The Problem With Aphasia Jokes

The problem with Grandpa Jim’s current storyline in For Better or For Worse is that each and every time he appears, there has to be long explanation about what his condition is, before the joke can be unloaded onto the unwilling reader, and by the time you understand the situation, the joke isn’t funny anymore. This one of these situations where Lynn Johnston’s usual style of extending plotlines over years with just a little smidgeon of plot progress each month makes for distinctly unfunny and uninteresting stories. It is the long separation which requires the explanation of Jim’s condition every time. The joke is that Jim says inappropriate things at inappropriate times. In the case of tomorrow’s strip, the joke is going to be that no matter what progress Jim makes, Iris’ enthusiasm needs to be slammed back into place with a hearty mention of “boxcar.”

I suppose that over the next week, we are going to see Jim visit his doctor and be told he is improving, with loads of inspirational, tear-jerking moments praising Jim and Iris, much like the last time Jim went to visit a doctor, back in December. It looks like a tough week for snarking. These are the days when you separate the men from the mice on April’s Real Blog. The last 2 days consisted of posts made up entirely from aprilp_katje and me. I have a feeling the rest of the week is going to be like this.