Gasoline Alley by Jim Scancarelli for September 03, 2009

As I’ve written in this forum before, I have no problem in concept with stories about peripheral characters. It’s the back-to-back-to-back running of these story arcs to which I object.

At least Gertie is a recurring character. Stories about one-shot characters such as Upton and Ramona Lisa, or Skeezix’s mail deliverer shouldn’t exist at all. With the size and rich variety of the core character base, most, if not all, story arcs could be about Walt Wallet and his descendants.

Skeezix’s son, Chipper Wallet, is a medical professional. A topical storyline about healthcare involving him would be great. Stories about how small businesspersons such as Clovia Skinner or Corky Wallet are dealing with the recession would be great.

Of course, there is an excellent argument that a comic strip is escapism and should avoid topical stories. Fine. Do it.

By the way, does Jim Scancarelli read or know about these posts? Is there any forum through which he interacts with his readers, or is he encased in a bubble? Do you think he just dismisses such comments as unrepresentative of the wider GA readership?

As an aid, here are just a few characters about whom Jim could write stories:

Walt Wallet (“Pater Familias”) Skeezix Wallet (Walt’s son) Nina Wallet (Skeezix’s wife) Chipper Wallet (Skeezix’s son) Amy Wallet (Chipper’s wife) Gus ‘Li’l Skeezix’ Wallet (Chipper’s son) Kathleen Wallet (Chipper’s daughter) Clovia Skinner (Skeezix’s daughter) Slim Skinner (Clovia’s husband) Gretchen Skinner (Clovia’s daughter) Rover Skinner (Clovia’s son) Hoogy Skinner (Rover’s wife) Boog Skinner (Rover’s son) Corky Wallet (Walt’ son) Hope Wallet (Corky’s wife) Nubbin Wallet (Corky’s son) Eve Wallet (Corky’s daughter) Adam Wallet (Corky’s son) Teeka Wallet (Adam’s wife) Ada Wallet (Adam’s daughter) Amanda Lynn Wallet (Adam’s daughter) Judy Grubb (Walt’s daughter) Gideon Grubb (Judy’s husband) Gabriel Grubb (Judy’s son)