Today BatBrain tries to go “topical” by referencing that Tweety thing that’s all the rage with those goddamned worthless kids today, with their chullos and cell phones and all. I would imagine that the bulk of her student’s tweets would consist of some variation on “wow Ms Howard is a real bitch” and/or “why do I still take band, it sucks”. Anyhow, this entire week has been a dumping ground for all those band-related gags that have been clanging around in that pointy little head of his for god only knows how long, so it was kind of inevitable that his love of marching bands and hatred of technology would clash, I guess. I assume the strip where Becky proposes a “Pizza In 1930’s Comic Book Lore” band routine is coming tomorrow.
Panel three: Summer called, she’d like her gritty face back before basketball season, please. Seriously though, Becky, take the whole beleaguered band director routine down a few pegs, OK? It’s getting seriously grating now and we’ve all had just about enough. Becky always gets overlooked when you think about really annoying FW characters but when she’s around she’s a contender for sure.
Son of Stuck Funky 
The only good thing the Becky character has done was shut down Skunk Head John when he wanted to get frisky.
How can she possibly tell from that distance that any cell phone activity is “tweeting”? Hint: she can’t. The punchless line is contrived bullshit.
What about a piccolo, huh? You are so instrument-ist!
Um… if you had a flute or any other instrument in your hands, wouldn’t it be impossible to also hold and operate a cellphone at the same time? Even for people with two arms, not just ol’ Lefty Angry Eyes. Are there octopuses marching in the band this year?
Unless your Rhassan Roland Kirk..it’s going to be mighty difficult to play your instrument and tweet at the same time.
Kids text, they don’t tweet! They Instagram, they don’t do Facebook. And they certainly don’t wear knit Peruvian wool caps for their entire high school career! If ever!
Question: Has Becky ever showed the slightest interest in her students? Whether it be teaching them, directing them in band, or even just in them on a human level?
Answer: No. She’s always made it clear that she hates them, despises teaching them, insults them every chance she gets, and treats every moment with them as an irritating waste of her precious time.
So that’s why they text instead, Becky. It. Is. Your. Fault. You. Are. TERRIBLE. AT. YOUR. JOB.
Tom Batiuk: “B-but…EVIL TECHNOLOGY! Kidz today!”
Reader: “Eh, blow it out your flute.”
I’ve found that screaming at them through a bullhorn is the best way to communicate with teenagers. It really engenders respect & cooperation.
Why is that young man with the long chin playing the role of “Lefty”: today? Did Mopey Pete get cut from the series? Are they going to kill him off like “Law & Order” does if they absolutely don’t ever want you back?
Is Becky the worst one-armed character ever? Is she worse than the “one-armed” man from “The Fugitive?”
What about a piccolo, huh? You are so instrument-ist!
The way Lefty’s blowing a gasket here, panel 4 is probably her screaming ” F*** THE PICCOLOS!”
The kids should try this trick to get her to drop the bullhorn… wave at her.
$$$WESTVIEW ONCOLOGIST$$$: Well, the one-armed man may not have been a “good” character; however the character WAS well done, as opposed to Lefty who’s just plain annoying. So yes, I stand by my assessment.
Becky really looks like a dude today.
Found this semi-related news article in my neck of the woods today. Definitely a storyline idea outside of Batiuk’s natural ability.