Les is a Wimp

Behold Mount Kilimanjaro! Thankfully Batiuk took a little more time rendering its majesty today than he did earlier this week (see detail, right), and it actually looks quite impressive. Also impressive is the spear that James is toting; probably just something he uses to keep the tourists in line. And Summer, naturally, is representin’ in her Westview hoodie. Not shown in today’s tableaux are the 46 porters who will schlep all the gear for Les and his merry band. Les’ punchline, though lame, is met with appreciative smirks all around: are they smirking with him or at him?

I'll Fly Away

Nothing like waiting til they’re being dropped off at Akron-Canton Airport to ask Cayla’s blessing. Summer tries so hard to look sincere in the fourth panel that her face is starting to melt. Not to worry, Summer: Miss Cayla doesn’t “do” camping (she doesn’t “do” mountains either). Cayla: nice job of dismissing the epic father-daughter trek as a mere “camping” trip.  And so much for “wither thou goest, I will go”, huh? Well, you haven’t taken any vows yet. In fact, since you’re already at the airport, here’s the perfect opportunity to get tickets for yourself and Keisha to fly far, far away from “Les”view.

O C Can You D?

Still more of Les’ “anal compulsiveness”: while his teenage daughter schleps all that luggage out to the car (just as well; she’s stronger than him anyway), Les checks for the umpteenth time to make sure the appliances are all turned off. Because apparently Cayla is not living there (nor can she be trusted to keep an eye on the house), and because Darin and Jess, who were shown to be living in Moore Manor just four months ago, have mysteriously disappeared.

Opposites Detract

Raise your hand if, like me, you’re roughly the same age as Les, Funky, and Crazy Harry. I know that’s more than a few of you. Now get up, go across the room, and grab your high school yearbook. What’s that? You don’t have it right at hand? It’s been packed away up in the attic for 20, 30 years? Yeah, mine too. Come to think of it: what’s Cayla’s yearbook doing on the shelf in Les’ house? Have she and Keisha moved in already? What has become of Darin and Jess?

Les the Good Times Droll

Very droll“? Very dull is more like it. Day five of Cayla and Summer teasing Les about what a dork he was in high school, pointing and laughing at a yearbook that we’re not allowed to see; not even so much as a photo-album-cornered, sepia-toned “classic” flashback. The “stuck on a rope” gag actually did occur in Act I. Don’t know what’s “very droll” about pointing out Les’ misfortune, nor do I know what it is Cayla thinks she sees.