Home » 2025 » July (Page 2)

Monthly Archives: July 2025

We may have just seen the Main Hook to this story.

Posted on by

Regular reader, be ware of eve hill, commented on Violet’s “Groucho” eyelashes a few days ago. They are difficult to miss.  Groucho Marx famously applied his exaggerated eyebrows and moustache using theater “grease paint.” Is Violet doing something similar? I made a quick survey of her appearances over the years and here are my findings:

Perhaps there is a hormonal change going on with Violet, since she seems to display a continuous thickening of her cilia. However, I’ll step back a bit. We already know that Rivera is not consistent with her depictions, so there is going to be variation. However, this seems to be a generally accurate visual chronology. So, Violet’s current over-the-top (so to speak) eyebrows are not just accidents.

Getting back to the “story”, it’s interesting to see how informal and personal Violet becomes when talking about her mother. And any time Honest Ernest is involved, we know that incompetence and failure quickly follow. I wonder if this is going to be a revision of the hunt for Banjo Cat story? Or maybe the peacock inhaled pest control chemical fumes from inside the van and Honest Ernest is rushing it over to Doc Davis for resuscitation.

This looks like a job for Yippy, the noisy peacock herd dog!

Posted on by | 2 Comments

I suppose we all deserve a break now and then from the intense, almost nonstop action and intrigue we usually find in Mark Trail storylines. Jules Rivera kindly helps us cool down with innocuous mini-adventures like this one, free from danger and virtually any hint of engagement.

It’s like the wall in panel 1, which appears at first to be a single plane going straight across, until we look closer (if you are up for it). How come the window on the left is shown on an angle while the bookcase is shown face on? (Be mad at me, because now, you can’t ignore seeing it!) But doesn’t that suggest two walls meeting at a corner? Yet no corner line is defined. “It’s a real mystery!” If you really want to push it, pretend the room is a continuously curving space with no sharp changes of direction.  

Well, it’s your choice whether this is worth considering. It’s okay to just sit back, have another sip of your beverage of choice, scan the panels, and let your gray matter have the morning off.

Oh, I know. You want me to riff on the point that Violet’s mother should already have a cage for her prized peacock!? My goodness! Haven’t we been over this point before? Many stories usually involve some kind of crisis or task that has to be overcome by a given deadline. In many cases, these are totally invented things, cleverly woven into the fabric of a book or movie where it isn’t so obvious. That’s much harder to do in comic strips. Violet might as easily have mentioned “building a reviewing stand for her mother and her friends” or “making sure that the party balloons come in three different colors and are evenly distributed.”

Day 3 and . . . <yawn!> . . . counting.

Posted on by | 2 Comments

Okay, let’s just admit the basis for this story is wanting. Violet throws her upscale cultured persona around like an Olympic athlete throwing the javelin. She wears what passes for fashionable clothes, seems to affect an English accent or maybe just a few words here and there, and has a mother with fancy friends. Maybe Violet lives with Mom and maybe she doesn’t, but Mom can’t live too far away. From Violet’s remarks, we have to assume her Mom and friends get themselves fancied-up for various events.

Yet, in spite of all this, Violet has no idea where to find a salon!? Is Lost Forest located in the middle of the Okefenokee Swamp? For that matter, should we assume that Cherry manage her own hair?

Or is this just Violet’s technique for negotiating a reduced price?

Grating Expectations!

Posted on by

Frankly, the concept of socialites in Lost Forest seems absurd, given the people we tend to see. It may be that Violet and her mother actually live in a more affluent community near Lost Forest, such as Cold River, which featured in a story way back in 1974. How do I know that? It’s not that my mind is a mental treasure house, but I’ve been reading some of the vintage strips on Comics Kingdom. Anyway, if Violet needs the services of a stylist in Lost Forest, wherever she lives can’t be any better.

Life has certainly changed for Violet Cheshire, the Sunny Soleil Society manager. She’s transformed from her original icy, domineering and arrogant presence to this over-emotional, beat-down, hapless person with “mother” issues. Ok, to be fair, Cherry didn’t get along with her mom, either. Still…

But I got a kick out of Violet’s remark about finding the fanciest stylist in Lost Forest! That would normally be the town barber in a place like this, but Cherry has Peach Pitt on hand. So, what is the point of this story? So far, it seems to be:  Violet must host a successful “summer bash” in order to make her mum (another English word!) look good for her high-falutin socialite friends. Not exactly a strong beginning for a story unless Rivera wants to compete against Mary Worth.

Art Dept. If spending more time on drawing figures is too much, it would at least be more visually interesting for Rivera to focus on designing more interesting compositions and perspectives like she used to do, instead of relying on static, simplistic arrangements like these panels. Of course, I’m just whistling in the dark. Even if—by chance—Rivera read this blog and agreed with me, no results would begin to show up for at least a month or two.

Is Violet a British agent?

Posted on by

[A followup to yesterday’s Week in Review] Maybe it’s the fewer hours I’ve been sleeping lately, but I seem to be overlooking details. Thankfully, I have readers who are keeping my on my toes. Regular reader, Downpuppy, likened Cherry’s hideous facial image in Saturday’s panel 1 to that of a mask from the Mexican Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) celebration. His claim has a visual possibility, though the purpose for Cherry to be wearing it is unclear.

Also, a reader on Comics Kingdom pointed out that in Sunday’s strip, Mark talked about the California Condor’s 10-foot wing span, while showing an example with a 9-foot wingspan! Woo! I don’t know how I missed that one, but it does justify my prior observation that this was likely a hurry-up project for her. But now, on to the current episode!

(click to view enlarged image. Click “back” browser button to return here)

What’s with this “blimey!” talk? Is Violet actually British or just affecting the lingo? While it’s possible she’s been watching the British soap opera, EastEnders, for a long time, there is prior evidence of her “British” association. Back in April 2021 when Cherry first met Violet, our “Southern Belle” offered up a plate of scones to Cherry, who declined the offer.

Scones are now standard offerings in American bakeries and coffee houses, but they have an English heritage. In spite of this, we rarely detect any British accent or vocabulary from Violet. Oh, and you with your sharper-than-my eyes have no doubt noticed the changes between the original depiction of the Sunny Soleil Society’s headquarters and today’s version. It’s in keeping with the always-changing footprint of the Trail cabin.

Well, what’s with this “bear” thing again? And why is that black-eyed Cherry pushing around a statue of a bear? I’d have thought Violet had had enough of them. I hope we’re not in line for more bear jokes!

Have anything to say about this?

The Week in Review and the Sunday Nature Chat

Posted on by | 2 Comments

The ol’ swimming hole is contaminated with wastewater, much to the Trails’ consternation. What to do? The ongoing story this past week saw the Trails move from the closed lake to an impromptu backyard slip n’ slide party and barbeque at the home of Ranger Shaw, the father of Rusty’s sometimes-friend, Robbie. In the backyard sipping iced tea and eating hotdogs, Mark tried to get information from Ranger Shaw about the contamination, only to find out that he claimed to know nothing about its source. This made Mark suspicious, given the weeks he and his colleagues have had to investigate. Mark is right to be suspicious, with Range Shaw’s questionable actions in the past and his seeming inability or unwillingness to help out (e.g. the Grungey Boys’ so-called lawnmower races in Lost Forest).

And wouldn’t you know it, just at this point in time, Mark gets a call from his dad, Happy Trail. Always nice to hear from family, right? Well, there was no discussion of weather, no “How’s Rusty?”, or “When are you all coming down to visit?” Nope, Happy Trail jumped right to the point: “There’s a golf course opening just north of you!” Since Mark has no history of playing golf, we have to wonder why Happy Trail even knew about it or bothered to tell Mark. My guess is that Happy is financially involved in the course and it will wind up being another scam.

Finally, there was some noteworthy art: A nicely drawn foreshortened view of Rusty sliding on Robbie’s slip n’ slide toward the reader; and a less-than-complimentary image of Cherry, seen from the back, in profile (shudder!).

Today’s Title Panel is a clever, well-drawn take on the stereotypical vacation post card. And I’m glad to see fewer images of Mark filling the Sunday strip. Celebrate biodiversity, okay. Fine! But the execution of today’s “biodiversity” doesn’t live up to the definition. In fact, two of the animals here each take up two panels! What about flora? Sea life? And keep in mind that the main purpose of the Mark Trail Sunday strip is already meant to show and educate us on the diversity of wildlife and nature! Call me cynical, but today’s strip smells like deadline pressure.

The Eagle has landed

Posted on by

Yes, Mark is rightfully suspicious of Ranger Shaw, as he should be. The last time, Shaw misled Mark regarding the Grungey Boys destroying office equipment in Lost Forest and his own participation. Will we eventually discover that he was given a free golf membership to not look too closely at how those greens are managed?

Of course, this coincidental phone call is a transparently weak gimmick to move the plot along. Why would Happy Trail call Mark about a golf course? I don’t think we’ve ever seen Mark golf. At least, I have no recollection. If you do, let me know. Perhaps this is a device to insert Happy Trail into this story?

And would anybody like to comment on Rivera’s use of the golf term “bogey” in panel 4? Anyway, this might give you a clue to understanding my own golf pun in today’s title.

Art Dept. Maybe Rivera should skip drawing profiles, especially for figures in the distance. Cherry looks like she is wearing a large, grotesque mask. Frankly, it’s one of the most difficult images to look at that I’ve seen.

It’s been a few years (“Something Fishy”, 2023) since we’ve seen Happy Trail. So he is back, though looking a bit ragged and less like his earlier self. Well, the 2023 Happy Trail also looks a bit different from his 2020 debut. You can go back and hunt that one out, if you wish. In any event, all of the principle Mark Trail characters have had their images change over the past several years. Rivera isn’t trying to suggest that they are all getting older (e.g. Gasoline Alley, Doonesbury); she is just changing her style as she goes. You can apply your own value judgement. But I’ll say (again) that I’m not a fan of her current presentation.

Family Fun for the Fourth

Posted on by | 1 Comment

Aside from the fact that lightning bugs (fireflies) don’t look anything like floating donuts or snail shells, Rivera has decided to actually acknowledge the holiday today, and that’s about all that can be said. Except that the Fourth of July is not necessarily a Day of Independence celebrated by all, especially those whose ancestors in America who were not independent or made “free” on that July 4th day in 1776, and for many decades after.

No! Mark does not know any jokes!

Posted on by | 2 Comments

Night has fallen! Apparently Ranger Shaw didn’t marry this gal for her inquisitive nature. But was it worth it to waste two panels for this non-joke joke? Was it worth it to pivot away from continuing a serious discussion all the way through four panels?

In any event, the investigative groundwork continues even as Ranger Shaw admits they’ve done next to nothing. Certainly, an examination of the wastewater chemical content should help narrow down the possible candidates. Heck, maybe the contamination is brought in at night and dumped, the way people used to get rid of their nonworking appliances. Will Mark bother with any of this?

Well, where the rangers failed, Mark is certain to deliver! And he has to, as he’s under contract with North American Syndicate (full transparency: an affiliate of King Features, owned by Hearst Communications).

It’s not a worldwide conspiracy, after all … it’s …wastewater.

Posted on by

I have to admit that it was painful to put together yesterday’s blog, contrasting Rivera’s early work on the strip with what she is producing today. That feeling persists.

Not sure why Rivera is dragging out this particular scene, like something from Mary Worth, unless she means to fill out the entire week just to let Mark know about the wastewater contamination. This also tells us that the Trails have not gone swimming much lately. Well, Mark has been on the job for the most part, so he’s excused. Tomorrow might we expect Mark to follow-up his interrogation with “And just what are you doing about it, Ranger Shaw?”, which should take Shaw two days to answer, filling out the week.

Apparently, Lost Forest does not have a good wastewater treatment center! I’d send them my youngest’ son’s contact information, as he’s a senior environmental engineer. But he’s quite busy with the seven country metro area he works with. Looks like Mark will have to solve this one on his own!

Art Dept. Mark’s expression in panel 4 seems a bit over-reactive, unless he’s thinking that his septic tank might have sprung a leak. Can’t say there is much difference in Shaw’s expression, which borders on the psychotic. But I think we might agree that Ranger Shaw’s personality is enigmatic. Rivera could look back at her earlier work as we did, and start reusing some of those more nuanced expressions of concern, doubt, and angst that Mark exhibited back then.

Click image to expand.

Mark butters up Ranger Shaw for the Big Question.

Posted on by | 3 Comments

Mark employs his professional journalist interrogation, er, interview tactics on Ranger Shaw:  First, disarm the subject with flattery and politeness; discuss mundane events to build rapport; then finally, slam the subject with hard-hitting questions before he has a chance to prepare a defensive response.

Well, that appears to be the goal, but for some reason, Mark’s odd expression (“Ohh! A bee stung me!”) in panel 3 dilutes the dramatic moment, so Range Shaw seems more concerned about that, then being taken aback by the qestion, itself.

Art Dept. The function and appearance of the current art has been the subject of recent discussion. Intent, ability, purpose all come into play. As regular readers know, we have discussed this topic many times. It is no secret that Rivera’s art has changed over time, where the art now looks like a mashup of storyboard drawing techniques and TV cartoon-inspired simplicity. Or worse.

from Jan 23, 2021. Sorry I don’t have a more detailed version.

It wasn’t always this way. Look back at Rivera’s start. The “cool dude Mark” pose is from a series of early publicity images Rivera drew in late 2020, when she took over the strip. The strip, above, from January 2021, is part of Rivera’s first story. You should easily see here a greater attention to detail, naturalism, and even dramatic sequencing in Rivera’s use of a single, continuous landscape to portray a sequence of events over time. In art history circles, this is known as “continuous narration,” so this concept is not original, but it is rare to see in comic strips. It is a grittier style like that sometimes seen in graphic novels. So, considering what we see these days, the question arises: What happened?