Well, there was certainly a wide difference of opinion about the comic strip "The Swan Factory."
On one side we had people calling it "disgusting."And on the other side we had people calling it "the best."
In balloting on our most recent Deseret News Rookie Comic Strip, however, the anti-"Swan Factory" forces won out - just barely.
In the closest vote in the history of the Rookie Strip, "Swan" went down to defeat by the slimmest of margins. A total of 51 percent of the ballots favored replacing it, and 49 percent wanted us to keep it.
As always, however, this is a vote where a simple majority rules. So "The Swan Factory" has ridden off into the sunset.
Although the vote indicated a split in opinion, the individual opinions expressed by some of our readers were very strong.
"I would be very happy if you would take `The Swan Factory' out of the comics. I don't understand it. And when I do, I don't think it is funny," wrote one voter.
" `The Swan Factory' has become one of my favorites to read and look forward to," wrote another.
"This is a nice strip. Not great, but nice," was one of the more restrained comments. "Replace as soon as possible. We hate it! Yuck!" was one of the less restrained.
And, as always, the results of the vote were a testament to how widely personal opinions vary.
"We think `The Swan Factory' should be replaced!" wrote one voter. "It is very stupid. It's never very funny."
"Very funny!" wrote another.
At any rate, it's time to move on and introduce the new Rookie Comic Strip - "Buckles," by David Gilbert.
It's the story of a dog and his humans. The three main characters are:
- Buckles, who is "more of an only child with canine instincts than he is a family pet. He can display all the charm, innocence, naivete and cunning of a small child discovering how to find his way through life."
- Jill, who is "the permissive parent - and Buckles knows it. He exploits her giving and forgiving nature."
- And Paul, who is "Buckles' master - although Buckles doesn't see it that way. Paul hasn't given up hope that Buckles will grow to be a more assertive, traditional dog, but he he loves him nonetheless."
"Buckles" will spend the next few months as the Deseret News Rookie Comic Strip - and then we'll give you a chance to decide on whether he'll stick around longer or go the way of "The Swan Factory."