Harry Dinkle – Page 34 – Son of Stuck Funky

A Harry Little Christmas

Today’s strip, and this whole past week really, is brought to you by the letter Y.

As in why did this happen? Why are so many things explosively offensive in Westview? Why did no one at the syndicate read this before allowing it to be printed? Why did TB decide that Nate should suddenly become Carl Moss, except without the humor or incisive commentary on modern American public school administration? Why is there not even an attempt at a punchline in today’s strip? Why are there so few notes in the opening of “I’m Dreaming Of A Rainbow Holiday”? Why is the allegedly retired Harry Dinkle at the high school? Why hasn’t Lefty changed the locks to the band room? Why, if all music is sacred to Harry, do attempts to censor it not bother him? Why would I rather listen to an Elmo and Patsy record for 24 consecutive hours than continue asking “why” questions about this comic strip?

Pitching A Snit

Hey, have you ever wondered what goes on with band kids in the summers, before Lefty gets ahold of the big-and-brassy, loud-and-flashy, Westview High School Scapegoat marching band? Well then, today’s strip is for you! Turns out there is no “before”, as Lefty asserts year-round control of the extracurricular lives of several dozen high school students.

Looks like Owen is still a member of the band, entering what I think is his fourth senior year at WHS. To the surprise of no one, he still has not gotten any better at playing or maintaining his trumpet.

But, unfortunately, it is Dinkle who is the focus of this strip. I do not like these characters in the least, but I do think the punchline is a step above terrible. What is not, however, is the entire set up, which is utterly destroyed by a small piece of artwork.

It makes next to no sense for Dinkle to be so upset that Lefty’s multifunction battery-operated device (smartphone) can perform the function of his single-function battery-operated device (pitch tuner). That small box he is holding, with its clearly discernible button and speaker grate, is a fairly accurate depiction of an electronic pitch tuner. This is “old-fashioned”? No. No it is not. NOT. AT. ALL.

What would be “old-fashioned” would be a tuning fork, or one of those little round harmonica things that telegram messengers in movies from the 1940s blow into before they sing. Had TB drawn either one of those, this strip would have been a far less infuriating read.

Anyways, thanks for putting up with me for a fortnight. BC, I believe, takes over tomorrow. No, not that one, the funny one.

Great Gig in the Sky

I’m a little late to today’s party and am as baffled as you at what’s happening here. But my first thought as I groggily read and re-read this was, are they all dead, and have been “reunited” in this weird nether-gym to face judgement? Or was Crazy Harry the DJ they hired (to spin frozen pizzas)?

Band of Old

“Nope, your Dad’s a terrible trombone player, Funky. But hey, d’you remember that back in January he was using a wheelchair to get around? Well, get a load of him now! Not only is ol’ Mort on his feet, but I’ve got him schlepping music stands!”

Gig Not-So-Young

Forget about the wacky plot development in today’s strip, which one commenter gave away a couple days ago and which most of you have seen coming…will ya check out the look that Les is giving his wife in panel 2? Daggers. Do you suppose that Lisa, even at her smirkiest, was even once on the receiving end of such a look from Les? Cayla clearly does not know her place. Which, come to think of it, is probably over at the Big Walnut Tech reunion.