It’s the ol’ Monday premise-delaying cliffhanger trick, a BanTom staple for generations. You’d think every Westviewian would have at least one snow blower and probably some sort of snow tractor too, but apparently Funky can’t have heart attack number twelve soon enough.
“Les Moore book signing”
“Starbuck Jones movie premier”
“The Amazing Mr. Sponge”
“Rip Tide: Scuba Cop”
“My father, John Darling”
“Band director Harry Dinkle”
“Night manager Wally Winkerbean”
“Weight of substantial ideas”
“Funky Winkerbean prestige arc”
And yet again, Batiuk’s need to avenge himself on anyone more popular than he was in high school rears its ugly head. Funky should be the happiest man in town but he isn’t because a filthy sadist wasn’t BMOC like he was supposed to be.
What exactly is Funky shoveling? It’s not his driveway because those are sidewalk slabs. It’s not the sidewalk running in front of his house because there’s no street on either side of it. It’s not the walk leading to his house because then Holly would still be inside and wouldn’t need to call Funky to talk to him. So what exactly is Funky shoveling?
Perhaps Funky has died and gone to hell, where he’ll spend eternity shoveling a walkway that has no beginning and no end. Holly’s phone call is part of the torment, delivering the same bad news (perhaps news of his own death?) at regular intervals forever, telling Funky that he should be sitting down, when she knows damn well that he has no place to sit.
I love that Funky immediately goes negative. His dread is reflexive. There is no possibility in his mind that Holly is calling with a pleasant surprise. There is no good news. Joy and hope are dead.
I think you are right. Ayers draws some generic artwork, Batty swings around later to fill in the blanks. This is his secret sauce for doing minimal work.
Funky Winkerbean made its debut on March 27, 1972. Click here for a countdown of days until the fiftieth anniversary and hopefully Tom Batiuk's retirement.
Don’t worry, it’s another wasted Monday that sets up the actual setup for this week’s strips.
Naturally, if something bad has to happen, it has to happen to Funky.
“Les is coming by.”
“Les is with me.”
“I just saw Les.”
“Lisa’s Story, Part Two.”
“This pizza is cold.”
It’s the ol’ Monday premise-delaying cliffhanger trick, a BanTom staple for generations. You’d think every Westviewian would have at least one snow blower and probably some sort of snow tractor too, but apparently Funky can’t have heart attack number twelve soon enough.
“I banged Les today.”
Followed by:
“God take me now!”
Not even close, Funky. Not. Even. Close.
“Les Moore book signing”
“Starbuck Jones movie premier”
“The Amazing Mr. Sponge”
“Rip Tide: Scuba Cop”
“My father, John Darling”
“Band director Harry Dinkle”
“Night manager Wally Winkerbean”
“Weight of substantial ideas”
“Funky Winkerbean prestige arc”
I could go on…
“Starbuck Jones movie SEQUEL.”
“School levy didn’t pass”
“Montoni’s pizza delivery tonight”
Your strip is cancelled
“Have you heard of this thing called ‘gun violence’? According to the youth of today, it’s bad.”
And yet again, Batiuk’s need to avenge himself on anyone more popular than he was in high school rears its ugly head. Funky should be the happiest man in town but he isn’t because a filthy sadist wasn’t BMOC like he was supposed to be.
What exactly is Funky shoveling? It’s not his driveway because those are sidewalk slabs. It’s not the sidewalk running in front of his house because there’s no street on either side of it. It’s not the walk leading to his house because then Holly would still be inside and wouldn’t need to call Funky to talk to him. So what exactly is Funky shoveling?
He was out on a bender, just shoveling his way back home. Trying to work off the drunkenness.
Perhaps Funky has died and gone to hell, where he’ll spend eternity shoveling a walkway that has no beginning and no end. Holly’s phone call is part of the torment, delivering the same bad news (perhaps news of his own death?) at regular intervals forever, telling Funky that he should be sitting down, when she knows damn well that he has no place to sit.
Hmm, so what fresh hell is this?
Bull went crazy and shot the high school kids. Being outside clutching signs, their slogans didn’t save them from this madman.
Cayla finally busted a cap in Les’ behind.
BATF is hauling Les out as they found he has a real machine gun in his house, it wasn’t cardboard.
Nice to see beloved comic strip character “Ziggy” making a cameo appearance.
Someone’s been SHOT!!
I love that Funky immediately goes negative. His dread is reflexive. There is no possibility in his mind that Holly is calling with a pleasant surprise. There is no good news. Joy and hope are dead.
“Joy and hope are dead.”
Well, that’s five words, but it does get to the heart of the strip’s pathos.
“I’ve received an envelope in the mail…it looks ominous…I’m about to start to open the envelope…”
“Are you sitting down?”
Where does she think he is? Does Ayers just randomly draw strips that TomBa adds whatever dialogue he planned to?
I think you are right. Ayers draws some generic artwork, Batty swings around later to fill in the blanks. This is his secret sauce for doing minimal work.
“Nominated for a Pulitzer.”
I wonder who nominated him?
Oh I get it now…
You did not win