Beating 'Round the Bushka

Epicus Doomus
June 5, 2012 at 12:39 am
Panel two [of Tuesday’s strip]  = worst Summer drawing ever?

Well, maybe…that is, until today! What the hell happened here? Looks like TB put down the “Funky felt tip” and went for the Sharpie Magnum 44! Summer’s crudely rendered mug resembles that of an an Egyptian mummy.

Jeffcoat Wayne
June 7, 2012 at 12:48 am
Bull’s gonna help Les train to climb a 19,000-foot mountain? Riiiiiiight. Bull looks like he can’t even climb into the team bus without breaking a hard sweat. Christ, he looks like he’s about to pop a spleen just climbing out of his minivan.

Meanwhile, fat, lumbering, old Bull Bushka is all of a sudden this powerful, bellowing drill sergeant, and for the sake of a “punchline”, Batiuk has un-retconned Les and Bull’s high school history. Today’s strip just sucks on so many levels.

A non-turn of events!

A single phone call reveals what a most snarkers and my long-dead grandmother suspected; Summer will be going to Kent State. With most folks a lot more wary of the value of a college education I’m not sure Les should be making his smirk/smug satisfaction face.

In a development that should surprise no one, Summer II got invited to Kent State as well, causing Cayla to break out into her best hatchet-face.

Clobberin’ Time


I gave myself a migraine trying to decipher the tin-eared dialogue in today’s strip. “There’s a couple of tick-tocks before class starts”? This is bully-speak? Sounds like baby talk. “Kick your butt off“? “Off” doesn’t follow “butt” in this construct, unless I’m “kicking your butt off the team”, or “off the bus”, etc. Never heard of anyone getting his “butt kicked off”. Oh, I see: this is setup for Cody’s retort: “No problem, I’ll just share yours.” Share his butt? ‘th hell?!?

And what skinny teenage nerd confidently cracks wise in response to a verbal threat, however clumsily it’s worded? This is the same tactic that teenage Les used with teenage Bull. Of course now we know that that wasn’t real bullying at all. Mr. Black Shirt Hatchet Face appears to be serious. Given his renown for “tackling serious real-life issues”, you’d expect that TB would at least attempt to treat bullying a little more thoughtfully. Instead he goes for “funny” but it just comes out “wrong”.

Quarant'anni di Montoni's

Finally, a special occasion that actually deserves to be celebrated at Montoni’s. The joint hasn’t been this packed since Darin discovered breakfast pizza. Everybody’s here…of course, Becky and Wally have to slave away back in the kitchen, and Khan’s been a persona non grata since opening up his own eatery nearly a year ago. Holly and Donna are in the same shot, proving they are not the same person; ditto Summer and Pete (wasn’t he leaving town?). Dead Skunk Head John and Bull are either gazing lovingly at one another or have just finished sharing a joint.

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…