Q and Eh! Questions and answers about the Canadian Comic Strip For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston

Out of curiosity, why have you used enlarged noses as a sign of aging? The nose on Connie's dog Sera has increased over time to point where she no longer looks like the same dog!

When Farley dies - Will he be replaced with a new Old English Sheep dog? Unlike Farley's father, Farley could not sire his replacement because he was neutered. Please don't neuter Farley's replacement.

I have a question about human physiology, believe it or not. It is something I've been thinking about for quite a while but can't seem to figure out the answer. As human beings, we are programmed and designed with an uncanny ability to recognize faces, movements and body types. Our very survival as a species has depended on it since per-historic days. You can glance at your cartoon characters and immediately know their age and usually who they are and their sex. What is it about the human body one can recognize as teen, pre-teen, 20's, 30's, etc. It can't be all size, because there are plenty of tiny people who are thin but are kinda old. Your strips show that you know what it is. Can you explain it to us?

Why in all of the books, is Elly always shown as pushing John away sexually?

Were Elly's maiden name and the ethnic background of her and John's ancestors ever mentioned? Deanna's last name sounds Polish.

Hi Lynn! I am just asking if Michael's wife and kids are based on a real person? And if Anthony and Therese are too?

What happened to Lawrence's father & was he Black?

Hi! I'm just wondering, are Mr. B and Butterscotch supposed to be English Lop rabbits?

In a few of the older strips, Gordon was going through "hormone attacks". I thought they were funny, but do they really exist?

Was it hard to name all the characters? Do you know people in real life with the names of the family's friends?

In the non-hybrid series did Laura Cruikshank age?

Where did Michael get the idea to call Liz Lizardbreath?

Is it just me, or does Michael have facial hair in the older strips from 1994?

I'm wondering...are the appearances of secondary characters are based on real people?

Is Candace based on a real person?

Why isn't April on your list for character biographies?

Is the little Deanna that Michael is fighting over [in the strip for January 15, 2009] his future wife?

i know that a lot of your comic strip is based somewhat on real life things in your life. i am wondering if your son is really an author? and if so...what are the names of his books?

What ever happened to Elly's friend Annie and her kids? I remember she had a son around Elizabeth's age, and a daughter named Leah, who I thought had 6 fingers and toes.

Some of your readers have engaged in a bit of friendly debate on the backstories for Luis Guzman and Eva Abuya. Based on a comment that Luis makes in March 5, 2007 strip, some have concluded that Luis and his family were refugees. Based on Eva's "war zone" comment from July 9, 2007 strip, they have concluded that Eva has experienced a war zone herself. Others contend that Luis and Eva were just attempting to give April perspective, without referring to their own personal experience. Could you clear up the confusion surrounding these characters?

I was wondering, when you age your characters, are they based on the way your own family aged (because they are based on your family), or do you age them according more to how you belive they would look?

Just wondering- is there a reason that in your strips you have addressed the "issue" of being gay in guys but not girls?

Today's strip shows Lawrence as a young boy looking more African-American than he does as an adult. What is his family background. I didn't see the early strips where he was introduced. Thank you!

I know Jesse was a student of Liz's but where from? University? Elementary school? Where?

I have noticed that Francie's speech patterns and cognition do not match the age she is supposed to be (born March 7, 2005; just turned three in March 2008). Some readers have assumed that Lynn has silently modified her age upwards (as soap operas do). I hope that is not true, as it goes against the established realism of the strip. Could you please settle this matter definitively?

When did Mr. B. pass on to the great carrot patch in the sky?

Is is just me, or has Ellie's nose gotten bigger and bigger each year??? Looking back on the earlier strips - her nose is a lot smaller...it seems to have taken over her face!

I really enjoyed reading the extended biographies in the "Who's Who" section. I was wondering if you know a character's history before you introduce them to the strip, or does their history become clear to you after you've written about them for a while?

Just a quick questions about the 08/01/15 strip. Connie mentions that they are grandparents. Did Lawrence adopt a child or does Lawrence have a sibling I forgot about?

My name is Katie and I live in Kitchener Ont. I am very fond of your books but I have a few questions. My first is did you ever think that Farley was going to die in the books. It was so well done but it was really well done. My mom also has the Farley foundation license plate. Where exactly does the money go to? Another question is April was born in a storm did you ever have the same experience in your life?

Dear Lynn, I have a couple questions about the significance of names. There are three "Pauls" - Paul (Gord and Tracy's son), Paul (Liz's love interest) and Paul (April's guitar teacher). Also, the name "Robin;" obviously that's Mike and Dee's son, but Elly considered the name "Robyn" for April before she was born? Are these all coincidences or are those names special to you? Thanks.

Is Canadian author Farley Mowat, who wrote, among other things, "The Dog Who Wouldn't Be", the inspiration for the dog's name?

Did Lynn know when Liz moved to Mtigwaki That she would not stay and marry Paul but would move back south or was this something that evolved with the strip?

Is it easier to write plot for a completely fictional character like April than it is for characters who have some connection to real family members, like Liz and Michael?

It seems there were some strips where John got a vasectomy. But then later you had April. Am I right? or simply confused?

Your comic strip of late about the students in special ed are so right on! As a parent of such a child who battles the issues of inclusion every day in school, it's heartwarming to see you approach this issue head-on. Do you have a child in this situation?

Why doesn't Shannon wear the same pleated-skirt school uniform that April wears? Is Shannon a boy?

You have mentioned many times how your comic strip is presented in real time. If that's true then how can Elizabeth be celebrating her 26th birthday (June 2007) when she appears in the August 3, 1980 and September 20, 1980 strips?

When I was pregnant with my 2nd child, in 1991-1992, I thoughtI remembered Elly being pregnant at the same time with April. I have always thought that my daughter and April were the same age-both born in April 1992. But in recent readings, April is now 16 making her born in April 1991. Did I remember wrong or did April's birthday get changed?

Is Jim's service with RCAF Squadron 408 based on that of an actual person?

What breed of dog is Dixie? She is terribly cute!

We love Liz's cat's name, but we don't know how to pronounce it. Please help!

What are Mike and Liz's middle names? I know April's is Marian.

Jesse, one of Liz's students. Is he an orphan? What's his story?

I know that Lynn and the late Charles Schulz were dear friends. Did Lynn chose to name Michael and Deanna's daughter after Mr. Schulz's daughter?

Is Dee's full name pronounced "DeeANNA" or "DEEna"?

Is Lawrence African-American?

Lynn, after seeing 'Weed' in last sundays strip, it cracks me up how much he looks like Geddy Lee, the lead singer of RUSH. Is that just a coincedence or are you a RUSH fan?

What happened to April's rabbit?

I noticed on Elizabeth's stats that her birth date is listed as June 26, 1981, however on the time travel strips there is one dated Feb 8, 1981 and Elizabeth is a young baby, maybe just a couple of months old. Is there is typo on her stats or did her age change?

What kind of dog is Edgar?

How did Elizabeth meet Warren and what is their history together?

I don't really recall a Miss Edwards, or Sharon. Is she a new character or did I just miss her?

Who are Lynn's favourite characters to draw?

If the comic is based on the real family, where did April come from?

Are the characters really based on Lynn's family?