Comments on: Death Comes to Funky Winkerbean http://whatever.scalzi.com/2007/10/03/death-comes-to-funky-winkerbean/ WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON OUR HUMILITY Mon, 15 Mar 2010 04:13:09 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Soni http://whatever.scalzi.com/2007/10/03/death-comes-to-funky-winkerbean/#comment-274 Soni Sat, 06 Oct 2007 05:20:51 +0000 http://scalzi.com/whatever/?p=15#comment-274 Actually, I got to worrying about you the yesterday, John, when I was listening to the Director of the Center for Environmental Oncology at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute on NPR talk about how the aspartame in diet soft drinks is linked to brain cancer (and does so in tests designed to mimic drinking only a few cans per day). She ranted about how the aspartame-makers' studies that showed no link only followed soda drinkers for a few years, whereas it takes 20-40 for brain cancer to develop. All I could think of was you, your Coke Zero addiction and Athena. Gah. It's a bit weird, but you've actually assumed the position in my world of Someone To Lose Sleep Over. I can't tell if that's just a normal part of rabid fandom or verging on creepy. (All hail the Internets, exponentially increasing the amount of stuff to stay up until 3am worrying about. :-P) Between the evils of aspartame and the hormonal jiggery-pokery wrought on the body by certain hair-care products, it was a squirm-making show. And I've been following that "For Better or Worse" cartoon, too, so my whole week's gone all mortal and shit. Actually, I got to worrying about you the yesterday, John, when I was listening to the Director of the Center for Environmental Oncology at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute on NPR talk about how the aspartame in diet soft drinks is linked to brain cancer (and does so in tests designed to mimic drinking only a few cans per day). She ranted about how the aspartame-makers’ studies that showed no link only followed soda drinkers for a few years, whereas it takes 20-40 for brain cancer to develop.

All I could think of was you, your Coke Zero addiction and Athena. Gah. It’s a bit weird, but you’ve actually assumed the position in my world of Someone To Lose Sleep Over. I can’t tell if that’s just a normal part of rabid fandom or verging on creepy. (All hail the Internets, exponentially increasing the amount of stuff to stay up until 3am worrying about. :-P)

Between the evils of aspartame and the hormonal jiggery-pokery wrought on the body by certain hair-care products, it was a squirm-making show. And I’ve been following that “For Better or Worse” cartoon, too, so my whole week’s gone all mortal and shit.

]]> By: Clark http://whatever.scalzi.com/2007/10/03/death-comes-to-funky-winkerbean/#comment-273 Clark Fri, 05 Oct 2007 21:07:48 +0000 http://scalzi.com/whatever/?p=15#comment-273 About 10 years ago I lost a childhood friend to breast cancer. She was 36, about the same age as Lisa Moore. Now the strip fast-forwards 10 years, and lo and behold, these characters I've been following for over 30 years are now the same age as me. I guess it's safe to say I've grown up with Funky Winkerbean. Since these characters have always been roughly my age, sometimes older, sometimes younger, I have always found the strip to be relevant. Those who have a hard time accepting death in the comics might want to consider their own mortality and their reasons for not being able to deal with death. Meanwhile, if all you think the funny pages are for is laughs, check out Mary Worth, or Rex Morgan, MD. About 10 years ago I lost a childhood friend to breast cancer. She was 36, about the same age as Lisa Moore. Now the strip fast-forwards 10 years, and lo and behold, these characters I’ve been following for over 30 years are now the same age as me. I guess it’s safe to say I’ve grown up with Funky Winkerbean. Since these characters have always been roughly my age, sometimes older, sometimes younger, I have always found the strip to be relevant. Those who have a hard time accepting death in the comics might want to consider their own mortality and their reasons for not being able to deal with death. Meanwhile, if all you think the funny pages are for is laughs, check out Mary Worth, or Rex Morgan, MD.

]]> By: Lucy http://whatever.scalzi.com/2007/10/03/death-comes-to-funky-winkerbean/#comment-272 Lucy Thu, 04 Oct 2007 21:59:10 +0000 http://scalzi.com/whatever/?p=15#comment-272 @Richard: My deepest sympathy on the loss of your Imogen. I'm sitting here with tears in my eyes from reading your post. You're in my prayers. @Richard: My deepest sympathy on the loss of your Imogen. I’m sitting here with tears in my eyes from reading your post. You’re in my prayers.

]]> By: Wayne http://whatever.scalzi.com/2007/10/03/death-comes-to-funky-winkerbean/#comment-271 Wayne Thu, 04 Oct 2007 03:42:39 +0000 http://scalzi.com/whatever/?p=15#comment-271 Wow. I haven't followed Funky et al for a long time, but I loved it back when it started. Death flat-out sucks. I've lost too many friends, but mainly to accidents (and one murder, one suicide, heart attack, and stroke). My wife's father died two years ago, eleven days after our wedding. And just in April, a good friend of mine had a massive stroke and was dead a day and a half later. It sucks. That's all their is to it. Wow. I haven’t followed Funky et al for a long time, but I loved it back when it started. Death flat-out sucks. I’ve lost too many friends, but mainly to accidents (and one murder, one suicide, heart attack, and stroke). My wife’s father died two years ago, eleven days after our wedding. And just in April, a good friend of mine had a massive stroke and was dead a day and a half later.

It sucks. That’s all their is to it.

]]> By: Jon H http://whatever.scalzi.com/2007/10/03/death-comes-to-funky-winkerbean/#comment-270 Jon H Thu, 04 Oct 2007 03:12:16 +0000 http://scalzi.com/whatever/?p=15#comment-270 " Zonker’s death? Don’t make me go there." The thing is, any Doonsbury death would kinda pale in comparison to the real-world suicide of Duke's model, Hunter S. Thompson. ” Zonker’s death? Don’t make me go there.”

The thing is, any Doonsbury death would kinda pale in comparison to the real-world suicide of Duke’s model, Hunter S. Thompson.

]]> By: Richard http://whatever.scalzi.com/2007/10/03/death-comes-to-funky-winkerbean/#comment-269 Richard Wed, 03 Oct 2007 21:14:33 +0000 http://scalzi.com/whatever/?p=15#comment-269 I lost my beautiful daughter Imogen to breast cancer on 23 September. Her funeral was in Australia last Friday. Imo had struggled with this disease for over eight years, having her first mastectomy in January 1999 and her second some about three years later. In between she gave birth to my first grandchild, a beautiful little girl, Chloe. Between then and now Imo fought her battle valiantly and with great courage. Even with the realization that she would not win she remained strong and cheerful, and several times beat the "only a few months" prognosis. Lisa Moore's story followed Imo's closely, and Imogen really appreciated the earlier strips I sent her ~ they gave her some validation in her own fight. Today and tomorrow's panels will bring a chapter in the story to a close; and I have to say that this part of the story has been told with grace and with sincerity. Thank you. Anyone who is disturbed by the depiction of Lisa's final weeks and transition clearly have no understanding of the nature of this terrible disease, and should reflect on why they are disturbed. Life is; and life ends for us all. In Imogen and Lisa's cases it ended too soon, but so it is. Neither unfair or otherwise. But death can be so cruel, and for that reason, Imo and Lisa's stories (and those of countless other victims) should be told and heard by the widest audience possible. I lost my beautiful daughter Imogen to breast cancer on 23 September. Her funeral was in Australia last Friday.
Imo had struggled with this disease for over eight years, having her first mastectomy in January 1999 and her second some about three years later. In between she gave birth to my first grandchild, a beautiful little girl, Chloe. Between then and now Imo fought her battle valiantly and with great courage. Even with the realization that she would not win she remained strong and cheerful, and several times beat the “only a few months” prognosis.
Lisa Moore’s story followed Imo’s closely, and Imogen really appreciated the earlier strips I sent her ~ they gave her some validation in her own fight.
Today and tomorrow’s panels will bring a chapter in the story to a close; and I have to say that this part of the story has been told with grace and with sincerity. Thank you.
Anyone who is disturbed by the depiction of Lisa’s final weeks and transition clearly have no understanding of the nature of this terrible disease, and should reflect on why they are disturbed. Life is; and life ends for us all. In Imogen and Lisa’s cases it ended too soon, but so it is. Neither unfair or otherwise. But death can be so cruel, and for that reason, Imo and Lisa’s stories (and those of countless other victims) should be told and heard by the widest audience possible.

]]> By: cisko http://whatever.scalzi.com/2007/10/03/death-comes-to-funky-winkerbean/#comment-268 cisko Wed, 03 Oct 2007 20:25:44 +0000 http://scalzi.com/whatever/?p=15#comment-268 Comics Curmudgeon is one of my first reads every day, but he's missed the boat with this one. I know it's unusual (and maybe offputting) to find emotional depth on the comics page, but that just makes it all the more remarkable and engaging... for me anyway. Sod it, I was tearing up when I read that strip this morning... Comics Curmudgeon is one of my first reads every day, but he’s missed the boat with this one. I know it’s unusual (and maybe offputting) to find emotional depth on the comics page, but that just makes it all the more remarkable and engaging… for me anyway.

Sod it, I was tearing up when I read that strip this morning…

]]> By: Tosy and Cosh http://whatever.scalzi.com/2007/10/03/death-comes-to-funky-winkerbean/#comment-267 Tosy and Cosh Wed, 03 Oct 2007 19:42:22 +0000 http://scalzi.com/whatever/?p=15#comment-267 I've found the Lisa storyline nicely (and subtly) affecting as well - but I'm even more curious to see where Batiuk takes the strip on Firday, when, from what I understand, he's jumping ahead 10 years again. I’ve found the Lisa storyline nicely (and subtly) affecting as well – but I’m even more curious to see where Batiuk takes the strip on Firday, when, from what I understand, he’s jumping ahead 10 years again.

]]> By: Cassie http://whatever.scalzi.com/2007/10/03/death-comes-to-funky-winkerbean/#comment-266 Cassie Wed, 03 Oct 2007 19:38:34 +0000 http://scalzi.com/whatever/?p=15#comment-266 <i>I’ll worry when Garry Trudeau offs Zonker.</i> God forbid. When Lacey died, I wept. Zonker's death? Don't make me go there. I’ll worry when Garry Trudeau offs Zonker.

God forbid. When Lacey died, I wept. Zonker’s death? Don’t make me go there.

]]> By: Elaine http://whatever.scalzi.com/2007/10/03/death-comes-to-funky-winkerbean/#comment-265 Elaine Wed, 03 Oct 2007 19:20:33 +0000 http://scalzi.com/whatever/?p=15#comment-265 I'm sorry that it's Lisa...she's had a hell of alot on her plate, pregnancy in highschool, giving up the baby, one of Les' students intercepting his letters to her, getting hurt in an mailbomb explosion at the post office, cancer, etc. I've always been moved by her determination and that includes her not going through chemo again. I'm sure that there will be people fussing that death shouldn't enter in to comic strips. Lynn Johnson got all sorts of grief over the death of the family dog Farley and Milt Cannif received death threats after he killed off Raven Sherman in the 40s. However it's a tribute to the creators who make these characters so real... So long Lisa, it's been good to know you. I’m sorry that it’s Lisa…she’s had a hell of alot on her plate, pregnancy in highschool, giving up the baby, one of Les’ students intercepting his letters to her, getting hurt in an mailbomb explosion at the post office, cancer, etc. I’ve always been moved by her determination and that includes her not going through chemo again. I’m sure that there will be people fussing that death shouldn’t enter in to comic strips. Lynn Johnson got all sorts of grief over the death of the family dog Farley and Milt Cannif received death threats after he killed off Raven Sherman in the 40s. However it’s a tribute to the creators who make these characters so real…

So long Lisa, it’s been good to know you.

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