While none of Mobile’s Mardi Gras organizations ever will match the Comic Cowboys for sheer 12-year-old-boy grossness, it was interesting to see the Knights of Revelry encroach on their satirical territory on Fat Tuesday 2023.

Using the theme “Fool Me Once,” the KORs took a few potshots at ambulance-chasing law firms, sketchy media, “As seen on TV” marketing, telemarketers and other afflictions of modern life. Despite the profanity these entities may have inspired, the KORs kept their floats family friendly.

That was not the case with the Comic Cowboys, third in a string of three midday parades that started with the KORs. Not satisfied with one Brittney Griner gag – “The first time anyone cared about a WNBA transfer” – they included a second built around a lesbian slur. Another placard starring Elton John was likewise crude enough to make Beavis and Butthead groan.

We’ve left those out of the accompany gallery on grounds of taste, the rest is included for anyone to assess the wit or lack thereof in this year’s procession.

The relative cheapness of human life was again a popular Cowboy topic, with multiple jokes targeting violence: “Good news: Mobile falls to 2nd in murder rate in Alabama. Better news: We can still kill it in ‘23.” Another had Mayor Simpson’s “One Mobile” slogan changed to “Run Mobile,” with people scattering amid flying bullets.

The theme ramified in a couple of directions, including Alabama’s death row. “Alabama Football & Capital Punishment: Neither one can execute!” And “Alabama corrections hires junkies – surely they can find a vein!”

For maximum callousness, however, you had to be a Democratic politician. “John Fetterman wins senate: Had to be a stroke of luck.” And “Mr. Pelosi learned nothing from his D.U.I.: Keeps on getting’ hammered.”

The gags that best illustrated the satirical crew’s potential may be those that hit a little close to home. “15 ballots to elect house speaker? Still more efficient than Mobile City Council,” said one zinger, showing a rodent on a treadmill. The Mystics of Time took a shot for the tendency of their famed dragon floats to break down: “Hey MOT! Just let the crowd walk by you!” And a salute to a local bakery that experienced a shutdown over sanitation issues: “Good news! Pollman’s is back. Bad news! Those weren’t raisins.”

And there was one last shot at the Mobile Press Register, soon to end its print run. “Mobile Press Register vs. Comic Cowboys,” said the sign, showing a cowboy wrapping his fish in another publication. “At least we are still here.”

Well, as they say in Mobile: The only thing worse than not being targeted by the Comic Cowboys is not being worth targeting by the Comic Cowboys.