Eric is such an ass–dishonest, manipulative, inconsiderate. One one hand, I’m surprised Liz fell for him. On the other hand, he is certainly different than the good boy types she has dated thus far. Anyway, I think it makes sense to have Liz dating a jerk, though, because Deanna is so great. It would be pretty boring if Liz’s boyfriend were wonderful, too.
I, too, will miss the strip if it ends in 2007.
Retiring could be a good thing. If she knows it’s going to end, she can tell any dam story she wants.
Whaddya they gonna do, cancel her?
Only about another 2,000 strips to go.
Woah… Upon reading this thread, I ran out to check my newspaper, only to discover that they ran the uncut strip… This seriously tempts me to write a letter thanking them for this courage (both her and the newspaper). I was QUITE impressed.
I’ve read the strip for years, and always enjoy it thoroughly.
I can’t fathom how any newspaper could object to the strip that ran on Friday. What courage did it take to run it? Maybe a couple of complaining letters arrive in the post.
It would be more courageous NOT to provide an alternative strip.
On a similar note, when the UK version of “Queer as Folk” originally was broadcast here (Canada), the channel prepared for an onslaught of complaints, similar to what was received in the UK. There was barely a whisper.
Finally! I’ve found the link to the online story!
Lynn Johnston retiring
It’s true, FBorFW fans. She’s hanging up her pencils in 2007.
Man, I am hating that mother more and more each day.
The Kansas City Star decided to be wimps and print the alternate strip. Losers.
Oh. Seems that they did print the original strip. My mistake.
I actually sent Lynn an email congratulating her for sticking to her guns on the Lawrence story line. My own brother came out a a teenager and the family was going to a southern baptist church at the time. You do the math. It wasn’t pretty. I told Lynn that if Deanna’s mother gives any more lip about Lawrence they could move the ceremony to my church. 
The offer was tongue in cheek but we wouldn’t bat an eyelash considering the music director, pianist, cantor and one of the lecors are all gay. We ELCA types are a liberal bunch… as Lutherans go. Sometimes I think I may be the only straight single person there.
I like FBOFW because it breaks the mold of the comics page. It isn’t numbingly bland like Sally Forth or saccarine like Rose is Rose. She makes her point in the strip without having to beat the reader over the head or be preachy. Stone Soup is that way too and another favorite of mine.
Count me in as another fan. I love the way Lynn Johnston has kept her character’s development in a real timetable. The only time I’ve sobbed like a baby over a comic strip was when Farley the dog died. What a beautiful piece of work! To be able to convey such powerful emotion in the context of a four-panel daily is quite a feat.
She’s a wonderful artist, and I’m sure that whatever she does after the strip ends will be most worthwhile. If it’s laying in a hammock in the sunnier regions, more power to her: she’s made some important strides in the content of the Dailies.
Just FTR, April was born in 1991. So in 2007, she’ll be sixteen: presumably not out of the house, especially not in Ontario where they have grade 13.
I hope Lynn doesn’t die the morning her last strip is published…
Not any more…at least I think it’s alread been phased out. It’ll certainly be gone by the time April’s 18.
Anyway…to add to the topic, the alternate strips for this storyline are LAME, LAME, LAME - a problem I don’t lay on Ms Johnston, since she’s got the wonderfully sharp and humourous main strips, but the cowardly papers who would need the alternates. (Anyone have any idea how many papers actually ran the alternates?)
The modern equivalent of “Blondie” is going the way of “Calvin and Hobbes” and “The Far Side”?
Cripes!
The paper here in Topeka Kansas ran the original strips. Bully for them. When Lawrence came out they didn’t run those, guess they have loosened up. since Topeka is the home of Fred Phelps I’ll bet he is stewing big time.