This is your Midtoon.com Comic strip for February 20, 2009

Midtoon 010403 Copyright 2009 Neftali Rivera, All Rights Reserved

Voters Baffled by Economic Options

The Midtoon Herald, February 20, 2009

For the first time since Midtoon's inception, few voters are participating in this week's poll. We took to the street and asked some residents what reasons could be behind the marked reduction in participation.

"Midtoon sucks," said Mario, a teenager from Midtoon High, who says he is Erik's best friend. "Look, let's be honest about it. They got it all wrong. Erik is not a suitable main character for this strip. I am."

When asked why, if he is Erik's best friend, he has yet to appear on the strip, he simply said that "Maybe Erik is waiting to introduce me at the right time, or perhaps he is afraid I will take the spotlight from him."

Whatever the reason, it doesn't seem like Mario will be making an appearance any time soon, so we better get to the matter at hand.

"The people are burned out by this economic crisis," said Ann Lovely, and elementary school teacher. "They read comic strips to escape their harsh reality, at least for a few seconds. If the strip reminds them of their life problems, then it is not a real escape. What they have to do is make it less real."

Not everyone agreed with Ms. Lovely, though. Hashish Malik, an employee of City Hall, said that "If the story is not real, it does not resonate with the readers. The readers need to identify themselves with the characters, or they will go watch a movie or something instead of spending their precious time reading the strip. What they have to do is make it more realistic."

We took the liberty of presenting the suggestions to John Campos, who assured us that they will follow them. When asked which one they would follow, he responded "both of them. I do not see any contradiction in making the strip less realistic while making it more realistic. You see? It is so logical that it would make no sense to take time to explain it."

This reporter is also baffled... What do you think?

Disassociated Press