Comments on: Funky Winkerbean feature battles cancer again

By: Jerral Burrus

Jerral Burrus — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 18:20:13 +0000

Not all comic strips are funny just as life is not always fair I have followed Funky from the start and I think that a strip that shows real life issues is needed. If it makes just one person stop think of real life it is doing it job. All I can say is thank you and keep doing the strip the way it is.

By: Mirie

Mirie — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 18:41:14 +0000

This response is not to downplay prostate cancer, but rather to explain why breast cancer garners so much more attention. This is not an effort to justify the inequity.

1. Breast cancer can kill young women (by this I mean less than 45 years old), leaving behind children who still need care–and the way US society is, let’s face it, the mother is still the primary caregiver. Young mothers have a terrible fear of breast cancer, because they see this as the biggest threat that could interfere with them taking care of their children. Prostate cancer, in contrast, generally strikes men over the age of 50 and usually has a slower-growing course–thus, the masses feel less of an emotional wrench.

2. Breast cancer has a higher incidence in the population. It occurs in 1 out of every 8 women. Prostate cancer occurs in 1 out of every 11 men.

By: Pab Sungenis

Pab Sungenis — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 16:48:55 +0000

I hate to come off as misogynist and uncaring here, but I really wish that just once prostate cancer awareness got one TENTH of the hoopla that breast cancer awareness gets.

By: Dawn Douglass

Dawn Douglass — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 13:19:07 +0000

That’s the way cancer is, Jody. It’s a slow, sad death.

Nothing can get that point over like a daily comic strip can.

As for “putting this to bed,” perhaps you’ll be happy to know that Lisa dies tomorrow.

By: Jody

Jody — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 12:47:46 +0000

Okay, enough is enough….!!!!I realize that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and all things have a pink cast in the eyes of those whose lives have been touched by this terrible disease. On one hand I applaud Mr. Batiuk for making Lisa Moore’s breast cancer story so very real, and obviously as a regular reader and long time fan of the strip I am glued to each daily chapter. Nevertheless, there is a point at which I have to say this has perhaps gone too far, and I reached this point the other day when Lisa suddenly awoke in a frantic state in her hospice bed lovingly laid out in the Moore livingroom because she could not longer see. Life is sad enough ya know…..When I read a comic strip and weep uncontrollably I know that the story has either encompassed me so completely or the author has crossing some invisible comic line…..I believe that in the case of Lisa Moore’s death both must surely be the case. However, perhaps we should change Lisa’s name to Camille????? This should have been put to bed some time ago.

By: Jake

Jake — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 06:20:12 +0000

Last time I checked comic strips are supposed to be funny. Todays world is miserable enough, and you don’t need to be adding to it by publishing a very sad series on cancer. I read the comics to take a break from the world’s heartache, so stop making sad comics and make it funny again.

By: Linda

Linda — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 17:40:37 +0000

I am sad to Lisa dying and Les about to lose the love of his life. But I am glad to see the strip dealing with this totally human situation. I believe Les and Summer will laugh again. I look forward to reading the strip each day, even though I know that one day will be Lisa’s last — just as it will be one day for all of us.

By: Darrell B

Darrell B — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 15:09:24 +0000

Funky appears in the ‘comics’ section, not the ‘funnies’ There are lots of comics that are not happy / funny all the time. Anyone ever read a comic book? There are dark comics out there along with of course funny ones.

I personally think it’s fine for something like this to be published. At least it’s telling a story of some sort, and the characters actually age and change.

As others have said, if the story arc offends or upsets, then DONT READ IT. It’s the same as when something offensive is on TV or the radio.

We dont need anymore political correctness, or the dont offend anyone side.

By: Sandy

Sandy — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 21:41:39 +0000

hello, this is a comic strip on the FUNNIES pages

maybe Popeye can bring Lisa a can of spinache, or her fairy godmother can wave her magic wand, and this comic strip will be funny happily ever after

By: Ken Cowan

Ken Cowan — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 08:43:24 +0000

I side with those who feel a comic strip is for lifting our spirits, not dragging us down. I see that at least one felt that people often think it’s someone else who has to deal with cancer. I tend to think that the statistics will show that there’s not many who are not touched by cancer somewhere amongst their family and friends. I know I’ve certainly seen my share. FOr reality I have the news, and newspapers, and histories…when I turn to the comics I don’t want tragedy. I agree, it’s a great story, and well suited to a movie, novel, TV show, or article in a magazine. I worry that FW is just going to become darker…the author has already rewarded a family who aided Wally during war, by killing them off in a suicide bombing. Yeah, yeah…I get it…like I wasn’t aware of all that going on over there. Guess what…I’m aware. That was just sick. If Mr. Batiuk is going to continue in this vein, why doesn’t he just save time, and kill the main character like in his other strip, and close the whole thing down?