There’s going to be a sensational movie made! About one of Mark’s sensational nature adventures! Featuring one of Hollywood’s sensational stars! Anything’s gotta be better than the Funky Winkerbean drek…

Wanna talk about weird? James Allen, who we all knew was going to leave Mark Trail (which involved a long, rather ugly back-story) has apparently left in late July, in the midst of the making of a the sensational movie of Mark’s life (and the star of the film desperately needs a drink, too!)! It’s like leaving that goofball cryptozoologist on the top of Mount Everest…HAW HAW!
So now what? Apparently the Syndicate(tm) is running an old Jack Elrod-era story! As if the previous two months had never happened! As if Rusty wasn’t outgrowing his strange, misshapen form!
Some people may just sit by…but not this someone! Is it a real repeated story…or something more sinister? Have you found yourself wondering what has happened to Dawn Weston and her two paramours? I’ve wondered (even if I couldn’t remember what Pepe le Pew’s actual name was). I think the mystery unfolds in Lost Forest…

So, Andy finds the abandoned little cat and takes her home. Cherry and Mark welcome “Tabby” into their Lost Forest home. I like this.

Of course, some dumb animals just don’t want to be friends. Or lunch.

There is a startling resemblance…

And sometimes, it’s nice to just sit around and reminisce…

Wild dogs loose in Lost Forest!!! And still, Tabby has a hankerin’ to ge exploring. (What? You thought Johnny Malotte was the only Frenchman in Lost Forest??? Au contraire!)

Mark Trail doesn’t worry too much. Just enough. Things work out one way or another. And then there’s pancakes! See? I told you life is good!

Still, Mark tries to comfort his worried family…

Who would’ve thought?

Well, the story’s over. There was a tiny forest fire, and Kevin got lost then found, then everyone was reunited, then the Crowleys are going to adopt Kevin, and nothing much else happens aside from the self-congratulations…

And sea-monkeys. Because someone mentioned that Mrs. Crowley and the kids look like sea-monkeys. And you know what? They’re right!

The story might be officially or interesting-worthy over, but there are always a couple of loose ends to tie up…

Maybe it was Rusty’s trusty ol’ alarm clock that’s roused Mark. I’d like to think that Mark just wishes he were back in Nepal, snapping photos of rare, amazing creatures, and far away from weird local orphaned homoculi…

…not literally, like Mark. Or Cherry. Or Andy. Maybe Rusty.

Meanwhile, it’s back to the daily grind, with Mark and Rusty spending a hiking trip with a guy who wants to help orphans, a random orphan or two, a family who might be interested in getting an orphan, and a son who is just fine without adding orphans to the mix.

I don’t know if Rusty was an orphan, or just a neglected child, but if anything, he developed a keen sense of pragmatism.

And we’re just getting started….

And while we’re hanging around the ol’ fishing hole, Geoff lets folks know that he was an orphan, and he spends his time improving the lives of other orphans. What a noble endeavor! (The drawing still looks weird, though.)

The hikers make camp, and it’s suddenly deja vu all over again! (Thank you, Mr. Berra)

So. Somewhere in the Himalayas, Dr. “HA HAW” Harvey got swept away in an avalanche. Mark cut his losses and headed home to Lost Forest. (No kidding, the trek was abandoned, and he went home. I can’t really blame him.) No Yeti was ever found, or seen, but Mark got to see some cool critters.

There’s not much to add about this whole disappointing storyline, but at least we have Lost Forest…

At least Mark can put on a happy face and teach us all a little about the Natural World AND the rare Savannah Walrus!

And just because Mark is back with his family in Lost Forest, it doesn’t mean that exciting things AREN’T going on there!

…at least they’re having good weather in the Himalayas!

And then there’s some whistling sounds! And then there’s Genie going into Dr. Camel’s tent! And then there’s an avalanche! And then there are startling comments!

…Mark reflects on his separation from Cherry, his isolation from civilization, his forced camaraderie with Dr. Camel and the rest…