It's nice that now you're planning on living longer. Don't seem to have updated the leisure wear, however.

Dude! That make this a _meta_ running gag! Pretend it's deliberate!

Is the guy in panel four wearing the same headgear as Lando Calrissian's assistant?

If it makes you feel any better, I think bringing this strip back only made it funnier.

I kinda like the comparison between this one and the old one - very different emphasis.

In the old one, the featured running joke is reasonably funny, and it comes about naturally in conversation, and it's presented subtly at the funeral.

In this one, the running joke is lousy, and is introduced unilaterally (which commonly produces unfunny jokes), and he uses it, knowing it annoys everyone, and uses it just for that purpose, and trolls his whole funeral with a pre-recorded video.

They show the two sides of a running joke well, imo :-)

You may have broken the meter by which meta is measured, sir.

You should add the 'HA!' bubble from the original version. :D

'Course, this now means that some time in 2014 he's gonna have to do this one again.

Awesome, the comments from the previous strip point out that you had cribbed the funeral artwork from an even earlier strip.

do a couple strips that are completely out of the ordinary, (maybe not even BI strips) don't rely on any of your own standbyes, see if that recharges your creativity, or conversely, makes you miss the thing you already do well.

Or something.

Scott, you now have no option to put this into your will.

I've always said, jokes are like wine and cheese: better with age and reuse.

Quality repeats itself.

Is the guy in the fourth panel Lardass McBackgammonboard?

I think you're safe on this one; the two comics are significantly different.

In this one, the cause of his early funeral is quite clear.

Have a well-deserved rest Scott, you've earned it.
Everyone needs to charge their batteries once in a while.

... and then come back flying like a Duracell ninja.

Good strip by the way. The wordplay on "run into the ground" really makes it. :-)

The same head gear as lo-bot his name is lo-bot.

I was going to say, I do recognize that last frame! Enjoy your rest Scott :)

Sadly, it doesn't look like you will live longer at all. In your funeral video you look just the same age as the rest of the strip!

This comic is like if your Running Gag comic and your Meme comic (I forget the exact names) had a baby.

Are we really doomed to have discs on our shoulders in the future?

Scott, I can understand the frustration of working hard on something you thought was original only to find out that you had forgotten you had done something very similar. While the premise was the same, you ran this one into the ground unlike the previous one that was similar.

What you do is unique and keeps me comming back everyday (well, at least Mon, Wed, Fri). I am on my second trip through your books as there is so much you do that I am surprised you don't repeat yourself more often. Many of the greats take successful themes and put twists on them. The human populace in general likes the comfort of knowing what to expect, just look at the comics in the paper that have rarely changed in the last 30 years.

As the commentor, ACF, said, you are safe. Nothing to worry about here.

I enjoyed this one and don't feel you are coasting or even getting stale. This one was a success no matter how similar to the other one.

Your only option is to write another one of these comics, and put it in your actual will to have the comic presented at your funeral. Then you will have created the ultimate metajoke.

>> Are we really doomed to have discs on our shoulders in the future?

I think those are water wings - you probably have to swim everywhere because of the rising water levels.

Ah, Basic Instructions. They never fail to make me smile. And your facial expressions in this strip are several of my favorites. At the risk of coming across as an annoying know-it-all (which may or may not be accurate), did you know that "resurrect" is spelled incorrectly in panel four? Great strip overall, though.

We want Missy! We want Missy!

This might be a 're-hash' but I think it's much funnier than the original. Well done!!

"Are we really doomed to have discs on our shoulders in the future?"
==============

LOL. Awesome comment.

Typo alert: In panel 4 'resurect' should be 'resurrect'.

You followed the instructions from years ago. You let it fade away and then dredged it up. And it is far funnier than ever before!

Great work on this, and enjoy your well-deserved break.

Reruns are one thing; subtle recycling of postures and gesturing from strips of the past is always welcomed. Panel one has the "Jazzy Hands Of Fury" look and oft-used panel 2 stance is "VIOLENCE FIGHT!"

Thanks for being eco-friendly Scott !

Sweet funeral. I'd totes attend.

I somehow suspect that you've not only done this on purpose, but several years from now, the subject of recurring jokes will return, yet again, funeral scene included.

Lardass McBackgammonboard! That still makes me laugh!

Scott, it simply does not matter if this comic is fresh or not.

You got to wear the Smoking Jacket! That's right... hard video evidence that there ARE occasions where it is fully appropriate attire.

So... win? Yes.

Also...

http://basicinstructions.net/basic-instructions/2010/3/31/how-to-get-maximum-enjoyment-out-of-an-internet-meme.html

take a break Mr. Meyer. We will be here when you are ready. Seriously, creative work isnt a faucet so rest, relax, go on a native american dream quest, I dunno know. Maybe have fun.

You been giving us plenty of entertainment for years now and for that I am grateful.

I think both jokes are pretty funny, and a "virtual rerun" is better than a real rerun :)

Why it helps that this is a web comic. I had no idea what the theme from Magnum P.I. sounded like. So I found it on YouTube, and read this comic again while listening to it.

Fracking awesome!!!