For Better or For Worse: The Complete Library, Vol. 9

by Lynn Johnston

Collect the beloved newspaper comic strip that chronicles the saga of the Patterson family in real time, over three decades, in this definitive edition. The For Better or For Worse saga comes to an end in this final volume that finishes collecting Lynn Johnston’s comic strip masterpiece. A fire at Michael and Deanna’s apartment building leaves their family without a place to stay, but this coincides with John’s retirement and desire to downsize their house. April takes one last summer trip to the farm and gets a job at a veterinarian clinic. And finally, the entire cast comes together for the wedding of Elizabeth and Anthony. This volume collects every strip from July 20, 2006, to the series’ conclusion on August 30, 2008, plus all of the new strips created for the second run in newspapers!

496 pages, Hardcover

Published November 5, 2024

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

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ninth and final volume in the hardcover collection for the For Better or For Worse comic strip brings the story, or should I say saga, of the Patterson family to a fitting conclusion.

The whole family sees endings in their lives along with new beginnings and we get our final glimpses of all their supporting cast of characters as well. Retirements, health issues, marriages, births, deaths, success and setbacks in careers and love. Elly, John, Michael, Elizabeth and April experience it all and more.

I've long held that this strip is the finest one to have ever graced the funny pages of the newspaper and I hold true to that after once again seeing it come to an end.

Lynn Johnston created a family that feels as real to me as the one I'm actually part of for real. The only sad thing about once again reading the ending storylines is knowing that there is no more to come and that's such a sad thing because it truly was the best.

[Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Johnston closes out her decades-long run of comic strips with grace and style, wrapping up some key story lines while leaving room for readers to imagine new futures. This volume also includes the additional strips Johnston created to support the reruns that began with the conclusion of the continuity.