Jul 27, 2008 - 04:06:06 CDT
All good things must come to an end, for better or for worse.That's the situation with Lynn Johnston's "For Better or for Worse," the daily and Sunday cartoon published in the Tribune. Beginning in August, a new comic strip - "Daddy's Home" - will replace Johnston's cartoon as she transitions into retirement.
Johnson broke considerable ground in her 29-year real-life stories strip, one of the best and most beloved, but one that was not without controversy. For instance, in 1993, a gay character led to some newspapers canceling the strip and some readers protesting, claiming the comic page was not the proper place for such life issues. Since that time, other strips have taken the same path, pushing boundaries with discussions about AIDS and characters dying from breast cancer.
While "For Better or for Worse" will continue in syndication, it is being replaced in the Tribune, but not for political concerns or ideology. For more than a year, Johnston's strip has been a hybrid of new and old cartoons - confusing some readers - but beginning in September, the mix will shift only to reruns - with some updating.
The switch is Johnston's decision. By ending current plotlines, she will have more time to pursue other interests. But the strength of the cartoon, according to many, was the realistic aging of the characters over time, something that will end.
We believe publishing reruns isn't fair to readers, so "Daddy's Home" will be added beginning Monday, Aug. 4. "For Better or for Worse" fans wanting to follow the ending plotlines can do so as the cartoon will be published at www.bismarcktribune.com until completed (no date has been announced, but it should be in early September).
"Daddy's Home" is drawn by co-creators Gary Markstein and Anthony Rubino Jr.
Markstein has won numerous cartooning awards and has been featured in Newsweek, Time and U.S. News and World Report. He has also done award-winning work as a cartoonist for the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Rubino has contributed cartoons to MAD Magazine, National Lampoon and Cracked, and has written seven books, including "Life Lessons from Elvis" and "Life Lessons from Your Dog/Cat."
"Daddy's Home" is about a family where the father, Pete, is a stay-at-home-dad to his son, Elliot, while working from a home office. Pete's wife, Peggy, works out of the home. Pete and Peggy try to make the arrangement work and find time for each other. Elliott's best friend is his next-door neighbor, Maria.
The strip was launched in March and is appearing in the Orange County Register and Washington Post. We hope it finds a strong audience with Tribune readers.
Meanwhile, the remaining Tribune comic lineup remains unchanged with favorites like "Garfield," "Dilbert," "Wizard of Id," "Shoe," "Hagar the Horrible" and "The Born Loser."
(You can reach editor John Irby at 250-8266 or john.irby@bismarcktribune.com and go to www.bismarcktribune.com/blog/?wthepaper&;e_id2671/ to read his blog.)
Online Editor wrote on Aug 7, 2008 8:44 AM:
Cheryl wrote on Aug 6, 2008 10:09 PM:
Helen Schatz wrote on Aug 5, 2008 9:28 AM:
scuttlebutt wrote on Jul 28, 2008 1:27 PM:
My daughter never thought the cartoon was "funny," and it's true that it wasn't a barn-burner, but it never failed to touch me with its gentle, compassionate humor and poignancy.
God Bless, Lynn!! "
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