I wonder what “business” requires “the Funkman” to travel by plane. He’s not visiting the franchise locations, since the New York shop closed up years ago.
We’re all familiar with Batiuk’s use of “photo album corners” and sepia tones to depict past events. Today he thoughtfully employs a similar visual cue, the “squiggly-bordered panel”, lest the reader become confused by the abrupt jump-cut from Montoni’s to some airport.
I suspect that rather than carry them over into the new year, Batiuk is obligated to burn off every shitty pun that he’s scrawled on a Luigi’s napkin over the last twelve months. Even the puns in French, which are harder for people who are not Les Moore to “get”. Polishing this turd of a gag into a strip requires Les to deliver the jeu de mots, since he’s the only one intellectual enough to coin (and appreciate) such a clever jest.
Your genial host TFH returns to guide us all through the holiday madness! My sincerest thanks as always to DavidO, Epicus Doomus, Beckoning Chasm, Oddnoc, and billytheskink for their guest contributions, and most especially to you, the reader. While it seems odd to some that we daily read and analyze a comic strip that makes us mad, it’s always good to commune with those with whom we share something in common, especially around the holidays.
At first glance, today’s strip seems to depict Holly and Funky about to be abducted by aliens. No such luck: it’s just another “taking things to the extreme” gag involving the gazebo tree. Query why, if the lights are so uncomfortably bright, the Winkerbeans are drawn like moths to it, standing so close to the light that it blinds them. Even Batiuk’s Medina neighbors must be scratching their heads over this one: the gazebo’s real-life counterpart is much more tastefully appointed.
Hrm. SoSfDavidO here, and I’m not sure how to properly snark on today’s strip. It starts off harmless enough, basically a rehash of the last few strips but ends up careening into territory that previously TomBat had designated as a Very Special Issue.
For the record, PTSD is a very serious issue afflicting a lot of people today, and not just combat soldiers. Sure, laughter is the best medicine, but I wonder if Wally was in earshot of this silly exchange.
It’s SoSfDavidO here! Just in case we’re not sure that it’s Crankshaft playing Santa in today’s strip ,Tombat has lovingly drawn Santa’s face sliding off, revealing the bitter, unhappy alcoholic diabetic arthritic husk of a man underneath, which causes the already somewhat frightened child to start sweating bullets of fear in panel 2. Thankfully, today’s strip ends there, before Crankshaft can launch into an offensive tirade about Jews ruining Christmas, immigrant labor depressing wages, welfare mooches and what’s next, people marrying horses!?
Son of Stuck Funky 