If this is the Walt Wallet swan song, I hope that insufferable clown Gerdo at least has the decency to stay out of the picture till it’s over. This porch swing/exotic bird setup is poised to be quite poetic.
That’s just wild Axe. Walt exits the comic, a la Tippi Hedrin? Laugh, I don’t think so.
Why is everyone so eager to see Walt go? Can’t we just let him fade off to the Old Comics Home? If Walt dies I am done following this comic. You can’t have Gasoline Alley without Walt Wallet. He’s the thread that ties it all together. He needs to be out there, somewhere, giving meaning to all the craziness. Losing Walt would be like losing Lil’ Orphan Annie, Dick Tracy or Dagwood Bumstead. Comic strip land doesn’t have to follow the same rules as our own, sad world. Suspension of disbelief is a powerful thing.
Dypak, it’s not that we’re EAGER to see Walt go, it’s just that one of the main features of this strip has been the natural passage of time, starting with Skeezix showing up on Walt’s doorstep as a foundling 89 years ago.
We’ve seen that landmark event grow into a decades-long story of an extended family now in its fifth generation. While there have been some elements of fantasy in play (Rufus and Joel seem eternal, and Melba’s aging is severely arrested), and some characters’ depictions don’t really match their ages (Gus Alley and Kathleen Elly, who were drawn as 10-year-olds last time we saw them even though they were teenagers), but for the most part people in this strip get old and eventually pass away. This hasn’t been the case in the other strips you mention. Annie will forever be elevenish, Dick Tracy will be stuck at about 50 forever (enough time has passed in that strip for Junior to grow to adulthood, marry, become a widower and marry AGAIN) and the Bumstead kids will never graduate high school, but next year Skeezix Wallet will have a birthday cake with a big “90” on it.
Walt is the last surviving member of the original cast, and sure, there’s a desire not to lose him, but keeping him around forever violates the rules of the world in which the strip takes place. Doc, Bill and Avery all passed, albeit offscreen. Uriah Pert passed. Nina’s parents passed. Phyllis passed. Eventually, Walt must pass.
It makes sense from a story standpoint, and it would allow Walt to rejoin his old friends and the love of his life. And then Skeezix would take his place as the patriarch of the extended Wallet family. He and Corky and Judy have been extremely fortunate to have had Walt as part of their lives for as long as they have, and that’s something that would comfort them at his passing.
This strip is a very pretty scene although the birds are not in the area there suppose to be.
There are a lot newer homes in KS where there are not front porches but homeowners had to build decks mostly in back. My mom house does have a front porch it was built in 1947 the house where my husband parent’s where to retire does have a front porch build in 1957. Where I live at someone build a deck with no roof. There was one but they tore down now we have to save up for one. We have a bi-level house.
I’m amazed at the history of the Walet clan. I hope I seen a good age not sure I’ll always be on gocomics.
Is Walt’s house supposed to be the same one that he was in as a bachelor when Skeezix was left on his doorstep, or did he and Phyllis move at some point?
I wonder if it’s just the medication, or maybe a tropical bird farm sprang a leak and they’re real. Not that anyone will believe him until the end of the storyline if he’s on a potential hallucinogenic medication.
I think ol’ Walt will be around for a while yet. Didn’t the characters’ age suspend somewhat during Mr. Moore’s tenure?
Um…folks, one of the side effects mentioned was hallucinations.
Walt isn’t going anywhere (at least not in this sequence).
This is just a chance for Jim to show off his extraordinary talent.
leakysqueaky712 about 14 years ago
UH OH……….I dont like the looks of this.
leakysqueaky712 about 14 years ago
I don’t know Joe………I sure hope he’s not “slipping away”
Steve Bartholomew about 14 years ago
Either too many birds or too much medication.
ocean17 about 14 years ago
If this is the Walt Wallet swan song, I hope that insufferable clown Gerdo at least has the decency to stay out of the picture till it’s over. This porch swing/exotic bird setup is poised to be quite poetic.
Hillbillyman about 14 years ago
Todays strip is… astounding, enchanting, poignant , and a bit sad as to expect the ultimate demise of our comic hero.
davidf42 about 14 years ago
Jim has been setting us up for Walt’s swan song for quite a while now. I think he may have devised a way to do it peacefully.
axe-grinder about 14 years ago
You’re not thinking of Hitchcock?!!
Durak Premium Member about 14 years ago
That’s just wild Axe. Walt exits the comic, a la Tippi Hedrin? Laugh, I don’t think so.
Why is everyone so eager to see Walt go? Can’t we just let him fade off to the Old Comics Home? If Walt dies I am done following this comic. You can’t have Gasoline Alley without Walt Wallet. He’s the thread that ties it all together. He needs to be out there, somewhere, giving meaning to all the craziness. Losing Walt would be like losing Lil’ Orphan Annie, Dick Tracy or Dagwood Bumstead. Comic strip land doesn’t have to follow the same rules as our own, sad world. Suspension of disbelief is a powerful thing.
Enjoy the pretty birdies Walt!
Paul1963 about 14 years ago
Dypak, it’s not that we’re EAGER to see Walt go, it’s just that one of the main features of this strip has been the natural passage of time, starting with Skeezix showing up on Walt’s doorstep as a foundling 89 years ago.
We’ve seen that landmark event grow into a decades-long story of an extended family now in its fifth generation. While there have been some elements of fantasy in play (Rufus and Joel seem eternal, and Melba’s aging is severely arrested), and some characters’ depictions don’t really match their ages (Gus Alley and Kathleen Elly, who were drawn as 10-year-olds last time we saw them even though they were teenagers), but for the most part people in this strip get old and eventually pass away. This hasn’t been the case in the other strips you mention. Annie will forever be elevenish, Dick Tracy will be stuck at about 50 forever (enough time has passed in that strip for Junior to grow to adulthood, marry, become a widower and marry AGAIN) and the Bumstead kids will never graduate high school, but next year Skeezix Wallet will have a birthday cake with a big “90” on it.
Walt is the last surviving member of the original cast, and sure, there’s a desire not to lose him, but keeping him around forever violates the rules of the world in which the strip takes place. Doc, Bill and Avery all passed, albeit offscreen. Uriah Pert passed. Nina’s parents passed. Phyllis passed. Eventually, Walt must pass.
It makes sense from a story standpoint, and it would allow Walt to rejoin his old friends and the love of his life. And then Skeezix would take his place as the patriarch of the extended Wallet family. He and Corky and Judy have been extremely fortunate to have had Walt as part of their lives for as long as they have, and that’s something that would comfort them at his passing.
kab2rb about 14 years ago
This strip is a very pretty scene although the birds are not in the area there suppose to be. There are a lot newer homes in KS where there are not front porches but homeowners had to build decks mostly in back. My mom house does have a front porch it was built in 1947 the house where my husband parent’s where to retire does have a front porch build in 1957. Where I live at someone build a deck with no roof. There was one but they tore down now we have to save up for one. We have a bi-level house. I’m amazed at the history of the Walet clan. I hope I seen a good age not sure I’ll always be on gocomics.
jpozenel about 14 years ago
What medication was that again?
roverboy about 14 years ago
Is Walt’s house supposed to be the same one that he was in as a bachelor when Skeezix was left on his doorstep, or did he and Phyllis move at some point?
I wonder if it’s just the medication, or maybe a tropical bird farm sprang a leak and they’re real. Not that anyone will believe him until the end of the storyline if he’s on a potential hallucinogenic medication.
I think ol’ Walt will be around for a while yet. Didn’t the characters’ age suspend somewhat during Mr. Moore’s tenure?
motiontoast about 14 years ago
Paul1963, you summed up my thoughts exactly! Well said.
roohey about 14 years ago
wonder if we’ll be treated to his life “flashing” in front of his eyes…a real trip down memory lane before he flies off to paradise
harebell about 14 years ago
Um…folks, one of the side effects mentioned was hallucinations. Walt isn’t going anywhere (at least not in this sequence). This is just a chance for Jim to show off his extraordinary talent.
leakysqueaky712 about 14 years ago
Walt seems to be fading in the background…….I wonder if Phyllis will come walking out of that house??
boldyuma about 14 years ago
Has Walt been eating hallucinogenic birdseed?…
Will Walt kick the bucket?…
Stay tuned folks….
Max Starman Jones about 14 years ago
Judging from the first panel, I would say that Walt still has all his wits about him. Great vocabulary.
And whatever happens, I love the art work, as usual.