If this is Rivera’s take on the “vintage” version of Mark Trail with its 1950s social mores, she should stick with the current crazy version of Mark Trail, thank you. Blech!
I have to admit that that is the worst drawing of lightning that I have seen in years. Sorry, Jules.
Um, in panel 1, Cherry’s hands are pressing against Mark’s chest. Doesn’t looks like a willing embrace to me! But it does look like Rivera has been looking at old-fashioned woodcuts. Why do I think this? Well, the composition is unusual, as is the straight-line hatching surrounding Mark and Cherry. We just don’t see that technique in her work.
The example on the left is clearly not the source, but it does show the linear hatched lines and a tightly-framed composition, like the window scene.
Or maybe Rivera was inspired by 19th century Victorian art, as in the example on the right.
Or maybe she has another source. Any ideas, people?
Okay, I’m wandering, but that’s pretty much what’s happening this week in Mark Trail, as Cherry’s Week gets the short shrift with this inane series of bad puns.
Am I the only one who thinks the strip looks a bit different today? Perhaps it’s the somber coloring or maybe the different look to Cherry’s appearance. Perhaps that is just a deliberate choice to set the proper tone for Cherry’s despair, as well as her usual exaggeration. Perhaps Mark and Cherry would both feel better after a nighttime “nature walk”. I think the avian “lovebirds” in panel 1 have already set the stage.
In any event, a welcome return to Cherry’s World. But where does the story go from here? The concrete is down, so there is not much she can do about it. I doubt she is up to sabotaging the fresh pouring by doing something really bad, like walking on it or taking a pickaxe to it. Her isolationist brother might be interested, but wrecking a concrete driveway isn’t the same thing as destroying a flowerbed. Does this mean Cherry’s adventure is over, having hardly begun? That would be fine, as long as she is ready to jump back into something else right away. The way Mark usually does with his assignments.
Another week that wasn’t. Or was it? Aside from a welcome cameo by Ralph the Rat Snake, we saw Mark jump on Rusty for slamming “Professor” Bee Sharp because a) Sharp posted incorrect information Rusty used in a report that made him a laughing stock; and b) Rusty discovered Sharp was not a real professor at all. For his part, Mark shamed Rusty for dissing Sharp because “the Professor” was in the hospital suffering a broken leg. But how was Rusty to know this? Didn’t matter to Mark the Moralist.
Given Mark’s own history with Professor Fraud you’d have thought he would be sympathetic to Rusty, but ‘twas not the case. Instead, Mark was fixated (as we have seen) on Sharp, as if he was a long-lost brother. Mark has been unusually focused on Sharp and his health, to the point of ignoring his own assignment. He didn’t have much to do with Cricket Bro, either. But Mark has started pondering whether there is a nefarious hidden conspiracy underlying the accident as well as the missing reporter. This presages a change to a more dramatic mood. But, can Rivera pull this off without making it a farce?
Warning: At this point, you can keep reading or skip down to the Sunday strip and avoid my rambling analytical musings on Rivera’s art. You’ve been warned! No take-backs.
Comments on Rivera’s drawing came up again, so it’s an opportunity for me to respond: I really do share people’s frustration with Rivera’s art. It certainly conflicts with the more naturalistic styles of Dodd, Elrod, and Allen. But honestly, some of their work was crude, mawkish, and just mediocre. We’ve all joked on their overuse of clip-art (cut-and-paste) and hokey stories. Of course, that was part of the charm: That unintended corniness. The traditional Mark Trail style could be cloyingly sentimental, like a petit point embroidery. The old Mark Trail was everybody’s grandfather with silly jokes. As “Mark Trail Confidential” author Mark Carlson-Ghost cataloged, Elrod (and maybe Dodd) even went so far as to recycle older stories. Hey, you want to see great adventure strip art? Look at Alex Raymond, Hal Foster, and John Prentice (Rip Kirby, in the vintage section of Comics Kingdom.). Daily newspapers focus on quantity over quality, so reduced-sized formats can no longer faithfully reproduce their work.
Rivera’s art (and writing) was originally a wake-up call and a bold redo to bring the strip into the 21st century. Bravo for that! But Rivera’s current flat, sketchy style with virtually no modeling and a deliberate disregard for proportion mirrors her sometimes chaotic, weird storylines. I like a bit of parody and weirdness; but I also like variety of mood.
I still believe Rivera’s original vision and style was more appealing, sophisticated, inventive, and fitted the grittier storyline she had. Start back in October 2020 and view those earlier strips. Even the storyline moved between drama, comedy, and social issues. I don’t know why Rivera abandoned all that, unless she didn’t have the time to keep up. Her predecessors had assistants, which certainly made it possible for them to maintain their traditional Mark Trail style.
Okay, a good, informative Sunday strip! Nice try on the title panel. As long-time reader Downpuppy commented earlier this week when he complimented Rivera’s awareness of this recent event: “The reordering of Artiodactyla [is] based on molecular biology.” I do have one nit to pick: In the penultimate panel, Rivera notes that “…new information can shake up established beliefs”, which I think includes a careless term. Neither science nor scientific results are based on beliefs, but on the results of observation, experiment, and testing to arrive at a supportable conclusion based on the evidence. New evidence can cause scientists to revise their conclusions. These are not beliefs, since the concept of belief does not have to be based on research or evidence. It would probably be more accurate to state that new information can shake up established knowledge.
Sharp hanging out with his enemies? Well, I suppose there is a bit of truth in that. They certainly had a falling out over the NFT scam. And they bickered at the retreat, as well. So what? Mark still refers to Sharp as “Professor Bee Sharp”. I wonder how Sharp expects to obtain money by going to the mountain retreat, as Mark ponders. Blackmail? Well, Mark is sure jumping between assumptions like an Olympic runner over the hurdles. But does he have a point? Is there a secret plan of sabotage or worse? For the sake of this story, I hope so!
On the plus side, Ralph the Rat Snake finally has a cameo. I say, give him a few more panels and a few more words. But I wish Rivera would stop drawing animals that face the reader. That “Dagwood in the headlights” shtick is long past old and should be retired for about two years, so we have a chance to forget it.
So, Mark throws Rusty under the bus while still standing up for the phony “Professor” Bee Sharp? Seems to me that Rusty is the real level-headed person here and Mark is acting like some kind of wishy-washy “all sides are valid” dude. No, Mark. Apparently, he not only does not care that Sharp published misinformation that negatively affected other people; he doesn’t seem to care about Rusty’s own humiliation, as he continues to act as Sharp’s proxy. Nice “Dad moves”, Mark.
Well, I bet you could figure out what Mark would tell Rusty after he got run over by a drunk driver.
I think Bill Ellis might want to fire Mark and hire Rusty, because he just did something Mark rarely bothers to do: Research. Sure, Rusty did his research after the fact, but he still did it. So he’s young. He’ll likely learn from the experience. And the way Rusty can flex his anatomy (panel 1) has to be a game changer!
But Rusty’s revelation puts a new light on things. Mark should now be the one who is embarrassed by his own deference to that fraud. Sadly, it seems as if Mark is always getting played for a mark, which is another reason he needs a wingman.
Oh, on the artistic front, Rivera designs yet another visual flashback technique (panel 2), where Rusty’s recollection appears in an isolated area without context. Well, I should not call these images flashbacks, because they are really just memory snapshots frozen in time. I think I’ll go with the term recollection from here on.
Just what is Mark’s fascination with Sharp!? Why does he continue to come to his aid? Or is Mark going to try to teach Rusty the difference between a lie and an honest mistake, based on the notion that maybe Sharp’s video did not deliberately set out to mislead.
Or maybe this is going to be a put-down of cancel culture. If so, points to Rivera. It’s a terribly arrogant and ignorantly false morality.
Rivera has spent 3 days setting this family time scenario up, so I’m thinking this episode of Father Knows Least will continue into Saturday with Papa Trail unsuccessfully trying to impart his wisdom to a 10-year old kid. Or maybe Mark will order Andy to chase Rusty into the woods so he can get some rest.
As expected, this week we see wet-blanket Mark greeting his radioactive son at home, after a long day screwing around; and it’s not even dusk yet! Rusty helps justify why grocery stores tend to install restraints in their carts to prevent them being taken off the premises, or even as far as your car parked halfway down the parking lot.
Mark remains clueless about Rusty’s life, just like he was pre-Rivera. That, at least, hasn’t changed, even if Rusty has. But what’s with all of this sympathy for Sharp, anyway? Mark looks like he’s turning into a Bee Sharp Fanboy. It ain’t Sharp that can’t a break here. But now we have to suffer Rusty’s wokeness?
In Sunday’s comments, reader Mark linked to an Ed Dodd reprint in the Vintage Mark Trail section of the Comics Kingdom web site for a visual comparison with neo–Mark Trail. Boh. Va bene, but I’ve seen better from Dodd. This was originally drawn in 1978, so probably not Dodd or Tom Hill, his original assistant. I’m thinking it had to be early Jack Elrod. I’m willing to be corrected on that guess. The drawing looks a bit too wooden for my taste. In fact, Cindi looks like she died in panel 3. Still, it falls in line with the standard Mark Trail style we all grew up with and definitely contrasts with the present realization.
I wonder if anybody is reading this blog or even reading the actual Mark Trail strip who is under 50 years old? Or 30?
It is one thing for Rivera to juggle two separate storylines in one strip (Mark’s and Cherry’s), and kudos for doing that. It’s another thing when one storyline starts branching out in a different direction, as has been going on for a while. While supposedly tracking down the source of intermittent bear attacks at the Water Bear Country STEM retreat, and possibly finding one likely source (unsecured garbage dumpsters), Mark got sidetracked into rescuing several guests from a hiking accident. Mark was hardly reluctant to step in and exercise his first aid survival skills, performing certain tasks that still seem inexplicable to urban plebes like me. The apparent telekinetic skills of Mark’s canine sidekick, Andy, came in handy when Mark had to put the injured Professor Bee Sharp into the back of his station wagon to transport to the hospital.
How does this subplot (I’ll be generously optimistic here) tie into Mark’s original mission, assuming he can even remember it? Maybe we’ll learn more on Monday when this story continues for another week. Just a note: We’ve now had four publishing weeks dedicated to Mark’s first day on assignment. He’s had a very busy day!
Want to bet that this week’s strips will focus on Mark going over his first day with Cherry? Oh, she might get a word in, edgewise, with her latest Honest Ernest tale of woe.
Well, Andy was pretty much the only “wildlife” we saw this past week, so why not devote a Sunday to Saint Bernards?
By the way, I really don’t like the new old-school beard Mark is sporting. Rivera should go back to the hand-drawn stubble and ditch this “hobo beard” meme. Does anybody like the new beard style over the old one? Just compare the banner illustration at the top of this page.
While a rogue bear is possibly munching down on a lost reporter, Mark spends quality time with his pals. The criticisms today are just too obvious:
1) Exactly how did Andy help Mark and Sharp? He seems more intent on doing an imitation of Little Orphan Annie’s dog, Sandy.
2) How is Sharp able to even stand up with his compound fracture?
3) As Sharp warned of impending shock (something we remarked on two days ago), why did Mark put him in the back, sitting up, rather than lowering the back seat so he could lie down with his legs elevated?
4) Is Rivera ill-informed, indifferent, or vengeful?
Okay, that’s all I can write. I know it’s lame, but I’m dreadfully behind in my Italian homework, which is not a good thing. I have an exam on Monday, an oral presentation the next day, and a trans-Atlantic conversation with my Italian TANDEM partner later. Oh, and I forgot about the meeting with our tax preparer before the exam. Hell, I wonder if Andy will help me!?
Well. WTF is Andy supposed to do, pull the day bed!? This is mostly Mark’s own fault, since he could have loaded Sharp into his station wagon when they first got back to the retreat. Talk about a contrived situation. What’s with this “we” business, Mark? And why are you still concerned? Call the bloody paramedics. Then find the bear and lost reporter. Just do the job you were hired to do, Mark!!!
<Sigh!> Yes, I know, another story gone off the rails. This could have been an interesting adventure of investigation, hidden agendas, and drama. Instead, it is once again Mark wasting time with the same people he’s dealt with before (except for the cargo ship owner and his assistant, who appear to have disappeared).
A few days ago commenter Downpuppy brought up a salient point about the missing reporter. My hypothesis is that he got fed up with these whackjobs and just ran away. But at least Sharp has a sense of humor.
Craziness ensues, as does Rivera’s continued slagging of tech nerds. With regard to panel 4, why didn’t Mark just put Sharp in the back of his station wagon and take him to the hospital to begin with? Did he even call for an ambulance? Hard to believe this nature retreat would have been erected in a location with no cell service. But frankly, I’m also surprised that Mark did not position Sharp in anticipation of oncoming shock. Definitely don’t want the head raised.
Side Note: It seems that most of Mark’s nemeses are involved in technology. If this is going to be a continual source of threats to nature and the environment in the Trailverse, then I think Mark could use some help, such as a partner well versed in technology. This could also open up move avenues for better story development! But who would be that person? Somebody completely new? Certainly, not any of the current stable of misfits. Kelly Welly? Haven’t seen enough to know. But Diana Daggers has some tech skills, as well as the ability to handle rough stuff. Sure, she can be a thorn in Mark’s side, but partners-in-tension is a popular TV and movie meme. It worked for Peanuts, so it should work for Mark Trail.
Wait. I recall from my boy scout training that a compound fracture indicates a bone brake that pierces the skin, causing real pain and sometimes extensive bleeding. I don’t think we saw any of that, did we? Major incidents like that are not handled in the casual manner we saw. So, either Jules Rivera doesn’t understand the seriousness of the term or Mark overstated the break for dramatic effect.
As for Stump’s erratic reaction, this seems to follow Rivera’s usual characterization of tech nerds (think Cricket Bro and Professor Bee Sharp) as unhinged or even bipolar. One has only to compare today with Stump’s polite and seemingly sincere welcome to Mark when they first met (see Feb 28 – Mar 4).
This sequence just looks so out of place, as I noted earlier. This confab should have taken place before Mark went to the rescue. But we’re not surprised to find no medical resources on site, are we? If there are any state or federal requirements about how private camps must be managed, Sid sure doesn’t act like he’s aware of them. So far, this follows Rivera’s typical take on tech-nerds. In short, how does this rescue mini adventure support the storyline?
On the other hand, kudos to Rivera for not including redundant narration boxes today.
Not to be too snarky, but shouldn’t Mark have warned Sid before rescuing the guys? Maybe Stump actually does have an emergency plan in place, and maybe a medic on staff, as well. Wait, when did any operation Mark dealt with have any semblance of actual organization or logistics? So, we’re not breaking new ground here, as Jules Rivera continues her ongoing beat-down of tech nerds. Maybe they are a favorite target of disdain in California, but this is at least the third story to feature clueless-in-life tech nerds. Mark needs new enemies!
Today’s strip would have been a decent cliff hanger for the week when Mark first heard about the accident. But that crisis is apparently past, so this week could turn into a Mark Trail PSA on safety preparations and training. Oh joy.
This week Cherry continued her attempt to convince Violet Cheshire to cancel Honest Ernest’s contract to pave over a portion of the grounds and garden of the Sunny Soleil Society because of environmental issues. Unfortunately, currently married Violet declaimed her love for currently married Ernest and flatly refused to cancel his contract. Cherry was shocked as much by the apparent insult to traditional family values as she was by Violet’s decision. Stymied by this defeat, she stomped away to dig up rose bushes before the concrete arrived.
But now, a bit of history and contrition: When this strip began in 1946, Cherry led a feisty lifestyle but eventually married Mark and landed a new role as stay-at-home wife and mother to adopted son, Rusty. With few exceptions, Cherry’s appearance was limited to welcoming Mark home and despairing over his departures. One of Jules Rivera’s important innovations was to give Cherry more options, including her own adventures.
I opined earlier this week about a supposed over-emphasis on emotion and reaction as might be heard in a soap opera. However, my wife reminded me that women, in general, are more likely to discuss feelings and relationships than men. Fair point. Even a blockhead like me recognizes that Cherry’s adventures add an additional—female—spotlight on this male-oriented adventure strip. So, I was wrong to get overly snarky about the dialog. Anyway, I’d still like to see a story costarring Mark and Kelly Welly, since Rivera made a big deal about Kelly when she started out.
My usual quick-and-dirty research confirms most of what Mark reports. But he fails to report that some major concrete companies are working on solutions to reduce CO2 emissions, while there is a lot of research into developing safer alternatives to concrete. I’d be happy for that, because concrete is not only a health hazard, it also usually leads to ugly, prefabbed architecture, inflexible sidewalks and driveways, and sore arms from mixing it for home projects.
I’m disappointed that Rivera, having properly introduced a defeat against Cherry’s “save the grass” defense, undermined the dramatic element of the situation by introducing a lame, grade school pun in panel 3. In addition, we see Cherry reduced to committing what appears to be petty theft: removing rose bushes from the property of the Sunny Soleil Society. And she’s doing it right in front of Violet. Or is Cherry just trying to relocate the bushes to a safer part of the grounds?
Anyway, according to various gardening sites I looked up, you don’t just suddenly dig up a rose bush. It takes a lot of work and a lot of preparation. Acting impulsively is rarely a successful strategy when it comes to transplanting rose bushes.
Violet Cheshire may have gotten a bum deal from the in-laws, but I’d be inclined to put her out to pasture, as well. I reckon that she is putting Cherry firmly in her place with little or no recourse. Cherry’s attempt to cast moralistic aspersions falls flat: No laws broken, it’s private property, and Cherry is just the hired help. So, will this particular adventure draw to an early close or will Jules Rivera bring on some kind of dux ex machina to keep this story going? Unless Cherry resorts to possibly illegal actions, I don’t see what else she can do. What do you think?
Persisting to argue risks getting fired: Cherry could stand on principle, but she’d be out of work and the paving would still take place. Ernest has already made his position known and Cherry is not likely to sway him. I wonder if Rivera is brave enough to allow Cherry (or Mark) to lose once in a while? That would be refreshingly realistic and innovative.
I think if I wanted to see “Mary Worth”, I’d read “Mary Worth”. I mean, the general concept for this story is fine: Cherry is a landscaper fighting against a decision that could adversely affect the local environment. Got it. Maybe I’m being too “male oriented” here. After all, situations like Violet’s certainly must come up. I just hope that we don’t wander too far into the relationship weeds. Cherry Worth? Well, let’s see what Rivera does with the situation. Any bets on whether Cherry brings up Ernest’s wife, Carolyn?
Not sure why Rivera brands this relationship a scandal now (panel 4), as if it wasn’t already a scandal when the relationship was first revealed in Cherry’s prior story (“Rash Decisions”). But do we need the kind of “reality show” editorializing we see in the narration box of panel 4? If the characters want to declare a scandal, that’s just fine. But I don’t think we need Rivera opining from her caption soapbox, like those annoying in-show mini-interviews they stick in reality shows and “Modern Family.“
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