Reader Be Ware of Eve Hill commented on the possibility of a decline in the art of this strip related to the resignation of Tea Fougner, Editorial Director of King Features Syndicate. I mentioned her departure on January 6. My current answer is “Got me!” My understanding is that Fougner was instrumental in bringing Rivera in to update the strip. Given that the art has fluctuated over the past several years, I’m not inclined to believe a causal link to Fougner’s departure. I’m more inclined to think a new director will arrive and promote a different agenda, which might be a bigger concern. King Features owns the Mark Trail strip and Rivera is just the current hired caretaker, as was James Allen before her.
Rita refers to the “freshwaters” of Florida. Really!? This event must have taken place in the 1940s, since I read that these days the “freshwaters of Florida” are polluted from pesticide and fertilizer runoff, which has killed a lot of the sea grass that manatees depend on, and are a leading danger to the survival of the manatees in Florida. Guess they missed that piece of information.
I think we’re all surprised to find that Max the manatee is actually still alive, after been ignored for most of this adventure. And I wonder how they got Max safely back into those “fresh” waters, as Rivera perhaps decided her readers do not need to know how much time, effort, and care is actually required to do accomplish this! So much for this strip’s focus on environment and nature.
First Question of the Day: Why does Rita ask Mark to take control of the kidnappers, since Skeeter already has the situation in hand?
Second Question of the Day: Why are Rita, Skeeter, and Mark facing away from Max in panel 3 as they see him off?
Third Question of the Day: Is this the end of the adventure, or does Mark go on to pursue Cricket Bro?
Now, don’t wait. Operators are standing by 24 hours a day by to take your comments!
The Daily Trail 
Didn’t James Allen’s tenure on Mark Trail become strange and subpar towards the end? Much like Rivera’s current work? It would be nice if King Features Syndicate would consider implementing a contingency plan to replace the cartoonists of Mark Trail when they begin to show signs of disinterest and lack of enthusiasm. Unfortunately for us, it seems that KFS isn’t concerned that the feature has turned into a target for ridicule among the Comics Kingdom commenters. Page views are page views.
I guess we’ll just have to wait until KFS removes Jules Rivera from the title after firing off an offensive tweet. /s
LikeLike
The prevailing position is that, by mutual agreement with KFS, James Allen left the strip because of political comments he posted on social media using the official “The Real Mark Trail” Twitter account (which was then removed). Had he not used that account, he might still be drawing the strip.
LikeLike
You don’t think James Allen’s tenure on Mark Trail become strange and subpar towards the end? I guess it’s just me.
LikeLike
Ah, I think I understand. There are two problematic periods before Rivera came on board. Are you referring to the work that was posted between March and May of 2020? That very unusual art at the time was based on reports of Allen spending time in caring for a relative, away from his studio. Hence, his regular tools and references were not available. Some people thought he had a ghost artist filling in. It certainly looks like Allen was back in his studio by June 2020. But his last post was July 25, 2020, to be replaced by Jack Elrod reprints until Rivera came on board. Elrod’s art is decidedly more clunky and less refined than James Allen, who drew more in the style of Ed Dodd and Tom Hill.
LikeLike
I had to enlarge the image to see the police taking the feckless bears away. Sadly, they will fall into the strip’s black hole of legal consequences. Given how Mark assaults people and destroys property without punishment, taking these dolts in is a waste of gasoline.
LikeLike
Alas, as long-time Trailverse followers know, Mark Trail has a notable body-count of supporting characters that disappear into black holes, never to return. So I think Yogi and the silient Boo-Boo are history.
And I agree: Mark seems to have a charmed life with regard to the Law. However, let’s not forget that Mark (and Diana Daggers) were incarcerated, at least for a short while, as a consequence of their zebra mussels protest! If there was a subsequent court case, we never heard of it! (I removed your accidental duplicate post)
LikeLike
Alas, as long-time Trailverse followers know, Mark Trail has a notable body-count of supporting characters that disappear into black holes, never to return. So I think Yogi and the silient Boo-Boo are history.
And I agree: Mark seems to have a charmed life with regard to the Law. However, let’s not forget that Mark (and Diana Daggers) were incarcerated, at least for a short while, as a consequence of their zebra mussels protest! If there was a subsequent court case, we never heard of it!
LikeLike