July 28th, 2018

Timeline – 1998 Part 4

by Brian Walker, Greg Walker and Chance Browne

Hi and Lois Sunday page digital proof, November 22, 1998.

Hi and Chip take an annual walk together and have a father-and-son talk.  This gives them an opportunity to discuss personal issues like Chip’s plans for college, his love life or his lack of grooming.

These episodes can run at any time of the year but autumn seems to be the best season.  The fall foliage provides a perfect backdrop for meaningful conversations about past mistakes and future goals.

The Sunday page above is unique in that their walk is completely silent.  The background scenery speaks volumes however.

Many of these locales were inspired by Wilton, which is the town in Connecticut where both Chance and I live.

Watercolor by Chance Browne, 2010.

A few years ago I asked Chance to do a map of Hi and Lois’ hometown for an exhibit I did at the Charles Schulz Museum entitled “Places in the Comics.” He did the amazing watercolor, shown above, which has never been published. Although it is a fanciful depiction of Wilton, it contains many of the locales that we have featured in the strip.

Next week we will be moving on to 1999 in our Timeline series so be sure to check back.

– Brian Walker