I have to admit that it was painful to put together yesterday’s blog, contrasting Rivera’s early work on the strip with what she is producing today. That feeling persists.

Not sure why Rivera is dragging out this particular scene, like something from Mary Worth, unless she means to fill out the entire week just to let Mark know about the wastewater contamination. This also tells us that the Trails have not gone swimming much lately. Well, Mark has been on the job for the most part, so he’s excused. Tomorrow might we expect Mark to follow-up his interrogation with “And just what are you doing about it, Ranger Shaw?”, which should take Shaw two days to answer, filling out the week.

Apparently, Lost Forest does not have a good wastewater treatment center! I’d send them my youngest’ son’s contact information, as he’s a senior environmental engineer. But he’s quite busy with the seven country metro area he works with. Looks like Mark will have to solve this one on his own!

Art Dept. Mark’s expression in panel 4 seems a bit over-reactive, unless he’s thinking that his septic tank might have sprung a leak. Can’t say there is much difference in Shaw’s expression, which borders on the psychotic. But I think we might agree that Ranger Shaw’s personality is enigmatic. Rivera could look back at her earlier work as we did, and start reusing some of those more nuanced expressions of concern, doubt, and angst that Mark exhibited back then.