Okay, gang, buckle your seat belts and return your seat backs and tray tables to their full and upright positions, because we’re about to take off and head back to the future. At the completion of Lisa’s Story, the entire Funky cast will time- frog ten years ahead and that’s where we’re going to stay. For the first time, there are going to be parents in the strip because my core characters are going to be the parents of the freshman class entering the brand spanking new Westview High School. If you’ve been following the strip, you’ve seen the last toddler put into place with Bull and Linda’s adoption of young Jinx.
Why jump the strip ahead ten years? Well for one thing, I wanted to avoid an extended period of mourning with Les and Summer, and at the same time I didn’t want to gloss over it and treat it with a lack of respect. I also wanted to bring some light into the work and show that while Les and Summer have moved on with their lives, they haven’t forgotten Lisa. I also wanted to bring the characters ages more in line with the ages of my long time readers so that the lives they’re now leading will once again be reflected in the strip.
Before we take off, I have just a little tidying up to do. First, a lot of readers have been asking about the bust of the author in Central Park where Les scattered Lisa’s ashes. It’s by an area of the park called the Pond, and the bust is of Sir Thomas Moore. Also it was a poem written by Moore under a nom de plume that Les read at Lisa’s funeral. Regarding Wally in Iraq, following the time-frog all I can say is that what you think happened may not be what you think happened. Just relax, enjoy the view and let the story unfold in its’ own good time. After all, it only took me twenty years to get Darin and Lisa together.
After the time-frog takes place, the front page of this site will show the new look of the cast. There’s been a little hair loss and weight gain, but you should be able to tell who’s who. In case you can’t, however, just roll your curser over the character, click your mouse, and you’ll get a brief bio of that character. For a more detailed look at the characters, got to Meet the Cast where you’ll find the original style sheets that were used to create the new looks.
For long time readers, you’ll be coming home. For new readers, it’s the perfect jumping on place. So welcome on board and enjoy the ride.
Stay well.
