Hey–what gives? This is actually funny. Not laugh-out-loud funny, or even chortle-inwardly funny, but there’s a definite sense of a constructed joke. A pretty good joke, I have to say.
And it’s even a well-observed joke. I’ve worked out on treadmills, and it’s an unbelievably tedious way to exercise. With some routines, there’s a sense of accomplishment; on a treadmill, you do the same thing you do in real life to go from point A to point B, yet never end up going anywhere.
Most people at the gym–I mean, workout center–tend to have iPods or other media players just to break the tedium. (I used to bring a portable DVD player. A BChasm Exercise Tip: Ahnold movies tend to work really well.)
So, a joke, and a fairly good one. Kudos to Tom Batiuk!
Son of Stuck Funky 
This has to be the worst gym/rec center/YMCA I’ve ever seen. We only see a few random machines scattered around a big, empty room, with no televisions or other entertainment while you work out. No wonder Funky is always the only person there.
Major spoiler alert: Later this week, Funky learns of the fitness center’s annual “Exercise-A-Thon” with all of the proceeds going toward the “Comics For Troops Foundation”. First prize is SJ issue #69 (the special adults-only soft-core porn issue). Despite his misgivings, Holly urges him to enter in spite of his hilariously poor health and bad prospects. Hi-jinx ensue.
I do agree that these purely-slapstick strips are better than the alternatives. No one dies (yet) or falls ill (yet), no exploding knees, no dead characters, no expressing of feelings regarding dead characters, no sepia-toned retcon flashbacks…so there is an upside here. But of course the downside is that it’s Funky…again, at the gym…again. And these will probably be the gags that didn’t make the cut the first two times around (shudder).
It’d be inspiring to see Funky actually lose weight for once, as it might motivate some of us that are one the fence about exercising, even if the motivation is on a subconscious level.
As it is, all that my brain is processing when reading this strip is: “Don’t work out… it’s a waste of time..”
So who’s he talking to? Why is there a trend of characters just talking to themselves?
You ever get the impression that when Batiuk wrote that TASS-style blurb, the ‘young’ people whose concerns are being addressed are in their forties?
@Gyre, no one else wants to listen.
“Who’s he talking to and how does he make his voice do that?”
Looks like Westview’s only gym bought their flooring from Westview’s only carpet and upholstery store… the one that sells only solid-colors with pet hair (I hope) shed all over.
The results are typical.
I hated this strip. I’m tired of seeing Funky whine al of the time. He should be happy he’s not in African starving. This is too much like the whiny CATHY. Give up some people with more interesting problems, Batiuk. And this time actually write a decent for once.
This is week is Comic Strip Week in PEARLS BEFORE SWINE. I believe that characters from FW will appear and tell Pat that their lives are miserable pieces of sh–.
I’m with dougputhoff. Funky is whining because a common, mundane life experience is haaaaaaaard. This is neither novel nor amusing. What happened, BChasm? Stockholm syndrome?
I do find myself in agreement with those who call this a metaphor for the strip itself: a long, painful slog that leads exactly nowhere and leaves you feeling worse by the second.
Fact: Funky is regularly shown excercising.
Fact: Funky is shown excercising more than any other cast member, including Summer and Keisha when they were regulars.
Fact: Said exercise is always, always, ALWAYS jogging.
Fact: This jogging makes him more miserable than anything else in creation.
Fact: Funky is fatter and uglier each time we see him jog and always remarks on how much he loathes it.
Fact: This isn’t a “joke”, it’s just a rehash of Funky’s sole remaining, nay, sole current DEFINING character trait!
Does anyone remember who Cody’s biodad was? I ask because by Cody’s 20+ pullups, he’s lucky not to have Funky’s genetic input.
Also, I want to see Funky work out with weights. I don’t know why. I just do.
Cody is a different character, not Funky’s stepson.
….I’m ashamed I know that. 😦
batgirl: Here’s how I remember it. CoDy…Dork. CoRy…Repulsive. I used to get the names confused too until I came up with that clever mnemonic trick.
No idea when or if Cory’s father’s ID was ever revealed. If his bio-dad is dead, though, I’m sure TB will get to it eventually.
Why not make it a double funeral with both Funky and Corey? Come on, Batiuk, I know you want to.