Author: ComicBookHarriet

I Understood That Reference!

Boy, the last couple Cranky strips have sure been botched. Like, there’s an anemic attempt at humor, but the punchline boils down to ‘Pop Culture Reference + Mundane School Bus x Unnecessary Cruelty = Humor’

As soon as I read Wednesday’s strip, I knew where the punchline should have been located. But it seems Batty and his editor misread the schematic. Like Lucy pulling the football away at the last moment, the line in the second panel sets up a joke that the third panel completely botches.

Here’s my attempt. Continue reading “I Understood That Reference!”

Here’s to the Death of Hope!

Happy Birthday Tom Batiuk!

I went back in my archives to see if ol Tom ever saddled one of his characters with his own birthday to celebrate. But I couldn’t find anyone with Pi Day, as their Cake Day. Really, I couldn’t find many places where he acknowledged the date even obliquely. Unless this Crankshaft strip from 2018 counts.

Look! An actually amusing Crankshaft strip! Happy Birthday, indeed!
Continue reading “Here’s to the Death of Hope!”

And we’re back… hello?

I got a lovely little newsletter last week from our favorite septuagenarian strip writer. One of the singular perks of being on the official mailing list. I thought I’d pass on the highlights, with CBH commentary.

[I have no idea why he starts off with this strip. But if I had to suffer through reading a random strip where Les is talking to an imaginary Dead St. Lisa, and smirking while fantasizing her criticizing his parenting, then I am definitely going to share the pain.]
Continue reading “And we’re back… hello?”