Staff Picks (November 12): Lisa's Story — The Other Shoe

There’s nothing funny about cancer and I usually didn’t find much funny about Funky Winkerbean. If I read the Funky Winkerbean strip it was usually because I read all the strips on the comic page of the newspaper.

Lisa’s Story: The Other Shoe surprised me with how I needed to read it. This collection of Funky Winkerbean daily and Sunday strips (printed in color) focuses on Lisa Moore, a friend of Funky and wife to Les, and deals with her fight against breast cancer, recovery and life after, and tragically losing her fight years later.

This storyline shows us all that comics when done right are capable of entertainment and education and can make you care about the characters.

If cancer has hit your family as it has mine you will have even more of an appreciation for what Tom Batiuk has accomplished with Lisa’s Story.  It makes me appreciate those in my family that have survived and remember and miss those who didn’t but fought it as hard as anyone could.

Tom Batiuk’s Lisa’s Story: The Other Shoe from Kent State University’s Black Squirrel Books is a book that deserves a place in your library, school library, and your church or synagogue. In this book there is resource material on breast cancer, including early detection, information sources, support systems, and health care.

Kent State University Press notes that portions from the sale of this book go towards cancer research and education. Visit Lisa’s Legacy Fund to learn more or to make a direct donation.

~ Steve Leaf