'Marvin' is out, 'Pearls' is in

The results of our comics research are finally in, and "Marvin" is out.

Sorry "Marvin" fans, but he was a hands-down loser when we asked readers recently to tell us their least-favorite comic strips. The last "Marvin" strip will run Nov. 2 in The Virginian-Pilot newspaper.

Hundreds of you responded to our informal poll, with passionate arguments for what we should keep or lose to add a comic many readers have clamored for: "Pearls Before Swine." That strip will appear in The Pilot daily and Sundays beginning Nov. 3.

We also decided to keep the new version of "For Better or For Worse" because so many readers defended it, even though author Lynn Johnston is semiretired, and the strip is akin to reruns.

In our poll of least-liked, "Sally Forth" was a close second to "Marvin," but she's safe for the time being.

Many of you also said you didn't connect with "Non Sequitur" or particularly care for the daily word puzzle "Jumble." But enough people pleaded with us to keep those two items that the lovers and haters canceled out each other. Both features will stay.

"Garfield," "Curtis" and "The Family Circus" also had solid support, despite a number of detractors.

We hope to bring you some extra laughs on Sundays beginning Nov. 9. Berkeley Breathed is ending his Sunday-only strip, "Opus," on Nov. 2. We're working with the company that puts together our Sunday comics section to try to fit two strips in place of the oversized "Opus" - "Pickles" and "Zits." Those strips are popular with readers in The Daily Break Monday through Saturday, but we have not carried them on Sundays because of space.

A final note to the many readers who asked why we couldn't just add a page of comic strips in The Daily Break: The answer is that it would cost more money than we have to spend right now. But thanks to your comments, we understand the value that would add for many of you, so we will put some more research into that question.

Meanwhile, thank you for participating in our comics survey. All your advice was most helpful.