LOCKHORNS: You may have noticed the marital battles of Leroy and Loretta Lockhorn were missing from The Era’s pages of late.

The service from which The Era gets the comic no longer offers it. We’re working diligently to track it down to bring it back, and hope to have it resolved soon.

“Each day, millions of comics fans can’t help but see a little bit of themselves or someone they know in Leroy and Loretta Lockhorn. The award-winning Lockhorns panel gently spoofs the state of marital bliss, poking fun at the foibles of both partners to the amusement of a worldwide audience in more than 500 newspapers. Their snappy repartee and witty banter has made them a perennial favorite,” reads a description of the work.

“The bickering couple’s daily bouts began in 1968 with the comic collaboration of prolific cartoonist Bill Hoest and his wife, Bunny. Hoest also produced ‘Laugh Parade’ and ‘Howard Huge’ for Parade magazine, and the newspaper comics ‘Agatha Crumm’ and ‘What A Guy!’

“Since the death of her husband in 1988, Bunny Hoest has been making sure the laughter lives on with the help of her assistant, artist John Reiner.”

The cartoon couple is described as follows: “Loretta’s loudmouthed, leering husband, Leroy, is brash, opinionated and abrasive, but you can’t help but love him nonetheless. He watches women and sports while watching out for his suspicious spouse. Fortunately for her, most times he is parked in front of the television, sound asleep.

“She is Leroy’s stabilizing influence, except when she cooks or gets behind the wheel of their long-suffering car. Then she’s every bit as dangerous as Leroy’s uncontrollable mouth. When she’s not keeping her husband out of trouble, she’s off to ‘shop till she drops.’ But no matter what problems come their way, Loretta and Leroy realize they’re together ‘till death do us part.’ And they wouldn’t have it any other way!”