Family humor comic review time! If you’ve ever rolled your eyes at your family’s quirks—or realized you are the quirky family—get ready. Today, we’re diving into the endlessly relatable world of Momma by Mell Lazarus, a legendary family humor comic that proves moms always get the last laugh (and sometimes the first, too). Whether you grew up with these strips or you’re just discovering them, the laughs hit just as hard now as they did when they first appeared.
Mell Lazarus: The Maestro Behind the Family Humor Comic
Mell Lazarus (1927–2016) was a true comic strip legend. His most famous creation, Momma, ran from 1970 to 2016 and built a legacy of family humor comics that still resonate today. Lazarus was known for his razor-sharp wit, quick-fire punchlines, and a cartoon style that made even the most exasperated sighs look lovable.
He won the National Cartoonists Society’s Humor Comic Strip Award and was inducted into the Will Eisner Hall of Fame. Lazarus’s signature style? Making you laugh and think about your own family—often in the same panel. “Momma” is all about tough love, relatable frustrations, and that universal truth: family will always drive you a little bit crazy (and that’s half the fun).
#1 Divine Laughs: Prayers, Moms, and the Old Pain in the Neck
In this family humor comic, Momma wonders if Francis mentions her in his prayers. He assures her, but only refers to her as “Momma”—because God might not remember who “the old pain in the neck” is. Only in a Mell Lazarus strip can a guilt trip turn into a perfect roast that feels both timeless and true.
#2 Broke? Momma’s Hilarious Take on Family Finances
Allowance gone, wallet empty? In this comic, Francis admits he’s broke for the week, and Momma’s response—“Good! Now you won’t have to worry about inflation till Friday!”—turns tough love into financial wisdom with a wink. If your family humor comic doesn’t include a lesson in economics, is it even real?
#3 Family Road Wisdom: When Rolling Stones and Mick Jagger Collide
Francis wants to travel, but Momma’s quick with the idioms: “Rolling stones gather no moss.” Francis’s comeback—about Mick Jagger possibly taking a snooze—proves that in a family humor comic, every generational gap is a setup for another punchline.
#4 Boomerang Kids and Laundry Piles: Momma’s Moving-In Masterclass
When Marylou drops off her laundry, Momma suggests she move back in—“for one thing, we’d make lovely laundry together!” This strip captures the ultimate parent move: turn every visit into a chance for more togetherness (and fresher socks). It’s peak family humor comic territory.
#5 Napping Your Way Out of a Job: Family Advice, Comic Strip-Style
Francis bemoans his job prospects—turns out, his habit of napping in waiting rooms precedes him. Momma’s solution? “So stop with the sleeping pills!” If your family hasn’t dished out career advice with a side of sass, have you even lived? This comic nails it.
#6 First Class for Momma, Baggage at Home: Parental Priorities Exposed
The kids treat Momma to a first-class ticket—just to ship her off. But at home, she says, she’s “in the baggage compartment.” Mell Lazarus takes the classic family humor comic trope of parental sacrifice and turns it into pure, relatable gold.
#7 Master of Understatement: When Self-Doubt Meets Momma’s Wit
Francis: “I’m a failure… I have no talent… I’m lousy at everything!” Momma: “Yes! True! Quite so… Plus you’re a master of understatement.” The humor stings but feels oddly comforting—the kind of family honesty that only a comic strip (and a mom) can deliver.
#8 Launch to Mars: Moving in with Parents, According to Momma
“Moving in with one’s parents is like going to Mars,” Francis declares. Anyone who’s moved back home as an adult will appreciate this out-of-this-world family humor comic.
#9 County Farm for Neglected Moms: The News that Shook Momma
Momma and Francis discover that the county is building a farm for neglected moms. Cue the nervous side-eye—because every family has their guilt-trip specialist, and Mell Lazarus knows it.
#10 Relationship Rescue: Momma’s Marriage Advice That’s Too Real
Herb thinks Momma’s here for his pleasure. Advice? “Drop him… that will work!” “Marry him… that’ll work!” Only a family humor comic could make romantic advice this brutally funny.
#11 Born Exhausted: A Family’s Honest Work Ethic
Francis wants to know when working for a living gets easier. Momma’s punchline? “You were born exhausted!” A universal truth, delivered the Mell Lazarus way.
#12 27-Year Break: Ex-Husbands, Absurd Absences, and Momma’s Sass
One woman’s husband ran off and didn’t come back for 27 years. Her reaction? “I wanted a longer breather than 27 years.” Family drama, comic strip edition—painfully funny and weirdly sweet.
#13 Why Don’t You Work? Momma’s Take on Neighborhood Boy
“All the boys work—except you.” Francis worries about all the lonely girls in town. Classic family humor comic: Mom’s standards are high, and the bar is always moving.
#14 Truth or Lie? Momma’s Hilarious Husband-Detecting Tactic
How do you tell if a husband is lying? “Ask him a question. If he answers, he’s lying!” Marriage advice, Momma-style, in a single snappy panel.
#15 Love, Marriage, and Yesterday’s News: The Comic Strip Divorce Drill
Carol got married? Nope—already divorced! “Don’t confuse me. It’s in the paper.” “That’s yesterday’s paper.” Mell Lazarus shows that in the world of the family humor comic, even the news is a joke.
#16 Memoir Mayhem: Good Girls, Diaries, and Family Secrets
Marylou wants to publish her memoirs. Momma’s warning? “Good girls don’t have memoirs!” Now that’s a family secret worth keeping.
#17 Prescription Puzzles: Momma’s Medical Routine
Momma’s medicine routine is so complex, if she missed a dose, she’d have to take even more. Only a family humor comic could make pharmacy runs this entertaining.
#18 Roger’s Honest Intentions: Momma Meets Brutal Honesty
Roger openly confesses he’ll lead Marylou on and drop her for someone more interesting. Momma’s response? “OUT!” Sometimes, a little honesty in a family humor comic is just too much.
#19 Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow: Baldness as a Family Project
Francis worries about losing his hair. Momma reassures him: “Your father fought baldness for 20 years—it was one of the great conservation projects of the 20th century!” Family legacy, one hair follicle at a time.
#20 The Right to Defend Myself: Guilt, Phones, and Comic Timing
Francis calls to say he’s thinking of Momma. Her reply? “I’ll be right over!”—and he immediately protests, “I demand the right to defend myself!” Classic family humor comic, complete with guilt trips and a dash of dramatic flair.
Closing Thoughts
There’s a reason the family humor comic genre—especially Mell Lazarus’s “Momma”—remains timeless. Every strip delivers that perfect blend of wit, truth, and just the right amount of emotional sting. Whether you’ve survived a mom’s guilt trip, dreaded moving home, or needed a laugh about allowance, these comics have your number.
Credit: All comics in this article are the work of Mell Lazarus. To see more, visit the official Momma page on GoComics. Mell Lazarus’s quick wit and sharp lines make “Momma” a must-read for every fan of classic comic strips and family humor.
For more hilarious and heartwarming family comics, check out BoredComics.com—your daily source for laughs, nostalgia, and just a little bit of mom-approved wisdom.
