I’d sure like this story to have a sense of real drama and maybe some danger (I reckon the car chase might have offered something if it hadn’t abruptly ended just after it began!). However, we just have this, instead.

Today we see Tad’s free-for-all rumble in action, apparently comprised of little kids and Hobbits, based on Tad’s large size. Well, perhaps Tad’s been taking growth hormones?

Now, I don’t quite get the conversation going on here. “A distraction to keep Mark quiet.” Huh? Are Mark and Cliff somehow under the impression that they must remain in this rink? I think not! But they don’t seem to know any better. Clearly, Mark must not care about winning the contest, so why worry about this sham fight?  All Mark has to do is step out of the rink and walk (or run) over to wherever the microphone Mark refers to is located (Note that the “image” in panel 4 shows a lectern with a mounted microphone; something we have not seen). Mark could also walk around to the other side of the rink, pull Tad’s feet out from under him (as happened to Cliff), and grab his microphone!

And just what is Mark going to broadcast to the people watching this competition? “Hey, everybody! Tad Crass is engaged in a land battle with a solar farm business for rights to a particular piece of land!” Nevertheless, the obvious comeback here (one I previously mentioned) is: There is plenty of open land in the area, enough for both sides! This may just be a comic strip, but it would have helped the story to at least include a reason why the two sides are fighting over the same parcel of desert. Did I miss something?

Art Dept. A small observation: Mark and Cliff’s hats were originally colored blue (or a variant tint). Since last week they appear as white with purple shading. Perhaps backup head gear?