There was a book written in 1884 called Flatland, a satirical story where all life forms were geometric shapes. Today’s strip reminds me of the conceptual framework of that story, as the figures and landscape here look like overlapping flat planes. Panel 1 is the principal example, with Rivera’s common “stage prop” flora and weirdly formed figure of Mark. More on that, shortly.

So it is Monday as Rusty and Olive share their story with Mark. How will the rest of the week shape up? Mark’s own adventure will almost certainly not begin until next Monday. I’m not even sure I remember what it’s supposed to be. Wait … oh, yeah. Mark gives a talk to a tech conference in New York about the influence of AI on the environment. But will Rusty’s mention of the Grungy Boys throw a monkey wrench into Mark’s plans? Can he resist getting in a few more punches for old time’s sake? Can he ever think of another method of behavior modification?

Art Dept. Now, the image of Mark in panel 1 presents a common technique of “Starring Role overrules Nature.” For example, in movies where most of the characters would have to wear a hat, mask, or other facial obstruction because of a local condition, almost invariably the movie star’s head or face would be unobstructed, so as to be seen very clearly. Here, a “flattened” Mark greets Olive and Rusty, who are physically behind Mark; yet Mark faces us, while his eyes look sideways to suggest he is really facing them. Of course, in the real world, Mark would likely be facing the two arrivals, so we would see the back or 3/4 view of Mark. Why not just draw it that way, then? At the very least, Rivera could have drawn a more realistic image of Mark twisting his head back over his shoulder.

Sure, this is a nerdy bit of trivia that many readers may not notice or care about one way or the other. At least I’m not hitting Rivera for the disappearing ground behind the cabin.

Oops.