You Got Hosed

Today’s strip hearkens back not only to this gag from last year, but to the Act I days, when Batiuk crafted enough marching band strips to fill over a half-dozen books. Among the gags-within-the-gag was the fact that the annual Battle of the Bands invariably would take place in the midst of a torrential downpour. Nice to see Batiuk tipping the ol’ Funky fedora to his own funnier and fondly remembered early work. However, I have to wonder what Westview’s equivalent of Groundskeeper Willie is gonna think when he sees that the band has trampled the football field into mud.

Mother Night

“At Home with the Howards” continues. Today we get another clue re: their connubial problems: John’s idea of foreplay is reading children’s books to Becky. No “handjob” jokes, please!

For those of you who may somehow have missed the point of this week’s arc, here’s a recap:

Sofa King

Today we get a glimpse not only into the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Howard, but into their relationship as well. Look at the two of them sitting on that puke-green couch. Rather than cozily enjoying her husband’s company, Becky seems to recoil from John. Instead of whining to Funky about Becky’s commitment as band director eliminating their sex life, maybe Comic Book John needs to take a look in the mirror…

Bum and Bummer

I thought that a one-armed band director was supposed to be busy. Yet today Becky finds plenty of time to mope and feel sorry for herself. Speaking of mopes, who should happen by but Owen, sporting that stupid hat even in the Ohio summer. I wonder what witty, trenchant comment young Owen will make upon hearing Becky’s predicament?

Ha! Ha! Ha! These kids today, with their chullos and slang and Punisher tees, amIright?  By the way, in today’s panel 2, the role of Becky is being played by Humphrey Bogart.