That is one long, narrow table. And I assume that’s Rachel’s kid sitting next to her, even though I’m pretty sure he should be in high school by now. He’s definitely going to be in my nightmares for a while though, the way he’s staring right at the viewer for some reason. He looks like he should be in a horror movie, where none of the people can actually see him.
Wally’s expression is also pretty uncomfortable, although it’s more of the incredibly smug variety then creepy. I guess his expression is supposed to be saying “hey reader, look how awesome I am, having MUSLIMS at my (uncle/cousin’s) THANKSGIVING! Isn’t this mind-blowing, and award-worthy?! Damn, Tom Batiuk sure is one HELL of a writer”.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. 🙂
Son of Stuck Funky 
So that’s supposed to be Cory and Rocky on the left, even though Rocky looks more like Summer there. And yeah, Rachel’s kid has to be a teenager by now, no? Is the old lady supposed to be Holly’s mom or is she just Morton’s date? And that brown thing on the tray is the weirdest pizza I’ve ever seen.
The Wikipedia entry for “Freedom From Want” suggests that the brown thing might be cranberry sauce. Batiuk’s images do match the original work, as much as any of his images can be said to match real-world objects. The most interesting change here is how he squeezes the sides of the table together. This will make it much easier for the guests to reach across and strangle one another during the inevitable arguments.
Of course this turkey was slaughtered properly as per halal standards, right Funky?
Halal have some more says Funky!
Sheesh, BatBoy- what did Norman Rockwell ever do to you?!
Yeah, that’s the Norman Rockwell painting that we’ve all come to know and love and be ready for parody–like in a Deadpool poster–but splashing it over these losers feels a lot less like “homage” and [i]a lot[/i] more like “F U comics, I am a comic strip veteran and can do what I want to do!”
Is that a dead mouse in one of the glasses?
I see mice in at least three. Salt and pepper shakers look like some kind of ETs.
The food was all cooked in Montoni’s, where the odd mouse is counted as bonus toppings.
The turkey’s wearing toe socks.
Well well well… TB is on a remembering streak. First he finally retcons decades of Wally being referred to as Funky’s nephew and now he remembers that Rachel has a son from a previous relationship.
Rachel’s son is named Robbie (doubtful TB remembers that), and this is his first appearance since January 2011.
In nearly 8 years, he has gone from a 5 year old (maybe… I can’t tell if he’s doing homework or drawing in the phone book) to Alfred E. Neuman. I sure home he enjoys the dinner of dry turkey, raw celery, and a giant Rolo candy.
Because…you know…a story of Wally adjusting to parenting a young stepson while dealing with some heavy mental health issues wouldn’t make for good ‘writing.’
No one in Batiukverse is allowed to be an active parent until their progeny are, at minimum, young adults. I love to think that Batty was completely oblivious to his own children until they were Freshmen in High School.
Spiff, you perfectly analyzed this dreck. Wally has got Les Moore beat for the “Most Punchable Face” category. FU Batiuk!
I’m thankful that I’m reading this in the privacy of my own apartment so people don’t ask me why I’m craning my neck at an awkward angle because some juvenile show-off in Ahia can give a middle finger to people who read his strip “the wrong way.’
Try as you might, Wally, you’ll never outdo Les Moore! He has BLACK people at HIS Thanksgiving dinner!
You think Replacement Wife is allowed to eat at the table? Without her Lisa-mask?
Happy Thanksgiving, snarkers. I’ll give TB a point or two for ambition. I thought they all were drinking water because alcohol would be verboten in Funky’s home. But Norman Rockwell’s original
has glasses of water on the table. TB’s also replicated the silver soup tureen and S&P shakers, and other accoutrements on the table. The comic strip format forces the composition to be much narrower, to the point of claustrophobia. Rockwell’s table is covered with a white cloth, not brown, though at least the gravy stains won’t show. Dopey me assumed the boy next to Rachel was Wally Jr.; of course it’s her bio-son Robbie who, yes, would be older by now. If she were not seated next to Wally, I’d have no idea that was supposed to be Rocky, who until now has had blue-black hair. I’m really not sure who the chimpanzee-faced old woman is unless they still haven’t driven Holly’s mom back to Florida.
I was glad to see the uncut celery. For some reason, I always noticed that in the original.
First of all, I am thankful today for SoSF, where I can come look at the one-panel comics without breaking my neck. Second, I’m guessing that today’s strip marks the fulfillment of Adeela’s contractual obligation with the comic strip, She may stick around for a couple days and exchange pleasantries, but I expect after this week she’ll disappear back into the forest of forgotten characters, along with Rachel’s creepy kid. Other than the fact that she seemed to spend a lot of time cowering in empty rooms in Afghanistan and running from sirens, we really know nothing else about her.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
The only way she will be back is if Batty is nominated for an award. Then she will be everywhere. She will become like St Lisa.
Of course Holly’s apron has to be one from Montoni’s.
Also, does anyone else see Wally increasingly resembling TomBa?
Does that mean we’re giving TB PTSD?