Sliding Scale Of Idealism Versus Cynicism: Newspaper Comics
Retail is planted firmly down on the cynicism end of the scale. The comic is about the trials and tribulations of minimum-wage retail workers, almost all of whom hate their jobs, their bosses, their customers, and everything else about their workplace.
Dilbert is very far on the cynicism end. In fact, it's been suggested in the strip (mainly by Dogbert) that "cynicism" and "wisdom" are synonyms.
Pearls Before Swine is generally pretty cynical, particularly during the first few years of the strips run.
While the comic itself is in the middle, leaning toward cynicism, Pig is very far on the idealistic side. Rat, on the other hand, is so far on the cynical side, he's pretty much a Nietzsche Wannabe.
It's actually surprising, when you think about it, just how cynical Peanuts is, particularly in terms of the various ways that Charlie Brown kept getting screwed over and over (such as with kicking the football). It's also a universe where All Love Is Unrequited.
