Those Were The Days

So why was there such animosity between these two? They’re agreeing they had fun and their time together was the best time of their lives, so why was Phil so bitter when he came back from the dead? Batiuk’s writing always seems like it’s at the rough draft idea, where he just comes up with a premise (former coworkers are reunited, conflict ensues) and just leaves it there without developing it all. Was it all because Flash took credit for Phil’s ideas? It would have been nice to have shown that, once, rather than to have Flash praising Phil before he even knew he was alive again.
Is it me or do the dimensions of that table seem off? Looking at the second panel and the last panel, I don’t see how everyone can be in both panels. Unless Darin is climbing into Ruby’s lap, which wouldn’t surprise me, and would explain why Jessica never travels with him.

Well, I’m glad I didn’t get another two weeks of Dinkle, at least.  ComicBookHarriet takes over tomorrow!

Tears of a Clown

What is it with Batiuk and comic fans? Clearly what this guy is saying is supposed to be inspiring and insightful, but he’s been portrayed two days straight as pure nerd stereotype. He apparently can’t stand up straight and doesn’t own a comb (or probably shampoo). Batiuk has done this multiple times, where he tries to act like comics are the highest form of human culture, but then craps all over their fans and collectors.  I mean what this guy is saying is moving Flash and Phil to tears, I don’t know why he had to be portrayed as a background character from The Big Bang Theory comic shop scenes.
Oh, and if they “had something to say”, what exactly was it? I am doing to know.
I’m also sick of everyone in this strip only referring to comics as “books”, rather than “comics” or “comic books”.

Let Mr. Sponge Be Your Guide

Yay. We’re now at the part of the arc where one fictional character is telling other fictional characters how great they are, without giving any hint of a reason for why they feel that way. I’m sure I’ve probably said this at least ten times, and I know many other people on here have said it, but it really does amaze me how Batiuk has shown basically nothing of these comics, despite Funky Winkerbean itself basically revolving around them at this point.
I really do not know what the point of this is. So two minor characters produced comics, decades ago, that one person apparently centered his entire life around? How? “When the Amazing Mr. Sponge used his super sucking powers to vanquish Mr. Tea, that inspired me to become a janitor?” I like comics more than probably 99% of the population, and at times have found inspirational material in them. But saying they’re your “north star guiding you through life” is just pathetic, especially when you realize these are cheesy Silver Age comics.
Oh, and notice the speaker is addressing “you two”. I wonder if Ruby is still standing off to the side, or if she’s wandered back to the airport by this point.

Ownly the Lonely

It’s possible I’m forgetting this, but I thought Atomik Komix published things like Amazing Mr. Sponge? Didn’t Chester buy the rights to the old Batom titles and is making new comics of them? So therefore they’re not creator owned at all? It’s possible I’m confusing this, but I thought that’s how it was.
I like that apparently Ruby literally had to give up her seat to Phil. She’s being honored for her career achievements, but a random guy shows up and steals her thunder and her chair. This is extremely on-brand for Batiuk.

Oh, and Phil hated his career, and producing comics is misery.  What else is new.

XYZ, Phil

Okay, so today’s strip really does make me wonder about something. I’ve kind of wondered for a while if Batiuk had passed on the actual writing of this strip to someone else, and crap like today really, really makes me think he has. Because I don’t really see how someone can write “guy comes back from the dead and then his coworker tells him his pants aren’t zipped up in front of a crowd” and think that’s “called writing”, unless they’re either eight or a Kent State English major who isn’t getting paid enough by Batiuk (probably because he’s paying them in surplus copies of Lisa’s Story).

Because really, the quality of this strip has taken a huge nosedive over the past few years.  With Act II and even well into Act III, it felt like Batiuk was trying and the strip was at least coherent.  Compare today’s strip to one of Batiuk’s rambling essays about cheesy sixties Flash comics, and you can definitely tell where his heart and effort are.