Author: TFHackett

Wait-Les

OK, well, “Is your father home yet, Summer?” would be a little more natural. Summer has at least enough respect to address him as Dad. Summer has gone right past looking concerned: in panel 2 she looks as if she’s just learned the plane has gone off the radar. And that haunted look in panel 3? Summer’s not just scared: why, she’s Wally-scared!

Does the Fun Ever Start?

A few things on display this week:

  • A bevy of “pissed-off Les” faces, which I must say are preferable to “mopey Les” and “smug Les” faces. Righteous indignation looks good on the Delicate Genius. Note the tension created by the angles of his receding hairline and eyebrows versus the upward arrow of his ‘stache and lipless, frowning mouth.
  • Multiple examples of TB’s poor ability to draw natural-looking hands. Do Les’ sausage fingers denote generous physical endowment elsewhere? May explain how he keeps two wimmen hanging ’round (nothing else explains that).
  • None, none of the characters in this strip look good when viewed from behind.

“OK, the Fun’s Over” should be the title of TB’s next collection of Funky Winkerbean strips. The fun’s been over in Westview for well over a decade.

Now Spanky, Be Reasonable

Although “Lisa” can’t see him over the phone, the teacher in Les makes him wag a finger for emphasis as he threatens to “report this to…” To whom? Principal Nate? The TSA? The voice on the phone is not dissuaded: “Don’t get on that plane…” To which we say: Get on that plane, Les. Get on that plane.

Don't Mess with Les

I’m a little surprised by Les’ reaction to this mysterious call, given how much time we’ve seen him spend with his late wife. But he’s clearly pissed: his eyebrows, which we usually see arrayed in a smug arch, are now furiously working out of sync, and Les’ is baring his bottom teeth. I especially like panel two, where a disbelieving Silhouette Les seems to peer into the earpiece to see who is this really.