Is This "One of Those Days," Daddy?

For Better or For Worse #2

by Lynn Johnston

Native Canadian Lynn Johnston is the only woman cartoonist with a daily forum on family life today. Her syndicated comic strip For Better or For Worse has gained millions of readers throughout North America since its debut in 1979 and now appears in more than 250 newspapers. Her first collection of For Better or For Worse strips, I’ve Got the One-More-Washload Blues, already has more than 62,000 copies in print. Midwest Book Review selected I’ve Got the One-More-Washload Blues as “one of the ten best humor books published in 1981 . . .”

Genres: Comics, Humor, Comic Strips, Graphic Novels Comics, Graphic Novels, Comic Book, Comedy

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

Lynn Johnston CM OM is a Canadian cartoonist, well known for her comic strip For Better or For Worse, and was the first female cartoonist to win the Reuben Award.

Reviews

[Marc *Dark Reader with a Thousand Young! Iä!* · Rating 5 out of 5]

With this second volume of the full run of daily comic strips, it occurred to me that there are few Sunday strips included, those full-page spreads that mostly stand apart from the ongoings of the other six strips of the week. There were only 5 such in this book which otherwise covers over a year of run time and family life for the Pattersons. The book opens with one of these and it's out of continuity order; it mentions feeding the dog under the table, but the Pattersons didn't acquire their first dog, Farley, until the series of strips that follow.

There are many firsts here, as I expect each subsequent collected volume will also. The family's first dog; the first appearance of extended family (Ellie's brother Phil, and Jon's parents,) Mrs. Baird's first on-page appearance, the family's first shown vacation to a rustic cabin. Lizzie is now walking and talking. Michael makes it all the way through first grade in which he self-describes as "the worst kid in the class," and starts second, where he is labelled as "smart". Ellie takes night courses in creative writing.

This second year of the strip sees more extended storylines, another dip into Michael's crush on Deanna Sobinsky, more shots of Ellie defeated by mess, more thump-worthy behaviour from Jon, the introduction of Gordon (a year older than Michael and Lawrence), Lawrence's broken leg.

They're nice collections and it's satisfying to see character growth between each set of covers.

[Mireille Duval · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Reread, November 27th, 2017)
I've decided to binge all of the FBorFW books, because it's just so soothing for my soul. I chuckle more than I laugh out loud. I get reminded of the important things in life. I empathize with Connie's difficult love stories. I'm looking forward, in the coming weeks, to burying myself in Patterson and problems that, no matter how big, can be solved or at least helped by a very loving family...

[The other John · Rating 4 out of 5]

This second For Better or For Worse collection shows the development of some of the supporting cast and the beginnings of extended storylines. In this case we're treated to the visit of Elly's brother Phil and, later on, the Patterson's camping holiday at friend Ted's cabin.

[Neil Pasricha · Rating 4 out of 5]

For 29 years from 1979 to 2008 Lynn Johnston created a cartoon strip unlike any other with the contemporary vaguely suburban, vaguely Canadian family of Ellie, John, Michael, and Elizabeth Patterson growing up in real-time alongside readers. The strip was read in thousands of papers, meaning it had one of those pre-social media followings in the millions. If you grew up with “For Better Or For Worse” you know how special it was—with simple strips complemented by weightier issues like midlife crises, divorces, bullying, and the coming out of Lawrence, Michael’s best friend, in 1992—more than a decade before Spain became the first country in the world to legalize gay marriage. (Even today ​only 20% of the world’s population lives somewhere gay marriage is legal​.) The strip isn’t all heavy though! Far from it. It’s both an artistic gem, with characters feeling lifelike as they invisibly grow from children to adults with children over the years, and a light-sided reflection of home life mirroring the values of the time. On Page 52 Ellie says no to her son Michael nagging her for treats in the grocery store for six panels before caving in and then concluding in a thought-bubble in the last panel with wide-open eyes of regret “Sometimes it’s a toss-up between being consistent or remaining sane.” Like Bill Watterson, Lynn Johnston elevates what a comic strip can do—in this case I feel like her greatest strength is constantly contrasting private thoughts to illuminate greater empathy towards everybody. A sample from page 99 when Michael is thinking in the first panel “I bet it’s neat being a grown-up” and then in the second panel “They can do what they want, an’ go where they want… they’re free!” before the scene opens into the third panel where Ellie and John’s silhouettes are now colored in with stressed expressions and thought bubbles reading “Bills! Bills! Cook! Clean! Organize!” and Michael concluding in the last panel “Boy … sure must be nice.” Many of the collections are out of print so it’s worth rummaging around second hand bookstores or at online shops like ​SecondSale​ or ​AbeBooks​. I love this copy I found of her second collection from ​Doug Miller Books​ complete with a December 25, 1982 inscription in cursive blue pen reading “Dearest Dad, Love + Best Wishes, Janice and Phil.”

[Mapleleaf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michael starts grade 2, Lizzie grows too heavy for her back-carrier, Farley the puppy joins the family, Elly starts a writing course in night school, the Pattersons spend two weeks in the wrong cabin, and after years of being single, Elly's best friend Connie finds a love partner with John's chauvinistic friend who still lives with his mother.

The book satires real life issues and struggles in hilarious illustrations. As a young kid, I eagerly scanned newspapers for the latest For Better or For Worse cartoon. Although some issues are dated, the books never fail to lift my mood. Recommended especially to parents.

[Kest Schwartzman · Rating 2 out of 5]

a friend of mine left a box of collections of old cartoons at my house a long while back, and I've been slowly working my way through them as bathroom reading.
This is a particularly dated comic; a time capsule (however accurate) to a period I've little interest in exploring, when it was still "weird" for a woman to want to go to night school, and her husband was still "tolerant" to let her.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coming out in 1982 with strips from late 1980 through December of 1981. The humor can sometimes seem a little thin or maybe unimaginative is the word, but the ongoing plot and subplot developments provide some interest so it’s all good.

[Tammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The conclusion of the cabin trip bit amused me in this one.

[tyRonE hArDing · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great. Love the Patterson Family.

[Gigi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love For Better or For Worse! Lynn Johnston really captures the essence of parenthood. This book is funny and so relatable.

[Child960801 · Rating 5 out of 5]

The family get a puppy and go on a camping trip to a cabin in the woods. Connie starts dating Ted. The grandparents come to visit for Christmas.

[Mike Aragona · Rating 5 out of 5]

After enjoying the last collection so much, I decided to read through this one from 1982. In it, we see the introduction of Farley, the Patterson's dog, as well as Michael's entry into the second grade. Life continues along its regular road with the rest of the friends and family, sharing moments and giggles along the way. One thing I always find so precious are all the reflective moments we experience as we realize the children are getting older and how those moments of toddling pass so quickly. I could picture Chantale reading this collection and picking up Kyle for a hug, kiss, and snuggle every couple of pages just based on that :0 I love this strip for the fact that it's such a real reflection of the world we (parents) find ourselves in. Wonderful, timeless, and classic.

[Mª João Monteiro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tinha lido o primeiro desta série há anos e nunca tinha sequer visto este livro. É termurento e espelha o quotidiano de uma "stay at home mom" canadiana com wue pouco me identifico. No entanto, se lhe juntássemos as peripécias de um trabalho a tenpo inteiro a coisa seria real. Trapalhadas de miúdos, pai distraído, mãe desgastada, mas ainda com vontade de rir...

[Kyrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lynn Johnston is just funny.

[Amy Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

She is so funny. I know exactly how she feels.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy this series.

[Aleta Fera · Rating 3 out of 5]

much better punchlines than Foob Modern.

[Adrian Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books bring me unending joy.