A longtime reader shared a letter he wrote to his local altweekly, which doesn't actually carry Slowpoke. It's very well-written. I've removed specific names, because somehow that feels more appropriate.

SUBJECT: The value of cartoons in an alternative weekly

Dear _______:

As a lifetime _____ and regular reader of the ____, I appreciate the work you do to report and analyze the news in our community. I encourage you to keep up the good work.

I also encourage you not to respond to the difficult economic times the same way Village Voice Media has done throughout its chain of alternative weeklies, and drop your publication of cartoons--in the case of the ____, that would be This Modern World by Tom Tomorrow.

As much as I care about the serious issues that face our city, I have to confess that This Modern World is what makes me pick up your paper, without fail, week after week. No matter how little interest I might have in the cover story in a given week, I always grab a copy to catch the latest offering from Mr. Tomorrow.

I consider VVM a fine organization, but it is misguided to think that cutting cartoons will keep its papers afloat. The cartoons do not represent a substantial expense, and readers will immediately notice their absence.

I encourage the ____ to lead the way in offering readers more, not less. Adding a cartoon or two alongside This Modern World would send a clear message that the ____ is committed to providing sharp, edgy commentary on the issues of our times. (If I may, I would like to recommend Slowpoke Comics by Jen Sorensen: www.slowpokecomics.com.)

I appreciate your consideration of this matter.

While I, of course, am delighted to be mentioned in this letter, I hasten to emphasize that this is less about me than making sure our whole genre doesn't disappear. Other altweekly cartoonists like Max Cannon (Red Meat), Derf (The City), Lloyd Dangle (Troubletown), Tom Tomorrow (This Modern World), Matt Bors (Idiot Box), and Ruben Bolling (Tom the Dancing Bug) have been weighing in recently.

Here's something interesting I just remembered: not too long ago, I came across a copy of Boise Weekly. It was their first post-holiday issue, and it was a scant 28 pages. But it had tons of cartoons. Not mine, mind you, but it was still heartening to see so many comics. Clearly that paper has a different survival strategy.