I think maybe my strategy has worked. I went to the woods and laid low for a week while United Media rolled out the retooled comics.com Web site, and it seems to have paid off. Complaints have tailed off dramatically in the past few days, as more of you get used to the new look.

Really, what’s not to like? Not only does the new site provide the visitor with the new Arlo and Janis comic strip that’s running in newspapers that day, it enables him or her to easily see the strip from the day before, and the day before that, and the day before that and so-on, all the way back to January 1, 1996. Plus, that database of more than 4000 comic strips can be searched for a specific strip or series of strips, using tag lines or dates. And nobody has to pay extra anymore. New for everyone is the ability to rate a strip (whoopee) or comment upon it.

Now, I know it looks different, and it navigates a bit differently, but you’ll get used to that, if you haven’t already. Trust me. Plus, there are all the new goodies delineated above. I’m not just shilling for the home team here. I didn’t really know what to expect myself. Now that it’s here and in place, though, I think the new United Media Web site is pretty good.

You say you want to help me? Well, bless your heart. The best way would be to read your local newspaper if it has Arlo and Janis, or even if it doesn’t. If your paper doesn’t subscribe to the strip, then make sure you visit comics.com regularly. In fact, you should all do both. Oh, the new site also has commercials.