(Strip Number 1057, Original Publication Date, 28 June 1986)
Panel 1: As Phil leaves, he and John confirm that they're going to leave for their doomed trip two weeks from the following Monday.
Panel 2: As he gets ready for bed, John can barely contain his glee at the prospect of casting his first line because he hasn't been on a trip like this since he got married.
Panel 3: He continues on to cackle with delight about how he doesn't have to deal with patients or children or a nagging wife before he clues in and talks about how much he'll miss her.
Panel 4: Elly's telling him that he's already cast his first line tells us that she sees right through him. Given his alarmed expression, we're in for another round of "Double Standard: Female On Male Abuse."
Summary: John impresses me as being someone who wants the authority and respect due to a father without actually being what anyone could reasonably call a father. Ah, well; enough of his getting his ass kicked for wanting freedom from the raw nerve he married of his own free stupid will. On to having Fat, Stupid Annie panic because she thinks her sins have made a movie monster of Leah.