It’s hard to tell because of Tom Batiuk’s typically tin-earred dialogue, but it sounds to me as if Coach Stropp told Bull, “Look, if you can’t get into the end zone while I’m coaching you, can you at least carry my ashes across the goal line, so I can have some sense of what if feels like? By the way, ‘ashes’ implies that I am dead and cremated, so it’s nothing you have to do today.”
I think the real focus of Mr. Batiuk’s energy is in panel two. Bull pushes the switch, there’s a satisfying “THUNK” sound, and Linda looks pleased that Bull was able to accomplish something on his own. The reader can see exactly what happened without it being spelled out. The transition between panel one’s silhouette and panel two’s illumination is handled well, with the characters in the same position from the same angle. This tells me that when he cares, Tom Batiuk can draw something that works. Too bad he doesn’t care more often.
He’s not the best at depicting people expressing excitement, either (remember “
Cory may be a delinquent but he’s no homophobe; he thrusts up a thumb and smiles with his bottom teeth. Rana actually seems to be having a hearty laugh at the Greens’ expense for some reason, while Big Mac is just all like durr-hurr-hurr. But I think it’s Touchdown Guy in the blue tux who best expresses the joy that all of us are feeling…this arc is finally concluded.
Son of Stuck Funky 