I love The Reflector. I always look forward to Tuesday and Friday when I can pick up the latest issue. I like reading all of the articles, but my favorite part of the paper is the page with the puzzles and the comics. Nothing gets my day going like a brain-teasing crossword or sudoku and a chuckle from the daily cartoon. However, lately I’ve been a little distressed by the recent comic, “New Day,” by Corey Bishop. The main character, a little old lady, is very believable, but the comic never makes me laugh. Something bad always happens to this poor lady. She is old and alone, and no one cares for her anymore. She has been forgotten by her grandchildren, ignored on her birthday, and even attacked and bitten by a colony of ants.
At the end of each episode, Grandma is left alone, forgotten, and crying. Since this cartoon is found in the Entertainment section of the newspaper, I assume that it is supposed to be enjoyable for the readers. However, I never find myself enjoying it. I am always so sad for the lady and all that she goes through. After reading the latest installment of “New Day” I always feel depressed instead of uplifted.
In the recent March 23 Issue of The Reflector, Grandma met a cute, sweet little dog who loved her. I thought she had finally found a companion, and that the mood of the comic was about to turn around. Instead, two hours later, the lovable dog was flattened by a car, and once again Grandma was all alone. As usual, the last scene showed her devastated and crying.
I think Corey Bishop does have talent, the comic is very believable. It always makes me think of my own two grandmothers. But I don’t find it at all funny. I think the things that happen to Grandma are very sad and depressing. After reading, I am always very thankful that my two grandmothers do not have the sad life that this lady experiences. I don’t necessarily hope that the comic ends, because I like Grandma. I just wish that it could be happier. I hope that soon Corey will choose to make Grandma’s luck change so that good things will happen for her. I want to be pleased and uplifted by the daily comic, not left with feelings of heartache and depression because something else awful has happened to lonely Grandma.