For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for September 29, 2021

Not helping, Gordon.

Oh, to be 16 again — NOT!

Oh, Mike, just squish it and pat it with alcohol and it will be gone within a day or two. Do not keep touching it with your oily fingers. Leave it alone and apply the alcohol twice or thrice a day to keep it clean and heal. There are several alcohol-based facial cleansers OTC. My mom introduced me to witch hazel, which she used as a teenager, and it was magical. Nowadays, I just use Germ X for any skin injuries. Magical for mosquito bites – vanish with a day or so.

Dude, you are not helping Mike with your ideas!

A pomegranate is an interesting example for Michael to pick for how his zit looks. It is, in fact, the only time in the whole run of the comic strip, that any character refers to a pomegranate. Here’s to you, Mr. Pomegranate zit!!

Painful.

This might be a factual goof. If panel 2 is a mirror image of Michael looking at himself in the mirror, then the zit is on the left side of his nose. In panel 3 as Mike turns around with his back to the mirror, the zit has jumped to the right side of his nose. But then in panel 1 he seems to be holding up his right hand in an unusual and awkward way. Normally the thumbs of both hands would be facing the chest.

Do a better job cleaning your face. It wont stop the Zits. But it will reduce the number of zits that you will get.

Mike doesn’t need too many enemies with friends like Gordan.

“Hey Gord…. Remember that time you were ‘taking down the Christmas lights’ an you ‘fell off the porch’? …. how would you like me to help you relive that?”

Lynn’s Comments:

This story was suggested by my son. He said, “Why don’t you ever do anything about zits?” I remember getting one on my nose and being so upset and not wanting to go anywhere! So, I did this story with his approval and input.

Nope. Just head for home and wait for it to die.

Whose butt ?

That’s one one good thing about all the mask mandates….they cover up stuff like unsightly blemishes on one’s face

Panel 5: “Why don’t I light YOUR butt with a blowtorch, Gord…?”

Get an ugly Christmas sweater and a pair of reindeer horns and tell everyone you are getting ready for the holidays

What a shame – after he spent all that time making sure his hair was perfect!

For goodness’ sake, just drain the white stuff and it won’t be so conspicuous.

Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.

As teenagers we don’t recognize that many of our classmates are in the same situation. We don’t obsess over their zits but are horrified at ours.

Total side note: Looking at Gordo reminded me of the old comic strip Gasoline Alley, in which the characters also aged normally. I wonder if it wasn’t an inspiration for Ms. Johnston. Anyone know?

Go see Dr. Pimple Popper. She’ll fix you up. Ever watch her video’s on You Tube? Great stuff! But don’t watch near dinnertime….or if you have to MAKE dinner….or after dinner.

Lighten up Pizza Face, it’s not the end of the world…

If he only knew what men with facial hair know. No one looks at your face and we know this because it can take days for anyone to notice you shaved.

Yet another reminder that, among teenage boys, “friend” is a relative term. :-D

Michael lit a cigarette with a blowtorch? Elizabeth can teach him the right way to smoke.

One reason I like wearing a mask.