Author Archives: stripfix

Friday, September 11, 2015

Lynn's Comments: When this strip was first released, it was OK to give your kid a good whack on the seat, but not now. We updated it by removing the stars in the last panel, suggesting that Michael had been given a time out.

Thursday, September 10, 2015

Lynn's Comments: In grade one, it's cool to be at the front of the line. This coveted spot was fought over. Kids nudged and jostled each other until one held the spot--undisputed. I wanted to be first in line so badly I couldn't stand it. One day, I made it to about sixth, and just as we all stopped shoving, the first kid in line brought up his lunch. The next kid turned green and went to the back of the line and so did the next. This went on until I was first in line. I couldn't believe my luck! I didn't care about the barf, in fact, I leaned over and shouted to everyone, "Guess what! It was macaroni and cheese!" At this, two other kids threw up. "Weaklings," I said to myself as the doors opened. The line began to flow around the offensive patch and into the building with me in the lead. From then on, I claimed first place whenever I wanted it. I'd earned the right.

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Lynn's Comments: I was often asked to champion women's rights in the strip; to reinforce feminism. I never felt comfortable with the word "feminist "; it's a word that to me suggests a negative attitude towards men. Rather, I preferred the word "equalist, " and I thought Elly and her friends were smart and independent and funny enough to show they were indeed equal to the men.

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Lynn's Comments: As one of the few female syndicated cartoonists, I was often asked how I was treated by the men in the profession. Like every other woman, I'd been targeted (by a few people) with the usual crap and I learned to live with it. My revenge was to do a better job than my detractors.

Monday, September 7, 2015

Lynn's Comments: When the Dundas Valley Journal ran my cartoons, I was thrilled. It didn't take long, however, for me to wish for a larger space and a bit more money. They paid me $10.00 a gag, and when I asked for $15, they stopped buying.

Friday, September 4, 2015

Lynn's Comments: As soon as I could talk and interact with other kids, I knew there was a hierarchy, a pecking order into which I had to fit. In the classroom and out in the playground, I knew where I was welcome and where I wasn't. So many different elements came into play: temperament, ability, looks, interests, even cleanliness were things we considered before friendship could begin.

Thursday, September 3, 2015

Lynn's Comments: This was from memory. On my first day of school I seemed to make one gaffe after another. It didn't take long before I hid my embarrassment by being a clown.

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Lynn's Comments: I don't remember missing my kids when they went off to school. They were ready, and the strip, for me, was a full time job. This was Elly's point of view. This was from someone who would now be wondering where the future would take her. Wanting a career aside from parenting, she was now free to make some choices.

Monday, August 31, 2015

Lynn's Comments: I was much more emotional, much more excited than my children were on their first day of school. Maybe it's because I remembered so well my own first day--my own foray into the mayhem of new bodies, new bullies, new friends. Maybe I was remembering the size of the classroom where I sat and what I saw. Maybe I could hear the sounds, feel the noise, and taste the scent of new paper and pencils and paint. Maybe I was reliving their excitement at being a "big kid" for the first time. On the other hand, maybe I was just really glad to have the rest of the day to myself.

Sunday, August 30, 2015

Lynn's Comments: I was particularly happy with this Sunday page. If a strip made ME laugh out loud, then I knew I had a good one in the bank!

Friday, August 28, 2015

Lynn's Comments: Wordplay is something I really love. The trouble is that gags like this will not translate easily into other languages. I have spoken to translators who must change the gag completely so that a punch line will make sense to their readers. A translator of comic art must therefore be a humourist and a wordsmith as well.

Thursday, August 27, 2015

Lynn's Comments: I was told by a number of readers that I was stereotyping Brian (whose family background is Japanese) by making him a smart kid. The funny thing was that none of the complaints came from Japanese families! Is there such a thing as a complimentary insult?

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Lynn's Comments: This strip inspired a number of readers to write in. Some were pleased to see the subject of birth anomalies discussed in the comics, and others were outraged by the suggestion that angels might work on assembly lines. It's hard to explain to those who take story-telling so literally that I was not trying to subvert their beliefs. Kids say things like this. The fact that they have faith in something greater and more wonderful than themselves, is part of the magic of childhood! Ah, but now I'm offending those who will object to seeing the words faith and magic in the same sentence. You can't please 'em all.

Sunday, August 23, 2015

Lynn's Comments: If you don't have a dog, it's difficult to make jokes about stuff that dogs actually do. Little incidents like this one, taken from everyday life, inspired my imagination. Using this as material for the strip, saved my dog from woe.

Friday, August 21, 2015

Lynn's Comments: As a family, we didn't attend church too often, but our faith played an enormous role during the search and rescue--and afterward. How comforting it was to have something; someone out there, more powerful than one can imagine to turn to, to talk to, to trust.

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Lynn's Comments: In the comic strip, Michael was old enough to understand what had happened and could talk about the adventure with his friends. At the time of the accident, however, our children were not aware of the seriousness of the situation. All they knew was that Daddy had gone for a trip and big planes had come to town to look for him.

Monday, August 17, 2015

Lynn's Comments: Again, the story of the rescue was chronicled in the strip. Rod and the others did find it hard to fend off coughs and colds after their ordeal. The legacy of the accident will last all of us a lifetime. We are all so sure that "it won't happen to us," but when it does, we learn to appreciate every day--knowing how fragile we really are.

Sunday, August 16, 2015

Lynn's Comments: This is a scene from my childhood. I liked being indoors. I enjoyed drawing and reading. Once I did go outdoors, however, it was hard to drag me back in. I remember my mom nagging me to get out and enjoy the sun and the summer--while it lasted. Seeing her asleep was a rare thing. She was one of those people who worked from sun up until sunset, and to find her relaxing anywhere was surprising. I think I'm a lot like my mother!

Saturday, August 15, 2015

Lynn's Comments: One outstanding part of the story was the role played by the Search and Rescue team. What a wonderful, resourceful, brave and caring lot they are. For a long time, we kept in touch with the men who found and helped Rod and his friends to safety. How can you thank people who risk their lives for a living? We would be forever in their debt.

Friday, August 14, 2015

Lynn's Comments: This was the truth. If they hadn't had an old Bic lighter, a bit of Avgas, and some brush, they would not have survived. If the canoeists had not been so knowledgeable, they would not have survived, and if Tom had not kept record of their exact location, they would not have survived. They were lucky. It was a misadventure, which changed and mellowed all of us.

Thursday, August 13, 2015

Lynn's Comments: The return of the four survivors was an exhilarating time for the families, but the end of an ordeal for the men. A Twin Otter on floats slowly pulled into the dock and four almost unrecognizable men were helped down from it. All were pale, thin, and covered in bug bites. They had been sheltered, warmed, and fed by the Search and Rescue techs, but the accident had left them weak and weary.