coffee – Page 37 – Son of Stuck Funky

Montoni Maternity

In case you’ve been wondering whether the 40th anniversary “flashbacks” are the actual vintage strips, today TB tips his hand. Compare today’s panel 2 (at left) to the original, taken from the archive page on the official FW site.

It’s a shame, really, because you’d expect the redrawn version to be better than the original.

billytheskink
March 27, 2012 at 11:16 am
I kinda like seeing the old, original FW artwork. It was the closest thing this strip ever had to charm. It’s not entirely coincidence that the further TB moved from this artwork, the further the strip sank.

It’s natural for a cartoonist’s style to evolve, especially over four decades. But the “charm” that billytheskink mentions is absent in the redrawn version. Check out the facial expressions, Les’ comical posture, and the sweet checkered tablecloth. Compare both panels: imagine the dialogue balloon is not there, and consider which one still tells the story.

Nap' Time

Oh boy, another Pete ‘n’ Crazy Sunday. I guess Pete’s over his writer’s block: the guy who used to be seized with panic when he had to come up with an idea now gets “cool” ideas even while chillin’ at Montoni’s. New ideas don’t come so easily to TB, so he defaults to his trusty “modern technology is useless/evil” theme.

Bingo, Sherlock

Never mind that “Hound of the Basketballs” is an old, old gag…check out the full, white beard that Jim has grown over the weekend! Impressive!

Halftime No-Show

OK, so I understand that “real world” schools have been cutting sports programs for lack of funds — but wouldn’t Westview at least wait until the next school year to make the cut? Instead, everything is “cancelled as of this week“, giving Big Walnut Tech an even easier than usual win over the ‘Goats. Of course Becky, just like her mentor Harry Dinkle, cares only about how this affects the band.

Unfunnies

Today’s strip offers up plenty to snark upon! Let’s go in order, left to right.

The draftsmanship: terrible. Really. Funky’s profile has all the vitality of an Indian on the head of a well-worn nickel. Les’ sweater makes him look like a Westview High freshman after a magic marker attack. Crazy Harry looks strangely 2-D; and when did USPS workers adopt a bright yellow shoulder patch? What a crew.

Moving on: Harry has three school-age children (that’s right, three), yet he’s completely unaware that “there’s a school levy on the ballot?” (And isn’t there a school levy on the ballot every year?)

Panel 2: “Don’t you read the newspaper?” BWHA ha ha ha! That’s funny enough by itself to serve as today’s punchline! But boy, oh boy oh boy: panel 3…what can I say? Who has done more to suck the funny out of the funnies than our boy TB? And he’s copped to it before…