Wallace the Brave by Will Henry for March 11, 2021

C’mon Spud, it’s not like the lightning is interested in you personally….

Spud found it SHOCKING that Wallace wasn’t scared from the lightning

Plot twist: if the lightning zaps spud he returns to his home planet

I saw something like that when I was at the airport, waiting to fly out of Vermont some years ago, in the middle of February. There was a massive snowstorm rolling in, a big wall of black at the far edge of the airport, with sheet lightning underneath. The pilot called everyone’s attention to it, to the lightning, and to the fact that the plane was still refueling…

When I lived on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, I loved to see, hear, smell, and feel the approach of a hurricane. I had this experience several times from childhood to young adulthood. In all of those cases, the storms went away without coming ashore… or made landfall far from my home.

After I moved away, my little town was actually battered badly by a few hurricanes. I’m glad I didn’t witness that firsthand.

But I certainly remember with pleasure the definite but almost indescribable alteration of atmosphere that Wallace enjoys here.

The beautiful middle panel here evokes the sensory memory of those rare moments. I can feel it.

You can almost hear the thunder rumbling! Beautiful..

I love days like this at the shore. Standing on the 25 foot high dune, looking west and watching the sky change, counting the minutes based on wind and virga until the rain hits, usually accurate within 3 to 5 minutes, informing folks on the beach to pack it up and get to shelter, and since the sky over the ocean is still bright blue being mostly ignored until the 1st drops start hitting the sand. My regulars trust me now, after being over 80% accurate for over 10 years, when I say it will rain by 1 pm, they go to lunch at 1230 and return after 3 pm when the storm passes.

Self-preservation, Spud—it does have some attraction . .

I wonder if the seagull is under the steps with Spud.

I can remember vacationing in Daytona Beach, watching a hurricane rolling in over the ocean. The sea and sky turned this amazing shade of green. We sheltered in an A&P store as the parking lot filled with water from the rain. I think I was 9 or 10 at the time, 50 some years ago now.

I love a good storm rolling in over the water! (as long as I’m not out on the water in a boat at the time)

What an amazing show. I remember seeing some of this as a child. Once even some waterspouts.

Spud looks so pale. That’s a sign that he’s setting up camp right under the porch

Waiting at a bus stop as a kid I once saw a wall of rain coming towards me instead of the bus…

Spud’s a little premature in his analysis because of his fear but they will all go inside when the storm arrives. Until then, enjoy nature’s lightshow…….

Main thing I miss about Oklahoma. Watching the storms roll through. And the flying cows when a tornado joined in the fun.

As a child we would sit on our covered deck and watch storms over Lake Michigan; the 1812 Overture blasting on the stereo.

The little blighter does have issues; doesn’t he?

You can also often smell a change in the air from ionization. Ah, that summer precipitation sensory experience. Not to mention the great mud puddles and soaking wet hair…

There is a subtle yet distinct difference between being someone who likes to experience and appreciate the power of nature viscerally, and being a thrill seeker about to get struck by lightning …

Cool artwork on lighting storm.

Too bad this wasn’t on Sunday so we could have a bigger panel of that storm!! Please, Mr Henry, could we have some more?

In the early 80s, I got to watch lightning jump from cloud to cloud for many minutes, and no rain anywhere. A super show.

When traveling in the Midwest and in Texas, I have seen some stunningly beautiful thunderstorms. Up here in the Pacific Northwest we don’t get many of those.

About the only thing good about being stationed in the semi-arid, FLAT, grey/brown southwest was watching the massive storms march miles away. Of course when they were marching toward us that was a whole nother thing.

This strip has evoked lots of good storm memories. I don’t have any myself, but have enjoyed reading about them.

I love watching storms, but I do get a little freaked out by lightning.

WH does his own colouring and you can really see the impact here in the second panel. You really feel the storm as it lights their faces.

When I was a kid, if a thunderstorm came on, everyone would open their garage doors and sit inside on lawn chairs to watch (usually there were refreshments as well). I still love the smell of hot wet pavement after a good hard summer rain. Maybe Spud needs to get a thundershirt like they have for dogs and cats!

I heard Wallace’s first remark with orchestra: “Columbia, the gem of the ocean.”

Beautiful middle panel.