One of my annual traditions before Christmas is making a handmade holiday greeting card. Past cards poked fun at Christmas carols, fat furries dressed up like Santa Claus, and even a combination of Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa (on years when the three holidays overlapped each other).

This year's card pinpoints a specific area: literature. Classics like Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol", and the various short stories by O. Henry are prime examples. I'd chosen "The Nutcracker" - and, specifically, one of its characters - as my target of opportunity.

Of course, the title character is the good guy, so there must be a villain. Hence, a rodental anthropomorphic bad guy. This is where things get complicated...

I'd read the story; I've seen the ballet; I'd watched several movie versions and TV specials of "The Nutcracker". But no one can make up their minds as to who the real villain should be. Should it be a self-imposed 'Rat King' with one head? Or should it be a three-headed 'Mouse King'? Or is it a three-headed 'Rat King' or a one-headed 'Mouse King'? Does anybody know? Does anybody care?! (I even recall seeing a 'Rat King' with more heads on it than I'd dared to count!)

I'd decided to make the three-headed 'Mouse King' the title character's adversary. Using common sense, I'd assumed that this mousy monarch possessed a massive midsection. Certainly, his upper torso must be large enough to support all those heads; it's only logical that the lower torso should be proportionately as large.

'Rob Cat' explains to his niece 'Cora' why 'The Mouse King' is so fat in my two-panel presentation. If this doesn't appeal to the 'fat furry' crowd, at least I should be getting some equal feedback from members of the 'MultiFurry Club'.


As usual, this card will be 'snail-mailed' and arrive somewhat late at the homes of various friends, relatives, and "FA" members. I hope that said recipients will be understanding.

Anyway, belated "Season's Greetings" to one and all!