The Complete Buddy Bradley Stories from Hate #5

In "Dear Old Dad," Buddy Bradley watches helplessly as Lisa’s intense devotion to his ailing father, Pops, spirals into something both touching and exhausting. When Pops, briefly revived by the attention, takes a solo walk and is tragically struck by a truck, the family is left grappling with sudden loss—and the strange, quiet aftermath of a man who was never quite there, until he was gone.

In "Bab's Ex," Buddy Bradley navigates the wreckage of his relationship with Lisa Leavenworth after the loss of Pops, leading to a series of awkward and emotionally charged missteps—ranging from a heated encounter with Joel to an ill-advised advance on Doris at a collector's convention. As old tensions simmer and new ones flare, the fragile dynamics between Buddy, Lisa, and the rest of the group come under strain.

Buddy Bradley insists Lisa see a therapist after yet another explosive argument, and when her friend suggests a joint session, things take a surreal turn—especially when the therapist’s office becomes a battleground of ego, insecurity, and questionable life choices. With a rotating cast of familiar faces including a skeptical Butch, a deadpan Mexican Waitress, and the ever-unflappable Dr. Panzer, the session spirals into a darkly comic exploration of love, therapy, and the fine line between healing and self-sabotage.

In "It Had to Happen," Buddy Bradley grapples with the quiet unraveling of his world when Lisa vanishes after going to work—no note, no call, just an absence that grows heavier with each passing day. As he spirals through a mix of denial, frantic searches, and awkward encounters with friends like Jay, Babs, and even Jake the Snake, Buddy confronts the painful truth that some goodbyes aren’t just sudden—they’re inevitable.