Amanda the Great by Amanda El-Dweek for May 29, 2023

I think Lennie Peterson of The Big Picture had a similar issue when his cat Ginger moved on.

Also, your colleagues were right, never read the comments. No good can come from that.

Lucy – I love that you read and comment here.

I like that you read the comments, too!

“I’ve been all over the world and I’ve never seen a statue of a critic.”

Leonard Bernstein

Keep up the good work ATG and don’t let the non-statued get you down.

P.S. You’re great! (it says so right in the title!)

Maybe the commenter (from 4 years back I assume) didn’t realize this strip is highly autobiographical… or maybe not a cat person… or even an animal lover at all not to realize how hideously painful it is to lose beloved animals (yesterday I got rid of a throw because the colors reminded me too much of my beloved boy now six months gone).

Or, maybe he was just a jerk .. and hopefully the good comments outweigh the bad!

Then read my “like”—every single day! And I really mean them, too.

I’ve seen some real doozies on here in the past. Makes me wonder about the people writing them.

The death of a beloved pet is only the smallest part of your experience together. Celebrate the bounding, pouncing, leaping, purring, scratching, cuddling times.

You can’t please everyone so you got to please yourself.

And they keep reading just to complain about it. that Say’s more about them than anything you have drawn here. Keep up the good work Amanda, haters gonna hate. Like others have stated, the passing of a pet is one of life’s tragedies, worthy of it’s own arc.

If somebody comments that this comic is “always” whatever, it shows they are an avid reader of your comic. Just like the ones who say nice things. Varied population of readers in here, and that is probably a good thing.

What Mistercatworks said. Celebrate the good times.

I ike that you read and respond to our comments! But of course there always has to be some rude person who thinks everything needs to be tailored specifically to their personal lies and dislikes… even other people’s lives.

Yeah… I don’t read the comics to be reminded of the last days of pets passing, be they yours or mine. This comic’s increasingly narrow niche has now excluded me.

Please don’t allow the negative individuals to erase what most of us know. You’re talented, funny, and real. ❤️❤️❤️

You have supportive friends in here too Manders, I’m glad to know you. I personally find that the discouraging comments are a test of healing and maturity. In the past decade they’ve been less and less upsetting.

You and other members were so comforting when my sweeties passed XOXO

Having said goodbye to a number of cats, I understand strips about feline end of life.

Your comic is one of my personal favorites Amanda, partly because you are so real and open and honest and warmly-funny/observant about the ups and downs of your daily life. Reading your experiences is a comfort to those of us who have lost a beloved pet, just to feel a little less alone and a little more understood! Never change a thing, write just as you write, it’s all terrific!

Life is real – and life can be hard – one of the many great things about the strip. Please ignore the bad and enjoy the good…

Don’t let the haters get to you, Amanda. There was a brief time when I felt trampled and kicked in the head by the hate. Not anymore. Now I embrace the hate. I even feel empowered by it. Don’t let anyone make you feel bad about yourself. You’re here because you have something honest and meaningful to say, Amanda the Greatest!!