Tag: bricks

Hide Yo' Happiness

Today Batiuk revisits one of FW‘s dominant themes. No, not clumsy sentence structure (“…go ahead again anyway”?). Nope, not bricks. Naturally, I’m talking about the need to conceal one’s happiness, lest one attract the wrath of the universe. I truly wonder if this notion exists anywhere outside the Funkiverse? Imagine being unable to express even the slightest joy, out of an abject fear of recrimination. This might work as a quirky trait for a particular character (think Joe Btfsplk from Li’l Abner), yet this phobia is clearly understood and shared by everyone in Westview. Anyway, in this case, said wrath takes the form of an ill-timed phone call from…Darin’s mom? Is Lisa checking in from the afterlife again?

Scar-struck Babies

billytheskink
January 10, 2013 at 9:13 am
All I really take from this storyline is that Crazy’s “happy dance” is not spontaneous in any way, but rather, a premeditated event purposely intended to scar those who view it. Frightening.

Spontaneous? No. Frightening? Presumably. I don’t know. John sure seems pretty used to it. Owen looks like he just got a whiff of something bad. Cody and the peanut head in the blue hoodie just look fearful. Blue hoodie kid has some kind of jagged sparks emanating from his head, signifying perhaps that he’s “on something”.

Funksgiving

Thanksgiving 2010: Becky is so exhausted from selling band turkeys that she’s unable to stay awake for Thanksgiving dinner with her family (no wonder she stuck Owen with the job this year).

New Year’s, 2011: While two living, breathing women compete for his affections, Les rings in the New Year pining for his long-dead wife.

Labor Day 2011: At Cayla’s family picnic, Les fouls a softball off his face.

New Year’s, 2012: Coach Bull is too busy fretting over the Lady Scapegoats’ winless streak to enjoy a party with friends.

Mother’s Day 2012: Summer carefully selects just the right card to leave on her mother’s grave.

Father’s Day 2012: Funky “honors” his father by dragging him from the rest home for an awkward meal at the food court in the bustling mall.

Readers have surmised by now that, in a Funkiverse where people avoid expressing joy lest they tempt cruel fate, the holidays are occasions to ratchet up, rather than leave aside, despair. Having decided that it’s too taxing to take Dad out of the home for the holidays, Funky contents himself with paying  the old man a visit “now and then”. Pop may not recognize his only son, but you can’t blame him for thinking that this “nice man” must live in the nursing home too: he certainly looks to be of age.

Wishing you all a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Damn Your Hide

Well! Who’s sounding like a “pedantic schoolmarm from a bitter hollow” today? I’m sure all you “hidebound literalists” in the audience, as well as all you beady-eyed nitpickers, feel duly chastised for dismissing Serious Storytelling Art as mere “comic strips”!

Epicus Doomus
November 8, 2012 at 11:03 am
…Is all of this some sort of attempt to justify the continued existence of comic strips or something?

Nope, just more of Tom Batiuk railing against us Philistines…

Prize Putz

Professor John Howard of the Kollege of Komix Book Knowledge goes back, back into komix history, even beyond Action Detective Comics #1, across the pond and all the way to the late 19th century. Cody brightens at the mention of a name he vaguely recognizes. TB’s heard of Joseph Pulitzer and his prizes too, having come thisclose to claiming one for himself.

Remember to exercise your right to vote today.