Okay, today’s thing is actually kind of funny, in a “Family Circus” kind of way…by which, it isn’t actually funny but you can at least see that a joke was intended.
And who among us here has not said the dialogue in panel one, after reading Funky Winkerbean or Crankshaft?
Commentator Gerard Plourde said yesterday–
Maybe we should be thankful that he hasn’t thought of massive “hilarious” arcs of Skyler turning Dennis The Menace and pulling Home Alone-type pranks on overworked Ann and enfeebled Fred Fairgood.
Well, Gerard, from your lips to Tom Batiuk’s ears! Hows that for service? Granted, it’s not much of a “prank” to exhaust your grandmother…hm. On second thought, for Batiuk that probably is one of the major pranks you can pull!
Oh, and Gerard, next time you make a prediction, try to work “Les Moore savagely beaten” in there somewhere.
Apparently, Tom Batiuk’s psychic powers are more formidable than anyone could have anticipated–as I had a whole Sunday essay ready to go, and it has been utterly destroyed. So, talk among yourselves as I try to reassemble bits here and there.
Saturday’s strip was not available for preview, but it’s a safe bet we’re going to get more of Cindy’s desire to do a documentary on Butter Brickel. It seems Batiuk has a nostalgia fever and he’s going to cough it all over this strip come hell or high water.
As Cindy said the other day, “It’s a story that still resonates today!” and I couldn’t agree more. The past few years have seen dozens and dozens of “Judge them in the press” stories, and the internet allow these things to spread with frightening speed, while the truth (as Mark Twain observed) is still getting on its pants.
Which is why it’s odd that Batiuk chose to tell this story about a pretty much long-forgotten comedian of the silent film era. There are many more examples that might appeal to “contemporary young people.” The cynic in me says, this way he can fudge the details as much as he wants, and no one will call him on them. The other reason would be that anything that happened in recent years would have partisans on both sides, and favoring one side might lead to controversy…which Batiuk courts only in the most superficial manner.
There is also the matter of his very intense, narrowly focused nostalgia. The past few years have seen a very strange parade of things that seem to be going further back in time–from silver age comic books, to old movie serials, and now to silent comedies. I wonder if he’s casting backward because the things he used to value are becoming less and less satisfying.
Speaking of less and less satisfying, let’s enjoy the first strip of June!
Wow, everyone is sure full of praise for themselves! Even waiter Barrithuh Hatchetface is smirking to beat the band. Too bad their praise is so misplaced.
Director: We’ll sit in chairs and chat, and I’ll only ask you questions you can preen about. Thus, later, I’ll be surprised by very basic career information about you.
Videographer: I’ll shoot this chair-bound set with a hand-held camera!
Subject: I threw away over seventy years of my life so I could have a snit-fit.
BuddyBlog: What kind of crap is this? Damn, it’s a good thing my dad is rich…I think.
Emmy awards committee person A: Oh my God, this is so terrible. I think we finally have a winner for the “Most Pathetic, Pitifully Bad Production – Documentary” award someone added as a joke.
Emmy awards committee person B: You mean the “Please Just Stop, or At Least Try Next Time” award? Won’t that make the ceremony longer?
Son of Stuck Funky 