The return of "Doonesbury," and other comics news

Sherry Stern, deputy features editor, wants to respond to the 500+ people who have written to The Times about the comics in the three months that "Doonesbury" has been on vacation (see earlier posting). That strip will return on June 16. In her note below, Stern lists some of the reader comments she's received, which included reaction to "Café Con Leche," "Dog Eat Doug" and "Stone Soup," the three strips that have been rotated in place of "Doonesbury." Stern also encourages readers to send their opinions about the comics to comics@latimes.com

Here's Stern's report on what readers have been saying:

When Garry Trudeau took a three-month sabbatical we decided to run three new comics for a month at a time and invited readers to let us know what they think of our comics. We've received 500 or so e-mails. Here's a tiny sampling:

Reader 1: "Stone Soup" by Jan Eliot is amusing and should replace "Pearls Before Swine," which is absolutely the worst "comic" strip currently being published in your paper.
Reader 2: I just wanted to say that I love the comic strip "Pearls Before Swine." It is a great comic.
Reader 3: I'll be glad when "Doonesbury" is back!
Reader 4: Keep Trudeau on vacation permanently. He is too liberal. Any other comic strip is preferred.
Reader 5: I start off my day with the L.A. Times comics section. It's the first thing I read in the paper, and it gives me the fortification I need to get through the Business section and the front page. And, in all honesty, it's a big reason I keep a home subscription.
Reader 6: Frankly, I think the problem with the comics is whoever is reading this letter, as this section of the paper seems to be getting worse and not better.

Well, that person is I, and I thought the best way to answer our many correspondents was in this forum.

First off, I appreciate all the responses. I truly did read them all. I hope the letters above show what a challenging job this is. Everybody's tastes are different and I can't think of a place that illustrates that more than the comics pages. If you happen to like every comic we run, you are as alone as Charlie Brown.

So where are we? "Doonesbury" returns on June 16, which I know will thrill many of our readers, and upset a few. "Argyle Sweater," which recently replaced "Herman," has proven already to be a reader favorite.

Of our three guest comics, "Café Con Leche" had just a few fans. Many readers loved "Dog Eat Doug." And even more liked "Stone Soup." Will "Doug" or "Soup" become regulars? I'd love that, but if so, something else would have to go, and there's clearly no consensus on what to drop. Please know that we're always looking at the comics pages and maybe these two will find a spot down the road.
Meantime, keep the comments coming to comics(at)latimes.com

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," as well as an earlier post about "Doonesbury."

Doonesbury © G.B. Trudeau. Used by permission of Universal Press Syndicate. All Rights Reserved.

Comments

[Sharon]

How about getting rid of Crankshaft and adding Dog Eat Doug? Crankshaft has been rehashing the same tired puns for way too long....

[Dan]

Maybe we call all agree on this: any comics that have been in repeats forever (like "Herman") can go.

And what's up with "Peanuts"? It's a genuine classic, but we never see anything from the early days. That's a big, safe mistake.

Finally, I, for one, miss the box version of Bizarro. Thanks,

[Geno]

Herman was my favorite, especially now that they have made all the type smaller and crammed the comic strips closer together.....I love the art work and the simple messages.
PUT HIM BACK WHERE HE BELONGS RERUNS AND ALL....AND THE SAME FOR MR. BOFFO

[Gary Ferguson]

None of those "trial" strips was worthy of the Times. "Pearls Before Swine" is by far the best now. "Agnes" was my all time favorite so now I have to read it on the internet. Like a previous reader the main reason I keep my home delivery is because of the comics. Bring back "Agnes."

[Grace Hampton]

Sorry, but I got tired of Doonsbury. It used to have some witty political humor, but it got just plain boring. Your best comic strip is 9 Chickweed Lane which is better than ever since Edda left home and new characters were introduced.

[Steve]

Glad to see "Doonesbury" back, glad you're keeping "Argyle Sweater" (I liked "Herman" but -- reruns? Come on, there's no need for that when new work is out there to be enjoyed). I too will defend "Pearls Before Swine" to the death, and was glad to see the last of "Dog Eat Doug" -- I mean, come on, yet another strip about nauseating babies and talking animals? Talk about your double negatives!

Now if you really wanted to be exciting, you could get rid of the endlessly repetetive "Marmaduke" and bring back "The Meaning of Lila."

Yup, you're right, everyone wants something different.

[Barry]

Talkabout repeating itself, get rid of Cathy and bring in Soup or Doug.

[Liz White]

Agnes was awesome as was Real Life Adventures. Bring those back and lose Crankshaft, Marmaduke, Sally Forth... I could go on and on.

[Paul T]

What I want is more...give me another page of comics. Who knows what I might like?

[anony-mouse]

My roommates and I literally fight over the comic section(s) --depending on the day of the week-- for Get Fuzzy, Non Sequitur and Pearls Before Swine.

Save the political stuff for the editorial pages. Too bad Michael Ramirez is gone.

[karen]

We are all so happy to see that Doonsebury is back in the daily comics! Thank you, L.A. Times!

We do feel that Crankshaft could go. We really enjoy most of the rest.

[Mark]

It's time to put Marmaduke out to pasture (and this from a dog lover), and Dennis the Menace, which is no longer being drawn by its creator, may have nostalgic value for some readers but really ought to go. And how much longer can you keep running Peanuts? I still enjoy it but maybe it is better to put it to rest while it is a fond memory rather than waiting until we're sick of it.

I say get rid of Marmaduke, return Bizarro to box form, and you've got the room you need for something new. Stone Soup is a nice, family-oriented comic that I didn't particularly like but could see why it might be popular, and it was the best of the three. I, too, am tired of clever talking babies and animals. Cafe con Leche had potential put was too afraid of offending anyone--unlike Candorville, which is excellent.

Personally, I'd love to see Sylvia, which to my knowledge has never run in the Times, but which I always enjoyed.

[Note from editor Sherry Stern: The Times did indeed run "Sylvia" for about a decade, until a comics redesign in October 2002.]

[mgold]

Anything would be better than Get Fuzzy and Prickly City

[Iris Spencer]

I can't believe you're considering dropping For Better Or For Worse because it's being "re-run" after 29 years, when you are continuing to run such repetitive and tired strips as Marmaduke, Family Circus, Dennis the Menace and Blondie! Peanuts is being re-run, apparently with little complaint. How about picking on some poorly drawn and written strips like Pearls Before Swine, Prickly City, and Brewster Rockit?! I'd even be willing to do without Tundra, Jump Start and Get Fuzzy, if it meant keeping FBOFW.

FBOFW is meaningful and a total delight. I never got to see the early years of the strip and have been looking forward to seeing what went on in the beginning. Hope you don't destroy my chance to do so.

[albert sanchez]

Please keep "For better or Worse"
The family is like our extended family, we look forward to each strip.
We laugh and cry after reading each strip.
My wife and I are over 65 and each strip touches our heart strings.
PLEASE KEEP THEM!!!!

[Jane]

My favorite comic of all is "For Better or For Worse" and enjoy it whether it's old or new. Years ago I enjoyed "Cathy" but find it boring now. Thanks for permitting me to input my opinion, your paper has terminated so many of your colums which I have enjoyed over the years.

[Ryan]

For Better Or For Worse is more than just a funny, touching comic strip. Lynn Johnston is an exceptional artist and story teller and has created a family and community that I care for and about as though they were my real life friends. I look forward to reliving her Opus and believe it would be a huge mistake to pull her strip. Please, please, please let everyone relive and rediscover the best strip ever! Thanks

[Patty Barnett]

PLEASE, never give up Doonesbury! We love the social commentary. It is the modern day Jonathan Swift and Gulliver.
For Better or For Worth is a lovely family epic, and should be continued. It is a family tale that is forever American Story.

pb

[Patricia Eastman]

RE: FOR BETTER OR WORSE
My husband and I are retired and in our 70s. Each week day and on Sunday, we have always read the comic FOR BETTER OR WORSE to each other for many years. We really miss this comic. It is not a problem that Lynn Johnston is repeating the story. PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRINT FOR BETTER OR WORSE. WE REALLY MISS IT!!!!!
Patricia Eastman

[Marilyn Stein]

Weren't comics once called "funny papers"? What is funny about spousal abuse--"Between Friends"? My
dad used to
read the funnies to me. How many children can find humor
in many strips now? I can appreciate political satire . ethnic
commentary is witty, Rex Morgan takes care of medical
issues, but Please please run FOR BETTER OR WORSE
again!!! I want a laugh, a chuckle, a shake of the head in
the morning, not a downer.
When in other cities , I rad the local papers I come across
old forgotten favorites--re run these instead of the grim social commentary.
thanks

[patk]

Please, please bring back 1) For better or Worse. I have to resort to sneaking my husband's OC Register to read it.
Between Friends is depressing. What in the world is comic about abusive relationships? 2)Doonesbury-do I need to say anything??

[Glenda]

What is funny about a strip involving spousal abuse? I was appalled and insulted. If you need to make room how about getting rid of dumb, boring and rediculous Cathy? Doonesbury fun?? I think not. Reruns of for better of worse are worth rereading. Please bring them back.

[Suzanne Stone]

Please don't get rid of FBOFW, it is delightful and funny. If you need to get rid of a "comic" why not Rex Morgan, ye gads!! when he married June she had to be atleast 50 and had a baby??? who is insipid and grows a year each week. KEEP FBOFW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[paul l]

bring back Shoe and Geech. those were comical

[bethflood@cox.net]

I have read "For Better or For Worse" since the beginning, and it has always been my favorite comic strip. It was the very first thing I always read every morning, in the TIMES and I missed it so much that I called the REGISTER, and subscribed to that too. My husband & I are 84 now, and hope you bring it back soon as it is the very best.

Beth Flood

[norm marcovitch]

please, please no more talking animals. they have gone from the sublime to the rediculous. thanx

[norm marcovitch]

definitely would not be missed: prickly city, candorville, pearls, lio, tundra, brewster, cathy, fuzzy, & bliss. in my opinion none are clever nor funnee. none of these are humorously creditable or amusing. the ones noted above are just filling valuable space which might be used for a number of comics/cartoons new and presently available to the newspapers.

[suzanne stone]

You must return FOR BETTER FOR WORSE, it is one of the better comics, amusing,and makes you think of your own family. I like the reruns, it refreshes my memory,AND do you really want me to switch to the Register to read it after taking the LATIMES for 49 years?????????? If you need to get rid of a comic, how about Rex Morgan MD a doctor who doesn't practice.

[elva levine]

my 16 year old granddaughter asked me why they are called comics since they aren't funny. get rid of prickly city, pearls, lio, tundra, cathy, get fuzzy, rex motgan, between friends, marmaduke, dennis, sally forth. they aren't funny. there must be something out there you haven't tried yet that might bring a chuckle.

[Patricia Grant]

Please continue "For Better or Worse" on the comic pages.
Although it will be a retellling, I look(ed) forward to reading it
every day!

[Dominic Ornato]

Please bring back For Better or for Worse. It is/was a wonderful strip. Full of meaning and values as important today as 20 years ago. The strips you have been running as possible replacments are insipid at best. Have YOU read them? If you have...do you really need to ask the question?

[thelma meier]

For Better or for Worse was the reason I went to the comic page each day and I miss it. Repeating it would be better that some comics which I feel you could get rid of, e.g. Mutts, Lio and Pearls before Swine/ The one you are running now, Home and Away is a total waste of time and ink.

[Karen Harper]

Love FBFW, love Stone Soup, absolutely hate Lio, Pearls Before Swine and Brewster Rockit....not funny or even mildly entertaining.

[karen]

No Lio, No Brewster Rockit, No Pearls Before Swine... A big YES to For Better or For Worse and Stone Soup. Who ever thought Lio, the worst of the bunch, was even mildly entertaining?

[SAM ANDERSON]

PLEASE BRING BACK FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE---IT WAS THE FIRST STRIP I TURNED TO WHEN I OPENED THE PAPER. I WAS FURIOUS WHEN YOU DROPPED IT. REX MORGAN IS MY #2 COMIC (A TIE WITH 9 CHICKWEED LANE)

[Lee Hayashi]

Now that we've seen all the possible replacements for "For Better or For Worse," it's almost a no-brainer. Bring back Lynn Johnston's wonderful, heartwarming, funny comic strip. It used to make my day and has been missed. None of the other choices comes even close. ...And why did you ever drop the Sunday editions of Rex Morgan? Lee Hayashi

[Pat Stokes]

Of the comics you have asked readers to sample in place of For Better or for Worse, ALL are better than Lio,
Pearls Before Swine, Candorville, Prickly City , Get Fuzzy, and Brewster Rockit: Space Guy.
FBOFW is superior to all of them.

Rex Morgan is very entertaining, and I agree with your reader who wondered why you eliminated it from your Sunday comics.

[desmond]

The most subtle, funny and well-drawn comic is "Lio." Keep it, please. Feel free to delete "Get Fuzzy." It is the only comic that I never read - no cleverness or wit, just passable drawing. "For better or worse" is fine. Just run the strips with the better art, not the oddly primitive ones.

[rsugerman]

What happened to Sally Forth? I'll miss it if you take it away. Glad that Doonesbury is back and hope it stays. Preferred For Better or For Worse to Stone Soup. You can remove Rex Morgan and Ballard Street any time you like After reading people who don't like my favorites, I see how hard it is to decide what comics to have.

[Marvin Porton]

Bring back Sally Forth ! Get rid of Rex Morgan if you need more room.

[caroline parker]

bring back broom hildia and put back rex morgan.ty