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Comic strip revisits retro drawing style

August 25, 2008 @ 12:00 AM

The Herald-Dispatch

Fans of the popular comic strip "For Better or For Worse" can expect a few changes beginning Monday, Sept. 1.

Creator Lynn Johnston is calling the next phase of her comic strips "new runs." The comic will start over again using new strips drawn in the style she used 29 years ago when the Patterson family first appeared. Johnston will begin retelling the story from the beginning, eventually blending at least half of the classic original comic strips with new material.

"Everything in September is new, the punch lines, the drawing, all are new," Johnston said in a news release. "The only thing retro is the way I'm drawing everything. I want it to flow into the classic material seamlessly."

Johnston will select material from her collection of almost 10,000 archival strips to help retell the Patterson family's story as her longtime fans remember it, pausing in spots to update references that seem confusing or even to flesh out characters she didn't explore in the first telling.

"For Better or For Worse" now appears in more than 2,000 papers. Johnston has produced 46 books about her strip, and her strip has been adapted into six animated television specials and a popular animated series.

Johnston explains her approach and talks about why changes in her person life led her to back off from earlier plans to retire on a video posted on YouTube.com. To watch the video log on to www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUzkOxgmme4.

Events
Harry Connick Jr.
8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21. Award-winning jazz artist Connick will perform part of his "A Holiday Celebration" tour. Tickets, visit www.theclaycenter.org or...
Erik Meyers
7:30 p.m. Thursday; 7:30 and 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20-23. Enjoy a fast-paced, high-energy comedy show. Meyers has been a regular on 98 Rock...
MU Theater: "The Glass Menagerie"
8 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, Nov. 19-22. Tennessee Williams' 1944 drama "The Glass Menagerie," his self-described "memory play," has been considered...
Festival of Trees and Trains
Saturday, Nov. 22-30. Questions, call 606-324-3175.
4th annual Holly Berry Festival
9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, in the lobby. Featuring hand-made items designed and made by local and area crafters and a book sale. Sponsored by the Marshall...
World Famous Lipizzaner Stallions
3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 28, in the coliseum. Tickets, visit www.ticketmaster.com or any Ticketmaster box office.
51st annual Model Railroad Show
5-9 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday; noon-4:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 28-30. Featuring model railroads, hobby shops, memorabilia sales, railroad books, new and used...
Planetarium Show: "Reason for the Season"
11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday; noon and 2 p.m. Sunday, starting Nov. 28. Questions, call 304-561-3570 or visit www.theclaycenter.org.
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