This week Mark spent the week ruminating over his feelings about wild horses:  how they are often characterized and how he should approach writing his article. By the way, we still have no better understanding of Mark’s assignment other than to “investigate rampaging wild horses in Salt Lake City.” Part of his rumination included a chat with his old pal, Ralph the Rat Snake, a character we have not seen very often. Of course, that is the way it’s been with numerous secondary characters in the vintage Mark Trail strip. The debate is still open whether Ralph actually talks or if it is just an avatar of Mark’s subconscious. I lean towards the former position because it is more original and interesting.

There has also been a noticeable change in the art, most clearly seen in the color scheme, but also in compositions. I also think the image of Mark has been given a facelift, so to speak, for the better. I have hopes that this approach will continue.

Well, the Greater Sage-Grouse has a mating routine even more interesting and complex than Mark is letting on. No doubt, lack of space prohibits providing more detail. But check out the Wikipedia article or the Cornell Lab page on this bird. 

Art Dept. I have to say that the title panel today is pretty weak sauce. Not at all up to Rivera’s usual standard, the title looks kind of “arts-and-crafty” with the name decorated by small hearts. Sure, that echoes the mating theme Mark focuses on, but the image of the Sage-Grouse does not show his air sacks expanded. This panel looks like the title screen of an old Hanna-Barbera animated cartoon.