Socks Down the Toilet Again (for the first time)!

My initial reaction when seeing this reprint in today’s For Better or For Worse is that this is yet another reused theme. In this strip from November 29, 2006, little Robin did the same thing with grown-up Michael’s socks when he was 2 years old. With little Lizzie, you would have to question a few fundamental things like (a) What is she doing alone in the washroom? (b) How did she get John’s socks and (c) Since when is she tall enough and strong enough to open a toilet lid and then reach a toilet handle to flush it?

I would say Elly’s lack of attention for the safety of little Lizzie was established with these strips. As for Lizzie’s actions today, I would question the validity of anything Michael said having to do with him, Lizzie and toilets.

I find that the problem I am having doing commentary on For Better or For Worse with this blog is finding something new to say about it. It’s hard to say anything about this strip without covering the same old ground: Lizzie is too capable for her age. Elly is shown to be a terrible parent. Michael does the “thrown back” head and gaping maw blatantly stolen from Charles Schulz’s art style. The art is bad. The joke is weak and old, even by 1980 standards. Blah-blah-blah.

Back in 1980, Lynn Johnston didn’t know what she was doing and she eventually got better. It’s easier to be vicious with the new-runs because I know that at their heart they were born out of Lynn’s greed and Lynn’s apparent lack of respect for her own work.