For Better or For Worse
I've loved the comic strip For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for as long as I can remember reading comics. I've watched the characters grow up and story lines evolve, but today was a reminder of the real reason I love this strip so much (bear in mind that this story takes place in Canada):
When I was in high school, I really enjoyed comic books and I thought I wanted to be a comic book artist, but when I got to college, and I really began to study the difference between comic books and comic strips, it was this series in particular that changed my focus and made me appreciate this medium so much more. Lynn Johnston has a larger readership for this single comic strip than any comic book I know - and she uses this medium to tackle some pretty important topics.
She's handled death, sexual harassment, multi-cultural characters, child abuse, physical impairments... the list goes on and on. Her style is both pointed and subtle and completely honest.
Of course, nothing generated more controversy than in 1993 when she had Michael's childhood friend, Lawrence, come out of the closet as gay. Her response to the criticism she received is why this series stands out to me and it's what I hope to do one day with my own work:
I have not slept, I have not eaten, I’ve lost 10 pounds, I’ve lost 19 papers, I’ve lost many readers. It was not something I did for joy, or something I did for publicity. I did not say, “Damn the detractors” and go ahead, intending to upset the editors. I did it because it was a story I really, fully believed in, and when you write a story that is perhaps a controversial one, you have to expect to take the heat....
I've had a pretty easy life as a cartoonist, and that's part of the problem for me. I get letters now and then that complain about the way I do things, and I generally think, "Get a life!" If you don't like the way I punctuate my sentences, tell me what else is interesting in your life. And most other people say, "I love your work, you're on my refrigerator, my dog is just like yours," and so on.
So I was bathed in this wonderful, warm glow of acceptance for so long [...] But then you get letters from people who say, "Do you realize that all serial killers are homosexual?"
I think it's a lesson for all of us. It's easy for us to grow complacent in our "easy" lives when we're never challenged, but we can't be afraid of what people will say when we know we have to do something that's right. Her art and storytelling skills are to be admired, but I also consider her work ethic and integrity to be something to strive for.
I don't know how long this series will continue (Lynn has threatened retirement already) but I intend to stick with this series until it takes it's final bow.
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