With our short flashback completed, we return to our current reality which is the battle to overcome Basscomb’s trickle down unemployment. If you need a quick refresh, read this previous strip. It appears that we are headed for a collision of minds as Monroe is off to enlist Bentley’s political help and, if you’ve been paying attention, Bentley and Splunker want to recruit Monroe as their political candidate. Is this really coincidental? Don’t ask me, I just draw this stuff.

What goes up, must come down. Fortunately, Rockford spent some of his youth with a travelling circus. But then that is definitely another story. It appears that he’s back in his bag and planning to hang around.

Rockford has been pushing Bentley’s buttons for quite some time, so eventually he had to push the “launch” button. It looks like he’s about to have an “out of the bag” experience.

Our flashback continues. Bentley always the realist is headed for home, but I suspect that he’s soon planning a deep water send off for Rockford.

Sometimes the difference between one imagined outcome and another is not very comforting. Being dipped in chocolate sauce and eaten by a bug or being abused as a squirrel’s love toy, neither presents a great alternative. Fortunately this is all postulation and part of a flashback and all regular readers know that Monroe does eventually escape.

The flashback continues as we learn more about the events following the great bug escape from the squirrels.

We’re having a quick flashback to our previous storyline when Monroe rescued the bugs who were held prisoner by Dr “B” the evil squirrel. If you need a refresh, check HERE for the last strip prior to where this flashback picks up. And for those readers who aren’t familiar with Rockford, the hunk of granite who travels around in that backpack, you can check HERE.

They say everything is globally interconnected but who knew that trout were victims of trickle down unemployment. Today’s comic is the official introduction of Basscomb, a lake trout, into the Pudding cast of characters.

Oh the joy of a lazy summer day in Lake Tuberville, if only life were always so stress free. Monroe is finally doing one of his favorite things. He’s relaxing in the cool lake water. You just know something is about to happen as we begin a new chapter in our story titled Pedalling Down Hill.

But I also enjoy painting backgrounds and trees in particular using watercolors on paper and then just scanning them into the computer to use in the comic. Here are a couple of examples that you can expect to see in some future strips.

Today’s title says it all, ouch! Have you noticed recently that the editorial section of the paper is more humorous than the comic section. Where do they come up with some of this stuff?

I’m sure we haven’t seen the last of Glortch, but at least for awhile I expect that he will be off gathering nuts, seeds and acorns. Monroe is expecting a return to the quiet life of lounging around Lake Tuberville. Not a chance, frogs are the least of his upcoming concerns.

For those readers who are new or in case you forgot how Monroe first got into the Joy Toy situation with Glortch, you can go HERE to find out.

Monroe returns with Glortch in hot pursuit. Splunker seems to be shifting away from wanting to be the candidate and instead he’s planning to become the “puppet’s” campaign manager.

It appears that Doc made quite an impression on Splunker as he demonstrated that a campaign sign properly positioned is sure to get the viewer’s full attention.