Tag: 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.

Lordy, Lordy, Look Who's Forty

Still with me after yesterday’s post? Thank you, reader.

Let the celebration begin. By some remarkable coincidence, both Funky Winkerbean and Montoni’s Pizzeria celebrate their fortieth anniversaries this week!

Jimmy
March 23, 2012 at 2:05 pm
So, 40th anniversary strips coming up? If Bathack brings us in the wayback machine, I get the feeling they’re going to be a reminder that Funky Winkerbean wasn’t all that good in the 1970s either.

Into the Wayback Machine we go: looks like TB’s going with a “now and then” theme, and if every day is like today’s strip, snarker Jimmy may be on to something. If panel 2 is indeed an original, and not a “reimagining” a la Lynn Johnston, there was probably an original first panel that set this up as an actual joke (Funky dashes into Fred’s office: “Mr. Fairgood! I need to use your phone! It’s an emergency!”). The absence of humor here leaves us to contemplate the young, likeable, slender Funky, whose cargo pants conceal the merest suggestion of a butt that forty years later would threaten to burst right through Montoni’s window.

We Are the Champions


Note from TFH: I know that among the readers of this blog there are a number of fans of the Firesign Theatre. It is with great sadness that I share with you the news that founding Firesign member Peter Bergman has succumbed to leukemia at the age of 72.
Firesign Theatre’s Peter Bergman dies at 72,
Los Angeles Times

bobanero
March 7, 2012 at 12:22 pm
…I suspect that in the next couple of days Summer will be sealing the championship with a “Walk Off Free Throw”.

Jeffcoat Wayne
March 9, 2012 at 1:03 am
…Look at the trajectory and spin on that ball, and tell me it’s not headed over the backboard under realistic circumstances.

TheDiva
March 9, 2012 at 1:32 am
…I get the sinking feeling that tomorrow we’re going to see the spirit of the Blessed Saint Lisa guiding the ball into the net on the rebound in defiance of all probability and physics.

TB apparently understands physics about as well as he understands the traveling rule. It could only be the Hand of St. Lisa reaching down today to guide the errant shot through the hoop (hence the incredulous expression on the face of Cedars #3).

Louder
March 8, 2012 at 12:57 am
…A big deal was made that there were 12 seconds on the clock when St. Summer made her dive at the ball, so there has to be at least 8 seconds on the clock. More then enough time for the other team, so it’s not a “walk-of free throw.”

True enough, but you didn’t want to see the inevitable postponed for another week, did you? Didn’t think so. It’s over, Westview wins; big girl Brandy Bowles skulks away dejectedly. On to the pizza party and the Kili climb…

Sum' Mo' Time

Today’s strip is just packed! More of TB’s trademark bald exposition (either that or Holly is so sports-illiterate that she can’t even read a scoreboard). Les looks like he’s about to hurl; must be that flu bug. What the hell is doing Keisha sitting next to the coaches on the bench? Summer’s game face is replaced by a mask of bewilderment as she is handed the ball by Newark, NJ’s Mayor Cory Booker. I think that’s a basketball, although in the POV shot in panel 2, she’s holding it like a flatbread.