Well, this one is just terrible. I mean, this is the sort of strip that no one wants to read, because no one would find it funny, endearing, smart, or containing anything worthwhile at all. It’s not even a solid waste of the two seconds taken to read it; it’s just another needle jabbed into the soul. It’s the epitome of laziness for this laziest of strips. It’s depressing…so I guess, touche, Mr. Batiuk.
Oh well, they’re not paying me to stare at this, waiting for something to happen, so here goes. First, we have a jokey greeting that was a tired cliche back in the nineties, still being perpetuated here in the technical vastness of the future. Crazy’s Grecian Formula seems to be paying off, as he doesn’t look nearly as ancient and decrepit as he usually does–though to be honest he looks more like Obi-Wan from the prequels than Luke. (Ah, the Star Wars prequels. Truly, entertainment suited to the Funkyverse. If anyone should make a Funky Winkerbean movie, it’ll be George Lucas.)
Secondly, we have the whole crowd, including Holly, smirking and guffawing at this display of hilarity. Hell, a green-haired woman in the back is so amused her face is shattering. And a couple on the far right who appear to have dashed to Comic Con directly from their wedding–she hasn’t even taken off her veil–are staring in awe at the spectacle unfolding before them. “See? I told you this would be better than some dumb ol’ cruise!”
Finally, we have Comic Book John, offering one of those lines that sitcom and/or greeting-card writers would turn up their noses at. “Only at Comic Con!” looks like it’s supposed to be a thumbs up to the event, but it comes off as a thumbed nose.
Bleah, I tell you. Bleah. I try to avoid criticizing Tom Batiuk personally (try, I said) but this episode is good evidence that he doesn’t care and isn’t interested in trying.
It’s also evidence of dishonesty. What he has presented here, an episode which wallows in maudlin sentimentality, is exactly the sort of strip that he would sneer at in another comic for being frivolous and avoiding the true issues of the day. He’d probably say it’s not serious work if these people are having fun, they should be dying of cancer. (School play, anyone?)
Well, that oughta go a ways toward earning my paycheck. Hey, wait a minute–they’re not paying me at all!
Son of Stuck Funky 
“Luke, I am your father.”
“If that’s so, where’s all the child support for my aunt and uncle and all of my birthday present, you cybernetic piece of shit!
Like I said yesterday, it’s like he’s can’t decide whether to make it all about Holly or about the general wackiness of SDCC, so he’s trying (and failing) to do both. This is just terrible in every possible way and yeah, this joke is old and creaky even by FW standards. Blech.
This is beyond stupid. It is so out of character for the decrepit husk of a postman that Harry has become, it boggles the mind. Plus, we get some fan service with Holly in a skirt.
Still, quite a coup getting Peter Dinklage to play Holly in panel one.
A true nerd would have repeated the Luke speech “Nooo. That’s not true. NO!!!!!!”. But because Funky Winkerbean is all about disappointment, this poor cos-player has to not only endure a disappointing response…but he has to have some crusty sexagenarian uncomfortably embracing him.
Never was a force-choke needed more.
Last we saw these idiots, she was struggling to get her bank card approved. Then all of a sudden, this happens? I had a more logical experience today when I was trying to explain to my long lost son that I was actually his second cousin.
Great. We get the stupidest possible ‘subversion’ of a classic line so that Batiuk can say “Cosplayers are crazy, amirite?”
Had I known today was context-less Star Wars quote and reference day, I would have done a much better job on this Grizz Frix gag…
FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER
No point to this – really. doesn’t advance the plot – doesn’t make sense – Crazy Harry looks like Obi-wan if he looks like anybody – and isn’t really about comic books. That is isn’t really funny is just par for the course.
@billytheskink: Had to Google Grizz Frix. I’m more of a Jek Porkins fan.
Not that I care, but what the hell happened to DSHJ’s head between panels 1 & 2? War on proportion. War on continuity. QA nonexistent. Yawn.
Considering the overwhelming number of “comic cons” aside from Comic-Con International: San Diego™, saying “Only at Comic-con” makes you sound like a total rube.
[Looks John over once. Twice.]
Ah, well, carry on then, John.
[walks away, whistling]
As an aside, the cleverest bit of cosplay I ever witnessed was at the second Mystery Science Theater 3000 convention where, for the costume ball, a man dressed as “Mr. B Torgo”: a Torgo outfit of powder-blue and covered in musical notes. Also the most haunting bit of cosplay I’ve ever seen.
Stormtroopers and Darth Vader? You can probably find them dime-a-dozen at a random Denny’s. On a random Wednesday.