Obscure Fan Theory #428: Ernesto Lacuna and Oswaldo Twee

Just stumbled across an obscure fan theory regarding Cul de Sac, one of my favorite comic strips, today: The characters Oswaldo Twee and Ernesto Lacuna are father and son, or at least in some way closely related.

First, background.

Ernesto Lacuna is an elementary-aged wunderkind-in-his-own mind, and “imaginary” friend of Petey Otterloop, one of the strip’s main characters. He’s characterized as a proto-adult in waiting, anxious to shed the imbecility of youth and become a take-charge kind of guy. He’s a member of Future Adults of America – he may be its founder and only member – and often has delusions that he holds vast authority over his peers, particularly the hapless Petey.

Oswaldo Twee is a children’s book author that comic strip creator Richard Thompson says he modeled after Lemony Snicket. He, like Ernesto, has his own manias, including the theory that when Petey, inline for a Twee book signing, lost a baby tooth, he was “spontaneously disassembling,” something Ernesto is very likely to believe as well.

Then there’s appearance. Both Twee and Lacuna, despite their differing last names, look like older and younger versions of each other. Behold:

First, Ernesto. In rather a quiet and bland moment for him. But note the hair, the round head, the strange speechifying.

Now on to Mr. Twee. Also black of hair, round of head, and odd of speech.

Enlarged, for both.

Really, all Ernesto needs is that Oswaldian swoop to his hair.

Why does this matter? It doesn’t really. But it’s fun.