Cancer portrayed in Funky Winkerbean comic

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Cancer portrayed in Funky Winkerbean comic

Posted May 10th 2007 11:01AM by Jen Creer
Filed under: Breast Cancer, Prostate Cancer

Funky Winkerbean creator Tom Batiuk has used his own experiences with prostate cancer to write cancer in to one of his characters' storylines. Lisa Moore, who was introduced to the more than thirty-year-old strip in the 1980's as a teen mother, has been battling breast cancer for more than seven years. In the strip's latest installment, her cancer has returned and is worsening.

Batiuk, who had surgery for prostate cancer last summer, realized that when he first introduced cancer in his strip he didn't have the depth of empathy that he has had this last time. He used Presidential candidate John Edwards' wife Elizabeth Edwards, her courage, and her refusal to let the cancer defeat her, as his model.

He said the strip was very hard to write, but he considers it his best work. I haven't followed the funnies for years, but this is the first instance that I can recall in which cancer has been portrayed as an ongoing storyline. It seems that breast cancer receives the most press these days (which, I believe, leads to more awareness of cancer in general), and I do wonder why he didn't address prostate cancer. But I can understand wanting to focus on one of the strip's main characters, and also, wanting to distance himself a bit from his own experience.

Has anybody been following this strip?

Tags: breast cancer, BreastCancer, Funky Winkerbean, FunkyWinkerbean, prostate cancer, ProstateCancer, Tom Batiuk, TomBatiuk

Reader Comments

(Page 1)

1. Haven't seen this strip in years but I will definitely look it up again now. It's great to see cancer come out of the closet and get some more mainstream treatment. And in a comic? That's great; maybe it will raise awareness in younger people.
Regards,
Richard Day Gore

Posted at 12:03PM on May 11th 2007 by richard day gore

2. Hello. I wanted to bring attention to a new medication that will soon be FDA approved to treat prostate cancer.

It is called Satraplatin and I compiled some important information about the drug at:

http://cancerdocchitown.blogspot.com

Sincerely,
Cancer Specialist

Posted at 4:21PM on May 15th 2007 by rortiz24

3. You bet I have been keeping up with this story line! I'm a 2-year breast cancer survivor whose most recent mammogram showed some abnormalities in my remaining breast. It's nice to know someone else is going through the same thing, even if it's a cartoon character!

Posted at 9:00PM on May 25th 2007 by Jeannie Barber

4. It would be nice to see someone going through cancer in a comic strip - if he wasn't going to KILL her! There's enough of that in real life. I want a comic strip to retain some hope, while still showing the struggles.
As for awareness, it would be of more help to young people if there was hope at the end. I am going to quit reading this strip.

Posted at 2:10PM on Jul 3rd 2007 by kt

5. I also have read todays strip and am very dissappointed. We who have read the strip daily for years and have seen Lisa's struggles have rooted for her. As of today the writer seems to have taken all hope alway from her. This is a comic strip where there is suppose to be humor, romance and hope. There is enough death in the real world we don't need it in the comic strips.

Posted at 10:45PM on Jul 3rd 2007 by Marge Roberts

6. I have faithfully followed this "comic" strip for years. Some of my best philosphies come from this strip and others. I hate what Lisa is going through, but the writer does an excellent job of portraying such a horrible time for Lisa and family. My sister is a Breast Ca survivor, and the doctor I work for is now battling Ca. Mr. Batiuk has my highest regard for keeping this terrible disease in front of us using his own personal experiences.

Posted at 8:20AM on Jul 4th 2007 by BCribb

7. I have followed Lisa from her beginnings in this strip. I understand the gravity of cancer, but it will hurt immensely if we lose Lisa after all she has gone through. We will also lose the insightful relationship between Lisa and Funky. It has been very enlightening to watch the changes in the relationships of the characters as they grew out of high school. Let's have a miracle!Save Lisa.

Posted at 4:41PM on Jul 4th 2007 by Judy Dickerson

8. My wish is to let Lisa live so she can raise her daughter, know her son that she gave up for adoption and continue to build her relationship with Les. I won't stop reading but I may have to skim for a while until Lisa goes into remission.

Posted at 4:43AM on Jul 5th 2007 by Kathy Parris

9. I know it's not realistic, but I don't read the comics for realism: I don't want Les to lose Lisa!! They are such a sweet, happy young couple, and Lisa has worked so hard. I will have to stop reading the strip soon because I can't stand the sadness, and I don't think I'll ever read it again. I'll always thinking about what COULD have been if Lisa had beaten the cancer and gone on with the rewardng life she so deserved. Please Mr. Batiuk, don't let Lisa die!!!!

Posted at 12:47PM on Jul 5th 2007 by Thea Boucher

10. The world has enough death and destruction at this time, and could certainly use more hope. We still, at least I, have not seen what happened to Wally after he spotted the IED and was exposed to the blast.

Lisa is a special heroine for all she has been through and is going through now to fight her cancer. We could all use a special miracle to see her either go into remission, or have a divine intervention for a cure. Prayer has worked wonders in the real world -- let's all pray that Mr. Batiuk spares Lisa.

Posted at 11:30AM on Jul 7th 2007 by Frank DeVane

11. I am both a breast cancer survivor and an oncology nurse. While this storyline makes me sad, I've been touched by the real and touching way he has portrayed Lisa making her decisions. Yes, maybe comics aren't supposed to be sad, but this strip, in particular, has done several storylines where they portray life as it really happens, not as we would like it to happen. Thank you to the author for taking on this hard topic.

Posted at 11:54AM on Jul 14th 2007 by Carolyn

12. Does anyone know of a site that has the current story? Our local newspaper has discontinued the strip and I am sad too say, I can no longer read the story which I find interesting and caring. If anyone knows of such a site please post a reply.

Posted at 11:54AM on Jul 15th 2007 by Rain94

13. To answer Rain94, try this site for current story: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/fun/funky. My local newspaper has also discontinued this strip and others in favor of a bunch of crud like "Secret Asian Man." As a 3-year BC survivor, I was very touched by Lisa's battle.

Posted at 12:23AM on Jul 17th 2007 by DJ

14. Just wanted to say, don't forget about "Luann"! Cartoonist Greg Evans had a character in his strip who underwent treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma back in the late 90s. (With cheerier results.)

http://www.comics.com/comics/luann/html/cancer.html

Posted at 9:57AM on Jul 17th 2007 by Mollie

15. HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THIS STRIP FOR YEARS. IT IS A GOOD BOOK THAT CONTINUES WITH RELAVENT STORIES,EVEN ON THE COMIC PAGES.
THE L A DAILY NEWS JUST DROPPED IT. I HOPE READERS IN THE VALLEY DROP THE DAILEY NEWS.

Posted at 10:26PM on Jul 18th 2007 by mccaffrey

16. WE ARE VERY DISAPPOINTED AND ANGRY THAT DAILY NEWS DROPPED WINKERBEAN AND OTHER STRIPS THAT WE HAVE BEEN
FOLLOWING OVER THE YEARS.

I FEEL THE DAILY NEWS ARE INCONSIDERATE BOOBS TO DROP YOU WHEN YOU ARE TELLING A VERY IMPORTANT STORY ARC ABOUT CANCER AND I FEEL DAILY NEWS JUST DO NOT CARE ABOUT THE SERIOUS ISSUES OF CANCER.

WE SINCERELY HOPE THERE WILL BE ENOUGH COMPLAINTS TO DAILY NEWS FOR THEM TO TAKE HEART AND BRING BACK THOSE WONDERFUL DRAWN COMICS...NOT THE CRAP THAT THEY REPLACED WITH!

Posted at 5:57PM on Jul 19th 2007 by BRAD & DIANNA KANAWYER

17. I lost my dear partner to breast cancer, and while she was sick - at a time we both needed humor - I had to hide the comics. Now that she is gone, I find the story line very difficult and painful. The comics are supposed to provide escape from life - not a place to live its darkest moments.

Posted at 4:15PM on Jul 20th 2007 by bogie813

18. Also, I am a cancer survivor myself, and still find nothing but pain in this story line.

Posted at 4:15PM on Jul 20th 2007 by bogie813

19. I CHECKED TODAYS PAPER TO MAKE SURE AND IT WAS NOT THERE. THANKS FOR YOUR RESPONSE

Posted at 7:46PM on Jul 22nd 2007 by mccaffrey

20. My mother battled cancer for 13 long years until the cure became worse than the disease. Her struggle was shared by our entire family. The reference to the Monkey Trap brought back so many memories of her and her struggle. She decided to quit the treatments and die with dignity. I pray that some of the experimental treatments that she endured have helped someone after her to beat cancer. I praise you for showing that all the endings are not happy and for Lisa's decision to let go of the candy. God bless you and all who are battling this horrid disease. We will all be on the same path eventually.

Posted at 12:33PM on Jul 23rd 2007 by Randy Gillette

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