To our comics lovers:
Today — and next Sunday — we will have an extra page of color comics for you. And we hope you’ll participate in a survey for us. The link is posted on the right.
This extra page has six comics on it. Some of them are relatively new; others have been around for a while but are not part of our regular comics lineup.
We haven’t done a comics survey recently, and we wanted to give you a chance to help us consider some new ones.
We do this periodically for several reasons:
- Some comics have gone into “re-runs.” The original creator has died or simply discontinued writing new ones and the syndicate continues to offer the comics, but we’ve already seen them. “For Better or For Worse” is in its second year of re-runs, for example. Is that OK? Or would you like to see something new?
- Some comics, over time, lose their luster. They don’t seem as funny or as insightful — or their focus feels dated.
- New comics are created that seem relevant and fresh — and start to gain a following. We think you should have a chance to see them and vote to include any that appeal to you.
The survey allows everyone to select their favorite comics — from our current lineup AND the six new ones. It even gives you a write-in option.
The new comics include some popular, older comics — “Sherman’s Lagoon” and “Bizarro.” Both have fared well in comics surveys in other markets. “Sherman’s Lagoon” is about a big-hearted, dim-witted great white shark and his fellow deep-sea friends. “Bizarro” is, simply, a bizarre, off-beat look at life.
There are two relatively new comics that have quickly become the most popular comics in some markets — “Gil” and “Dustin.”
Dustin is 23 years old, unmarried, unemployed and living back home with his parents while he searches for the perfect job. Sound familiar?
Gil is an 8-year-old boy — a bit of a chubby underdog — who lives with his mom on a factory-job salary and sees his dad on alternate weekends. The comic strip is a realistic and funny look at life through the eyes of an optimistic young boy.
The other two are quite new: “Between Friends” — about three women and their hectic, harried lives at home and at work — and “Bleeker, The Rechargeable Dog” — about a bark-less, fur-free, electronic pet with a heart of gold and his 10-year-old owner, Skip. Both are rapidly gaining a following.
So please enjoy the extra comics this Sunday and next — and take our survey at IdahoStatesman.com/comicssurvey over the next two weeks. Final deadline? Sunday, Feb. 5.
Vicki Gowler is the Statesman’s editor and vice president. She can be reached at 377-6403 or vgowler@idahostatesman.com.
