Calling Jerry Mathers! So, I avoided the obvious title for today’s post. Mark misspeaks in panel 2, as beavers go after the utility poles, not the power lines. Beavers do move around, so it’s possible the mill was there first. And with a large surrounding forest, it isn’t that likely the beavers would go after treated utility poles instead of normal tree trunks. But it happens. Would be easy enough to wrap fencing around the base of utility poles in places like this to deter beaver logging.

Turns out my fence idea is hardly new and is used to protect regular trees, as well! (https://www.beaverinstitute.org/management/tree-protection/) I wonder if Mark will recommend that strategy to the Scam Brothers, or will he instead berate them for their animal insensitivity? Mark certainly can get a bit self-righteous and over-the-top.

In today’s episode, everything settles back into normal space-time. As a fire militia has finally shown up to put out the fire, Mark and Cherry revert to their standard husband-and-wife/parent roles. This means Mark also regresses to his normal Clueless Mark persona.

Note that this “clueless” aspect of Mark’s personality generally reflects the “clueless dad” character found in family TV shows of the 90’s and beyond, such as “The Simpsons”, “Married with Children”, “Malcolm in the Middle”, and “Everybody loves Raymond”.

As a point of comparison, Vintage Mark Trail found his contemporary parallel in the “Wise Father Figure” of 1950s TV programs, such as “Father Knows Best”, “Leave it to Beaver”, and “Bonanza”. Of course, Vintage Mark Trail has been endlessly ridiculed for his apparent lack of Quality Time with Rusty. I’ll admit to making grand generalizations here, but I’m just looking for possible ambient influences in Rivera’s changes to Mark Trail, such as what she might have seen on TV while growing up.

[slightly edited] Turn off the power and all is right with the world, huh? Did somebody/everybody forget there is a big fire all around them? BTW, did anybody call the forest service? Anyway, as we observe Mark hastily run towards the sudden appearance of Cherry, we also unhappily observe the appearance of hastily drawn art today.

Still, at least Mark took the initiative to face danger in order to save the workers (and his Dad). Behold! This means that Mark completed his first solo hero adventure, as far as I can tell, since Rivera took over. Not a big adventure, but an adventure all the same.

Now how did Cherry get to the mill in the first place, as there was no other vehicle at the Bros’ house? It’s a bit far-fetched to believe that the Bozo Brothers went to get her. They’re probably busy trying to figure out a way to blame Mark for the fire.

Panel 1 presents us with the “Heroic Mark in Radiance” aura, paraphrasing a manga reference (I think) to Dragonball Z, something I noted in prior submissions as far back as April 2021. It ties in nicely with various Pokémon references in the strip that one of our readers has pointed out to us from time to time. Given Rivera’s presumed age and avocation, she would certainly have watched these animations while growing up.

How did all of those “trapped” employees wind up in the clearing by the power station in the first place? Did they follow Mark? Perhaps we must assume all of this stuff is located between the downed powerlines and the flurry of flaming foliage. Whatever the answer, Mark regains some of his former hero status points for his unselfish action and accomplishment (especially compared to the Useless Brothers). Finally, take note, readers: We have our first actual adventure in this story. Let’s hope there is more.

Okay, this is another of Rivera’s digs at the Entitlement Bros and the kind of self-absorbed people they are meant to represent. You can also tell that from his pose and accessorizing. Just how or where Jadsen came up with his own walkie-talkie is one of those things that just occurs out of convenience for the story, like the hardware in the fire tower.

By the way, with the heat that the fire must be generating, don’t you think Mark would have shed that long-sleeve flannel shirt he always wears? I sure hope he has ass-kicking deodorant.

We can’t be sure of the actual topography of this area, and perhaps we shouldn’t be too concerned. Jon Wick gets away with a lot of stuff and we accept it for what it is. Why should this be different? As with any fire, we should assume that it’s going to spread and pop up in different places. After all, this is an adventure story! Still, I can’t help remarking that those are pretty darned tall people in the background.

Mark might have taken one of those employees along; they are certain to know the layout far better than he could. Then Mark could not only locate and turn off the electricity, but for his second act he could rescue the employee on the way back when that person would be sure to suffer a twisted ankle or something worse. A double-hero trophy for Mark! That might have been too much, though. Perhaps Rivera didn’t want to wander into fantasy.

Suddenly this simple wooden fire tower (which had looked empty, save for a few stools) has morphed into a computerized information and communication center sporting a bunch of equipment and other specialized stuff. Except for firefighting equipment, of course.

Pappy Trail hands Mark some personal treasures that he—somehow—just happened to have with him… out here in an Oregonian forest. This is ridiculous, of course, like Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland in one of their movies where they decide to put on a musical and build Hollywood-level production sets out of materials that just happen to be in their garage.

Is Mark going to dunk the scarf into the stream (the stream is an escape route, you two idiots!) to use as a fire shield? And what could be more useful in a smoke-filled building than a compass? Almost every daily brings a surprise.

This is the third consecutive daily strip showing the same power line crashing (or smashing) to the ground. Perhaps it just bounced several times. It sure looks pretty flaccid at this point.

Say, who are those people in the background repeating Daddy Trail’s line from Saturday and spouting off like they are in an episode of Mr. Wizard? Must be more of those slothful employees who didn’t leave earlier, when they had the chance. I suppose it would be too much to assume that they could simply walk around the downed power lines or maybe even just walk up the slope.

Finally, how does Dad just happen to have floor plans of the electrical control station stored in a fire tower?

Okay, Trailheads! The heat is on and the time is short! Lives are on the line (perhaps)! Time to call out the Secret Code of Justice: “WWMD?”