So, we have learned over time that Rivera likes to put Mark into situations that are not his usual go-to projects. This makes him sometimes look incompetent, blustering, or just plain clueless. In some ways, I think it is a good idea, as it can stretch Mark’s story options. But it can also just make Mark look like a sap, rather than a successful journalist and environmental avenger. Here, Mark continues to play out-of-touch dad. Mark tries to rebuild his relationship with Rusty, while overplaying his hand.

At first, I thought this Rusty-and-Mark situation was just going to be another comedic interlude. Maybe, but we are now into the third week, so I think it qualifies as at least a mini adventure on its own.

This sitcom-ish morality play gives the impression that it is ending on a typically corny bit of self-parody. However, I don’t recall much in the way of heroic action on Mark’s part, lately.

If this was a sitcom, it would cut to commercials, then return for a brief epilog, perhaps Rusty and Mark exiting the theater together, as Rusty tells Mark what a great time he had going to the movies. Or Mark would be chatting up the actions of the superhero, whereupon Rusty would say something really treacly and overly sentimental about Mark. Mark would then ask Rusty if he wants to stop at the ice cream parlor for a cone of Rocky Road…wait. That’s Ozzy Nelson’s trademark.

I’m guessing readers will get the reference here, since I’m not convinced that the younger set is thronging to this updated comic strip. Has anybody seen any stats on readership?

Well, shucks! I reckon that Mark still doesn’t get it. Clearly, he thinks the problem was just the timing. So, taking Rusty fishing later in the day or evening must be the right ticket. When I was around Rusty’s age, dad sometimes took my brother and me to the steel pier at Virginia Beach at night, where we would fish all night long until about dawn. Now, that was an adventure! But getting up at the crack of dawn? I would have been with Rusty on that one!

Perhaps Rivera is channeling TV sitcoms, where the dad has his heart in the right place but is clueless when it comes to raising kids.

Rivera gets knocked for her art, but I think there is more honest emotion and affection in Cherry’s face in panel 3 than you’ll find in any of the pre-Rivera images of Cherry. Of course, consistency is tough, and the awkward image of Mark in panel 1 is not easy to overlook.

I reckon Rivera has finally put to bed the long-running joke we’ve enjoyed of Mark never getting around to taking his son fishing. Seems Rusty has moved on, while Mark—and the rest of us readers—have been stuck in the past. Time to quit looking backwards.

Okay, so Mark is fixated on the obvious and incorrect problem. Didja notice that whenever Mark walks, it’s more like he is marching?

And Rivera is on to Mark’s mental myopia. But from Cherry’s responses, it doesn’t sound at all like she was on that trip. So, who were the other people on the boat? Cliff and some of the de-bait team?

All right, now. The image of a fish floating on top of the water in panel 1 suggests that maybe Rivera has been looking at ancient Egyptian art, like the detail of a tomb wall painting, on the left.

(detail from a portion of a tomb painting stripped from the tomb of Nebamun. Egypt, New Kingdom, c. 1400 B.C.E).

Anyway, it’s clear from Cherry’s own mental imagery that she may also be mistaken in her diagnosis. Either Mark or Cherry could be correct, but as a clueless father, myself, I’m thinking they are both wrong.

What do you think? Leave your answers in the Comments.

Sorry, Mark! Rusty is no longer an 8-year old boy, hanging on to every empty promise you made. After years of putting him off, I think Rusty has new aspirations. And I’m not sure that the idyllic image in your head of you two enjoying a heartwarming father-and-son fishing trip matches up with the cold reality of a chilly predawn boat ride. This isn’t the 1950s anymore, and Rusty doesn’t wear a coonskin cap.

On a positive note, it’s at least interesting to see that Rivera has invested the Trail family with a more complex set of relationships, wherein Rusty seems more like a real kid. Maybe Mark might score more points with the kid by taking him on one of his assignments. After all, Mark has done so before, in his earlier incarnation, that is. But take note:  The trip to Oregon was a vacation, not an assignment.

Onomatopoeia. This is the literary convention of creating and using words that mimic sounds, such as “squeak”, “hiss”, and “Ka-Boom!” Rivera’s noteworthy contribution is the creation—or use of—everyday words as sound effects. While “SLAM” is a standard sound effect label, “WALK” is one of Rivera’s own, along with earlier instances, such as “STOP!” (for a car coming to a quick stop) and “CLENCH!” (for a fist clenching), as used in earlier stories.

Now, “WALK” certainly seems to suggest a deliberately aggressive walk, resulting in a distinct sound of feet slamming the floor. Rusty’s posture suggests such an interpretation. It is more interesting than the traditional “STOMP! STOMP!” But is it more than this? It could be a symbol for a sound that we must complete in our head; we each may have our own impression of that sound. Or maybe it’s a bit of satire. Your thoughts?

Finally, it is interesting that Rivera uses a similar visual “syntax” for both sound effects. The bordered orange “SLAM” effect actually appears like a fitted overlay to Rusty’s door, implying that the sound fully incased it. An inventive solution.

Uh-oh. The revived drawing style didn’t last long. We’re moving back to stick figures again, along with lame humor. I suppose with that setup line in panel 3, Mark’s phone will ring in tomorrow’s strip.

I also thought it was amazing that Mark could open the front door simply by pushing on it. Either he is really strong or that’s one crappy door frame! Then I looked more closely and noticed the door has no lockset.