Oh Prom-ise Me

I wonder if TB will even bother to give them names…Promageddon kicks off in earnest today as we finally meet our same-sex prom couple. Too bad the Batom Inc. Pulitzer Publicity Machine has ruined for the faithful readers what would have been FW’s first truly surprising moment since…forever. And it’s not Cody and Owen, nor Summer and Keisha, nor Wedgeman and Chest Hardslab: if you had “two heretofore unseen anonymous generic teens” in the Gay Prom Pool, you’re a winner! No “coinkydink” there.

Mayor May Not

We get it! Roberta Blackburn is a horrid, miserable woman! Bring on the gay teens already!

Charles
May 1, 2012 at 1:01 am
I usually don’t post specific spoilers about upcoming strips, but I figure this one’s okay.

So Linda’s gone from seeing Roberta putting up a sign, walked into the break room, gotten herself some coffee and had a conversation with Becky. All this has happened, and three days or so from now, ROBERTA WILL STILL BE PUTTING UP THE SAME STUPID SIGN.

You think it’s easy padding out a story arc for a whole month? Say it with me, people: endings…have…to…be…earned! At this rate, Sunday’s non-gay-prom themed throwaway gag will be a most welcome palate-cleanser.

The Mother of All Grandmothers

Flummoxicated
April 30, 2012 at 12:17 am
A helicopter grandparent?? A grandparent volunteering put up prom advertisements in the school? Because that is SO what happens in real life. Wow, this is real 1/4″ from reality, folks.

Since Batiuk’s given himself an entire month (except Sundays!) to tell this story, he can take pains to establish exactly what Becky’s mother is doing hanging around the school, thus setting her up to be the villain in the Coming Gay Prom arc. The groaner punchline and Linda’s panel 3 smirk? Merely a bonus.

Prom Mom

C’mon, who ever heard of a senior citizen (not a faculty member) volunteering to hang around the high school for no pay?

Batiuk often finds inspiration on return visits at least once a month to his old high school (Grafton Midview), where he attends classes and observes students. “I just sit and let things go by,” the 65-year-old said. “It’s a great experience. It keeps me grounded and keeps me real.”

“Funky strip to address hot-button issue“, The Columbus Dispatch, Friday April 27, 2012

Oh, right, right…well anyway, looks like Roberta Blackburn, Becky’s Mom, has gotten over the sting of the failed school levy, and has decided to once again grace the Westview School system with her presence. “My best prom ever”? Well, it’s guaranteed to be better than Becky’s senior prom…the one after which she lost her arm…