You can argue that for Mardi Gras 2024, Mobile’s Comic Cowboys stuck a little closer to their slogan, “Without Malice.”

We’re not saying you’d win the argument, but you could make a case. You could argue that the group’s distinctive Fat Tuesday parade, which features a collection satirical cartoons, seemed to take a slightly more moderate tack than the 2023 version. After all, the 2023 edition included some gross sexual shots at WNBA player Brittney Griner, Elton John and Gov. Kay Ivey, as well as some tacky digs at Democratic political figures: “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.”

Be prepared for a brisk counter-argument. You certainly can’t say the group, whose displayed tastefulness or sensitivity in its 2024 gallery. Heaven forbid – “Go woke, go broke,” read one motto, taking aim at Disney, Target, Bud Light and Sports Illustrated.

This year’s most crass zingers: An allegation that if new I-10 bridge planned for Mobile were a connector to “Epstein Island,” it would already be built. A mock headline saying a disgraced cleric had assumed the missionary position. A suggestion that President Joe Biden would catch a break if his son Hunter developed a brain tumor. You know, like the one that killed his other son. (AL.com has left those three gags, and one more about a Congressional sex scandal, out of the accompanying gallery.)

Longstanding tradition calls for the Cowboys to cross the line into genuine public outrage about once a decade. The innocent bystanders who comprise the Mobile City Council will find out soon enough if this is one of those years. There’s certainly potential for offense.

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“MPD finally releases Body Cam footage, with shocking results!” said one sign, accompanied by the image of a cartoon electrocution, suggesting a local case involving the death of a suspect after a tasing and the ensuing battle over video evidence. “If MPD doesn’t stop killing people, Sandy is gonna have to annex again,” read another.

As always with the Comic Cowboys, death is just a final indignity – even for Jimmy Buffett. One float suggested his last hit was “Changes in Altitude,” showing that his was now below ground level.

More slings and arrows of outrageous commentary:

“Who’s gonna be our next President?” asked one sign. The answer: “Depends.” This was accompanied by the image of Joe Biden and Donald Trump standing side by side in adult diapers.

“How far away is ROME? 5,324 miles as the CROW flies,” said one, inspired by the scandal around Alex Crow, a Catholic priest whose flight to Europe with an 18-year-old woman led to his removal from the priesthood. (As usual with the Cowboys, if it’s good enough for one gag, it’s good enough for two.)

A sign featuring images of two tents in Bienville Square. The resident of one asks “What brings you here?” “Biloxi P.D.” answers the resident of the other, referring to alleged dumping of homeless people across state and municipal lines. (There was another double-dip on this topic, with the other placard reading “WFF Biloxi PD? You couldn’t stop in Grand Bay!”

Naturally there was a late dig at a local restaurant whose battles with health inspectors have made headlines recently. “Spot of Tea is closed? Aww … rats,” it said.

A reference to the brawl that followed a local bowl game: “After losing 59-10 Eastern Michigan still had some fight left in ‘em.”

Plenty of references to violent crime, such as yet another incident uncomfortably close to Mobile’s New Year’s Eve festivities: “In Times Square they’re doing shots. In Bienville Square they’re getting shot.”

State-level politics got a few digs, as always. “Yo, Cannabis Commission – Don’t Bogart those licenses!” read one.