Alliance Review welcoming some comics, saying goodbye to some
Over the years, I’ve amassed quite a collection of stuffed animals. Most of it is my Boyd’s Bears collection.
But, throughout my nearly 57 years of life, there have been many characters. It all started with Snoopy. At 5 years old, my uncle gifted me a large stuffed Snoopy that laid next to me in bed at night, blocking the monsters that lurked in the cold air return in my bedroom. Quickly following was a small stuffed Snoopy that wore jeans and a red T-shirt. I held him in my hand as I slept, while still protected by big Snoopy.
I still have both. The big one is in a bag in a closet because at some point one of the monsters must have broken his neck. Small Snoopy sits on a little doll chair on a shelf in my bedroom, retired. He worked hard for about 45 years before he sat back and said, “You’re on your own.” (He’s still looking out for me, though. I’ve caught him a couple of times.)
There also has been a stuffed Garfield, and, a few years ago, when I got into Pearls Before Swine, we welcomed stuffed versions of Rat, Pig, Zeeba, Goat and one of the Crocs.
Obviously, all of this started with newspaper comics strips, and me pouring over them in my youth while seated at my family’s kitchen table eating my morning cereal.
As I grew up, the comics I enjoyed changed with me. While Peanuts has been a constant, Garfield’s laziness was a source of kinsmanship and endless laughs. When I entered the work world as an office staffer, it seemed like Dilbert got me. I watched the kids in For Better For Worse grow up, and never could understand why Calvin, Dennis the Menace and Hi and Lois’ kids didn’t get in more trouble.
My biggest lesson in comics came when I joined my first newspaper staff, The Morning Journal in Lorain, and learned some things just matter a little more than others.
Twelve horoscopes. Every day. That weather forecast for Peoria, Illinois, is important, because the reader who called because we switched up our cities has a daughter who just moved there.
Back to the comics. Messing them up is Trouble. Yes, with a capital T. Don’t repeat strips, or somehow run one in the wrong space. And, if you ever need to change the lineup, prepare for a strong reaction.
That brings us back to today. But, there’s some good news.
Your daily comics page will increase by two strips every day starting Oct. 2! The Review currently runs 14 strips every day, and there will be 16 starting a week from today.
It won’t be that simple, though. We’re also dropping six strips. Wizard of Id, B.C., Hi and Lois, Crankshaft, Arctic Circle and Dustin will leave after the Sept. 30 edition.
Nine new strips will be moving onto our comics page. They’re strips you most likely already know. Say hello Oct. 2 to Peanuts (Yay!), Family Circus, Dennis the Menace, Garfield, For Better For Worse, Jump Start, Ziggy, Marmaduke and Non Sequitur.
The changes follow a USA TODAY Network survey of loyal readers. The results prompted a refresh of offerings at all of our company’s publications. As devoted comics fans know — and before you say, "Good grief!" — remember that comics evolve over the years to reflect the culture and tastes of the times.
More good news is that all the printed comics are available in the eNewspaper and readers can head online to check out additional comics, including some of those that will no longer appear in the printed newspaper, at https://www.usatoday.com/comics.
I’m happy comics will continue to appear in the Review. I’m also happy there seems to be something for everyone. Our older readers have several strips that are very familiar. There’s stuff that’s silly and clever. And, there’s stuff with ideas that our younger readers will like.
Here’s hoping you’ll still get your laughs with us every morning through our comics page.
Laura Kessel is editor of The Alliance Review, and also serves as community engagement editor of The Canton Repository.
This article originally appeared on The Alliance Review: Alliance Review welcoming some comics, saying goodbye to some
