Seizing the opportunity to have Moore Manor all to themselves, Mr. and Mrs. Freeloader go with the old “flu bug” excuse to get out of having to go to Columbus, though the “swallowed whole” angle is just overkill. Funky’s cocky attitude is starting to give me some flu symptoms, mainly nausea. “We’ll bring him a championship t-shirt”, as if the shirts have already printed and are waiting in the She-Goats’ locker room, along with the cases of post-game champagne.
Same Ol' Shizzle
Um, is the Championship Game going to be played outdoors? Then why is Les glued to the weather forecast before the gang departs for Columbus? Probably to allow TB to unload what feels like a leftover punchline from Crankshaft.
Hide Yo' Ballz
A puffy-looking Les congratulates his old tormentor on the AnnieGoats’ championship bid. Bull responds with an inane story about his “old coach”. Aren’t there enough “old coaches” in this arc? I guess the “hidden ball” “gag” is “funny” because, well, gosh, a basketball would be kinda hard to hide. Beyond that, it’s hard to see what application a ploy to deceive a baserunner would have in the game of basketball.
Hoop-la!
Well, you knew the Westview girls were going to the State Championships…TB himself spilled it in an interview five months ago. So today’s strip is anticlimactic. No matter; there’s plenty to goof on here. The girls’ penultimate victory seems to be celebrated by only two players, the coach, and four fans (one of them wearing UGG Boots®!). Assistant coach Fishstick Annie, ostensibly the reason for their remarkable success, is nowhere to be seen. Maybe that’s her, standing out of frame and bellowing “WE’RE IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME!!” at the top of her lungs (and in big, bold, Dr. Seuss letters).
Loser! Crybaby! Loser!
Helskor
February 20, 2012 at 10:31 am
Beginning writers are told to show and not tell, but if Batiuk wants to tell us that Westview won the conference instead of showing them win via another week of excruciatingly boring basketball strips, he can go right ahead.
Well, today’s strip nearly accomplishes that. Three panels, three opponents, three wins, including payback to those nasty Blue Valley girls. TB achieves not only economy of storytelling, but also of color and detail. While the action poses are painstakingly traced “inked over”, the backgrounds, color palette and “supporting cast” are positively minimalist. The Annie-Goats (love that nickname!) unis have lost their red accent and are now just black and white; and every player not named Summer or Keisha is a generic blue-ponytailed girl.
Son of Stuck Funky 
