Call me crazy, but I think Tess’s selective amnesia act seems to be slipping. And once again, Jules Rivera has been kind enough to remind us readers all about what happened in yesterday’s strip. And a heck of a lot did happen, all in a matter of seconds! Anyway, it’s just as well that we stick with today’s recap and just move forward.
And this would be as good a point as any to jump back to Lost Forest and see how the gals are getting along, but this is only Week 1 of the usual two-week segment for Mark’s adventure, so prepare yourselves for a second week of hog huntin’ hijinks! You know, maybe Mark should have brought his hunting rifle along for self-defense … from Tess!
I’m showing my age or knowledge of old trivia, but back in the 1950s there was a TV show called “The Life of Riley”, in which the main character, a beleaguered husband of course, gets into constant troubles and bemoans his fate with the catch-phrase I borrowed.
And I’m doing some moaning after seeing today’s effort. Frankly, I have almost given up trying to figure out what Jules Rivera is after. Is she deliberately making all of the women petrified numbskulls who hunt in a “hot zone” with their rifles slung, panic at first blush, and can’t even shoot!? Hogs are not that big, so how does an aimed shot go up in a tree? Did Tess trip on that same movie prop tree branch when she was firing?
Most long-term readers know that I always try to give Rivera the benefit of a doubt and play even-handed, even complimenting and promoting her innovations and creativity when I see it. But, hoo-boy, this is pretty sad stuff today, on virtually every front.
Timing. Is this all happening in some kind of slo-mo world where time is elastic and everybody has enough opportunity to have their say, get into position, and act, all the while the hog is chasing down Shania?!
Action. So Mark has time to jump in a tree to rescue Shania? Why not just yell to Shania “CLIMB THE TREE!” Perhaps Mark is right in thinking Shania is too clumsy and dim-witted to do that on her own, given what started this fiasco. And I reckon this is Rivera’s solution to make sure that Mark is, indeed, the “hero” saving the incompetent trio of females.
Art. Ah, the drawing. Well, we’ve seen worse, but that doesn’t say much. In Panel 1, why are the two standing splay-footed? That’s some rough drawing. I couldn’t figure out what the clunky gray object is between Reba and Mark, but finally realized it is the camera’s telephoto lens. Why is the hog in panel 3 just staring instead of charging? Perhaps staging the panels with a series of closeups helps inject a sense of panic and distress, including the panel 4 split-panel. I see that Rivera did, in fact, use a variation of the reverse arrangement I posited yesterday, of focusing on Shania’s expression facing the hog, which is placed in the foreground. More or less.
Sound. What the hell does B-KAM! mean?! The usual sound effect of a gun or rifle (or even shotgun) is BLAM! or KABLAM! or something like that. I even wasted a minute or two online, looking to see if the term might be some kind of cultural joke.
So, my overall reaction (suitable for print) can be summed up as “What a revoltin’ development this is!”
In addition to forgetting to include the strip for yesterday (but since repaired), I also forgot to include the final sentence in my notes: “Well, I wonder what will happen first: Reba manages to get her rifle unslung and ready to protect Shania, or Mark jumps in from out of frame and gives the hog a dose of his fists o’ justice.” I reckon that the answer still lies in doubt. The obvious answer is that Mark, somehow, comes to the rescue. But let’s see if Jules Rivera gives the ladies their due and lets them resolve the crisis. Anyway, Mark’s probably on the sidelines shooting photos. Real action stuff here!
You know, I’m wondering if this is their first actual hunting trip. How is it that Reba wasn’t prepared? Is throwing accusations at Shania going to help keep her from getting gored? And how is it that Shania panicked and didn’t shoot, but tripped on that Hollywood B-movie branch prop that pursued women in films always trip over? Seeing as how wild boars can run up to 25 mph, I think Shania’s strategy of running was not a great choice.
Editor’s Note: Sorry, everybody! Seems I plumb overlooked including today’s strip. It was in my draft, but for some reason, I failed to transfer it in the final post.
It seems the hog-hunting heroines may not be the experienced hunters they pretend. In addition to Shania standing in a vulnerable position and facing away from the wild hog, she apparently brought along her child’s small toy rifle instead of her own. And Reba has her own rifle slung, rather than in her hands, at the ready.
Art Dept. Sure, traditional syndicated comic strips are usually restricted in size, but the framing of the figures in these panels does little to enhance any sense of danger. Proportions and space look out of whack. Ending the series with an alliterative joke further kills any suspense. The hog in panel 4 looks like it is stepping out from another spatial dimension into ours. As if we don’t have enough feral hogs, they are now popping in from a parallel universe.
Perhaps a more dramatic version of panel 4 could have been accomplished with the reverse of what we see now. The hog is in the foreground looking back towards Shania, standing alone in the open.
Or maybe just show an extreme close-up of the hog’s head, like this one. Imagine turning around to see that head staring at you, close up. Pretty damn scary all by itself!
The Daily Trail 