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A single-panel newspaper comic begun in 1993 by cartoonist Jeff [=MacNelly=], best known for his long-running comic strip ''ComicStrip/{{Shoe}}''.

In ''Pluggers'', a cast of FunnyAnimal characters illustrate reader-submitted one-liners about "Pluggers": working-class, mostly middle-aged, largely rural people who "unceremoniously keep plugging along, balancing work, play and family life." An example might be "You're a Plugger when the most expensive piece of clothing you own is an NFL jersey."

It's not commonly known, but the five main characters have names: Andy Bear, Sheila Roo, Carl Rhinowski, Earl Houndstooth and Henrietta Beak. There's no reward for guessing that they are, respectively, a bear, kangaroo, rhinoceros, dog and hen. According to [[http://web.archive.org/web/19970208084918/www.pluggers.com/cast.html an old version of the now defunct website]], there were once more characters.

[=MacNelly=] originally wrote the gags himself, but made the shift to reader-submitted gags after receiving so many. He handed art duties to Gary Brookins in 1997, who also took over in the same capacity on ''Shoe'' after [=MacNelly=] died in 2000. Brookins has since retired, passing the baton to Rick [=McKee=] in 2020.

''Pluggers'' can be read [[http://www.gocomics.com/pluggers/ here]].

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!!Tropes:

* TheAllegedCar: Apparently a fairly typical Plugger vehicle, if [[http://www.gocomics.com/comic/explore/1567210/2 this strip]] is correct.
* AllThereInTheManual: The now-defunct website listed the names and backstories of the various characters. [[InformedAttribute These traits almost never showed up in the actual strip]] (for instance, Sheila is supposed to be an aerobics instructor).
* AsideGlance: Sheila's default expression.
* BigEater: Several strips make Pluggers out to be this. One example: A Plugger's appetite suppressant is having a DagwoodSandwich before dinner.
* BlanketTugOWar: [[http://joshreads.com/images/10/10/i101029pluggers.gif "A plugger knows that one good turn gets most of the blanket."]]
* ChuckCunninghamSyndrome: Most of the characters listed in the archived character sheet above have disappeared. A cat couple also showed up in the 2000s, but have disappeared as well.
* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: Originally, [=MacNelly=] wrote and drew the strip by himself, but so many readers began submitting gags that he made them entirely user-submitted. He also handed over art duties to Gary Brookins in order to focus all of his efforts on ''Shoe''.
* TheEveryman: Andy Bear.
* FatAndSkinny: Andy and Sheila, respectively.
* FlyoverCountry: Where Pluggers chiefly reside.
* FurryConfusion: Since the characters are drawn as anthropomorphic animals, but the ideas used in the strip are submitted by readers (i.e. humans,) the overlap can range from confusing (the bear taking a normal dog for a walk) to disturbing (the hen storing her jewelry in an egg carton).
** To take the confusion to massive levels, one strip says 'When a Plugger's wife uses the words "Honey" "Sweetie" and "Sugar Pie" he knows she's talking to the dog' yet the husband is a Dog.
** Lampshaded in this comic [[http://www.gocomics.com/pluggers/2014/03/21#.UyyQxqhdWuI here]]
** A painting of Elvis is featured in one strip...[[LionsAndTigersAndHumansOhMy and he's a human.]] Makes you wonder about Plugger Jesus...
* InexplicablyTailless: Everyone, but Sheila in particular stands out. At least [[http://web.archive.org/web/19970310024414im_/http://www.pluggers.com/images/06-23-96.gif one strip]] from the [=MacNelly=] era averted it, though.
* InterspeciesRomance: Andy Bear and Sheila Roo are married, as are Earl and Henrietta. Even more confusingly, Andy and Sheila have both [[http://www.gocomics.com/pluggers/2010/05/29/ kangaroo and bear offspring]].
* KangaroosRepresentAustralia: According to her bio on the old website, Sheila Roo is Australian, though [[TheArtifact like everything else there it's been long abandoned.]]
* MeaningfulName: "Sheila" is Aussie slang for a woman. And then there's [[PunnyName Henrietta]].
* NonMammalMammaries: Yes, Henrietta has breasts. One could even argue that a marsupial character shouldn't have breasts, either...
* NostalgiaFilter: Distaste for any entertainment made since you attended high school seems to be a requirement for Pluggerhood; many punchlines are about how pluggers only watch old movies and classic reruns, and only listen to the oldies stations.
* NutritionalNightmare: Pluggers pretty much live on junk food.
* RougeAnglesOfSatin: Seriously, how do you do something like [[http://www.gocomics.com/pluggers/2010/04/09/ this]]?
* TheScrooge: Some strips try to praise Plugger frugality but end up portraying them as this; given the lengths Pluggers will go to save money, like using the same paper bag for lunch every day or [[FacialHorror using a disposable razor for months on end,]] the message is less "Pluggers are admirably frugal" and more "Pluggers will do absolutely anything to avoid spending money."
* ShoutOut:
** In [[http://www.gocomics.com/pluggers/2001/12/16/ this strip]], the newspaper clearly has a ''Shoe'' splash panel on it.
** [[http://www.gocomics.com/pluggers/2003/11/23/ This strip]] is a pretty sincere tribute to Radio/PaulHarvey.
** [[http://www.gocomics.com/pluggers/2012/05/06 Tracy Byrd]], anyone?
** When frequent contributor Reed Hoover died, the strip did a week of panels based on ideas submitted by him, followed by one which said, [[https://www.gocomics.com/pluggers/2019/05/13 "Pluggers know the most widely published author in recent history isn't J.K. Rowling, but Reed Hoover."]]
* {{Technophobia}}: A common plugger trait is distrust and distaste towards advanced technology like...toilet paper roll holders and bread bag twist ties.
* ThisLoserIsYou: A strange case, as the traits depicted are supplied by readers of the comic. Possibly SelfDeprecation in many cases.
** For reference, common recurring themes in the comics are "Pluggers are [[FatSlob fat]]", "Pluggers are [[WorkingClassPeopleAreMorons dumb]]", "Pluggers are afraid of [[NewTechnologyIsEvil modern technology]]", "Pluggers are couch potatoes", "Pluggers are [[ThePigPen slobs]]", "[[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment Pluggers are fat]]", "Pluggers have no sex drive", "Pluggers drive [[TheAllegedCar rattling junkheaps]]", "Pluggers have terrible diets", "Pluggers require constant medication to stay alive", "[[RuleOfThree Pluggers are fat]]", "Pluggers are [[TheScrooge cheapskates]]", "Pluggers have to [[ToiletHumour use the bathroom constantly]]", "Pluggers are [[GrumpyOldMan old and out of touch]]", "Pluggers are always broke", and "[[OverlyLongGag Pluggers are fat]]".
** An alternative interpretation is that Pluggers are sincerely meant to be WorkingClassHero types, but end up being ''seen'' as losers and hicks by more "sophisticated" and/or snobbish readers.
* WhyDoYouKeepChangingJobs: The core five originally had stated jobs; Andy was a construction foreman, Sheila an aerobics instructor, Carl a construction worker and Earl and Henrietta retirees. Now any of them might be seen at any job at any time.
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