Here we go again, with Rivera padding out the week by reiterating the script from the previous days. Does she think this strip is only published once a week? Anyway, pity the poor schlepp, Ranger Shaw, an unqualified warden of the forest who can’t seem to find the wherewithal to call on his fellow rangers for assistance; who can’t find the ability to even call his district supervisor for help. No wonder he’s afraid his wife will leave him. No wonder his son is a jerk.

Like so many TV and movie writers, Rivera seems to make every other “good person” in the strip appear less than or not equal to Mark Trail. So, Diana Daggers was a formidable and deliberate badass when she originally appeared, when opposing Mark. But ever since she more or less came over to his side, she has been weak, ineffective, and mostly invisible.  Rex Scorpius, former stuntman and Internet animal tamer, is only good enough to drive a getaway car for Mark. Debait Team member Cliff certainly had little to do with actually helping Mark’s fishing retreat succeed. And now we have Ranger Shaw, who has been a weak character from Day One. In fact, even his face is weak; a flattened pancake of a face without depth.

Why do writers feel the need to make other people look dumber or weaker, just to prop up their Main Character? It’s such a simplistic and patronizing attitude. Rivera is not the first or only person to do this, of course; but it would be nice to see her break away from this cheap meme. For example, a really strong and smart Diana Daggers working alongside Mark and actually accomplishing things on her own or in tandem would make a great team and likely increase the popularity of this strip. In truth, we had some of that in the Zeeba Mussels story. Let’s have more!