For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for August 23, 2020

  1. B986e866 14d0 4607 bdb4 5d76d7b56ddb
    Templo S.U.D.  over 4 years ago

    Back when I lived in Lewis County, Washignton, I lived in a neighborhood on a hill. I had a bicycle too. The hill was so steep, I also had to stick my feet out like a motorist in the town of Bedrock in order to help stop.

     •  Reply
  2. Missing large
    Lyrak  over 4 years ago

    How about, “Dad and I will pay half, and you need to pay the other half”? After all, if this follows the story line of Michael working at his uncle’s farm, he should have some money saved up.

     •  Reply
  3. Missing large
    CO Premium Member over 4 years ago

    There is no way my parents would have paid $150 for shoes, especially sneakers. And now that I can buy anything I want, there is no way I would pay $150 for sneakers!

     •  Reply
  4. Mm wp001
    allen@home  over 4 years ago

    The high tech shoes we had in my day were PF Flyers with the built in wedge.

     •  Reply
  5. Americauna chicks 1 week 003
    howtheduck  over 4 years ago

    Since this was published in 1991, the Greedok Accupod is most likely a takeoff on the Reebok Pump. The Pump was released on Nov. 24, 1989 at $170, the highest-priced sneaker on the market by about $70. The black and white-striped shirt the Foot Gear shoe store guy is wearing means Lynn is going after Foot Locker. Judging from the drawing, Mike is riding a road bike with coaster brakes or no brakes at all.

    If I were a teenage boy with $150+ Reebok Pump shoes, I would treat them like they were gold; because I would want to show them off to other kids.

     •  Reply
  6. Penguins
    Wooded trail  over 4 years ago

    My Bike brakes squeal really bad. Ive still never Used my feet to slow down in my life.

     •  Reply
  7. Krazykat
    MagOctopus  over 4 years ago

    I know he’s a teenager, but this is a truly crap way to spend your parents’ money.

     •  Reply
  8. Schnauzer
    KelleySweat1  over 4 years ago

    Didn’t Michael earn anything from his stint on the farm? What happened to that?

     •  Reply
  9. Picture 001
    rshive  over 4 years ago

    Nothing like an informed consumer.

     •  Reply
  10. Picture
    Shirl Summ Premium Member over 4 years ago

    She gave in? wth, not in my house.

     •  Reply
  11. Profile msn
    vaughnrl2003 Premium Member over 4 years ago

    Okay, I’m going out on a limb here and say, money well spent.

     •  Reply
  12. Beaker collar
    Beaker  over 4 years ago

    When I was in junior high the “elite” shoe was Chuck Taylor Converse All-Stars. My parents would only get me the JC Penney rip-off version.

     •  Reply
  13. Images
    Geophyzz  over 4 years ago

    If he can put both feet on the ground, his seat is set way too high.

     •  Reply
  14. Space thinking emoji 2
    Gerard:D  over 4 years ago

    Lynn’s Comments:

    A strip like this gave my brain a nice jog. Coming up with the overrated advertising info was a hoot!

     •  Reply
  15. Img 0448  2018 01 29 23 33 16 utc
    pheets  over 4 years ago

    I pay that for my horse’s shoes (no choice) but would never spend that on mine (lots of choices).

     •  Reply
  16. Image gl2xu6o8 1679017467894 raw
    Space_cat  over 4 years ago

    Did that to the heels of a $20 pair of hiking boots. (I had to ride on the tailgate of a truck for 15 miles (24.14 km) My legs were long and dragged a little) My dad beat the crap out of me when he saw what happened.

     •  Reply
  17. Missing large
    fuzzbucket Premium Member over 4 years ago

    Sneakers, hah! I’m wearing my Nike squeakers.

     •  Reply
  18. Imagescasts1v2
    jeanie5448  over 4 years ago

    Back in the day with 4 kids to buy for my mom went to Payless, 2 for $5. I am grown and STILL don’t pay that much for a pair of sneakers. Also, my sneakers last for years. When the sole wears out on these shoes his mom should make him go barefoot or pull a good one and tape them up with Duck Tape. lol

     •  Reply
  19. Bits2
    Diat60  over 4 years ago

    This particular strip was a good example of how to blind the consumer by pseudo-science. And it works.

     •  Reply
  20. Missing large
    277bartlett Premium Member over 4 years ago

    I don’t mind that my son buys expensive running shoes as he’s a pretty low maintenance guy except for that. But he won’t let me toss “retired” shoes. I’m storing several large totes of old running shoes.

     •  Reply
  21. Picture
    summerdog  over 4 years ago

    She’s paying in cash!! Gasp!

     •  Reply
  22. Picture
    summerdog  over 4 years ago

    I am an old school KEDS classic sneaker wearer. But with a modern twist….I take out the white laces.

     •  Reply
  23. Img 20150606 175412 912
    djtenltd  over 4 years ago

    I remember when I was in high school and I was on the basketball team. We were shopping for sneakers and we chose a store with that had a sneaker style that costed $25. My father told me not to come back into the house if I bought those sneakers for $25! WOW! Talk about a change in times!

     •  Reply
  24. Missing large
    Big Mike  over 4 years ago

    In the original strip, the price was $100. Also, Mike wasn’t wearing a helmet.

     •  Reply
  25. Missing large
    guy42  over 4 years ago

    For years when I was a kid all I wore in the summer was black canvas hightops. They cost $5 a pair. They were usually purchased at Canadian Tire where they had a bin full of them.

     •  Reply
  26. Missing large
    The_Great_Black President  over 4 years ago

    Michael could make $150 easy. All he has to do is greet some American “importers” who are crossing the Canadian border with a “special shipment”. When asked what the crates contained, all Michael was told was that it was from “our good friends the Americans, helping to ensure us Canadians have our God-given rights to keep and bear arms”.

     •  Reply
  27. Kirby close up with poppies behind   close cropped
    mistercatworks  over 4 years ago

    Gold-plated laces don’t make them any better for your feet. Get shoes that fit, period.

     •  Reply
  28. 5f3a242a feac 42cc b507 b6590d3039f7
    Plods with ...™  over 4 years ago

    My youngest used to make bikes out of parts of ones that people were throwing out and sell them to kids he knew as well as for himself.

    One that he made had no brakes. One day I noticed that the arch in his sneaker was ‘U’ shaped. Apparently, he had discovered that by jamming his foot between the back tire and the frame behind the seat, he could lock up the rear tire. Worked for him. Ticked off his mom.

     •  Reply
  29. Az flag
    thewizofaz  over 4 years ago

    These were the days when NASA was shut down. All the rocket scientists found work designing athletic footwear.

     •  Reply
  30. 750a5be89e5492a6a79cdd5442eb47d9371b0b836689298121981f62979e5eac
    hooglah  over 4 years ago

    The lady is a fool for caving in for that pair of shoes. If he wants something that ridiculous, make him buy it.

     •  Reply
  31. Picture
    DavidHewlett  over 4 years ago

    ‘Michael’ NEVER better let ‘Mom’ catch him doing what he is doing in the last panel ! ! ! !

     •  Reply
  32. 20180812 203935
    dlaemmerhirt999  over 4 years ago

    $150?!? I’m nearly 6’ AND have a large gut, but $50 sneakers last me almost half a year! Then again, I never learned to ride a bike . . .

     •  Reply
  33. Tulips
    locake  over 4 years ago

    This is why you give kids an allowance, $2 – $20 a week depending on their age and your finances. They can spend their own money on things the parents don’t think they need. I noticed my kids bought a lot fewer things when they had to spend their own money.

     •  Reply
  34. Missing large
    rlaker22j  over 4 years ago

    had a pair of Vans that lasted me 25 years

     •  Reply
  35. Missing large
    whawn  over 4 years ago

    As I recall, my 1968 Converse bball shoes (the hi-end at the time) were about $20. That’s (believe it or not) $150 in today’s dollars.

     •  Reply
  36. Dvincent
    dv1093  over 4 years ago

    His parents should kill him. It would be justified. There would be no charges.

     •  Reply
  37. Bth baby puppies1111111111 1
    kab2rb  over 4 years ago

    Just another gimmick to sell cheep shoes at high prices.

     •  Reply
  38. Img 2379
    Kawasaki Cat  over 4 years ago

    But everybodies got them!

     •  Reply
  39. Missing large
    rsam  over 4 years ago

    I still have my original Converse All Stars high tops I bought my first year in college 1963. They are almost like new. I was student manager of the college basketball team so they didn’t get used much. I think they were 10 or 12 dollars. Every now and then I pick them up just for the memories.

     •  Reply
  40. Missing large
    t_a_80111  over 4 years ago

    A Christmas presennt one year was free roller skates thanks to New Orleans Toy and Doll fund. I’m 86 and still grateful for that gift.

     •  Reply
  41. Missing large
    asrialfeeple  over 4 years ago

    You don’t pay 150 bucks doe sneakers. ESPECIALLY not for a teenager.

     •  Reply
  42. Picture
    WhoDat  over 4 years ago

    Got that right. I was lucky if I got Ked’s, usually no name brand and they were just fine…

     •  Reply
  43. Large img 20140425 0002
    tinstar  over 4 years ago

    If my kids wanted something so outrageously priced, I would give them the cost of a decent pair. If they insisted on the more expensive pair (ain’t “image” wonderful?), they had to come up with the rest.

     •  Reply
  44. Dragon
    Asharah  over 4 years ago

    I remember one strip where Elly discovered the kids had outgrown last winter’s coats & boots and needed new ones, that of course cost a couple hundred dollars. Then Mike asks why she keeps wearing the same old winterwear year after year.

     •  Reply
  45. Missing large
    rebelstrike0  over 4 years ago

    This message on corporate greed of $150 shoes brought to you by Lynn Johnston, who makes $1,000,000 a year from a comic strip.

     •  Reply
  46. Ann margaret
    Caldonia  over 4 years ago

    All the other kids with the pumped-up kicks better run from Mike’s bike, because it has bad brakes.

     •  Reply
  47. Ann margaret
    Caldonia  over 4 years ago

    When I was little, I wanted these Kangaroo Sneakers, which had zippable pockets. Dang, they were stupid! But my mom bought them for me. Thank you, Mom. Guess what I put in those shoe pockets? Noooothing.

     •  Reply
  48. Missing large
    USN1977  over 4 years ago

    My parents told me that when they were kids that Beatle sneakers were all the rage. Today if you wore those people would laugh at you.

     •  Reply
  49. Tommy lee jones look
    Johnnyrico  over 4 years ago

    And this is why we call St. Michael an “Asshat”.

     •  Reply
  50. 361c3598 b36c 4a9b b0fe c5431912bb2d
    Sapphire Sword   almost 4 years ago

    Seriously Mike, use your brake!

     •  Reply
Sign in to comment

More From For Better or For Worse