"Doonesbury" clamor

Almost 100 readers have called or written to complain that "Doonesbury" seems to have been yanked from the comics pages. The strip is, in fact, gone, but only temporarily while Garry Trudeau takes some time off. Editors tried to alert readers with a box in Monday's Calendar section next to the comics headlined "Comics sampling." On Tuesday the headline was changed to "Trudeau vacation." Both days the box explained that the artist was taking time off, and The Times would fill that space by trying out new strips until mid-June. Sherry Stern, the editor who oversees the comics, explains in this message:

A few weeks ago newspapers received a note from "Doonesbury's" syndicate that Garry Trudeau would be taking a three-month vacation.

“It has been 16 years since Garry Trudeau took an extended leave from 'Doonesbury,' " wrote Universal Press President Lee Salem. "He has requested another break, well deserved in my mind, to work on other projects, travel and regenerate a few creative cells.... He looks forward to resuming the strip before the two major political conventions and the general election."

Like Trudeau, I too look forward to "Doonesbury's" return, since we're well aware that the comic strip is popular with our readers.

While we had the option of running repeats of "Doonesbury," we thought this would be a nice opportunity to let readers sample some new comics.

We invite readers to send their comments to comics@latimes.com.

And I want to assure everyone that "Doonesbury" will be back on our comics pages when Trudeau returns from his break.

Sherry Stern
Deputy Features Editor

*Update Sept. 2008: More reader comments about comics can be found at this post on "For Better or For Worse," and another post about Doonesbury that was published on this journal in June.

Comments

[L. Rozner]

I was already aware that Mr. Trudeau was going on vacation for awhile. My main argument though is that you reduced the size of "Doonesbury" from the size that is contractually obligated to Mr. Trudeau. Don't you think you may be risking the future of "Doonesbury" in the LAT, since Mr. Trudeau's contract stated that if any newspaper reduces the size of the strip from its contractual size, then you will risk losing the strip all together?

(Sherry Stern, the editor who oversees the comics pages, responds: "It's an urban myth about that being in a contract. It's Trudeau's preference, but we're not obligated. Many papers run it the size we do.")

[Stephanie salter]

Please---call him back (Trudeau)!!!!
He is part of our lives!
We're not too excited about the "Con Leche" cartoon---it is OK, but ho hum.
Many thanks,
Stephanie Salter

[dave adair]

All of the replacements are lousy. Trudeau is by far the best in my opinion. After Trudeau's strip I rate Pearls, L
Lio,Non Sequitur,Zits, Drabble,Frazz, and Mutts.

Please, if you consider dropping Chickweed and Sally Forth, go ahead, you will make my day.

Otherwise you guys are still doing a great job.
From a long time reader of the Times, check my subscription record.

[Steve Steffek]

Anytime you wish to get rid of "For Better or for Worse" I will be glad. A cartoon where all the people look alike and can be only be distinguished by what they are wearing or what they are saying is very irritating.
By the way the following could also be removed without any tears from me-"Marmaduke, Family Circus, Dennis the Menace".
Some cartoons I would like to see are "F minus, Off the Mark, Reality Check, Free Range, Dog eat Doug, Sunshine Club".
The recent addition of "Bliss and Argyle Sweater" has been a refreshing change.
Thanks for asking for input.
Steve Steffek

[Walt K]

I finally found out where to write to you. First, I agree with the comments above.

I have been wanting to wite to you as a 74 year reader of "comics." They used to be called "Funnies;"most of your strips are not funny. Some need an explanation of what they are about. For an example of a newspaper with good funnies, check out the Toledo Blade.

I suggest you review your funnies from 10 years ago. Bring back real funnies such as: BC, Wizzard of Id, Broomhillda, etc.

[John Keefe]

Editors:
Definitely, keep on with the "reruns" of "For Better or Worse". They have the look of a new series, but it is fun to see all the things that you had forgotten. And get rid of inane, snail paced "Rex Morgan". I Love "Lio".
John Keefe

[R. Ferrero]

I really don't care of the comic FOR BETTER OR WORSE and I'm happy for a change. I would love to see'MOTHER GOOSE carried by the Times- it is always
funny! I also used to love SYLVIA by Nicole Hollander. You used to print this one and then one day it was just
gone- Is Nicole Hollander still alive? I would love anything that is not political- I'm sort of sick of every strip that has a political opinion. I just want to laugh!

[Lydia Dorothy]

Regarding running old For Better or Worse strips. This has been a favorite for many years but have not read for the 29 years since its inception and look forward to the early years of its creation. Don't stop.

[PerinJohnson]

I always look forward to reading "For Better or for Worse". It is one of the major reasons that I do not
suspend my subscription to the Times when I travel.

[l allen]

I've been a comics fan for eons. I Iearned to read (in english) the original Archie back in the late 40's. I turn to the comics section to start my day. For Better Or Worse is a delightful comic, nostalgic, and just light. It's better than many comics running currently. One of the most inane comics is Brewster, dump it, that's one I don't even bother to glance at. Why are we still getting reruns of Peanuts? It's passe, , trite, usually skipped, too, likewise, Family Circus and Dennis the Menace...these are old..also. Otherwise, you're doing a great job.

[will b.]

I vote to drop For Better or For Worse, its been declining for years. The majority of Times comics are pointless and inane. Who are these comics trying to appeal to? The best of them are Lio, Pearls, Mutts, Frazz, Zits, Baby Blues, Foxtrot. The rest will not be missed. Even Calvin and Hobbes repeats would be better than most of those you have now.

[Jim Zver]

Today, the 6th of October, was the first day you have decided not to run For Better or Worse. That you are doing a "test" with this wonderful cartoon strip is yet another of the Times' many misfires (dropping the Book Section was another). You have a beautifull drawn cartoon, funny, charming and covering a full range of human issues, such as having a gay son, death, illness and aging, finding a proper mate, career issues, etc. And they are all done with an enormous amount of humor. Why would you ever consider dropping it, and yet continue with the tired reruns of Peanuts? Your choices and decision making process amaze and disappoint me. PLEASE DO NOT DROP THIS STRIP!

[Pamela Mendelsohn]

Please don't drop For Better or Worse!!! In today's troubling times it is so nice to drift off into their happy family day-to-day lives.

[June Loewy]

Please, I beg you, bring back "For Better or for worse. No comic writer can compare with Lynn Johnson. Even if she is writing the beginning of her comic strip it is better than any other comic. I never read the beginning so to me it is new. I love that comic strip better than any other one you print. Thank you, June Loewy. a long time Times subscriber

[pcm]

Please keep "For Better or for worse", Doonesbury, "Sally Forth", "Cathy", "Family Circus'. "Between Friends"
You can delete Pearls, L
Lio,Non Sequitur,Zits, Drabble,Frazz, and Mutts.

[madeline hyman]

I like For "Better or Worse." "Between Friends "is dreary.

[S.Crow]

I love For Better or Worse, it is worth repeating. It is so true of life in many ways. Zits is wonderful too.

[william edelstein]

I vote for "for better of Worse". Much superior to the replacement comics you've run.

[BRENDA COLFER]

Since we also subscribe to the "Daily Breeze" we have had no interruption in "For Better or For Worse". The back issues are just as heartfelt and entertaining as the story was when Lyn Johnson ended her series and it's a delight to see what led up to the family that we know. The Breeze also publishes "LuAnn". It and FBOFW are the first comics I read every morning--the story and the characters are great!

[lj miller]

Doonesbury does not belong in the 'comics', it belongs on the Editorial Page. It is a political diatribe and is seldom comical. Other politically inclined strips, such as Millard Filmore in other papers is on the editorial page. Put Doonesbury there to give Millard company.

Definition: Diatribe:"---a bitter, abusive criticism or denunciation---". Again: this belongs on the Editorial Page.

[Mary Nuffer]

I loved reading " For Better or Worse" but since the choice of reruns of that strip and a new addition of "Luann" has been offered, the decision is easy. Please continue running "Luann".

[Jean Erickson]

I didn't like Argyle Sweater, but I do like Luann. I read For Better or Worse in another paper, so I still get and love that one. I also like the new way Rex Morgan MD is going. Get rid of Prickly City, La Cucaracha, Non Sequitur, Bizarro, Marmaduke, and Ballard Street if you need more space!

[Jacque Siegel]

Please, please bring back "For Better or Worse" AND
"LUANN". Really since For Better or for Worse is a rewrite
scratch the rewrite and bring back LUANN. This cartoon if more with todays reality. I have had to subscribe to the Daily News to get my comic fix! And, DON'T EVEN RUN 'HOME AND AWAY' for the five week trial period. It is terrible.
J. Siegel - Chatsworth

[currie pederson]

Please bring back For Better For Worse.

[Dr. P. Haldeman]

For Better For Worse was a great family strip, with lots of humorous and poignant insights, and it only improved over the years, particularly the art. For this reason, as one who has long followed the family story Lynn Johnson created, I really wish the storyline would continue into the next generation. In this way, the issues of contemporary families could be reflected rather than those of the past, which a rerun would only provide. True, some of the topics that were covered over the years transcended time, but I think for those of us who followed the strip for years, it would be more interesting to see how the next generation deals with topics of the current day. There are artists, as I understand it, who already assisted Johnson, so why not continue the story with them, though perhaps under her creative input? The art was wonderful, in recent years as were the stories, which cannot both be said of the early Johnson strips.

My second choice would be to see Luann replace the old For Better for Worse. As a previous post suggested, the issues addressed are more relevant to today. The other trial run strips were of considerable lower quality. Rather awful, actually.

Last comments: Why Family Circus? It's remained in the 50's for most of its tenure (though with a few modern references, albeit still terribly corny).

Last, after so many years of poking fun at old folks, I'm really quite tired of Ballard Street. Portraying retired elders as stupid, infantile, mindless idiots just isn't funny after awhile. I think the cartoonist is running out of ideas, so keeps replaying tired gags about goofball seniors with no sense or purpose or sanity. We all know about sexism , elitism, and racism, but what about ageism? That is exactly what Ballard Street portrays everyday. Clever? Not any longer.

[Sheila Sullivan]

Please bring back "For Better or Worse" It has the rare quality of combining hard truths with a laugh.
I liked "Luann", tho I get it in my local paper. You can "86" the rest as well as "prickly City" (really lame) far as I'm concerned. I pray Doonesbury does not go the way of the great "Calvin and Hobbes" or "The Far Side".
The comics and crossword start my day. I would be lost without them.

[marilyn Child]

PLEASE,PLEASE, puhleeeeeeeeze bring back For Better or Worse! None of the ones you've previewed are even 2nd best. Calvin & Hobbes, Citizen Dog in re-runs or FBoW starting @ the beginning... or Pogo would be wonderful.

Sincerely, marilyn child, Times subscriber for over 30 years

[J.Riness]

For Better or For Worse is by far the best comic strip. It shows real life adventures and emotions with lots of smiles and laughs. Please bring it back.

[Ann Hyde, Pasadena]

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE bring back "For Better or for Worse"! None of the replacement strips we've been subjected to for the last several months even comes close!
And what's this about "Doonesbury" ? It's the best comic strip in the paper!!

If you need the space, you could definitely drop "Lio", "Get Fuzzy", "Prickly City", or "La Cucaracha" which are no longer funny or enjoyable.

[Jose A. Torres]

I love "For better or for worse" is the best comic strip I have reader is very realistic, funny, I look for every day for the Peterson Family. Definitely keep the reruners!!!.

[Jane Diamond]

I miss "Sally Forth" already!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!