The phrase was coined by Arthur R. "Pop" Momand in his 1913 comic strip titled Keeping Up with the Joneses .
: The strip focused on the McGinis family (Aloysius and Clarice), social climbers who constantly struggled to match the lifestyle and material possessions of their neighbors, the Joneses .
Unlike older underground zines, modern JAB comics feature pristine digital ink, vibrant gradient shading, and highly detailed suburban backdrops that mimic standard American sitcom settings.
Among the dozens of titles in the JAB library, Keeping it up with the Joneses remains a standout for three specific reasons: keeping it up with the joneses jab comix
At first glance, the title is a brilliant double entendre—a play on the classic sociological phrase "keeping up with the Joneses" (the social pressure to match your neighbors' status) and the physiological act of "keeping it up." But to dismiss this series as just another punchline would be a mistake. For fans of Jab Comix, this specific storyline represents the pinnacle of character-driven parody, slapstick misfortune, and surprisingly sharp social commentary.
: The initial 1913 strip targeted early American consumerism. It highlighted how families would compromise their financial stability just to maintain a false veneer of luxury.
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The title is a play on the original 1913 comic strip by Arthur "Pop" Momand, which popularized the phrase.
Highly visible, physically idealized neighbors creating relationship tension. Clean, domestic gag-a-day newspaper comedy. Explicit, adult-only, boundary-pushing parody. Medium Syndicated print newspapers like The New York World . Unlike older underground zines, modern JAB comics feature
The final issue ends on a cliffhanger. Dave, now a cyborg, looks at the rubble of the cul-de-sac. Chad is riding a unicycle into the sunset. Wanda is holding a sign that reads "For Sale." The last panel is a wide shot of Dave standing alone, smiling, and whispering to the reader: "Keep running."
KUWTJ (Keeping Up with the Joneses) is a humorous comic strip created by Jab Jones, an American cartoonist known for his witty observations on suburban life, social norms, and the human condition. The strip follows the misadventures of the Jones family, comprising Tom, a well-meaning but befuddled everyman; his wife, Marsha; and their three kids, Greg, Liz, and Ben.
The phrase "Keeping it up with the Joneses" entered the lexicon of adult comic forums as shorthand for competitive cuckoldry or esoteric escalation . You will still find Reddit threads asking, "Does anyone remember the JAB comic where the guy clones himself?" or "Looking for the Joneses comic where the house collapses."
The foundational idiom of "keeping up with the Joneses" centers on consumerism, jealousy, and social validation. As the Cambridge Dictionary defines it, it is the psychological drive to own the same luxury goods as your neighbors out of fear of seeming socially inferior.