But when I did start to play, they ran for the exits! And that’s another reason why I’m writing this blog instead of making albums and going on tour. It’s a big change, of course. But that’s the story of my life: drastic changes of direction instead of a well-planned continuity of purpose.

Thus we arrive at a definition of Continuity (excerpted from the online Collins Dictionary)

• A continuous flow, series, or succession; unbroken, coherent whole
• The practice of creating and maintaining a smooth and continuous plan or record of the physical details of a film, TV program, etc.
• The script or story of a comic strip

Based on these definitions, Mark Trail’s current story merits a basic “C”. Sure, the bare bones of the story remain intact. But details wander or get mangled. Yesterday, Mark was trying to push tools into Cricket Bro’s hands to extricate himself. Today, it is Mark that is doing the work. And who knows where Ranger Shaw schlepped off to? Looks like Jules Rivera found something for Diane Daggers to do:  She is now the team’s meteorologist!

On the other hand, I’m afraid that panel 3 reduces the story’s intrinsic value to a solid, if embarrassing D. It’s one thing to create a pun based on actual conditions or a situation in the current strip. But producing a bear ex machina, simply to fashion a terrible pun is lazy and might incur some kind of Comic Strip Code of PUNishment. Also, I can’t say much for the bear’s depiction. I really first thought it was some kind of woodchuck!