Ah…now I get it. Up til now, this Funky Winkerbean arc has been easily the most baffling of them all. With today’s episode, it all fits into place.
Pa Winkerbean wants to commit suicide, and he figures he might as well have fun doing so.
Funky Winkerbean, you somehow manage never to disappoint, in your own disappointing way.
More bizarreness in yesterday’s vein. And like yesterday’s episode, if Mr. Batiuk is going for “wacky” he’s still missing the mark. There should be a punchline in panel three, rather than a flat statement.
It’s as if Abbott said, “The baseball players’ names…well, Hu’s on first, Watt’s on second, and Ida Noah’s on third,” and Costello said, “Hey, those aren’t real names.” And…scene! Okay, folks, that’s a wrap!
This is the first time I can recall seeing Pa Winkerbean speak, other than the “Father’s Day in the Food Court” Sunday episode of a couple of years ago–and all he did then was repeat himself over and over. (Those wacky Alzheimer’s people!) I must say, Funky and his dad are looking more and more alike. I guess that’s easier to draw. Though I’ve never seen Funky as relaxed and at peace with himself as Pa in panel three.
Also, is it just me, or has 2014 really been Funky’s year so far? He seems to have featured in more stories than in the last couple of years combined. Not that I’m complaining too much, because as we know, there are far worse characters he could feature….
We see from this 2010 strip that there is at least one church somewhere in or around Westview. Maybe it’s reserved solely for funerals, because all weddings in town occur either in a pizza parlor, or people’s front yards, or in the middle of a public park. Note that in panel 3, clever Rachel has apparently folded Wally’s I.O.U. into a ring which she wears on her finger.
MKay
August 4, 2013 at 1:22 pm
Mop the floor at Montoni’s! It’s time for another society page gala!merrypookster
August 4, 2013 at 11:55 pm
Better hurry and book Montoni’sbobanero
August 5, 2013 at 8:35 am
Oh Boy!! Another Montoni’s wedding reception coming up…
“Funky’s going to want us to get married at Montoni’s, you know…” Thankfully, though, today Wally surprises us all, finally showing a little backbone and even some admirable restraint. Among the perfectly justifiable responses he could offer: “Who gives a fuck what Funky wants?” “Have our wedding in the pizzeria where we both work? Like I’m not humiliated enough by having to give you an I.O.U. instead of a ring…” Instead, our hero cooly dispenses some geeky t-shirt wisdom.
The best man is the chief assistant to the groom at a wedding and (along with Maid of Honor) is the third most important in attendance after the Bride and Groom. In most modern, English-speaking countries, the groom extends this honor to someone who is close to him, generally his oldest and closest male friend, or a sibling.
At first, Wally’s selection of Buddy as best “man” seems like another one of Batiuk’s goofy, contrived plot flourishes. But actually, sadly, it makes sense. Since he appeared on his “widow” Becky’s doorstep four years ago, Wally’s been shunned by everyone he left behind when he went off to serve his country. Even his country didn’t bother to verify that the human remains they shipped home for burial were his. He was made to endure the most awkward homecoming ever before Becky handed him his trombone and showed him the door. His only known relative, uncle cousin Funky, has had little to do with him since giving him a job and surreptitiously swiping his sidearm.
Son of Stuck Funky 
