Doonesbury by Garry Trudeau for February 04, 2021

Maybe, JJ was jinxing Mike.

“Oh” Love that reaction.

Time for me to stop slumping ever deeper into my black hole.

And now bring your stupid-head pal and get out.

Panel 4: she’s about to change horses in midstream, and suddenly her fleabag boyfriend is irrelevant!!

You had your chance, JJ

If it’s any consolation it was sheer luck amidst fairly mysterious circumstances.

Suddenly, Mike turned into a sex God. Money had that effect on some women.

Notice that, in J.J.‘s mind, it’s Mike’s fault that she left, or at least she wants Boopsie to think so.

The marriage ceremony was very clear, J.J.: “For better or worse.” If you leave when it’s worse, you can’t count on just coming back when it’s better. :-|

I just remembered that, early in the “Nothing But Orphans” arc, Duke called Zonker, who was on the beach with Samantha (Unless I’m Wrong), so Samantha does indeed exist at this point in the strip (I wasn’t sure before I remembered that). Presuming Zonker isn’t “still” in Seattle (was he ever really there at all? or did he arrive and depart the fantasy-turned-“reality” sequence via “fourth-wall”?), he and Samantha are somewhere in the vicinity and may walk into frame at any moment. I think even Zonker might lose an infinitesimal bit of his cool over J.J.’s mistreatment of Mike.

how long until BD pitches these two out?

“Sold low”, eh? Sucks to be you. Hahaha

Girls with good figures, figure guys with 6 figures are fine. (Stay in school. Go to college.)

HA!!!! I had a situation similar to Mike’s. Running in to my ex-MIL was great.

Isn’t it funny how all Mike had to do to improve his life was to get shed of JJ? Hmmm…

I don’t see the little wheels in JJ’s head as scheming to get Mike back, because she WANTS to be with that crazy loser Zeke.

They’re definitely turning though… scheming to get a piece of the monetary action.

And I know we haven’t seen every minute… just presumably some significant ones…

and so far, none of the “on camera” ones have included JJ asking a word about Alex, and how she’s doing.

JJ was always only in it for the $$$$

Gotta love Zeke…Dense & Clueless.

“Well, la-dee-dah!”

Uncle Stupidhead never disappoints.

“The best revenge is living well.”

Still living in a grimy loft, though. Six figures doesn’t go that far in Seattle.

I have to wonder if Gary was going or just gone through a breakup when this strip premiered. There seems to be a little bitterness underneath the dialogue.

To somewhat quote a line from Mike years ago, “Your loss, toots!”

Back when six figures was a thing. Sigh.

She has all those reasons for leaving Mike (who always supported her nitwit career), but, so far, nary a word about abandoning her daughter…

Let’s see… J.J. had a problem with Mike wallowing in his depression, which unbeknownst to her was resolved by a magical summer daydream coming true and a completely unrealistically successful, well paid career in a great location became his reality. Clearly J.J. needs to supplicate the same creator gods who can make her an Oscar winning actress or at least a wildly successful artist. After all, we’ve seen that it’s not an unrealistic hope in the Doonesbury world…

In other words; “Oops……” ‘La-Dee-Dah’ refers to Zeke’s income potential.

Any port in a storm kinda gal. Mike, you could do better.

Ah, remember when “six figures” meant something?

Yep. JJ leaving with Uncle Stupidhead was the best thing she ever did for Mike.

And, abandoning the Kid was the best thing JJ ever did for Her.

So, who is in the black hole now, JJ?

Time to go dig some gold, JJ.

The MGTOW people call it hypergamy.