Month: July 2013

Link to today’s strip

Yeah, I can imagine Les Moore, super-athlete, dragging a typewriter, desk and chair up to Montoni’s roof.  Then, of course, I can easily imagine him hanging off the roof to run a long extension cord through a window to power the typewriter.  Then I imagine him pouring a cool lemonade, cracking his knuckles, poising his fingers over the keys, and being carried off by a Space Pterodactyl.  I made up the last part myself, and I hope I’ll be forgiven if I say it’s my favorite bit.

Do we really, truly need any more of Tom Batiuk writing love letters to himself?  Hasn’t it already been established that he thinks Les Moore is the greatest character in the history of literature?  You might say, “He has to help new readers understand this” but can you actually imagine a new reader who says “Hang on, this Les guy is pretty cool!  I think this is my favorite comic strip”?  I can’t, myself, but I think I’ve just thought of a great way to get out of jury duty!

Lastly, and most germane to today’s strip…groan.   Double secret groan.   Are there any puns in the world worse than those of Les Moore?  Yet look at those two chuckleheads, guffawing as if they’re listening to George Carlin or David Cross or even that dumb cousin of yours who tells those stupid knock-knock jokes.  Or maybe they’re laughing at a knife-wielding serial killer coming up behind Les, in which case this is the greatest Funky Winkerbean ever.

Link to today’s strip

Ah, there’s the Tom Batiuk that I know of old–a completely nonsensical final crack in panel three.  I know the saying, (Be nice to the people you meet on your way to the top, for you’ll meet them again when you fall from grace), but Funky’s use of it here makes no sense to me.  Just like “continu[ing] to take” a “permanent break” makes no sense.

I mean, is Funky insulted that Les has to quit his part-time pizza job?  “Oh, so now that you’re a writer, you can’t do man’s work like shoveling pizza at people.  Well, good luck, wuss.  Just remember that when you’re a broken, dying failure desperately in need of a job here–because I sure will.”

I guess Funky is simply emphasizing the worldview in Westview, that you’ll never achieve success and happiness in the outside world, but die lonely and in pain, even if you’re Les Moore.  In which case, why didn’t he just say that and spare us all this befuddlement?

Also, fellow snarkers, I’m sure you’ve figured out the whole point of this arc…let’s see, Les sits at a table, while people talk about his abilities and achievements and his total awesomeness and he talks about how hard he works.  Yes, folks, it’s how Tom Batiuk thought his Comic Con 2013 experience should play out.   And they say there’s no room for fantasy in today’s world!

Link to today’s strip

And Tom Batiuk continues to attempt punchlines, with a little less success this time around.  And Funky, it’s a teleplay, not a movie script.  A minor but annoying distinction.

In panel one, we get yet another example of dialogue that a human would never utter.   And maybe I’m mis-remembering, but I thought Les finished his teleplay?  Or did he give himself a little “home run” just for writing a scene?  Does he do that often?  “Yay, Les!  You’ve gotten out of bed, give yourself a hand!  Way to eat that breakfast, Les Moore!  You’re a champ!”

I know what you’re thinking–it’s another superpower–you’re thinking, “Well, that was only the first draft of the script.  Naturally it has to be polished and re-written.”  Oh, so now you want me to believe that everything that flows from Les’ pen is less than the golden oratory of the gods?  Ha, got you on that one!

Finally, I’m not sure I get Cayla’s “joke.”  Is she saying that Les is only around at lunchtime?  Isn’t that the opposite of what Funky just asked?

Or does it mean she plans to murder Les and then devour his remains?  Because I think I’d like to see that plot arc, myself.

Maybe the real Les was replaced by kind of Les-like vegetable that grows in Cayla’s garden, and she’s stewed or baked him into dozens of meals.  And of course a new Les just grows in the garden the next day, like a kind of weed or fungus that just can’t be rooted out.

Link to today’s strip

Here at the Funky Winkerbean Game Preserve, most of our animals are old and/or dead, so I want you to know how privileged you are–today, you’re seeing an actual humorous punchline, an animal we thought had died out long ago.  What you’re seeing today is a story you’ll be able to tell your grandchildren!  If you have grandchildren, that is, and they’ve been bad.

So yeah, props to Tom Batiuk for an actual funny joke.  Since most of the “self-depreciating” humor around here tends to be of the “no one understands my genius” type, stuff like this–stuff that actually acknowledges that Montoni’s specializes in the inedible–is a welcome relief.  I didn’t find myself laughing, certainly not smirking to beat the band the way Cayla is, but this is still an encouraging development.  But who wants to bet it’ll be the last “funny punchline” for several weeks?  I think it’s kind of a strain on Tom Batiuk’s abilities to do more than one each Moon cycle.

And can we please see a location other than Montoni’s?  A fellow member of the Legion of Snarker Heroes pointed out that we’ve been at this damned place for over a month.  How about something less gloomy and depressing, like a cancer ward?

Also, I think Funky is telling a teensie, weensie little fib there–from his appearance, I imagine he eats nothing but slabs of greasy lard, unless there’s something made of sugary paste he can use as a substitute.

And really, whoever chose the decor–specifically that tablecloth–I hope Funky at least gave him a ride back to the asylum.