@Post399 (from yesterday) -
I like your plan and would like to see something like that done. It’s cool that GA has the characters aging in real time, but it becomes such a problem. For example, Joel and Rufus and Kitty. And now Skeezix is so old, he’s become almost as unbelievable as Walt.
Thanks Davidf42! I sometimes wonder who other folks that post comments here might be. My best guess is all ages; backgrounds, etc., with at least two things in common – an enjoyment of Gasoline Alley and a desire to see it continue as much as possible as it has for many years. When I suggest asking Jim to consider, rather than killing off Walt, have him ‘pass over’ to the Old Comic Characters retirement home I am certain this is only one possibility to retaining Walt in the strip. I have resisted the obvious ‘Twilight Zone’ comparison, but I suspect some might see it that way. Still, as I have said before, for years Walt’s activity in the strip has been quite; limited. Therefore, having Walt sit on the front porch with visitors stopping by could fit right in and work well for years to come. Time will tell.
There is less and less resistance to characters aging in serial comics. Walt’s literary death could open a lot of plot doors for Mr. Scancarelli and the audience. Lynn Johnston was famously advised by Charles Schulz to not kill off Farley, the family dog, for fear of alienating readers and possibly losing newspapers. She held off until his passing and ran the storyline. What followed was a series of well-received strips on the transitions in life, able to be discussed openly in a family setting. Instead of losing readership, the entire stature of the For Better or For Worse strip rose exponentially.
The most obvious strip to deal with everyday triumphs and tragedies is Funky Winkerbean. The tough-to-avoid trap is falling into the maudlin abyss. Batiuk is a touch heavy-handed, but his topics happen unvarnished in real life.
So I guess the point is that the GA Universe could withstand Walt’s passing. Flashbacks and references could keep him close and still move the narrative forward.
And YellowPeeps, I appreciate your tolerance of my earlier posts. I have tried to be respectful and measured in my comments.
I still would like to see Mr. Scancarelli acknowledge and correct his actions on the 1/9 strip. Since I know strips are prepared long in advance, he may not be able to do this immediately, but he shouldn’t think that transgression will be forgotten as the haze of time progresses.
Plagiarism is a serious issue in journalism and education – a true professional should not resort to it. It’s the examples that are set in this life that have resonance.
How come Clovia is looking like a middle aged woman? I much prefered the teenage who was just a little bit older than I was and then younger for a long long time. Of course those girls who Don’t age, ie. Little Orphan Annie and Brenda Starr, seem to die more quickly than those who do.
jerumulligan 1, I understand your point. The series where Farley ultimately gave his life while saving little April was moving, indeed. (As an aside, I might add that I regret Lynn Johnston’s current ‘semi retirement’ right up there with the leaving by the likes of Bill Watterson, Berke Breathed and Gary Larson.) However, as cute as Farley was, I find it difficult to compare his removal from For Better or For Worse will the potential loss of Walt Wallet; who after all was Gasoline Alley’s founding/central character back in November, 1918. It would not be until several years later, February 14, 1921, when Skeezix literally landed on Walt’s doorstep.
ChuckTrent64:
Clovia was born on Sunday, 05/15/49, delivered by a police officer in the back of a cab, in a traffic jam on the way to the hospital. When a passerby asked the officer if it was a boy or a girl, he replied, “I don’t pay attention to unessential details, lady.”
Clovia reminds me of singer Lulu, who was born a few months earlier, and like Clovia still looks great: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lulu_%28singer%29
Hillbillyman over 13 years ago
Slims still eating I see. Hey Slim…the moon gets full sometimes.
davidf42 over 13 years ago
I hope they tie Merlo Port Wallet to that long line of Jeremiah Wallets.
davidf42 over 13 years ago
Today’s ANNIE http://www.gocomics.com/annie/2002/01/17/
davidf42 over 13 years ago
@Post399 (from yesterday) - I like your plan and would like to see something like that done. It’s cool that GA has the characters aging in real time, but it becomes such a problem. For example, Joel and Rufus and Kitty. And now Skeezix is so old, he’s become almost as unbelievable as Walt.
shel4 over 13 years ago
Took a drink and fell in the drink?
post399 over 13 years ago
Thanks Davidf42! I sometimes wonder who other folks that post comments here might be. My best guess is all ages; backgrounds, etc., with at least two things in common – an enjoyment of Gasoline Alley and a desire to see it continue as much as possible as it has for many years. When I suggest asking Jim to consider, rather than killing off Walt, have him ‘pass over’ to the Old Comic Characters retirement home I am certain this is only one possibility to retaining Walt in the strip. I have resisted the obvious ‘Twilight Zone’ comparison, but I suspect some might see it that way. Still, as I have said before, for years Walt’s activity in the strip has been quite; limited. Therefore, having Walt sit on the front porch with visitors stopping by could fit right in and work well for years to come. Time will tell.
jerumulligan1 over 13 years ago
There is less and less resistance to characters aging in serial comics. Walt’s literary death could open a lot of plot doors for Mr. Scancarelli and the audience. Lynn Johnston was famously advised by Charles Schulz to not kill off Farley, the family dog, for fear of alienating readers and possibly losing newspapers. She held off until his passing and ran the storyline. What followed was a series of well-received strips on the transitions in life, able to be discussed openly in a family setting. Instead of losing readership, the entire stature of the For Better or For Worse strip rose exponentially.
The most obvious strip to deal with everyday triumphs and tragedies is Funky Winkerbean. The tough-to-avoid trap is falling into the maudlin abyss. Batiuk is a touch heavy-handed, but his topics happen unvarnished in real life.
So I guess the point is that the GA Universe could withstand Walt’s passing. Flashbacks and references could keep him close and still move the narrative forward.
jerumulligan1 over 13 years ago
And YellowPeeps, I appreciate your tolerance of my earlier posts. I have tried to be respectful and measured in my comments. I still would like to see Mr. Scancarelli acknowledge and correct his actions on the 1/9 strip. Since I know strips are prepared long in advance, he may not be able to do this immediately, but he shouldn’t think that transgression will be forgotten as the haze of time progresses.
Plagiarism is a serious issue in journalism and education – a true professional should not resort to it. It’s the examples that are set in this life that have resonance.
ChuckTrent64 over 13 years ago
How come Clovia is looking like a middle aged woman? I much prefered the teenage who was just a little bit older than I was and then younger for a long long time. Of course those girls who Don’t age, ie. Little Orphan Annie and Brenda Starr, seem to die more quickly than those who do.
post399 over 13 years ago
jerumulligan 1, I understand your point. The series where Farley ultimately gave his life while saving little April was moving, indeed. (As an aside, I might add that I regret Lynn Johnston’s current ‘semi retirement’ right up there with the leaving by the likes of Bill Watterson, Berke Breathed and Gary Larson.) However, as cute as Farley was, I find it difficult to compare his removal from For Better or For Worse will the potential loss of Walt Wallet; who after all was Gasoline Alley’s founding/central character back in November, 1918. It would not be until several years later, February 14, 1921, when Skeezix literally landed on Walt’s doorstep.
axe-grinder over 13 years ago
ChuckTrent64: Clovia was born on Sunday, 05/15/49, delivered by a police officer in the back of a cab, in a traffic jam on the way to the hospital. When a passerby asked the officer if it was a boy or a girl, he replied, “I don’t pay attention to unessential details, lady.”
Clovia reminds me of singer Lulu, who was born a few months earlier, and like Clovia still looks great: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lulu_%28singer%29
Dirty Dragon over 13 years ago
Merlo fell into Plymouth Bay? How awful…
.. everyone knows you serve white wine with fish.