Gasoline Alley by Jim Scancarelli for April 11, 2013

Way to disrupt Walt’s reverie!

Why aren’t Walt’s wife and Doc and Avery and all the other characters that have passed on at the comics home? Maybe you have to be the main character to be there!

Let’s face it. The Comics Home is really the other side. All those characters would in real life be dead now any way. It’s a nice device for Jim to continue with Walt and what a nice surprise it would be for him to meet again Doc, Avery and Phyllis!

I wonder if her car has broken down?

What a disappointment! I really was looking forward to seeing Walt visit the Home!

That’s the list alright. As you say, ignore it.

Orphan Annie isn’t there. She still has her strip.

Ain’t the same strip anymore by a long shot. Neither is Alley Oop.

All these years and Annie was never adopted?

The characters mentioned were in strips that were “retired”. In Gasoline Alley, Phyllis was not sent to a home; she died as real people do.

Why can’t one of the grandchildren take him? There are plenty of them. Then we could get caught up on some characters we never see. The alternative would be for Skeezix to drive, but is that safe? He’s within a week of my Mom’s age, and she turned in her license last year when she missed the parking spot she was aiming for and nailed the “Handicapped” sign instead.

It looks like Jim has Walt focusing on comic characters from the WWII era, and before. If you want to look for some not – yet – in Walt’s memory balloon think of those associated with the likes of Pogo, Lil’ Abner, Calvin, Peanuts, Bloom County and more…. And, while writing, I like to add: Jim, the quality of your art work for this strip is right up there with the very best, including the legendary Hal Foster who started the epic Prince Valiant. Please keep up the great work!

While this story arc is “ok”, I miss the comics featuring Joel, as I think he expresses the most enjoyable humor. It was nice seeing the image of Smokey Stover!

Annie was adopted back in the 30s by Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks, but he has a longstanding habit of being kidnapped, faking his own death, etc., etc., etc.

The new “Annie” was actually deliberately ended on a cliffhanger.

-and David Crane; Mary Perkins; Barney Google; and the detective named Kirby whose first name escapes me-

I don’t know why there’s a line over my former message—

I’d be glad to give Walt a ride, unless the home really is on “the other side”.