Doonesbury by Garry Trudeau for July 01, 2016

They came to say goodbye to their friend.

Very sad. Glad I didn’t read this the first time around, was a lot less able to handle subjects like this then ’cause so many members of my family were dying…

Ave atque vale.

Nice artwork.

Well, they’ve provided him with more than a minion. Too sad.

Spoiler alert. I think the Aids deaths were sadder. This is more farce than tragic. At his age he should have had a companion. He could have been killed by a wild animal, shot by hunters, or catastrophic injury. Before being paralyzed Id hike and first rule was the buddy system and being in good shape. Im sad for Lacey but he went as he wanted.

Trudeau has always been RESPECTFUL and kind in depicting death. A neglected art, nowadays.

I would happily go the same..

12 years later in 1998 Lacey would follow Dick. Trudeau’s strongest and most beautiful statements were always made when he handled the death of one of his characters .

@JohnDiFoolI agree with you but statistics show less than 5% are able to go like that. At my old age I can only hope.

Although this ran in the 80s.

Poor fellow.

I remember this all too clearly, and it has the same emotional impact today. And now as then, I cannot help but admire the artwork.

Nicely done but I would have expected a turkey vulture, a bald eagle or other scavenger.

How ironic an ending. Ok, let’s get back to the Dukester and Honey.

SAD!

SAD!

The last panel is beautifully drawn and the colorist did a marvelous job. A fitting tribute – touching and ironic.Trudeau at his best.

What a lovely eulogy. The birds loved Dick as he loved them.

Not Vexman, his wife again, as is per usual (will set my own account up one day:always find the comments funny or objectionable, so i will contribute. Why dear Cripplious,bring aids into this scenario, saying it was worth. Like people comparing genocides, comparing tragedies in general. A good cartoon that the characters inspire genuine responses in us. The birds are a nice touch, I would have preferred he live on for future strips, but not being one to rewrite cartoon history. Regarding old age, even illness, we really cannot accurately predict what our feelings might be..best to take it as it comes. rlCooke. It progresses a lot quicker than we realize. Hopefully there will be better options for living so we don’t desperately grasp at dying

Good night, sweet prince.Flights of warblers sing thee to thy rest.

Oh no! :( Does he really die??

Still makes me sad…

Translation, please, Ravenswing.

Nice. Trudeau in his rare poignant mode.

In real life, the birds eat the dead.