For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for July 13, 2013

uh-oh

Relax, Michael’s fine. It’s just a case of comic bad timing, that’s all.

33 years ago my next-door neighbor and good friend was late coming home from Chicago. We heard about the crash of a plane whose engine had fallen off. I know the feeling of horror the Patterson’s are feeling. My neighbor was on that plane, but I know Michael is OK, because I’ve read the strips where he is an adult and father of his own kids.

Now I’m hearing CCR…

Seven thirty seven comin’ out of the skyOh, won’t you take me down to Memphis on a midnight ride?I wanna move

Playin’ in a travelin’ band, yeahWell, I’m flyin’ ‘cross the land, tryin’ to get a handPlayin’ in a travelin’ band

Use of the words “further investigation” imply that particular crash happened some time ago.

You want to think your loved-one is safe, but until you know for sure, it tears at you, been there when my son flew to Central America and we had no contact for several days.

A parent’s worst nightmare

Once we got a phone call and my wife answered. The voice on the other end said “Oh thank God you’re alive!” Seems that someone of her name (ours is not a common one) was killed in a car accident and the name broadcasted on the radio.

Or some of us are so old that this is all new again for us.Also, my neighbor never use to call when he was out all night. His wife found out later that he lost a leg in a crash. He didn’t die but he wished he did when he finally got home.

Yeah Leslie Banks.. where was the “SPOILER ALERT” notice? LOL

oops.. sorry, should have been “legaleagle48”, not Leslie Banks

REAlly folks you consider telling that he grows up and has kids a spoiler?? Now telling what he does and who is mom of kids THAT would be a spoiler.

Way to give away spoiler

Heart in mouth..\\//_

The news report only says that it’s A 737 passenger jet, and does not say which flight it was. No need to panic… yet.

SPOILERS??? For heavens sake, you really think that Lynn would kill off Michael in a strip that was written years ago?

Can’t think about crashes when you are flying. Safer than driving!!!!

why me?

Unnecessary and very poor taste. Better of skipping the day if that’s all the better she can do.

I first recall flying when I was twenty-four. (I had also flown at the age of three months, but couldn’t recall that!) I was feeling all tense and such, but then thought, “Oh, well, we all gotta go sometime!” and was fine with it after that.

Lynn Johnston probably wrote this after being unnerved by the KAL 007 tragedy, where everyone on Korean Air Flight 7 was killed after a Soviet fighter jet shot it down.

To all saying why you didn’t read the strip 20 years ago? I did, but I know many people my age that are semi-retired and are starting to get into comics now. Also, what about the teens and twenty/thirty somethings who just started reading the strip? Lots of reasons why someone isn’t a long time reader (and re-reader).

Believe it or not, there are people whose whole life does not revolve around reading the comics. The fact that they/we may not have read the strip when it was new 29 years ago is not a reason to treat them/us like idiots. Perhaps they had small children to raise and just didn’t have time to pick up a paper.

Do you know what’s funny? If you go to the fbofw.com website, the banner picture on the home page is very often of the adult children. For instance today’s picture is of Michael & his wife and children on a camping trip with John, Elly and April. If the only thing Leslie Barks said was that Michael grew up and had kids, I don’t think that would be considered a spoiler since Lynn obviously reveals exactly the same thing.

i normally like what you produce, you usually give me a laugh or 2 BUT today, you are being intensive to those who were on the flight and their Families of those on this flight that crashed in San Fransisco. Did you know another passenger passed away this morning ? i am sure this was written sometime ago but, are there not editors or people who’s job it is to proof your work before it goes out for the printed document?

Another “pass the popcorn and read it” day. : )

@Herp derp….too funny!! ; D

Manhunter808: Since the topic is airliners, the spoiler alert is the flashing light on the instrument panel indicating the spoilers have been deployed..ErickC: I don’t remember the airline, but I saw a Viscount at the Vancouver airport in1974. The total lack of dihedral in the tailplane attracted my notice.

this is another day where the “Get this framed collectible print” offer is kind of weird.

Well, we know the lady who wrote these likes to “tweak” the oldies for modern times every once in a while. This would certainly change some cartoon history, wouldn’t it? ;-)

20, 40 60 and 70 years ago I was too busy painting and writing to read comics! Before reaching my ‘teens’ I did read The Dandy and The Beano …and yes, for much of my life I have lived on the other side of the world!

Why all the energy and rage about telling the future? You can buy all the books that give the next 20 years worth. Of course, there’s no guarantee that Lynn won’t change story lines here and there…..

I actually had a panic moment like this once when I was driving home from grad school. Turned on the radio after leaving a lunch stop and heard about a massive plane crash in Chicago. I knew my dad was flying through Chicago and I was freaking out behind the wheel — until I heard, to my relief, that the crashed aircraft was leaving Chicago for the west coast. My dad was flying east. I was sorry to hear about all the lives lost; but I was certainly relieved to know Dad wasn’t among them.