VOL. XVI, NO. 10
MARCH 21, 1975
Change Can Be Startling
By KATHY COOPER
So many things change. Clothes, hair styles, shoes, life styles - all of these change. It seems that some things never change, though.
Things such as comic strip characters never change, at least not in their mannerisms and basic appearances. Could you imagine what it would be like if they did change?
Think of Little Orphan Annie having eyeballs, or Archie graduating from Riverdale High. Picture Sad Sack being discharged from the Army or Charlie Brown having hair. Imagine Ziggy having a good day or Mickey Mouse being eaten by a cat.
Some of us probably are not familiar with all of these characters. A few of us, however, know of a couple of them.
I think most of us know of Superman. Picture this scene: Clark Kent, Superman's alterego, spots an emergency (Lois Lane falling off the top of a building). He runs into an alley to change into his uniform; but in his haste, he can't stop and crashes into a building.
So many things change. Clothes, hair styles, shoes, life styles - all of these change. It seems that some things never change, though.
Things such as comic strip characters never change, at least not in their mannerisms and basic appearances. Could you imagine what it would be like if they did change?
Think of Little Orphan Annie having eyeballs, or Archie graduating from Riverdale High. Picture Sad Sack being discharged from the Army or Charlie Brown having hair. Imagine Ziggy having a good day or Mickey Mouse being eaten by a cat.
Some of us probably are not familiar with all of these characters. A few of us, however, know of a couple of them.
I think most of us know of Superman. Picture this scene: Clark Kent, Superman's alterego, spots an emergency (Lois Lane falling off the top of a building). He runs into an alley to change into his uniform; but in his haste, he can't stop and crashes into a building.
He figures he will fix the building later so that he can rescue Lois. He flies up, up, up and catches her just before she nears the ground. He whisks her up into the air. Unfortunately, he flies a little too fast and Lois burns up. Poor Superman! Now he has no one to rescue. He, in his anger, flies to a distant planet, and Earth hears no more from him.
Of course, such things would never happen in the real comic strip. All of his actions are well planned in advance. So you see, changes come only after careful consideration.
So, who cares? Well, if you are an open‑minded person and take notice of what is going on around you, you will realize that the point being made is not whether you read comics anymore but whether or not you can see change in the smallest of things.
Often when we are kids we don't expect change in anything. When we grow up, though, we realize that the entire world is changing, with no exception. Change isn't bad; it's just startling sometimes.
Of course, such things would never happen in the real comic strip. All of his actions are well planned in advance. So you see, changes come only after careful consideration.
So, who cares? Well, if you are an open‑minded person and take notice of what is going on around you, you will realize that the point being made is not whether you read comics anymore but whether or not you can see change in the smallest of things.
Often when we are kids we don't expect change in anything. When we grow up, though, we realize that the entire world is changing, with no exception. Change isn't bad; it's just startling sometimes.