ABOVE THE POST UPDATE
Something witty and insightful actually related to today’s strip, to be published after the strip goes live.
–or it could just be Cody, Owen, and Dead Heart John talking about crap that no one, and I mean no one, cares about.
ORIGINAL POST
Since, even with my newly-acquired superpowers, my vision cannot see through Saturday, I thought I’d muse a bit on the 50th anniversary arc we’ve just been through (and may continue on into) while waiting for Sunday to show up.
Firstly and most obviously, there weren’t any jokes. Not even the most charitable teacher, grading on the biggest curve, could find anything that anyone outside of Tom Batiuk’s house could call “humor.” That’s so obvious it hardly needs stating, but there is a question: why is this?
Before we start in on personal attacks (on Tom Batiuk; you can attack me all you want, I’ve got superpowers, nyah!), I’d like to change the question: could this have been funny?
Surprisingly, the answer is yes. Not hilarious, not entertaining even, but I could see the humor if, and only if, certain things had been established. That would have required some ground work prior to the arc, of course, which wasn’t there, but let’s change things just a bit…
First of all, forget how hate-able all the characters are. Now, imagine that instead of Harry Dinkle doing these things, it was Jack Benny.
Many of you may not know who Jack Benny was (though I am older than the stars, I never heard his radio show) but his “comic persona” was that of an determined cheapskate. An affable, amiable, even helpful cheapskate, but a man who parted with a penny only after all other alternatives were exhausted.
Everyone on his radio show was aware of this, and acknowledged it openly. In this context, the idea of Benny taking his long-time girlfriend to an inexpensive anniversary party at the cheap dump they go to every week becomes kind of funny. The girlfriend would be appalled yet not want to say anything, the gathered friends would be feeling the same, and when he said he wanted her to “put out,” he’d open up his wallet for her to contribute.
The height of hilarity? Of course not. But I can see the humor.
The problem, of course, is that Funky Winkerbean‘s Harry is not presented as a cheap miser. He’s presented as a beloved father-figure; the very idea of an anniversary party at Montoni’s is not discouraged, but lauded as magnanimous. Harry’s persona is entirely wrong for this kind of story. Had he been presented as he’s perceived by readers–cheap, selfish and egotistical–than this whole arc would have some potential. Viz:
I’ll be first to admit the above isn’t funny. But it does have an actual punchline that makes sense in context of Harry’s character.
It’s a pity in a way, because if Tom Batiuk had taken the time to establish (or acknowledge) some negative traits for his characters, the overall level of humor…well, let’s not go overboard. Let me say that it least it wouldn’t be below sea-level.
As another example, take Les Moore. Please. (Ha ha…ha?) If he were presented as a semi-talented nebbishy dweeb, his “home run” at writing such a terrible teleplay would be seen as a funny over-estimation of his abilities. Similarly, the fact that both Susan and Cayla found him attractive could have been the source of some humor. That was not to be, though, as the one attempt was viciously slapped down (“I screwed up” “Yes, you did”) in order to demonstrate Les’ obvious (to TB) appeal.
So, thanks for your indulgence on this fine Sunday morning. As for today’s strip, why, let’s just take a look, and…oh good grief.
Son of Stuck Funky 
Or perhaps he could have done a “Harry suffers from “band withdrawls” when Harriet insists that he acknowledge their 50th anniversary by abstaining from all band activities for one week” arc. There are a thousand ways he could have gone with the premise, ranging from surreal to cornball. Instead, though, he opted for “planning parties is hard” and “I’m horny let’s f*ck”.
There are two schools of thought regarding TB’s intentions with this strip. Either he is a sincere and somewhat odd guy with extremely limited “storytelling” abilities or he’s just f*cking with everyone and doing it for the money. After arcs like this last one I lean toward the latter, as I just cannot believe that anyone could possibly come up with a story that lame unless they genuinely don’t care. I don’t think you can fake that sort of obvious lack of effort.
You are on point, Epicus! Batyuck has been mailing it in for some time now. I don’t think he cares one bit for his tens of fans.
WTF is this? It was obviously not meant to run during the summer months, as the long sleeves, jacket, bare tree and idiotic hat would indicate. Plus Owen and Cody are WHS characters who cease to exist between late June and Labor Day. Not to mention how it’s just totally and inexplicably out of the blue and not relevant to anything that’s been “happening” lately, although sometimes the Sunday strips are like that so who knows? This goddamned comic strip is just so freaking weird, you never really know what’s going to happen next with this thing.
Is that Mopey Pete he’s referring to? I can’t think of any other reason why DSH wouldn’t just say “the writer.”
At this rate, I’m surprised the opening dialogue didn’t read, “Hey, comic book store proprietor John!” “Greetings, local high school students Owen and Cody!”
TheDiva, Batyuck can’t even suck right!
It can’t be autumn, there were no trees losing leaves prominently featured, with a brick building in the background.
I was in the “earnest guy who lacks the ability to craft a storyline” camp until this past year, where things just look like he is treading water to keep up his legendary 12 month head start on deadlines.
Well, at least we know there won’t be a character in the future constantly referring to her father, Pete Roberts.
Speaking of things being pulled and resolicited, what happened to the sex storyline featuring Harry Dinkle the ex-bandleader? I thought for sure Sunday would bring about a full-page spread. Oh well, nothing to look forward to now except for a week-long arc featuring the dickhead would-be screenwriter Les Moore.
Hey, remember those teens! ‘Cause we have TEENS in this story. See, teens! Right here! And more importantly, we have COMIC BOOKS! That’s right, I get to talk about teenagers and their issues with comic books! See, see how important this is for teenagers? It has teenagers in it, and so it’s important for them!
Today’s strip, summarized.
On their planet, the “S” stands for “Sponge”.
Maybe TB wanted to throw something out there for the Comic-con crowd just in case one of them thought to, you know , check out this ‘long-running, award-winning’ strip.
Any word on Batiuk’s panel?
How ’bout that crazy weather in Westview? Or maybe the trees have cancer!!
Boy, the comic book industry must be in dire shape if Mopey Pete can screw up and blow off his job as often as he does and somehow remain employed.
And the Slobby Wonder Twins know Pete. Why does Gross John refer to him as if neither of them know who he is?
On today’s episode of “Contemporary Issues Affecting Young Adults in a Thought-Provoking and Sensitive Manner”, teenagers Owen and Cody try desperately to buy an issue of “The Amazing Mister Sponge” that has failed to hit the shelves. Be sure to read and discuss with the young adult in YOUR household to see how they would cope in such a situation.And always remember to hide the box cutters in a safe place.
OMG Owen and Cody out and about in the Summer? If they see their shadow it will mean six more weeks of Harry Dinkle (insert your own joke here) jokes.
At the panel now guys. I can’t be heckling him without getting tossed out, but I’m trying to think up a brilliantly subtle jab at the q&a anyway 🙂
Fucking smug Les! I loathe Tom Batyuck and his boring-ass “comic strip” Assholebean Alley!
Tom:
1) Teenagers largely do not frequent direct market comic shops. This is a fact. 1992 is GONE. Let it -go-, man!
2) No teen, no matter how geeky, would form a close friendship with the bloated, perverted comics shop guy John.
3) These days, issue delays are announced far in advance online. Evil tech savvy teens such as Cody and Owen would know about this delay without having to ask.
4) Out of all the rich, rich, RICH material you could have mined for Comic Con humor, you decided to resurrect “HAW! Pete sucks at his job and apparently doesn’t have an editor! But TEENS, man! SO EVIL!!!!” instead?
You suck, Tom.
I must have blocked it out at first, but this strip could be a lead in to a whole new “Lord of the Late” series. Sigh….