Commenter Daniel P proffered an intriguing hypothesis that the design scratched into the ground in yesterday’s strip (panel 4) was a pentagram, suggesting that some kind of pagan ritual (that would include the horse head) could have taken place. But today, it looks more like a diamond to me, with the remains of a campfire in the middle. Not terribly interesting, but the pagan pentagram idea sure sounds a lot more intriguing for this story.
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Hmmm, nothing much said about that ground diagram, and that Eastern Mole in panel 1 sure seems to want to get somewhere else (it could wind up as our Sunday subject). But instead of an intriguing or even dangerous adventure, all we’re getting so far is a bunch of juvenile jokes, and not just from the juveniles. I think panel 4 is a record low for Rivera.

Maybe the comics syndicate would have been better off letting Rivera start a “Young Mark Trail” strip where he is just a teen and already getting involved in journalistic investigations and the environment. The type of storytelling and humor Rivera likes to use would more appropriately fit that format. She would probably attract a larger, younger audience, as well. Then somebody else could take this over. Win-Win. Hear that, King Features Syndicate?