Tag: Falling leaves

I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass(es)

Banana Jr. 6000
October 14, 2022 at 11:19 am
On Monday, Funky said “Let’s fix that (meaning, throw Les the ball) and show these kids how it’s done!” They did exactly that. So why are they suddenly beaten down and laughed at? We’re left to guess. Batiuk basically makes you write the story for him. He thinks he’s being subtle by not telling you anything.

“Let’s fix that!” strikes me as a mantra for the latter half of Act III Funky Winkerbean. As this 50-year old comic strip approaches its twilight, Batiuk is busy retconning (and/or outright forgetting) established themes. Bull never really beat Les up; he was actually protecting his nerd friend from the real bullies. Yeah, the kids all picked on Wicked Wanda, but as adults they would be made to seek her forgiveness. Continue reading “I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass(es)”

Very Necessary Roughness

be ware of eve hill
October 10, 2022 at 2:48 pm
I’m not sure what’s going on with the Les face in the SOSF banner, but I hope it means seeing Les gang tackled by a stampede of teenagers.

Rusty Shackleford
October 10, 2022 at 3:29 pm
The banner promises some good strips…who wouldn’t want to see Les get obliterated in the most painful way possible?

I do have fun updating the banner on this page each week. But that image of Les’ fearful mug from today’s strip is so hilarious, I was almost tempted to feature it permanently. Funky, who just weeks ago struggled on the tennis court wearing orthotics on his wrist, elbow, and both knees, positively drills a pass, the trajectory of which somehow becomes an arc, which spirals right into the birch-branch arms of terrified Les. At the instant the ball arrives, so do two defenders, to deliver a punishing tackle.

Deep Fake

He may not have been a punt return man, but in high school, Funky had the chutzpah to wear the same jersey number as legendary Cleveland Browns QB, Otto Graham, He does appear to know what he’s doing today as he takes charge of the offense. I have to give props to Batiuk and Ayers for the artwork in today’s strip. The scene boasts an actual, richly detailed background. The offensive squad huddles in the foreground, while the defense waits to line up. These teenagers look and dress like actual teenagers. The postures of Funky and Les create a nice visual symmetry: both men are angled forward, but Funky is focused and aggressive, while Les is meekly and weakly caving in. And do you want that “quarter-inch removed from reality”? Check out the sweat stains under Funky’s armpits!

Los Dos Abuelos

“The two grandpas,” that’s a good one. Now that Cory and Rocky have tied the knot, Funky at least has a shot at seeing grandchildren. But I just can’t see Summer becoming a mom (unless she and Keisha decide to adopt), and besides, she’s in her what, tenth year at Kent State? At least the boys don’t refer to Les and Funky as the “old-o’s.”