Sometime back the comic strip Funky Winkerbean had run a series on the death of one of the main characters. It hit me hard at the time, because the character was a wife and mother who died of cancer. The comic strip jumped 10 years into the future and we now see the lives of the characters after this death and the death of another character (presumably in the war). I’ve seen bits and pieces of things I feel written in the comics.
Currently they are dealing with the widower of the first character who died. He is trying to raise his teenage daughter (been there, doing that) and even started on the road to dating (not yet, not quite or maybe, I’m confused). I find it interesting to read the comic and it almost feels like the author has done his research in one way or another. Usually it is very close to some of the things I feel and think.
It is hard to explain what I feel to a person who hasn’t dealt with the same situation. In most cases, I don’t even know where to begin. This comic explains and shows things in a way I never could. But then, I found someone else who reads that comic and they didn’t see the same things. Maybe I just see it because I have been in the same boat. I guess I need to think and ponder that. My life in a comic, who would have guessed.
We have a friend in common who reads Funky Winkerbean – I wonder if that’s the person to whom you are referring. When she first told me about the plot line, I was surprised there was such heavy content for a comic strip.
I was thinking the same thing… very heavy topic for the funny(?) pages.
Sometimes when a person is dealing with something very painful, they transition their feelings into something easier to deal with. In this case it is a comic strip. An example of people who deal with death are funeral directors. This classification of people deal with some of the ugliest, most painful things unimagniable. I have always heard that this has caused their sense of humor to be “a little different”.
This is a very natural process of grief….. And the way in which each of us deal with our own grief is as unique as the pain that we feel.
I Hope you find this helpful.
Sincerely,
Susan
Like art, this comic strip is open to many interpretations. You found in it what you needed. I can imagine the feeling of reading it and thinking “wow, someone else gets what I’m feeling!” Maybe the Funky Winkerbean author is dealing with the loss of a spouse and he has found a release in the only thing he knows….the comics. Interesting, indeed.
I think it’s weird….and wonderful how something comes along at just the right time….even in a comic strip. I’m going to have to start reading the funnies again….;)
Susan, the sense of humor you spoke of that is a “little different” is what we call “dark humor.” We use it a lot at work. Sometimes it’s the only way to cope. When I’m not at work it seems very cold and uncaring to use it, so what happens at work STAYS at work.
The funnies are really geared toward adults these days. Most kids I know don’t know about them let alone read them. I guess they have Disney, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, and dozen more channels geared for kids on their minds these days.
Oh, can you tell your Froggy that I have had a comment in moderation for the last few weeks (if she’s the one that just had her happy day, I fully understand).
Agreed… and they have their Noggin… we love Noggin – preschool 24/7!
Poor Little Froggy doesn’t have internet access at this time. I’m sure she doesn’t like that at all.
Ah. Understood.