So you thought that put a neat bow on the whole bullying issue? Today the bullying has escalated a hundredfold. Wedgeman and his boys unrestrainedly pelt Alex with tater tots, while the rest of the student body either ignores it or joins in the laughter. You'd think that having faced down the bullies seemingly on his own yesterday, Owen would be emboldened to confront them again; instead, he wisely looks around for a teacher, but is dissuaded by Alex. Her forbearance in the face of such abuse borders on masochism. Rather than making her feel inferior, the bullying actually gives Alex a feeling of superiority over her tormentors. Take that, bullies!
Category Archives: chullo
Hater Tots
Filed under Alex, chullo, Cody, Cody and Owen, coffee, Owen, Wedgeman, Westview High School
Saved by the Bull
OK, well, props to Owen, I guess: he actually does show a little courage today, standing up to Wedgeman and his henchmen. Naturally, were Bull not standing behind him in his Mr. Clean pose, the bullies would be on him like Crazy Harry on a Montoni's slice.
Close to the Wedge
bad wolf
April 1, 2013 at 10:22 pm
[I]s that our old friend Wedgeman? It's been so long but one of the few 'new' students from last year (who i assumed was also a senior at the time) may still be around!

Good eye, bad wolf! Even though his hair has the "Superman blue" highlights these days instead of brown, that's gotta be Wedgeman, who last year was fixin' to "kick [Cody's] butt off" before Summer came to his rescue. Now that Sheriff Sum' Mo' has ridden out of town, somebody has to man up and come to the rescue of Wedgeman's victims.
Filed under Alex, chullo, hatchet face, Owen, random students, Wedgeman, Westview High School
Kemo Slobby
TheDiva
April 2, 2013 at 12:13 am
There's a Lone Ranger movie coming out this summer, so for once Batiuk is (a year and) three months ahead of the time. I'm sure this is entirely coincidental, though.
I'm thinking coincidence too. It's more likely that someone who thinks that Flash Gordon is still timely would expect teens to find the Lone Ranger relatable.
There is more to the Lone Ranger's Creed, and it's actually not too bad as far as creeds go. It doesn't really apply that much to Owen's situation, however, but that's the kind of counsel you get when you go to the comic book guy for advice.
Filed under chullo, Dead Skunk Head, John, Komix Korner, unnatural hand gestures
I Guess Some Seniors Were Left Behind
TheDiva
March 31, 2013 at 10:27 am…As a former victim of bullying and a mom who worries what her kids will face in school when they get older, I'm insulted that Batiuk continues to treat this topic as lighthearted fun. On the other hand, I know that any attempt on his part to treat bullying and the tragic consequences thereof with the seriousness it deserves would be infuriating.
Not hard to see where Batiuk's going with this. Having shortsightedly used up almost his entire new cast of teen characters, he's pulled misfit goth girl Alex off the bench and retconned her back into a teen. Not only that, she's the target of bullying, which only only yesterday TB was playing for laughs. And her fellow misfit Owen will be cast in the role of her white knight. Perhaps he and Cody will construct a robot to attack her tormentors.
Filed under Alex, chullo, Owen, random students, Westview High School
Senior-Free Moment
John
April 3, 2012 at 1:01 am
Cody: "…do you ever get the feeling that we never look forward to anything good? We merely mildly anticipate the absence of bad things?"
Note the date on John's comment above: it's from a whole year ago, when Cody and Owen last enjoyed a wedgie-free week due to the fact that the Seniors were out of town. Flash back a little further: to the beginning of the 2009 school year…

You're already doing the math: Cody and Owen would by now be part of the Senior Class. Of course, it's certainly likely that, being morons, they've had to repeat at least one grade. Still: surely they're not still mere freshmen? Do the Westview Seniors pick on all the underclassmen, or just these two?
I'm kind of concerned about these two loners who, every school day (except for the week of the D.C. trip), endure intimidation and abuse from the Seniors, are belittled by their teachers, and after school head to the Komix Korner to play (probably violent) video games. Could Batiuk be getting ready to add school shootings to his Serious Topics résumé?
Filed under bricks, chullo, Cody, Cody and Owen, Owen, random students, Westview High School
Smirk Engine
Before becoming a cartoonist, Tom Batiuk taught for several years at a junior high school. If held felt anything like the antipathy that Les has always had for his students, well, it's fortunate for them that he left teaching for cartooning. Unfortunate for the rest of us though.
Filed under chullo, Les, Les' yellow shirt, Owen, random students, unnatural hand gestures, Westview High School
How's Your Jonson?
If Tuesday's strip qualified as one of the "Comics I Don't Understand", then what the hell are we to make of today's strip? Les bemoans his students' performance on his latest quiz, implying that they have retained nothing of what he's taught them. Does Cody's response mean that while they may not have learned anything, they are at least less easy to deceive? Even more baffling than the presumed punchline is Cody's crudely rendered profile in panel 3: his jawline resembles a peeled sweet potato.
Filed under bricks, chullo, Cody, Les, Les' yellow shirt, Owen, random students, Westview High School, writing
