Look pal, don't mess with the comics
That's the verdict from our readers responding to the Daily News cutting 10 comic strips from the daily paper: Here's a sampling of their outrage --
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What have you done with Funky Winkerbean? We are following the tragic story of cancer and now, the cartoon is not in its regular space. Please return it so we can follow the story. Thanks,
Brenda
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Dinette Set, For Better or Worse, Funky Winkerbean, Garfield, One Big Happy, Hagar The Horrible, Beetle Bailey and Willy 'n Ethel...the removal of my favorite 8 (count 'em, eight) comics from your pages begs the question, "Why?".
Anyone with a synapse cracking must assume it is a question of money. The replacements must be less expensive. By the way, if a poll were done prior to this then I missed it. I'm amazed someone didn't come up with the "Paris 'n Posh" section to replace the comics completely.
I have two suggestions. 1) Fire the "Comics Editor". 2) Bring back the comics named above.
If these daily comics aren't back in the "new LA.COM" within the month, please cancel my daily paper.
Barbara Kussman
Encino
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The LA.COM is not worth the paper. Where is "this day in history" and the comics. The new ones are not funny and what happened to the 10 that you left out. Please think this over and bring back the U as it was.
Barbara Pendleton
Camarillo
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Comments
I called your office and told them that after September 7, I was going to cancel our subscription. And I will, unless you bring back the U exactly as it was before. Also, fire the dead brain who made the change.
Posted by: Rochetti F. Dante | July 16, 2007 4:19 PM
is this lady kidding?!! its about time those stale, old comics got the boot and new, fresh comics got a chance. the daily news now has one of the most progressive cartoon sections around. i especially like fminus, guys and sports, pardon my planet and tina's grooove!!!
Posted by: j stevens | July 16, 2007 5:38 PM
I, too, am going to cancel my subscription if the "comics" page is not restored.
Posted by: julie smith | July 16, 2007 6:02 PM
Those "stale old comics" were great. I already left a scathing email, so let me just say I agree with the other comments. The LA.COM section looks like a cheap throwaway paper. I can't see continuing to take the paper if this is where the quality level is going. The Recycler is more entertaining than these new comics.
Posted by: I L G | July 16, 2007 8:55 PM
Hello!
I've been a subscriber for almost 40 years and I am growing ever increasingly disappointed in your newspaper. One of my daily favorite things was reading the comic section and as of this morning ALL of my favorites are no longer there.
What happened to the Dinette Set, Mallard, For Better or Worse, One Big Happy, and Funky Winkerbean to name a few?????
Several of the new ones will never catch on with me!
I can always go on line and read my favorites there, but if I'm doing that I might have to reconsider the necessity of my subscription.
I'm not too impressed with the changes to the "U" section on the whole!
Anne Bruce
West Hills, CA
Posted by: Anne Bruce | July 16, 2007 10:12 PM
This is an outrage. My favorites Beetle Bailey, Garfield, and Hagar have been eliminated. Zippy the Pinhead should've been eliminated. Same with Dick Tracy or Judge Parker. I don't enjoy those strips one bit. Please bring back Beetle Bailey, Garfield & Hagar.
Posted by: Mike Popp | July 17, 2007 5:41 AM
What have you done to the comics? Sounds like a bonehead managerial decision. BRING BACK DINETTE SET and WILLY N ETHEL!
Posted by: Rick Tello | July 17, 2007 7:59 AM
Bring back old comics or i will cancel my subcription
Posted by: terri garcia | July 17, 2007 9:16 AM
Your new lineup of comic strips is terrible. They are trashy and juvenile. Thank you for keeping Family Circus, Luann, and Drabble.... but where are For Better or Worse and Funky Winkerbean??? These are series strips (not serious, although some of their topics ARE serious) with a continuing story line. PLEASE bring back at least these two! AND Mallard (or is he just too right-wing conservative for the Daily News?)
And while I'm at it, the shortened kid's pages are inadequate. Also many writers I've talked to are upset with the very minimal coverage you are giving the "citizen journalists" at Valleynews.com. You gave us a juicy bone, and then yanked it away!
Better go back to the editors' table!
Posted by: Jackie Houchin | July 17, 2007 9:32 AM
While I agree that every now and then, the comics section needs to be shaken up, the choices made in this instance seem somewhat poorly made. For Better or For Worse and Funky Winkerbean are two strips that should not have been dropped for one simple reason that should have been taken into account by the editor in charge of the shake-up: they are episodic and many people check in with them each day to find out what is going to happen next. While I applaud getting rid of the "soap opera" comics and other stale features such as Willy and Ethel and Garfield, replacing them with strips like Secret Asian Man, Girls and Sports, and Diesel Sweeties makes me wonder at the decision making process that was at work. Diesel Sweeties in particular seems like a very poor choice, as this strip made its fame on the Web, not in print, and while its computer-generated images look hip and trendy on the computer screen, in print it just looks poorly drawn.
Now, this is not to say that I disagree with some of the choices in new strips. Pardon My Planet, Humble Stumble, Bizarro and Elderberries are all great strips that deserve a chance to shine. I only ask that you bring back For Better of For Worse, Adam, and Funky Winkerbean.
Posted by: Rob Chambers | July 17, 2007 10:24 AM
If you want to learn more about the cancer story of Lisa in Funky Winkerbean, go to - http://funkywinkerbean.com/index.html
You will learn that the artist has gone through the same cancer diagnosis and prognosis as Lisa. He has been in remission now for 6 months, but he has the "final" comic strip written... for that later date. A must see!
Posted by: Jackie Houchin | July 17, 2007 10:51 AM
If you want to try out new comic strips try adding an extra page to check them out, not deleting other comics. The new, replacement comics are poorly drawn and not compelling. Hello internet, where I can get what I want and reduce my carbon footprint by no longer having hundreds of pages of paper delivered to me that I never read. You messed with the four pages that I did read. Now that you've screwed that up, why do I need your paper?
Posted by: Gregg Butterfield | July 17, 2007 8:22 PM
Here I was in Seattle enjoying the morning when my wife calls and says that the Daily News has eliminated Funky, the Judge and For Better For worse. - I was devastated. Every week when I get home I have the week's comics on my desk ready to read and now I have nothing. I feel empty. What's next - the sports page, the movie reviews? But alas, I know how to find these comics on the internet so now I can cancel my newspaper subscription thus not having to call all the time to tell you the paper is late and hopefully eliminate your incessant calls about renewing my subscription.
Posted by: Carl Stechman | July 18, 2007 8:18 AM
I was really glad to see Tina's Groove! Funny art and writing. Someone else mentioned the inadequate kids page. I suggest Slylock Fox. I'm not a kid, but I read this strip online. I'd like to see it in the Daily News.
Posted by: Jeff | July 18, 2007 10:26 AM
Congratulations! You’ve managed to turn a silk purse into a sow’s ear! Your “new” LA.COM proves my contention there’s waaay too many MBAs at the top of the Corporate Food Chain looking to justify their salaries by making unnecessary changes; especially to the comics.
You’ve replaced favorite strips with questionable ones and the new layout isn’t any more comprehensive than the old. I called and was told you’ve already received a lot of flak.
Please, restore the comics section to the way it was. Better yet, why not make it a pullout section like in the old days?
Posted by: Chris Burton | July 18, 2007 11:49 AM
I think the decision to take all those comics out of the Daily News was extremely upsetting. Especially, the removal of Judge Parker. I really, really, really hope that can come back to the paper. Since it told a story, I hope it doesn't take too long. PLEASE BRING JUDGE PARKER BACK!
Posted by: Erin Austin | July 20, 2007 11:58 AM
I guess the Daily News would like me to read my comics online. I do hope they come to their senses and at least bring back For Better Or Worse, Funky Winkerbean and Judge Parker.
Posted by: Angi Taylor | July 20, 2007 4:28 PM
Despite all of the outrage over your comics changes by the over 65 crowd, it was good to see that you have decided to give some new, younger strips a chance. Talk about stale; Beetle Baily, Judge Parker, Garfield, Dinnette Set, One Big Happy, Hagar, and Willy & Ethel have had their day. The old people don't own the comics page.
I think some of these people would like to wheel out Ed Sullivan's corpse every Sunday night and watch Topo Gigio do his schtick!
It's time to move on and get some fresh comics. There are plenty of old strips left to keep the elderly happy.
Thanks for your courage.
Posted by: Gail O | July 22, 2007 12:56 PM