Gasoline Alley by Jim Scancarelli for November 16, 2009

He doesn’t want to preserve GA, he wants to freeze GA, and that’s never been what it’s about.

Scancarelli has skill, understanding and respect for what GA’s about. You want strips where characters freeze in time at the moment the strip was created, go read Family Circus or Dennis The Menace. (Heck, you want the old GA when Walt had a full head of red hair, the books are available. Go buy them.)

GA’s the first strip EVER to age its characters, and time’s been marching on for a long time now. Get over it or go whine elsewhere, Devonshade.

I do not share your view Devonshade–in fact, I like Gertie and Byrd and the storyline just fine. Perhaps it would be useful for you to examine your reaction to Gertie and Byrd to better understand your apparent biases? I for one am tired of your repetitive and caustic harangues- they are in fact unGasoline Alley-like. Perhaps it is time for you to look for another strip- hope you find it soon. Or perhaps you are one of those who enjoys being miserable…

Gertie realizes that love is fleeting, but responsibility stays around forever. Sadly, she bids goodbye again to Byrd and goes back to care for Mr. Walt.

New story: Joel gets Rufus out of a grave.

Gertie acted very irresponsibly– that’s what the story was about.

Ol’ Walt looks quite a bit worse for wear, and I bet his Depends are no longer dainty fresh. This is the third week of Halloween… you know it’s getting way past his bedtime. Gertie has really screwed up. Sorry, but you just don’t treat Walt Wallet… THE Walt Wallet… this way. I agree the gert needs firing, and I wouldn’t be sad to see her exit the strip completely.

Meanwhile, back at the graveyard, we have poor Rufus still stuck in that 6-foot hole with his kitty…

I’m just glad Walt is okay. Incidentally, isn’t this just a cartoon strip? It’s not real … is it?

…isn’t it?

Get over it Devonshade and GweedoMurray, watch your language. This is a family comic strip and I’m sure younger kids read this stuff too.

I bet Walt had a great time going to a show and hanging out with the diner crew.

Walt had more fun the Gertie and less hassle too. I have been enjoying this story line and would like to see at least someone show up to get Rufus out, but who goes to gravesites since there is nothing left?

Rufus must have been digging that grave for an imminent burial. Worst case scenario: Rufus will be helped up before the casket is lowered.

I have enjoyed this story line. I’m not crazy about Byrd but I love Gertie. Like or not, she IS a resident of GA. Without her, we wouldn’t be seeing much of Uncle Walt. Some of you have been complaining about the story line running too long but if you will go to the Houston Cronicle’s website (www.chron.com), you can print out a week’s worth of the story. Print them out each week; it makes great reading, and you can appreciate each strip better. I, for one, would like to see Slim’s mother return. Keep up the good work, Jim … and keep Uncle Walt in the story lines from time to time.

It looks like Devonshade has taken up where Not Norman left off with all the bellyaching about the storyline. Ok you don’t like it, and you don’t like it and you want the old crowd back, can we move on now? If you think you can do better why don’t you write a comic strip of your own?

I didn’t start reading this till about a year ago so I’m not as familiar with the old crowd as some of you so I’m enjoying the storylines as they are now. I think I’d like Rufus though, he’s a cat lover.

As for Gertie, I don’t think she showed so much irresponsibility. She was very concerned for Mr. Walt. Ok so she went about searching for him in strange ways but she kept it up til she found him. I’m glad he’s ok.

Jim plans to continue the traditional way until Skeezix turns 100. Whether Walt keeps on until then turning 120 himself we don’t know. I believe after 2021 the strip will “freeze” as did Blondie and some other strips after many years of character growth and aging.

Axe-grinder: Let’s see, Gertie tried to get someone to look after Walt while she attended the show and couldn’t, so she took him with her rather than leaving him unattended. She was robbed by a scalper, thrown out of the theater by what appeared to be the stage door guard with a few ushers for helpers (who, by the way, should have removed Walt at the same time since both tickets were fake), and tried to get back in to take Walt with her. She was railroaded into dancing in the show, spent a few minutes talking to Byrd and then spent a few hours looking for Walt. Where is the irresponsibility? She was a lot more victim in this than villain.

Axe-grinder said, Worst case scenario: Rufus will be helped up before the casket is lowered. —————— I know, burying Rufe and the kitty by accident would let that story “arc” stretch out pretty much forever. Or at least until next Halloween.

As much as I love Jim’s artwork and storytelling, I have to agree that Gertie is just a little too (cartoonishly) irresponsible to be a caregiver for the elderly. Corky sure does look mad. And is he dying his hair brown now, or is that a colorist’s mistake? :)

I hope that’s decaf Walt is drinking…it has already been a looooooong night!

Any minute now Byrd will come in and our gang will be complete. We’ll all enjoy a cup of coffee and maybe a slice of pie and then get Walt home to bed.

BTW, did anyone else catch Hi and Lois this weekend? It looks like the Flagstons are carrying on the Fall Walk this year. Maybe it’s just their turn. It was a nice walk with Chip and Hi enjoying some father/son time together.

JanCinVV said, Where is the irresponsibility? She was a lot more victim in this than villain.

Well, I like Gertie as a recurring character, so my point was that she’s interesting– and there *is* a story– because she makes mistakes. One could assume that Walt’s family would take care of him in her absence, but that is her job. She might have looked for Walt several times once back in the theater, but didn’t. Then she went to the graveyard on a hunch rather than confer with the family over his whereabouts. Lapses in judgement, all. But a fun read!

By the way, I know Norman has used at least one alternate alias in the past, so who knows….

Gweedo that was offensive.

At one time I wondered if NotNorman=Devonshade. Decided it didnt. Norm is an old crumudgeon but he he’s not afraid to say something nice once in awhile as well. Devonshade is a one note wonder. He comes on, makes several negative comments on Jim and then checks back several times a day to comment on those who made the mistake of commenting on him. Of course Devonshades avatar has a cool retro ‘NotNormanesque’ feel about it. Can’t argue with a Swedish death for cool.

Norman’s alternate hasn’t been around lately, but was just used to “echo” his routine at the time, just too closely.

…and I bet Gweedo was as surprised as the rest of us that it didn’t get bleeped!

Ok, I’ve been lurking for a while. Since there was just axe-grinder and a couple others. Somehow I lost my registration so who knows. I’ve followed gasoline alley for a while and I just have to throw in my say! With GA you just go with the flow. Who knows what will happen! The only thing that really bugs me is the characters with no pupils in their eyes. That just creeps me out. When things get stretched a little too far all you can say is- Fetch the fool jug Rufus! (don’t say that in public, folks just don’t understand…)