Definitely "For Better. . ."
For years one could always depend on a smile over touching vignettes in the cartoon strip "For Better. . .For Worse" Well! it is coming to an end, in a way. There probably be no future episodes. Lynne Johnston, the creator of this wonderful strip is winding it down.Lynn Johnston winds down her famous comic strip - CBC Arts Media
Perhaps, it is fitting for it was a strip that paralleled her own family in the lives of the Patterson's. They were not timeless characters as the strip saw them develop in real time over the life of the Johnston family. The children are all grown, with children of their own and in recent years the strip has been extended by introducing additional characters. Ms Johnston has decided it is time to wind it down. Justifiably so. There will be reruns, special occasions and TV specials for years to come to keep us in touch with this wonderful strip.
The affable face of Lynne Johnston.
Lynne Johnston and her dentist husband have been a fixture around North Bay for many years after they moved to Corbeil from Lynn Lake, Manitoba (too remote to adequately promote and expand her cartoon strip.) There presence has been felt in the arts community in North Bay. At one point there were life sized statues of the cartoon, Paterson Family, downtown, (They may still be there ;I don't get to town often enough to know). Dr Johnston was instrumental in the creation of the two carousel's on the waterfront with the unique handcrafted animals (by local artists) I am sure their involvement in the community will go on.
click to enlarge
Lynne Johnston touched on lots of family and social issues. The above cartoon is just the kind of a reflective moment between a parent and child as the child's world is expanding.
She courageously tackled some issues like the Patterson, son's friend coming out as a homosexual. This strip saw her strip dropped from a couple of American papers, and criticism from the usual predictable quarters.
One of the nice things about Lynne Johnston strip was that it was clearly a Canadian comic strip including Canadian spellings and references to Canadian event and holidays. (Thanksgiving was always in October.) The activities and seasons of the year were typical for around here where the Johnston's live. In spite of this the strip was widely syndicated in the US and other countries. It was much loved and admired.FBorFW.com is The Official Website of Lynn Johnston's comic strip For Better o2 (Notice the reference to butter tarts. . .very Canadian and not available in the US)
While Lynne Johnston may be winding down her "For Better. . .For Worse" comic strip she has left us with a great body of work to revisit and enjoy. I suspect much of it will stand up over time for it is all so very human and authentic. FBorFW.com is The Official Website of Lynn Johnston's comic strip For Better o
posted by Tossing Pebbles in the Stream @ 7:55 p.m.
![[thinkingblogger.jpg]](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zMRlZAIV2HQ/RipA5W_4a3I/AAAAAAAAAcc/4SPUZ4iAp_E/s1600/thinkingblogger.jpg)
Add The Indicator To Your Site
Free Typing Tutor
4 Comments:
For Better or Worse has always been my favorite comic strip--in fact, one of the few I read.
You are so right--it is amazing how many contemporary issues she tackles.
And I read recently the news you highlight--that she is winding down. I hope she does an occasional update--and ties up some lose ends. Like do Elizabeth & Anthony get together--seems like it, but not definite yet.
Although I haven't kept up for a number of years, it was my favourite too. And I didn't even know that she was Canadian. Eh?
I am very sad. I have that cartoon on my homepage so I can read it everyday. Sure going to miss it.
Well, I always enjoyed that strip a lot. It was very itelligent and humorous at the same time; something rarely seen these days. I just found your blog and am enjoying it very much also.
Post a Comment
<< Home