Home / Section: Comic strips
Marital Issues Impacts For Better or For Worse Hybrid
The much anticipated “hybrid” format of Lynn Johnston’s For Better or For Worse this last week has included more original artwork than was originally planned. According to an interview Lynn by Dave Astor at E&P, reveals that at a personal level, Lynn has had to work through a separation with her husband, Rod, this spring and as a result, she’s put more time in on the hybrid than had been planned and that she’s planning to do more original Sunday comics.
But there’s a silver lining of sorts in the breakup of the marriage, which will probably officially end in divorce next April. Johnston, who’s feeling much better about the separation than she did this spring, has been devoting more time to her hybrid comic than initially planned. And she intends to continue doing so — meaning there’ll be more “new” in the new-old “FBorFW” than anyone could have expected.
The interview also includes her rebuttal of critics who are unhappy with Liz and Anthony getting back together.
UPDATE: The L.A. Times also has a story about the changes in FBoFW and Lynn’s life.
Tools
Related Stories
- Sunday’s For Better or For Worse to touch on Lynn’s personal life?
- For Better or For Worse won’t go into re-runs, kind of
- For Better or For Worse Begins Its Hybrid
- Lynn Johnston rebuffs retirement rumors
- Readers Enjoy Hybrid for Better or for Worse
- For Better or For Worse to end hybrid
- For Better or For Worse to Gradually Move to Hybrid Format
- For Better or For Worse not to be retired after all
- Lynn Johnston to Increase Her Content on the Web
- Lynn Johnston to wrap up current Elizabeth love saga
Community Comments
September/10/2007 @ 6:38 am
Johnston said she reunited Elizabeth with Anthony partly because of advice from late “Peanuts” cartoonist Charles M. Schulz. “‘Sparky’ accused me of having too many characters,” she recalled with a chuckle. “‘It’s so confusing,’ he said. He was right.” So bringing back Anthony rather than introducing a new permanent love interest for Elizabeth made sense in that respect.
Huh?..umm…Sparky, I count almost 15 characters in your strip. Confusing? Try Rerun looking just like Linus!
Too bad about her marriage. Good thing Lynn seems to be handling Rod leaving her with class. If I were Lynn, I would incorporate this sudden life change into the strip and have John leaving Elly because he was gay. I’d have him running off with a 300lb. biker.
I would be very spiteful considering I almost ended my feature, one of the most beloved and popular in the history of comics, to spend time with my husband…who then leaves me right as my feature is almost coming to an end!? Despite my dislike of the hybrid format, props to Lynn for being a classy lady…
September/10/2007 @ 7:43 am
Very classy of Lynn to be so bold and forthright about events in her personal life. But she’s been so courageous in the strip all along that it’s no surprise. Still, it’s sad. She deserves to be happy and will end up that way, I’m sure.
September/10/2007 @ 9:30 am
I don’t know how many women around me in their 40s and 50s have had their husbands leave them for another woman. I’ve lost count. It’s very sad.
September/10/2007 @ 9:40 am
I had the same reaction as Eric - only perhaps I though Lynn ought to write in a story arc where a new character named, I don’t know, “Rod” tries to hook up with Elly and John pummels him senseless with dental pliers. That might be a bit out of character, but perhaps less so than my next idea of a cross-over where the crocodiles from Pearls Before Swine get to eat the new “Rod” character.
Yes, Lynn has class and that’s why I’m sure she’ll survive this episode.
January/19/2008 @ 7:46 am
Editor’s note: “Hugh’s” comment has been removed for violation of commenting rules.
Join the discussion!
PLEASE NOTE: Please use your first AND last name when posting a comment. Please refrain from swearing. It's one of the rules that I enforce strictly. Thanks.