Big Eyes, Big Laughs: The Secret To Grandma's Comic Charm

The phrase Why, Grandma, what big eyes you have is a famous line from the fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood. In the story, the titular character says this line to a wolf disguised as her grandmother. The wolf replies, The better to see you with, my dear. This exchange has been referenced and parodied in various forms of media, including comics. For example, the webcomic Psycho Suzanne by Paul features a grandmother as its protagonist, and may include references to Little Red Riding Hood.

'Psycho Suzanne' comics

Psycho Suzanne is a comic series created by Paul, a graphic designer based in Paris, France. The series centres around Suzanne, a grandmother-like character who is chaotic and hilarious. Paul based the character of Suzanne on his own grandmother, who he visited in South France during his summers as a child. While his real-life grandmother was a "real sweetheart", the Suzanne of the comics is more unhinged, though still loveable.

Paul's artistic journey began in childhood when he was "obsessed with cavemen" and would draw them "collecting fruits, hunting mammoths, sleeping in caves". He continued to develop his artistic skills and eventually began creating the Psycho Suzanne comics during the first COVID-19 lockdown in France. Paul's creative process typically involves sketching ideas on small pieces of paper and then searching for them around his flat when he wants to create a new comic.

The Psycho Suzanne comics are known for their dark humour and unexpected twists. In one comic, Suzanne is seen holding a hammer and chisel, having just escaped from a coffin, exclaiming, "I told you I wanted to be buried with my jewellery!" In another, she is seen playing chess with a young boy, saying, "Check... and breast cancer awareness!" as she moves her bishop.

Paul has shared that he creates the comics with the hope of making people laugh, even if just for a few seconds. He has received messages from readers telling him that his comics have made their days more bearable, which is why he continues to create them.

The story of Little Red Riding Hood

Once upon a time, there was a little girl who lived in a village near the forest. She got her name, Little Red Riding Hood, from the red riding cloak she always wore. One day, Little Red Riding Hood asked her mother if she could go to visit her grandmother, as it had been a while since they had seen each other. Her mother agreed and packed a basket for her to take to her grandmother.

As Little Red Riding Hood walked through the woods, she met a wolf. Unaware of the wolf's wicked nature, she told him she was on her way to her grandmother's house. The wolf suggested that she pick some flowers for her grandmother, and, distracted, Little Red Riding Hood wandered deeper into the woods. Meanwhile, the wolf raced ahead to the grandmother's house.

The wolf arrived at the grandmother's house before Little Red Riding Hood and devoured her. He then put on her clothes and got into bed, pretending to be the grandmother when Little Red Riding Hood arrived. Little Red Riding Hood noticed that her grandmother looked strange and exclaimed, "Grandmother, what big eyes you have!" "The better to see you with, my dear," replied the wolf. "But Grandmother, what big ears you have!" "The better to hear you with," said the wolf. "Grandmother, what big hands you have!" "The better to hug you with," said the wolf. "And what a big mouth you have!" "The better to eat you with," said the wolf, jumping out of bed and eating Little Red Riding Hood.

In some versions of the story, the tale ends here with Little Red Riding Hood and her grandmother being eaten by the wolf. However, in other versions, the story continues with a woodcutter or hunter coming to their rescue. The woodcutter cuts open the sleeping wolf and Little Red Riding Hood and her grandmother climb out, unharmed. They fill the wolf's body with heavy stones, and when he wakes up and tries to flee, the stones cause him to collapse and die.

The moral of the story

The story also highlights the dangers of trusting strangers too quickly. In the tale, Little Red Riding Hood encounters a wolf who seems friendly and polite, but his true intention is to eat her. This serves as a warning to children, especially young girls, about the potential consequences of interacting with unknown individuals. It emphasizes the importance of being wary and not solely relying on outward appearances or initial impressions.

Additionally, the story can be interpreted as a symbol for rape or sexual morality. The act of being "eaten" by the wolf can be seen as a metaphor for sexual assault or the loss of virginity. This interpretation adds a darker and more adult layer to the story, cautioning women about the dangers of interacting with men who may have malicious intentions.

Furthermore, the story encourages individuals to embrace life and not let age be a barrier to having fun. The character of Suzanne, based on the artist's grandmother, serves as a reminder that life is short, and one should make the most of it. Even in old age, it's important to maintain a sense of spontaneity and enjoy the little things in life.

Lastly, the story emphasizes the importance of using one's intelligence and courage to escape dangerous situations. In some versions of the tale, Red Riding Hood escapes the wolf on her own, showcasing her quick thinking and bravery. This empowers individuals, especially women, to trust their instincts and take charge of their own safety.

The story's interpretation

The "Psycho Suzanne" comics by Paul feature a grandma as the main character. The comics are inspired by the artist's own grandmother, Suzanne, whom he visited in South France during his childhood summers. While the real-life Suzanne was a "real sweetheart", the comic character is more chaotic and unpredictable. The artist believes that his grandmother would have loved this portrayal.

The comics are dark yet silly, and often end with unexpected twists. Paul's intention is to make people laugh, even if they are having a hard day. In his own words, "Don't take yourself too seriously. The world is full of serious people."

Paul's comics are simple in style, and he advises aspiring artists to "get rid of everything, keep the essentials, and it'll be okay". He also recommends seeking feedback from strangers rather than friends, as strangers are more likely to give honest opinions.

In addition to his comics, Paul has a passion for reading, movies, and board games. He also enjoys singing karaoke and has designed a few board games that he hopes to publish someday.

The story's history

The story of "Little Red Riding Hood" or "Little Red Cap" is a French fairy tale for young children about a young girl and a wolf. The story was first written down in the late 1600s by Charles Perrault and published in a book called "Tales and Stories of the Past with Morals: Tales of Mother Goose". The story is called "The Little Red Cap" (Le Petit Chaperon Rouge) in Perrault's version. The best-known version is "Rotkäppchen" by the Brothers Grimm, which dates from the 19th century.

In the story, Little Red Riding Hood is sent by her mother to take food to her sick grandmother. Along the way, she meets a wolf, who makes a plan to eat her. The wolf goes to the grandmother's house and eats her, then puts on her nightcap and gets into her bed. When Little Red Riding Hood arrives, she gets into bed with the wolf, but soon realises that her "grandmother" looks very different. She asks about her grandmother's arms, legs, ears, eyes, and teeth, to which the wolf replies that they are "the better to embrace you", "the better to run with", "the better to hear you", "the better to see you", and "the better to eat you", respectively. The wolf then leaps upon Little Red Riding Hood and eats her.

The story of Little Red Riding Hood has a long history, with various interpretations and adaptations over the years. In the Grimm version, a huntsman slays the wolf and frees the grandmother and Little Red Riding Hood from its stomach. In modern versions, the grandmother often hides in a closet or cupboard instead of being eaten. The story has been adapted into various media, including an opera, a cartoon, and a poem.

The "Psycho Suzanne" comics featured on Bored Panda are a more lighthearted and humorous take on the traditional tale. The comics feature a grandma who is "hilarious and chaotic", providing a refreshing and interesting perspective on senior characters. The artist, Paul, based the character of Suzanne loosely on his own grandmother, with whom he shared a love of horror movies and chess.

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