One has to wonder how things might have turned out for Cory had his mom expressed any sort of interest in his hobbies BEFORE he turned into an incorrigible, surly punk. But better late than never, I suppose, right? Comic book collecting: along with pizza and human misery, the glue that binds Westviewian families together. I love how Cory drops the tantrum (and adopts the standard side profile hatchet-face) as soon as he realizes his mother is blowing the Winkerbean bankroll on a comic collection he was too lazy and unmotivated to complete on his own. Now if only the annoying Funk-Man would just drop dead already, Cory would be all set.
And is it just me or is something really odd going on with Cory’s head in panel one? I don’t think regular healthy skulls are supposed to be shaped like that. Disturbing, to say the least.
Son of Stuck Funky 
“….You know, I completely forgot where i was going with this, so why don’t we pretend we’re having a moment here?”
I’m more worried about Cory’s mouth. That is just creepy.
And this strip is devoted entirely to talking about how great it is to collect comic books. Doesn’t matter that this makes Cory sound like an ungrateful twerp. Doesn’t matter that it forgets that his mother did this out of a sense of helplessness and wanting to be there for her son.
Even though this is a comic strip, it practically ticks off the list of things you don’t do in stories.
It introduces characters and then just lets them completely fade away even when they’re relevant.
It takes the political opinions of the writer and then forces them in so blatantly that people who disagree hate it and people who actually do agree feel embarrassed to be associated with it at all.
It pushes in the things that the writer thinks are fun and creates story after story where those things are what everyone in the story likes, with payoff that only makes sense if every reader also likes those things.
It has characters create their own problems and then refuses to acknowledge that they are at fault for these problems.
There is an author avatar who has improbable success personally and professionally with no reason for it.
Another one where I’m going to give Tom Batiuk a pass. It does seem to be a genuine moment between two people, a tiny bridge of understanding between characters who, otherwise, seldom seem to interact without angst and worry.
Yeah, and of course it’s about comic books. If it’s not about Lisa, it’s about comic books.
Tomorrow: “…why, I always thought Lisa Moore was a saint, too! Huh–small world!”
@beckoningchasm
Yeah, and of course it’s about comic books. If it’s not about Lisa, it’s about comic books.
Well, there’s pizza, bullying, failed careers, unwanted family members, slipshod teaching and coaching, the inexorable decay of our bodies, and don’t forget CANCER.
Corporal Cory dodges a bullet today, cutting his mother off before she can complain about Funky ignoring her needs and putting the image of those needs in his head.
Are we sure this is Cory Winkerbean?? He looks more like Wally Winkerbean!! Look, I know there are only three character models in this strip,but at least try to show some goddamn diversity in character design, you hack of an artist!!!
Beaker cameo in panel 1! Best FW strip ever…
I’ve got 3 words for Batominc and these characters: Amazon. Dot. Com.
The ¼-inch remove from reality retains the Internet; why not ecommerce? Or common sense? Or heads that retain their shape from moment to moment?
Cory: “You were going to complete my collection for me? But Mom, I already downloaded the digital versions of my missing issues from the publisher two years ago!”
Holly: “….*….EVIL TECHNOLOGY!”
Cory: *face palm*
**********
Seriously, Tom. Digital downloads are increasingly the way most younger collecters obtain rare back issues these days.
I did not know that the Army pulled all your teeth out.