The Anti-Social Network

Today’s strip

TB’s flagrant abuse of registered trademarks continues unabated today, as do Funky’s witless insights into this newfangled “computers” thing everyone’s always talking about. “Holly and Cory”…remember that, kids, because it’s going to be relevant real soon! I wonder how long that “face to Facebook” gag was clanging around in that delightfully pointy little head of his?

Check out Rachel in panel one, I have no idea what that particular little sidewards glance is supposed to indicate, but whatever it is I don’t like the looks of it. And panel three is a Batominc masterpiece, with Funky’s wry nonchalance and Rachel’s bemused background tilty-headed smirk. I would imagine that’s how every Montoni’s conversation unfolds (and I bet the visual evidence would back me up on that, too).

Adults Only

Today’s strip

So Halloween Week begins with Rachel helpfully reminding the readers that the detested and largely-forgotten Cory is still in the army, toiling away in Afghanistan (which as you know is no place for a FW character to be). Meanwhile, the World’s Youngest Elderly Person crabbily takes a shot at Facebook (registered trademark, BTW), declaring it to be no more than mere child’s play. Although in this case I can’t say I really blame him, as if I was in his position I wouldn’t especially want to remember Cory either.

Perhaps Boy Lisa could use his technological skill set to create a Westviewians-only social network (SmirkBook??). There could be a “bemused” button instead of “like” and the “friends” list would become “people I grudgingly tolerate”. And instead of profile pics you’d post a scan of your medical history. It’d be the perfect place for posting pizza sales, obituaries, new arrivals at the Korner, Lisa videos, weather forecasts for charity runs and band contests and such. Don’t be afraid of the technology, Tom Funky… embrace it.

O Come Let Us Adore Cory

Sigh. Gonna tread lightly today. After all, it’s Christmas. I sense that many if not most of you reading this are boomers like myself, which makes us close in age to Funky and the gang. Hence, we’ve watched Mom and Dad grow old, and maybe one or both have passed away. And many of our first and fondest memories, especially today, are of our parents. So while I have a beef with how Batiuk uses Pa Winkerbean as a prop rather than a person (another character whose name we’re never told), this one does tug a bit.

While it’s impossible to read Pa’s expression here, one thing’s for sure: Army life seems to agree with Cory. He appears relaxed and smiling, his unruly hair now shorn “high and tight” and his Wilma Flintstone necklace presumably replaced by dogtags. I’m wondering if in the coming year he’ll have an arc devoted to his life as a soldier, or if he’ll simply live on as a face on Skype.

Wishing you the happiest of holidays

and the brightest of new years! Stay Funky!

—TFHackett

Some Timely Shit

Hey everybody, it’s Les and Cayla! You win, Tom Batiuk, I have never been so thrilled to see Les and his bride! Not to mention their Talking Christmas Tree, speaking to us through the window in panel 1! Seems Funky and Holly are having a blue Christmas, thinking about their little boy in green.  “I think I know what we can do to pick up their spirits!” urges Les.  “Do that trick where your appearance completely changes from one panel to the next!”

The abrupt end to the Crazy Harry arc probably is due to the fact that Batiuk realized he only had til today to squeeze in his “Mayan Calendar” gag.

"..and why do they call Funky Winkerbean a comic if readers never laugh?"

*bashes head into a wall*

First off, hats off to an eagle eyed reader that pointed out that yesterday’s anonymous band member was actually Cody! I could not tell. Faces and ages aren’t drawn with enough consistency for me to identify all of Westview’s various Marfan’s afflicted denizens.

Thanks to graduating off 90% of the high school characters, we’re now left with these two unlikable nerdlings who just happen to be into– drumroll please… comics!

Riddle me this: How did John from Komix Korner have trouble coming up with his rent when the only thing to spend money on in Westview is pizza or comic books!?