Who, What, Why, When, Where

(1) Why is the Easter chocolate put out on the supermarket shelves the second the Valentine's chocolate has sold out? Can't Fio's diet be given a sporting chance?

(2) Who will show Fiorella how to move photos onto her blog again? She has a beautiful baby photo she wants to show off.

(3) How did the Austin American-Statesman screw up its comic section two weeks in a row, once last week by not including it in the paper, and again this last Sunday, by reprinting the previous Sunday's comics? Please--inquiring minds NEED funny papers.

(4) What is it about these people who are still posting nasty stuff on Facebook about the Obamas? Why aren't the hoeing their own political gardens? When will Trump's fans finally figure him out? What will it take for them to realize they've been taken?

(5) Where does all Fiorella's time go?  Why is she writing this post at 11:30 at night when she's half-asleep and feeling blue?

Luann Rules!

Back to Luann. The comic strip has really picked up speed since its rocky transition from her high school days to her college career. Fio has especially enjoyed following the maturation of her brother, Brad, and his relationship with Toni Daytona. She likes Luann's parents too, and she also appreciates the fact that some of the students from Luann's high school are still in the scene--Bernice, Gunther, Tiffany--and that some have reentered the story lines, namely Leslie (the high school bully who is reforming himself), that Goth girl  (but where is Knute?), and Ox,  Now Fio wants to follow up on the teacher, the guidance counselor, little Elvis, and Bernice's brother. Inquiring minds want to know.

Newspapers

Fiorella's mother had been a journalism teacher, and the family always subscribed to a newspaper, much to Fio's benefit.  She learned to read from comic strips, and a newspaper validated her childhood art by publishing it.  In high school, she edited the longest-running Latin student publication in the country one year and the state Latin student publication the next year.  Later on, she married the son of two journalists. In graduate school, she originated a department newsletter. Later, in between teaching and grading, she wrote for the local newspaper and even set up two tabloids on her own.  Yes, Fiorella loves newspapers. but her own children are barely aware of them.  Why bother when they have television and computers at their beck and call?

Fiorella is sad.

Luann Resurrects Leslie

Fiorealla loves it when Luann follows up on characters we met in the past, like Leslie Knox.  There was always obviously so much more of a story to him.  I hope we can find out what's going on with mini-Elvis too (hint, hint).  Also the teacher and the adviser, Dawn, and that weird couple whose names Fio can't remember.

Edge City Down the Tubes

Nooooooooooooooooooooooo. . . . Tell me it ain't so! Doonesbury has dwindled down to a hit-or-miss Sunday strip, Luann flounders with an unsteady footing in college, and now Edge City is retiring.

What is Fiorella to do?  The comics are the main reason she still subscribes to a newspaper.  Well, that and the anagrams.

Dear God--are the anagrams next?

Doonesbury, Don't Leave Me!

Fiorella is sad.  Doonesbury is fading into oblivion with its characters' lives unresolved. What is the ultimate destiny of Mike and Kim, Alex and Toggle, Boopsie and BD and their daughter, of Jeff and Melissa, of Duke and Joanie and Zonker and myriad others? Sure, Garry Trudeau will continue writing a Sunday strip, but for how long?

It's ridiculous.  Doonesbury exits the stage and Prince Valiant creaks for an eternity

Mercy Killing

Please kill Prince Valiant.  Fiorella avoids even glancing at the Sunday strip anymore.The art is not only painful, but terribly dark, probably to to hide the fact that the current artist can't draw.

Fio has a history with Prince Valiant.   Even before she could read, she was mesmerized by the art--it's one of the few strips that use an illustrative style rather than the standard caricaturing. But, like the aging prince himself, the strip is way past its prime.

Time to put it down.

Updating Luann

Fiorella is happy about how things are developing in Luann.  After Toni Daytona turned down Luann's brother, Brad, when he proposed to her on last year's April Fool's Day, Toni proposed to him on this year's April Fool's Day.  He, of course, accepted and even shed a tear.  And so did Fiorella. 

How does a comic strip engage readers like Fio?  By presenting interesting , consistent characters with intertwining stories. Fio was confident that Toni's old BF, Dirk, would reappear at some time, just as she knows Ann Eiffel will re-emerge to tangle with TJ again.  

And the art's good too!