"It's like spring break for band directors…" And for retired band directors, and for the spouses of retired band directors, I guess. Rather than accompany Becky to Columbus, John takes advantage of her absence to "batch it". Thanks, Inkwell, for looking it up; I was afraid John stayed home to "run a batch", which actually sounds a lot more in character.
Does Montoni's even make pizza without pepperoni?
Filed under Dead Skunk Head, Funky, Harriet, Harry Dinkle, John, Montoni's, pizza, real places in Ohio
As the baby-blue Batiukmobile® rolls into, or out of, Kent, Ohio, Cayla stares intently at her phone, as if willing it to ring. Seems the daughter she raised single-handedly and sent to college now can't be bothered to answer her mother's phone calls. Rather than explore her relationship with Keisha to understand why this might be, Cayla instead disparages Theodore “Ted” Paraskevakos and blames his invention.
Filed under Batiukmobile®, Cayla, cellphone, Les, real places in Ohio, technology
Tombat's ability to uncannily dredge up natural disasters and acts of terrorism just as they're happening in real life is in full force in today's strip! With the official US death toll of Hurricane Sandy rapidly approaching 100, today's little romp seems poorly timed. Most casual readers don't know Batiuk writes these strips a year in advance; the whole thing just comes across as rather tasteless instead of the usual unfunny.
Filed under Becky, Harry Dinkle, real places in Ohio, Uncategorized, Westview HS Band
I've never seen a dog smirk. Yes, DockDogs® is a Thing That Exists. Our fairgoers are watching the World's Premier Canine Aquatics Competition. It's an event held at various locales around the country, including—what a coinkydidnk! The Medina County Fair, right in Batiuk's hometown.
By the way, both of these people have young children. Did it occur to them that maybe little Robbie and probably not-so-little Wally Jr. might enjoy a visit to the fair?
Filed under Buddy, Rachel, real places in Ohio, Wally
Nothing like waiting til they're being dropped off at Akron-Canton Airport to ask Cayla's blessing. Summer tries so hard to look sincere in the fourth panel that her face is starting to melt. Not to worry, Summer: Miss Cayla doesn't "do" camping (she doesn't "do" mountains either). Cayla: nice job of dismissing the epic father-daughter trek as a mere "camping" trip. And so much for "wither thou goest, I will go", huh? Well, you haven't taken any vows yet. In fact, since you're already at the airport, here's the perfect opportunity to get tickets for yourself and Keisha to fly far, far away from "Les"view.
Filed under air travel, Batiukmobile®, Cayla, hoodie, Kilimanjaro, Les, real places in Ohio, Summer
Inside the Schottenstein Center* at The Ohio State University, Annie and her Goats take the floor for warmups, but Coach Bull has to inquire as to the whereabouts of his superstar player. I don't know who this guy "Ralph" is, but someone oughta tell him that use of that Big White Phone is strictly reserved! What Keisha meant to tell Coach is that Summer is "driving the porcelain bus". Or "laughing at the ground". Or "throwing it into reverse". Or…
(* Hat tip to Helskor for location scouting!)
Filed under Ann Fairgood, basketball, Bull, Keisha, real places in Ohio, sports, Summer
As the Talking Exposition Bus splashes its way towards Colum, Fishstick Annie (still alive! Thank God) tells Bull he "took quite a risk" in adding her to his staff. Staff? There were no assistant coaches; the entire staff consisted of Bull. Was the "risk" that he might catch flak for doubling his "staff" in this famously cash-strapped sports program? The only risk that I see here is that Keisha and Summer might attempt another aerial butt-bump with Ann in the middle and shatter her pelvis.
Filed under Ann Fairgood, basketball, Bull, exposition, real places in Ohio, sports
Wow. In a comic strip legendary for its epic sadness, I don't think it's ever been sadder that it is today. Bad enough that Harry's devotion to Tarzan "comical books" would lead him to consider cashing in his daughter's college fund. But when Donna, the only woman in the world who finds him desireable, dares to (only-half-) jokingly expresses her longing for him, everyone in the room is immediately and visibly repulsed. I suppose Maddie can be forgiven her reaction to hearing her parents allude to "gettin' busy". As for John, he's probably skeeved at the thought of caressing anything besides pubescent boys.
A while back, someone stated on Twitter that the Komix Korner was based on Ground Zero Comics in Strongsville, Ohio (15 miles from TB's home in Medina). I couldn't find GZ Comics' website, but some pics found on patch.com seem to support this. The store's nestled in a strip mall, not above a pizza joint, but like the Korner, it's decorated with nerd tchotchkes. They also have a Space Invaders machine just like Tony's.
Filed under Comic Book tribute, comics, Crazy Harry, Dead Skunk Head, Donna, John, Komix Korner, Maddie, real places in Ohio, smirk, Tarzan
