(News Update: The NTSB just released a report on the cause of the East Palestine, Ohio toxic train crash that Jules Rivera fictionalized in one of her prior stories (“Something Fishy”) last year: https://abcnews.go.com/US/ntsb-reveals-cause-2023-toxic-train-crash-east/story?id=111398249)

But now, let’s catch up with Mark and Friends!

(Tuesday) Hmm, wouldn’t Honest Ernest refer to Rusty more naturally as “Cherry Trail’s kid”? Well, I reckon he’s just an old-school sexist. But speaking of old-school, I’ve made references to Harold Gray’s Little Orphan Annie in the past with regard to writing and to Gray’s inking to create atmosphere. Maybe Rivera noticed, as Andy has taken to imitating the bark of Annie’s dog, Sandy. Why? Maybe it’s because Mark Trail is a vintage, old-school strip and Rivera is riffing on that status.

(Wednesday) Honest Ernest seems to actually be “honest” about his group’s intentions and tells Rusty just what’s going on. Then he turns the tables on Rusty. Will Rusty also be as forthright in his response?

This is fine. Rivera returns Rusty’s story to the foreground in order to move it along. In spite of the appearance of these three dudes, there is nothing actually dangerous here, except as it seems in Rusty’s mind. So it is “age appropriate” in its content. The fact that the story has wandered a bit from Rusty’s original intention to seek revenge on Robbie is also a normal plot device. Stories often evolve from what they originally seem to be about. One problem here is that Mark’s own stories too often seem to have a similar level of danger and drama as Rusty’s. And we expect more.