Existing comment:
The Comic Art of Lynn Johnston
For nearly thirty years, the Patterson family has lived and grown with us, as though they were just another ordinary family. The difference is: they exist only on paper. The fictional family at the heart of Lynn Johnston's comic strip For Better or For Worse has seen its share of ups and downs, highs and lows. Unlike other comic strips, Lynn's characters grew and changed in real time. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why For Better or For Worse has been so successful, and why it has resonated with so many people, and for so long.
The story has revolved around Elly Patterson, a married housewife and mother of three. What began as a family-based, gag-a-day type comic strip evolved into a sophisticated, storyline-based, dramatic column that addressed everything from chores and relationships to death and spirituality. It has been discussed over morning coffee in millions of households across Canada, the United States, and beyond for over three decades and is still gaining new readership since 2008, when the strip began to run again from the beginning in newspapers and online. For Better or For Worse has become part of people's daily lives and routines, taking on a life of its own and cementing its popularity.
-- Katherine Hadway |