Loser! Crybaby! Loser!

Helskor
February 20, 2012 at 10:31 am
Beginning writers are told to show and not tell, but if Batiuk wants to tell us that Westview won the conference instead of showing them win via another week of excruciatingly boring basketball strips, he can go right ahead.

Well, today’s strip nearly accomplishes that. Three panels, three opponents, three wins, including payback to those nasty Blue Valley girls. TB achieves not only economy of storytelling, but also of color and detail. While the action poses are painstakingly traced “inked over”, the backgrounds, color palette and “supporting cast” are positively minimalist. The Annie-Goats (love that nickname!) unis have lost their red accent and are now just black and white; and every player not named Summer or Keisha is a generic blue-ponytailed girl.

Up Against the Wall

Beanie Wanker
February 21, 2012 at 3:07 am
What the Hell is the band going to do? March on the court and do a halftime show?

I searched in vain for a YouTube clip of the homecoming parade from Animal House; specifically the part where Stork grabs the drum major’s mace and directs the marching band down a blind alley. There’s a great overhead shot of the trombones bending as they mindlessly march into a brick wall. That was the image that came to mind as I imagined the Marching Scapegoats attempting an indoor “script Westview” (two mentions of “script Westview” within a week?). Wanna bet that Owen was one of those band members that were “shaken up”?

February Foolishness

“[I]t pains me
that TB can’t draw profiles and
won’t stop trying.”

– Bill A

As she did for the Save the Sports event, Becky once again decides to show up with the full Scapegoat band in tow. Regardless of whether or not they’re wanted. At least TB gives her a slightly better punchline this time, even though March is over a week away.

Becky comes in for some rough visual treatment today, with the Picasso smirk and a hair part that threatens to reach over the top of her scalp.

 

Conference News

Oh, you forgot that Jinx was a “sports junkie“? You must not remember her excitement when step-mom Linda signed her up to play girls’ softball a few summers ago (and guess who she volunteered to coach?). The news of the She-Goats’ advancing to the state tournaments is greeted with utter indifference by everyone but Summer, Cayla, and Les, who is smirking up a storm. Jim the science teacher isn’t even looking at the TV; he just stares into space, contemplating retirement.

La Donna Della Mia Vita

Wow. In a comic strip legendary for its epic sadness, I don’t think it’s ever been sadder that it is today. Bad enough that Harry’s devotion to Tarzan “comical books” would lead him to consider cashing in his daughter’s college fund. But when Donna, the only woman in the world who finds him desireable, dares to (only-half-) jokingly expresses her longing for him, everyone in the room is immediately and visibly repulsed. I suppose Maddie can be forgiven her reaction to hearing her parents allude to “gettin’ busy”. As for John, he’s probably skeeved at the thought of caressing anything besides pubescent boys.

A while back, someone stated on Twitter that the Komix Korner was based on Ground Zero Comics in Strongsville, Ohio (15 miles from TB’s home in Medina). I couldn’t find GZ Comics’ website, but some pics found on patch.com seem to support this. The store’s nestled in a strip mall, not above a pizza joint, but like the Korner, it’s decorated with nerd tchotchkes. They also have a Space Invaders machine just like Tony’s.