For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston

Tags: jungle, girl, 8/31/2008, final, panel, 8.31.08, forbetterorworse, the last time, One of the BEST comics, PityPats, Cartoons, Concluding, strip, last, Episode, last FBOW, last fbofw, final fbofw, summation, Ending, comic. Add Tags

Comments (67) Jump to Comments Form

bluetopazcrystal said, about 1 year ago

So the present is done and future is told. Then the story begins again on Monday? I am excited!
To Comicreviewer,
Again I say, Why is it that, as a culture, we are more comfortable seeing two men holding guns than holding hands? ~Ernest Gaines
I hope to read more stories about the diverse groups Lynn supports in her comic. Way to go Lynn!!
Dale Hopson said, about 1 year ago

WOW!
AliKzam said, about 1 year ago

Okay, where’s the tissue? That was awesome.
Timoteous said, about 1 year ago

Although I have not read the For Better Or For Worse strip from the beginning; thank you for the time that you made me feel like a part of a family, even though it was part of a family drawn by Lynn Johnston. Lynn when you said that Grandpa Jim lived to be 89 years old and lived long enough to see the birth of his great-grandson James Allen Caine; that brought back memories when my own Grandfather George Edward Monroe, Sr. lived until he was 84 years old and he got to see some of his great-grandchildren.
brianric said, about 1 year ago

I’m glad to see the story end like this. We can dream on about the Pattersons, knowing the story ended happy.
rmbdot said, about 1 year ago

Jesse and Ms. Edwards didn’t get to Liz’s wedding?
Where’s Tracey?

Ah, well, a pretty good ending. It wasn’t the full group portrait I hoped for, but at least we had most of the principals in the splash panel with the title.
SARA BOWLDEN said, about 1 year ago

Thanks Lynn, for sharing yor family with us. My parents are from Canada and my brother and I have spent a great deal of time with family there. We all have enjoyed your strips for many years (I think I remember back before Micheal was born!)

I am looking forward to taking the journey again!
c h said, about 1 year ago

Lynn, Best of luck to you! I feel as though I know you personally - our families seemed to “grow up” together - as I “saw” them through your comic strips eyes. Young motherhood, those teenage years, seeing them become adults.
Anysia said, about 1 year ago

Thank you for the marvelous, and realistic, journey through life. Thank you for keeping it real and not being judgmental or hiding things that some people might find uncomfortable.

Best of luck to you, Lynn.
Richard B said, about 1 year ago

Thank you Lynn, for a beautiful family story well told. Keep up the good work. Looking forward to the new story.
Bernie Hamblin said, about 1 year ago

Thanks for 29 years. Your family has been a part of my family.
Nozzi said, about 1 year ago

Thankyou for entertaining us throughout the years with your stories everyday. FBOFW was a strip that I never wanted to admit was my favorite but it was almost always the first one I so eagerly read. For some reason I never lost interest in following the lives of a family whom I hardly had anything in common. Good luck & God bless.
gtweaver1 said, about 1 year ago

What a nice wrap-up to a wonderful comic series!
Am looking forward to the “new” story, however “recycled” it may be (as some are already complaining, without having seen it yet).
Have always enjoyed the fact that the story is set in Canada; it’s part of the strip’s appeal, in my opinion. Although both my parents were born in Detroit, MI, my mother grew up in Ontario, so I have always had a “soft spot”, so to speak, for Canadiana, if that’s the right word (my spell checker doesn’t seem to think so…).

Again, it’s sad to see that some people have to inject their homophobia and negativism into the comment section here. If you don’t like, don’t read it. If you are afraid of people that are unlike yourself, you miss out on a lot of interesting people. I truly believe that “Variety is the Spice of Life” and that the world would be a much duller place if we were all alike.

I understand that some people, like TheComicReviewer, may be uncomfortable with homosexuals or homosexuality, but I don’t understand why the mere mention of it gets you so disturbed. It’s not going away; even other species have homosexuality, so, if you are a so-called Christian, that should be evidence that it is entirely natural. God doesn’t make mistakes, as they say! Although, I wonder, sometimes, with all the suffering, poverty, war, famine, etc. if He/She is really on the job. But that is MY personal belief, and I don’t try to impose it upon anyone.

I wish others felt the same way about imposing their beliefs on me. There is a difference between free speech and hate speech, and I think some of the commenters here have crossed that line.
I am looking forward to the new storyline, and on that positive note, I hope that everyone here can learn to accept each others’ differences, if they can’t learn to appreciate them.

All my best to LJ, and thank you for many years of reading pleasure.

Dr. Gary, North Carolina, USA
jmworacle said, about 1 year ago

Such a lovely ending to a classic
comic strip. I hope that in between
the the new storyline format we get updates on the Patteron’s.

Lynn: “YOU ROCK THE HOUSE!”
liztish said, about 1 year ago

What a fabulous 29 years…. I’ve been reading FBOFW the entire way! Today’s ending was more than I expected. I’m looking forward to Monday’s new/old adventure! Thanks Lynn, and best of luck!
John Weems said, about 1 year ago

Wow! I didn’t see this coming! I am sad–as this strip has been my favorite for many of my seventy years. Looking forward to Monday’s “rebirth”. Good luck! John Weems
miguel491 said, about 1 year ago

I am happy that Lynn ended this cartoon strip this way. I would always wonder what ever happened to these wonderful characters. I look forward to seeing the new cartoon strip. I am sure it will be very good.
paulade said, about 1 year ago

I too did not see this coming. I read this last strip, took a deep breath and cried. I know these people. I’m glad the strip ended on a happy note, but it’s hard to say goodbye. Your family got me through some hard times in my life and my family’s life. Always real, honest, loving approaches to all of life. Thank you Lynn from the bottom of my heart, for sharing your life with us. God bless.
Catherine Crisp said, about 1 year ago

Last For Better or For Worse: save forever :-)
arnaperry said, about 1 year ago

Dear Lynn,

You have made so many people laugh and cry with your comic strip. Thank you so very much for bringing the Pattersons and all their friends and extended family to my home each and every day.

AP
catshawn said, about 1 year ago

This story has been a part of my life for so long the family seems to be a part of my family. I will miss the Patterson family cont. story, but look forward to looking back. Thank you Lynne for many years of love, laughter and family.
I can only hope that every once in a while you will slip in an update
about the family we love. God Bless
and good luck.
swolf48110 said, about 1 year ago

“ComicReveiwer” would you please get a life!
Gweedo Murray said, about 1 year ago

Lynn, you have now joined the pantheon of
greats: Charles Schulz, T.K. Ryan (Tumbleweeds), Chester Gould, Frank King (original Gasoline Alley), Al Capp, Bill Watterson, Johnny Hart, Walt Kelly (Pogo), Lynn Johnston, The list goes on. I Appologise for not including other lady authors as I couldn’t think of any at the moment. Practically all the comics I read as a kid were done by men. I am 51 yrs. old and grew up just outside Buffalo, New York. The Peace Bridge was/is a well known portal into Canadia. In the late 60’s, early 70’s Crystal Beach was a favourite destination as was seeing the Falls from both sides. My Dad remembers the old cyclone roller coaster from the 1940’s. I wish you the best in your life and with your present opportunity to revisit earlier material. I hope you check the comments page as Brooke McEldowney appears to on the Pibgorn strip. He’s AWESOME, albeit in a semi underground kind of way. CHEERS Gordon
im4cozytown said, about 1 year ago

Thank you. For bringing real life to the comics. Loved this comic and enjoyed the reading as the family changed. Showing how real life occurs. This was the best.

And yes, ComicReviewer, you need to get over yourself. If you didn’t like the storyline, then God gave you the ability to choose not to read it. Go read Blondie, where nothing changes, nobody ages, and life is perfect.
Gweedo Murray said, about 1 year ago

Catherine Crisp- You’ll have to buy the complete collection when it comes out as it has for Calvin and Hobbes. I’m certainly considering it for myself.
l-empress said, about 1 year ago

Thank you; I love it! Reminds me of the end of “Jo’s Boys,” but I like this one better.
summerdog said, about 1 year ago

It was nice of Lynn to give us this epilogue. I wasn’t expecting it. Well, done!
elfinelvin said, about 1 year ago

Thanks for this wonderful finale Lynn. This is really great to see them fading into the future instead of just stopping. I’m enjoying the early strips that I missed the first time around. Thanks again.
Bonnie Borellis said, about 1 year ago

What a gift you have, Lynn.

What a gift you gave!
Micheleezette said, about 1 year ago

Im excited and can’t wait until Monday!!
bhppoole1 said, about 1 year ago

I have loved this comic for as many years as I can remember. It has been so much a part of me and my own life. It has been a joy to read, except when there have been deaths. I hated it when the dog died and grandmother, but this too happens in real life. Thank you for the joy that your writing has brought me each day. Love to you and your family. Brenda Poole
Micheleezette said, about 1 year ago

To Kr. Gary or gtweaver1: Thank you! I wish more people had your way of perceiving life. There is no room in this world for narrow mindedness.
Silverpearl said, about 1 year ago

I’m with gtweaver aka Dr. Gary.
JosePeterson said, about 1 year ago

But what becomes of Shiimsa?
cptcarrot said, about 1 year ago

I must have missed something because I have not seen anything in the comic that has been promoting a homosexual lifestyle. I look forward to seeing more of the FBoFW stories.
Yukoneric said, about 1 year ago

Looking forward to returning to the beginning!!!!!!
patshellenberger said, about 1 year ago

Thank you for so many years of good wholesome american attitudes.
Looking forward to the new series.
Mzpat1313
ann mintz said, about 1 year ago

This family and their friends have been part of my life for decades. I will miss the Pattersons, even as we revisit the story from a different perspective. I’m glad she included life in all its facets with such sensitivity– Lawrence and Shannon, Farley’s death, Grandpa Jim’s aging. Well Done!
JmcaRice said, about 1 year ago

A very fond farewell indeed. Everyone please ignore people like the TheComicReviewer. They crave attention and will say or do anything to provoke a reaction. Don’t waste your positive energy trying to fill their emptiness.
alvmitchel said, about 1 year ago

Thank you!!!!
yenrab said, about 1 year ago

I look forward to the next 29 years. Lynn draws one of the best on the market today. Our family has taken this strip to heart. On the day that Grandma died, my Father-in-law died, and my wife cried and cried. Keep up the good work and Semper Fi. Don
forrest11 said, about 1 year ago

Very well done Lynn on your achievement.
cmwulf said, about 1 year ago

Perfect way to end a wonderful story! I have been reading this since Lizzard breath was a toddler (anyone remember the red rain boots and umbrella strip?)

P.S
comic reviewer, get a life! If the strip offends you read something else, no one is stopping you
forrest11 said, about 1 year ago

TheComicReviewer, get a life (well said cmwulf)!

And TheComicReviewer as if you can do any better….Oh wait you can’t do any better because this is the best.
Angelique Mitchell said, about 1 year ago

All things come to an end, good and bad. This has been a bright spot in the lives of many people for a very long time and will be missed greatly. I wish Lynn well in whatever she does next, and thank her for 29 years of joy. ~Angel~
bluetopazcrystal said, about 1 year ago

These are tears in my eyes.
oh my! It was like a good book, that I read a little at a time for 29 years.
AliKzam said, about 1 year ago

cptcarrot, I could describe the story for you, but Lynn’s website does a far better job. on fbofw.com go find Lawrence’s story. It was a very good and important story, and who knew it would be so moving? It explains everything, including the intolerance felt by some of her more bigoted fans and a few newspapers.
diana47 said, about 1 year ago

Thank you for a wonderful, warming , family read each day for more years than I care to remember. I look forward keenly to you new episodes. Keep up the good work Lynn.
sugie63 said, about 1 year ago

Thank you,thank you,thankyou for tieing up all the families lives. For every old road that ends a new one begins. I will be looking forward to finding out what is around the next bend. Good luck on you new endeavor.
Greypilgrim said, about 1 year ago

Fade to black. The play is done. The book is closed.
My heart is heavy with
the end of the strip, but life DOES go on. And thankfully, so does Lynn. Thank you, Lynn, for bringing us into the lives of the Pattersons and making them a part of OUR lives.
One person forgotten in the follow-up is Shannon…What DID happen to her? I’m sure great things, but I am curious to know for sure.