Tag: football

Kerry On, My Wayward Daughter

Minutes pass as Darin stands in the doorway, all agog. The stranger clears her throat and repeats her introduction. “I’m Kerry. I’m Fred Fairgood’s daughter.”

While we wait for the ground to stabilize ‘neath Darin’s feet, we are treated to a confusing and unnecessary flashback. Bull, who would go on to become a teacher and then a school administrator, is sitting in Principal Fairgood’s office because his poor grades threaten to prevent him from playing football. Coach Stropp has made it clear to Fred that his perennially losing squad can not afford to lose Bull (I guess we’re to take Fred at his word that he’s “just kidding” about his daughter being kidnapped).

Having recently acquired and read a couple paperback Funky Winkerbean collections, I get the feeling that Batiuk has redrawn an actual Act I strip, and in the context of Act I it was probably mildly amusing. Shoehorned into today’s comic, it’s disconcerting, and not just because Batiuk’s sepia-toned the panels, instead of deploying the “photo album corners” he typically uses to denote flashbacks. Bull’s got nothing to do with the current storyline. It’s more like Batiuk’s playing this card to defend against accusations of retconning: “See? September ’79! Fred clearly states that he has a daughter!”

Happy New Year!

So by the time I got a look at today’s strip, there were already seven comments, any and all of which were better than anything I could say about this weird, stupid, unfunny “comic”. Yup, Funky’s got nothing better to do than vex and annoy honest working people, much like Les was seen doing during his book tour.

Wishing the readers a happy, healthy and prosperous 2013!

Defense-Les Receiver

This is one of those times that TB offers up what’s meant to be wacky hijinks, while we hidebound literalists go right to the darker, imagined subtext. Ergo, a lighthearted, post-Thanksgiving on the storied front lawn of the Taj Moore Hell turns violent as Cayla (weirdly looking in panel 1 like Black Linda; talk about darker subtexts) forcefully tackles Les in what’s supposed to be a game of touch, before walking away sneering. This is the second strip in less than a week that ends with Les stunned and in pain at the hands of his new bride.

Fee Fi Fo Dumb

Yeah, anytime Cody expects things to go his way, count on the opposite outcome. “Robo-Goat” stands ready for battle; unfortunately, arch-rival Big Walnut Tech has brought along the Iron Giant. I kind of like the overhead perspective in today’s strip, but the shadow-within-a-shadow in panel 2 doesn’t work too well.

These Effects Aren't Very Special

OK, now it’s Nate’s turn to be incredulous. Odie and Cohen’s idea of making the robot “look really cool” is to haphazardly bolt a football helmet on top of it. They actually succeed in making the robot look less cool. And in what sense of the word is this a “spinoff”, Cody? It’s more of a kludge.