Plot-wise, the appearance of a bear puts a temporary halt to the “Whose putz is bigger?” contest between Mark and Sid. The bear also forces a halt to the Homicide Brothers’ attempt to squash Mark with a huge boulder. They decide to bail on the entire enterprise. So much for plot.
It’s interesting how characters pop in an out or move here and there so quickly. For example, where was Jeb, until now? Did Sid suddenly jump up the cliff (panel 3) or is that supposed to be a down-looking-up view? Normally, Rivera is quite good at depicting vistas and perspectives.
Mark presumes this must be a mother bear protecting her young, when Jeb already established that he is being protected by a bear. Why? How can Mark tell male from female? According to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, females have more tapered faces (longer snouts); their legs are not as straight, thick, and long as males; and their bodies are more streamlined, less blocky. In short, this looks like a male to me. But I’m not about to look between its legs to verify my conclusion.
Okay, it was late when I put this blog together. Perhaps I should have waited until the morning, but I tend to do this at night. In any event, I saved the blog but forgot to “publish” it, so it just sat in the Draft folder all day long. As a result, Monday and Tuesday strips appear in today’s blog. Sheesh!
We continue for another week with Mark. Cherry’s story has faded for the time being; it paused in its tracks three weeks ago. Maybe it will resume next week.
Moving on to Monday’s submission, Mark’s Fist o’ Justice must be out of practice, so Sid Stump still stands and tries to deliver (but how about that alliteration, folks!?). Is this really a fight to the death as Rivera prompts in panel 1? I have to red-flag that narration box!
What are we to make of that melodramatic vocabulary? Perhaps Rivera is trying for satire (masculinity), or maybe just slipping into parody (of the Trailverse). Either way, it’s over the top. Still, Rivera has a yen for portraying tech gurus as childish, amoral knaves. For that, she is very adept. But a steady diet of this buffoonery is like eating too much. After a while, you just want to push the plate away.
OKAY! OKAY! STOP THE PRESSES! Have we moved to an alternate universe? As much as I try to stay neutral, sometimes I just lose it:
Where did that cliff come from?
How did that boulder just happen to be positioned by the cliff side?
Who made that terrible bear drawing in panel 4? Phew! It’s not even up to Rivera’s standards.
Where did “Brave Sir Robin” (aka Jebediah Jeter) get to?
You can make up your own mind whether Mark is trying to hit Stump in panel 1 or trying to get Stump to dance.
Some commenters over on the ComicsKingdom web site noticed that Mark was not sporting any type of beard in Saturday’s strip. They were right! Whether this was a publishing accident or a deliberate decision, it seemed an odd time to shave! Frankly, I never liked Mark’s “new” beard style and much preferred the old stubble. So, Rivera: Go stubble or go clean-shaven.
This past week was—I hope—the final and true revelation of what the Water Bear Country Retreat was really created for: A fantasy arena for rich boys (think E. Musk) to see who is “king of the forest”, able to overcome animals and nature. The fact that the camp was mostly filled with 90-lb weaklings, one old fart, and two women who were clearly not in training suggested that Sid Stump wanted to ensure he had a better-than-average opportunity to win. Engineering the accident that took out the capable “Professor” Bee Sharp also helped ensure that probability. But Mark Trail would not leave.
Sid and the two Bozo Brothers (Jadsen and Rob) found Mark and Journalist JebJeder in the forest, thanks to Mark shining his flashlight up into the air so it could be seen. Stump made various threats against Jeb and Mark. Meanwhile, Jeb’s bear protector was nowhere to be seen.
Stump admitted the true purpose of his work (see above) and suddenly moved against his most dangerous “competitor”—Mark—to take him out. Fortunately for Mark, Stump was also a wuss. But Mark remembered how to hit back and a right cross sent Stump stumbling in the opposite direction he intended to go. And that’s where we end the week.
When I was young, my mother sometimes took care of abandoned or injured baby birds. She nursed them until they were old enough to fly and live on their own. The baby birds would even stand on her hand as she fed them or helped them get used to flying. In one particular case, a now-healthy robin (which was also my mother’s name) flew off and that was that. But next Spring, my mother was surprised to find the same robin had returned and flew down to her when she called it. It even landed on her held out hand. I was amazed. It never happened again, however.
Moving on: Regarding Mark’s beard, keep in mind that Sunday strips are often composed weeks before they are posted, most likely before Saturday’s strip. Otherwise, good content, but rather quickly knocked out. Even Mark looks like he just woke up in time for his talk. Yeah, I’m surprised. Rivera usually takes more time on the Sunday strips. Today’s panels look like they are entries for a “Fill in for Jules Rivera Who is On Vacation” contest. No winners here.
So, Sid likes to shine his flashlight up into the sky like Mark? What’s with that, anyway? If Sid was going to sucker-punch Mark, why wouldn’t he shine the light in Mark’s face to blind him?
Of course, the real star of today’s strip is the much missed and lamented Fist o’ Justice. While the best Stump can do was hit Mark in the arm with his flashlight (oh, owie?), Mark’s good right cross soundly connected, with the apparent result that Sid may have to go in for dental implant surgery.
So, what do you think about the composition of panel 4? It’s kind of interesting and strange. On one hand, it’s like looking at a pair of blue wings, or a purplish, jagged mandala around Mark. Or maybe, with the curvy kind of flora long the sides, it would be how we see this through a fisheye lens of a camera. How ever we see it, it’s an intriguing composition. I wonder if it will lose its impact in B&W.
ADDENDUM:
Okay, here is the B&W newspaper image. Try to overlook the lack of professional lighting and photography. Well, this is just newsprint. But the overall effect is certainly different. That “jagged mandala” now looks unconvincing and out of place. The graduated shading in the panel, along with the scenery, still gives the layout something of a wraparound effect. It’s kind of like comic book art of the 1940s.
Well, somebody is finally putting his foot down about the goofiness and madness of this story! No, wait (to borrow a phrase). Mark is just upset about the madness of Sid Stump’s heroic woodsman fantasy. Well, at least he is finally getting serious. I think we can tell that from his expressions (the likes of which I haven’t seen since his first adventure, investigating his dad’s shady operation).
Now, if Mark follows through with a full follow-through and clocks Stump, I’ll breathe a bit easier, knowing that the old Mark Trail does, indeed, live on.
“Wait. You mean you’re not a crackpot who wants to destroy the world economy or rip off investors? You’re only a crackpot who wants to pretend he’s Davy Crockett!?Well, I guess the joke’s on us. So, have at it, Sid. We’re going home.”
“Not so fast, Jeb. We need a staked goat to attract the bears, and that is you.”
Mark’s story just took another turn towards Cloud Cuckoo Land…again. This adventure (or nightmare) is like a chameleon that keeps changing its color every time it takes a step. “What would you do after you found the strongest woodsman, Sid: Have a fight to the death?Start a YouTube fan channel?”
Let’s give Sid’s declaration in panel 1 a moment of credulity. Why did Sid invite a bunch of soft, city geeks to the retreat? Was forcing Jeder into the forest part of the test? Jeb’s a journalist, not a woodsman, of course. In fact, we haven’t seen any woodsmen in the camp, which seems to contradict Sid’s boast. Okay, the moment is over.
And then we have clueless Mark, who seems to like channeling Gomer Pyle all too often. Mark should be pissed that he wasn’t asked to participate in this contest. If I was Mark, I’d also be upset about Jebediah admitting that his investigative results were just guesswork, not facts. No scheme to destroy the world.
Once again, Mark follows the Trail less used. What the hell is Mark talking about, anyway!? Is he trying to mislead Sid Stump about Jeb’s discovery? This is like one of those high school movies with the bully and his posse pushing around a weak and timid freshman. Mark is the upper class quiet guy who’s had enough and steps in to put the bully in his place.
Okay, that’s how it’s set up, which means that’s not how it will work out. But exactly how are they going to stop Mark and Jeb from leaving? Did Stump have the foresight to embed digitally enabled land minds around the forest? Will Mark do anything other than bluster about doing the right thing and shoving his integrity in Sid Stump’s face? Maybe they’ll just threaten each other to death.
A third straight week for Mark. Poor Cherry, we last saw her in the flooded rooms of the Sunny Soleil Society with Violet Cheshire, around April 22nd. I reckon we’ll spend yet another week in the woods.
So: How to explain today’s situation? Doesn’t “surrounded” mean trapped on all sides? Perhaps the phrase “confronted by” is more apt. Anyway, the enemy has invaded.
And why is Sid stump dressed like some combat-ready karate kid? Why are those three wearing bandoliers; are they expecting to fight off federal agents? And are those really guns in their hands? They sure look odd to me. Maybe these tech-weenies just came from a paintball session.
Given who showed up, Mark looks unduly worried. If he can’t take care of all three of those walking nerf balls, he should turn in his useless “fists o’ justice” or pass them on to Cherry.
The story took a few more turns the past week. Journalist Jebediah Jeter continued to explain to Mark his presence in the forest, due to threats from malevolent tech guru Sid Stump. Jeb said that “heknew too much,” so Jeb exiled him to the forest to be killed by a bear. But what did Jeb know too much of? Either that Sid Stump is using A.I. to flood the world with misinformation to create worldwide havoc, or that the A.I. scheme is really a scam and Stump’s realsecret plan is to con rich people into investing money into the project. We learned that Stump was aware all along of the dangerous geology in the area and was selling the camp as an experience with the thrill of danger. At this point, I’m not sure where the STEM concept fits in, except as some kind of public “cover.” Maybe a phony public cover story makes a good proof of concept for his A.I. misinformation plan!
I presume the incentive for investors to support Stump’s A.I. scam—or scheme—would be finding ways to capitalize on the instability generated by the misinformation: Taking advantage of the stock market or seeking political gain, perhaps?
But Jeb is now stuck in the forest, unable to leave, but protected by the bear that was supposed to kill him. Apparently, Jeb never thought about simply walking through the woods to get away or walking out with his Bear bodyguard by his side.
Mark did offer to give Jeb a ride down the hill. Unfortunately, Mark’s ignorance of how light functions at night created a new crisis. Sid Stump and the two NFT Bros were able to track them down because Mark kept his flashlight on while pointing it upward, like a spotlight. Stump was kind enough to give credit to Mark for helping make their discovery possible. And that’s how we ended the week with a classic “cliff hanger.”
Another really good title panel! Box turtles were plentiful where I grew up. As little kids, we sometimes fed them wet dog food. They looked cool, and we sometimes kept them as pets for a while, but I remember they were too much of a nuisance to take care of, especially when you are around 8. They weren’t dangerous and they usually closed up when we approached. We also had snapping turtles in the area, sometimes big ones. Now, those dudes really were dangerous! We fed them sticks that they would bite down on, then we tried to raise them up by lifting the stick. They’d ultimately let go, dropping down into the swampy area where they live, with a big splash. We’d haul our little butts out of there real fast. Yeah, we were a bunch of very young, stupid kids, laughing at the excitement and our fear.
Well, I said questioned the foolishness of Mark shining his flashlight directly up in the air. Who the hell does that, anyway? And zooming in on panel 4, we can see the two jerky NFT Bros form Sid Stump’s posse. But what the hell can they do, anyway? Do they carry guns, knives, or other weapons of destruction? Don’t see anything, so far.
So, maybe Jeb is a wuss, but Mark isn’t a runner. Besides, we should expect to see Protector Bear lumbering to the rescue…when the story resumes after a brief turn to Cherry.
Okay, the potential AI menace seems to be getting lots of press these days, as it is in the Trailverse. How did this wind up in Mark’s wheelhouse? I mean, Jeb is a journalist, right? It’s his story and his concern. Mark’s story is the bear. But things have gotten all twisted around. Now, the bear(s) has somehow taken on the task of protecting Jeb, instead of just killing him. Maybe the bear is on patrol at this moment. But just how the bear decided (or is even able) to become a bodyguard is not clear. Maybe that is what accounts for the bear’s incursions into the tech retreat.
Mark is clearly not going to run out on Jeb, and I fear that we might see a repeat of the car chase scenes from the Palm Springs adventure, as Mark and Jeb barrel down the hill in Mark’s speedy station wagon, chased by Sid Stump in a BMW M760i xDrive sedan, or equivalent. Gawd, I’m starting to think maybe going after redneck poachers isn’t so bad a storyline, after all. Well, Rivera could jazz it up by proposing professional poaching gangs, rather than backwoods hillbillies, as used to be the norm in this strip.
The Tech Bros sure missed the boat for a money grab with their phony NFT scam a while back. Now, it seems they (and the others) are being groomed to support Sid Stump’s AI scam. I can appreciate the ironic justice. So AI is the new geek toy in town; not that it is actually new, of course. Even I wrote basic AI programs over 30 years ago. But the technology is a lot more advanced; advanced enough to start fleecing suckers and suckering innocent people. Misinformationis going to be the coin of the realm once the election season really gets moving. And I reckon the cash will come in from those who benefit from the chaos and fraudulent voting claims.
In any event, once again (i.e. Cricket Bro in Palm Springs and Cricket Bro in Portland) Mark is in a situation involving computer tech, which has little to do with nature or his regular skill set. It’s like an old LP with a scratch that forces the stylus to catch and keep repeating the same bit of music. Of course, the bear is just a plot diversion, mere window dressing.
This is at least the third story where digital hanky-panky is taking place, and Mark is no computer nerd. Is he just going to hammer Sid Stump into the ground and call it good? I’ll note that Jules Rivera has so far ignored my sage advice about giving Mark a tech-weenie sidekick to at least give stories like this one a semblance of practicality. Since Rivera likes to retread characters, I think Diana Daggers appears to have some qualifications.
It seems Mark’s role here is going to be similar to the one in the Cricket Bro/Palm Springs adventure, where he assisted Aparna (?) to steal back her original app code while he kept staff busy with his mediocre boxing skills. I’d love to be wrong.
I stand corrected and applaud Rivera for adding some additional depth to this story. The issue is not so much the capability of AI as it is the capability of Stump to scam the campers. This could have been a sweet turnabout on the Data Bros. and their attempted scam, except for the fact that they—like the others—apparently have no money and hope to squeeze a spare million out of Stump. It’s quite funny in a way: everybody is secretly there for the same reason.
On the other hand, this explanation seems to contradict Jeb’s original statement that the issue was Sid’s secret plans to fill the world with misinformation. Of course, I think we all know Sid was grossly behind the times on that idea.
However, I’m also not clear on the geological issue expressed. Okay, the cliffs are unstable. So Stump attracted his marks with the challenge to brave dangerous terrain? Cricket Bro and Faux Professor Bee Sharp didn’t sound like they were aware of that challenge when they went over the side. Is Mark signaling for a rescue chopper?
Sorry, Jules, but you let the proverbial bear out of the bag last week. We already know why Jeter is stuck in the woods. That wuss of a reporter apparently doesn’t have the brains or stamina to simply walk out. On the other hand, optimistic Mark thinks that he, himself, is safe, not realizing that fraternizing with “the enemy” will not earn him bonus points with the management.
Meanwhile, the bear hunts for commenter Daniel’s picnic baskets.
Rivera must really like her “image” balloons, as she seems to be using them more often. But do we really need to be reminded of what a bear looks like? It doesn’t look very protective, anyway.
Also, I think today is a wasted “rehash” day. We learned why Jeb has been in the woods in Saturday’s strip, just two days ago. Even an old fart like me can recall things that far back. Something tells me that Tuesday may not get us much farther along with the plot. Just a hunch.
Tune in next time for “Bears are fine once you get used to the smell“, or “Yogi found his new Boo-Boo“
What’s been going on this past week? Mark conducted a nighttime hunt for the lost reporter in the woods alongside the STEM retreat. In a short time, Mark stumbled onto the reporter, one Jebediah Jeter, who popped out of the bushes. Seems Jeter was thrown into the woods by Sid Stump to be killed by a bear (!!) for discovering his secret plan to use AI (Artificial Intelligence, in case you came in late) to take over the world, or something like that. But Jeb and the bear somehow befriended each other. Jeb can’t leave the woods without Sid coming after him. What to do? We’re waiting on Mark’s response, which could appear as early as Monday.
I was a little disappointed in the story development, as I had thought there would be a chance for a more dramatic plot development. Well, maybe it is, a bit. Jeb is yet another weirdo; a bewhiskered reporter dressed more flamboyantly than necessary, running around the woods like Grizzly Adams. Jeb wants Mark (and us) to believe that Sid Stump is willing to kill him to prevent exposing the fact that AI can be used to create destructive amounts of fake information. The notion that other people are not already aware of this fact about AI seems farfetched, even within the Trailverse. Still, it’s a topical item in the news these days, and that’s something. At least Mark isn’t once again trying to expose fraudulent fishing at a bass tournament, so let’s see how this story develops.
I still don’t like Mark’s new beard. It just does not look right. Jules, return the stubble, please!
Hmmm. AI is a timely enough plot device here, but I think, for all of his self-assumed brilliance, Sid is behind the curve. Everybody in the real world knows AI is being used to generate fake news, fake student papers, and fake conspiracies. But, maybe in the Trailverse the inhabitants are still getting used to no longer being stuck in the 1950s. It’s a lot to process in a short time!
As for Jeb’s little plight, bunk! Now that Mark knows, he’s also a marked man. Here’s a suggestion, Jeb: Take the back way out.
Sheesh! Making friends with a brown bear. “Gentle Jeb”, is it? Yeah, I know. GentleBen was the bear in that 1960’s kid’s TV show, but I won’t pass up an obvious reference. I’ll pass on Grizzly Adams. Oh dear, I feel like I’m being pulled to the Dark Snark by forces beyond my control. I’m doing my best to look at this dispassionately. Really, I am.
So, there is an effort here to move the story along by explaining the reporter’s disappearance and the motives behind it. But every panel today is a source of ambiguity: First, has everyone really been looking for this flake? Jeb’s own testimony in panel 3 seems to contradict Mark’s platitude. Second, what truth was Jebediah looking for? Clearly, he was not ready for the truth, and I don’t think that was covered in Mark’s briefing for this assignment. Third, who are the “they”: Sid and some of the guests or Sid and some staff that we haven’t seen yet? Fourth … well, you fill that one in, if you wish.
So it looks like Mark’s assignment just took another left turn, which might wind up reprising the “sneak into the office to get the goods” dodge he pulled while in Palm Springs investigating Cricket Bro’s operation.
Ow! Stabbed in the back again! Rivera tries to get cute by having Mark respond to the narration box in panel 1, as if it actually is his own thought. Actually, that is kind of clever, but not here, not now.
The big stab comes as Rivera pulls the rug out from under her suspenseful buildup and returns to her comfort zone of farce. Farce has its place and I enjoy it, but once in a while I’d like to see some actual drama play out here, without oddball jacks-in-the-box popping up or suffering Rivera’s inexplicable reliance on retreading the same opponents, over and over, like the 1960s Batman TV show and its rotating list of villains. Okay, so Jebediah Jeter is a “new” member of the troupe. Journalist? He looks more like “Jebediah Jeter, Professional Hobo.” And he has to portray another joker familiar with Mark and his work. Small world.
So what the hell has Jeter been doing, wandering around the woods for the past several Trailverse days or more? After all, he went missing before Mark was even called to take on this assignment.
The Daily Trail 