Hawthorne (Sherman's Lagoon): When did he lose his beer can?

Cafe Society
1

I’ve noticed Hawthorne never has his beer can any more. Here’s how he used to appear. (Hawthorne is a hermit crab, in case that isn’t obvious.)

We used to read this in the Newspaper, and there was a week once a year when he dropped his old can, ran around butt-naked for a couple days, then got a new beer can.

Then the paper dropped the comic, and we never saw it for a few years.

About a year ago, I started reading it online, and eventually realized Hawthorne doesn’t have his can any more. Did the cartoonist simply stop drawing the can, or was there a story line associated with it? What’s the scoop?

2

Bump.

3

I didn’t notice it until your post. Hrm.

4

I’m not sure but I seem to recall several times he decided to go natural, then he would change his mind. The last time he did it he didn’t make a big deal out of it and never went back. None of the other characters ever commented on it either. No explanation that I remember.