A Final FOOBish Thought
It’s been quite awhile since I wrote about “For Better or For Worse”, which has entered the “hybrid” phase of the strip now that Lynn Johnston has stopped writing new episodes. Instead, the syndicate prints reruns from WAY back in the day, framed occasionally by a sorta-kinda narrative taking place in the present, usually Michael Patterson and his kids going through the family photo album.
Here’s a good example: note the meta-narrative in the first panel.
It’s pretty freakin’ lame, and honestly I have no idea why the strip continues. In fact, I have mixed feelings about ANY strip continuing after the original writer/illustrator dies, with precious few exceptions.
For instance, BC, whose creator Johnny Hart died in April 2007. Why is this strip still running? It’s not funny, never was funny, and is taking up space that could be given to newer comic artists.
Same with Blondie, a strip that I actually enjoy, mainly because it’s so stupid. Or Dennis the Menace, whose creator also died a few years ago. Or Gasoline Alley, which in its day was one of the most vibrantly illustrated comic strips on the funny pages.
Compare these treasure to today’s pathetic offering:
It’s nothing more than primitively drawn dogshit.
To my way of thinking, about the only two strips by deceased writers that have a place on the comics page are Peanuts, especially the early strips which were characterized by bleak existential neuroses and anxiety, and Popeye, which remains completely bizarre and timeless, a relic from the Krazy Kat era.
So get FBFW off the comics page and give the space to an up-and-comer.
One Response to “A Final FOOBish Thought”
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September 16th, 2007 at 4:42 pm
Saw this, thought you might be interested…
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070914/ENT05/709140316/1035/ENT
BTW, now that I’m registered to comment (just did so in order to post that link), I’d like to say that I enjoy reading your blog, man. Keep it up. I’m not so much into this For Better or For Worse stuff (i don’t really get it), but I like reading your rants on politics, and I like your pictures.
I found your site after my Dad told me about it. He said he had linked to you from his blog, and you had sent him an e-mail thanking him for the link. He absolutely raved about your site. I haven’t seen much that disappoints.