it’s Friday and we won’t see what Penguin sees ’til Monday at least… but still… Penguin looks up at the bottom of his fall… and sees Sally. What’s more… she is the one he has to save… the one who can save this tree of imagination.

It’s a shocker. And it’s also delightful… that an old character whom I truly never expected to hear about again may be returning… even if only in a fantasy or dream. Of course Penguin never forgot Sally. While he has new friends in Jessika (who also brings him cookies) and Oscar… we never forget our first best friend.

This storyline may be ending soon and we’ll be going back to the more “mundane” and traditional comics… but this descent into the rabbit hole has truly been an adventure, one as insane as any that Alice experienced in Wonderland. The only thing I dislike is having to wait ’til Monday to find out what happens next!