‘th hell happened to Cory? Early in Act III, he really had the potential to be an interesting character: son of an alcoholic/workaholic father who had no time for him, Cory was by turns a thief, a vandal, and a test cheat. Readers still wonder what went on at the New Year’s Eve party he threw while his parents treated themselves to a Caribbean vacation. Nowadays, his sole purpose is to serve as a wisecracking foil to his hapless teachers. Maybe that experience wearing the pizza costume succeeded in finally breaking his rebellious spirit.
Tag: Jinx
Photo Finish
A newfangled cellphone may be fine for snapping the senior class picture, but a serious shutterbug like Jinx requires a “real” camera. So she can wave it around in front of her to let everyone know she’s into photography. Zzzzzzz…
Meanwhile back in 2007…only a worldly, sophisticated hipster like Chien can appreciate the good things in life, like espresso and gelato.
Say Cheese
Taking the senior class photo has changed? Because it’s being taken with a cellphone? Wow, progress, huh? Something else that’s changed is TB’s draftsmanship, if indeed it is he who drew this. I have no idea who the old gent taking the picture is, but I guess he’s another throwaway teacher, or maybe a passerby who the class asked if he would oblige. But this whole strip looks like it took ten minutes to draw. We recognize Maddie by her hat and red hair, and Cory by his shifty demeanor. But is that supposed to be the Capitol dome in the background? Might as well be Podunk City Hall.
Flashback to the 2007 Washington trip…Chien is still a drip…
Statutory Ignorance
Today’s haphazardly drawn tableau finds the senior Scapegoats admiring a statue which their chaperone incorrectly identifies as “Eternal Vigilance” (its actual title is “Guardianship”). I’m reminded of a quote from Mark Vonnegut’s memoir, The Eden Express: “The price of eternal vigilance is insanity.” Query whether Cory’s opinion of “shrinks” is based on firsthand experience.
Flashback to the 2007 D.C. Trip:
Chien may have been one of the (few) fairly attractive Batiuk women, but her fans may have forgotten how bitchy and unpleasant she could be…
Wedgie-ton D.C.
Today’s strip feels like a “twofer”, as if Batiuk had an extra gag that he wanted to shoehorn into this Washington trip arc. The first panel contains some of TB’s trademark exposition. Even though Cody and Owen are no longer freshman, it appears they still are on the receiving end of daily wedgies, though hopefully the Magic Marker attacks have ceased.
Meanwhile in panel 2, I guess the sight of the White House’s many windows has triggered an OCD moment in Les.
Flashback to the 2007 Senior Trip:
Hipster Chien enjoys a snide chuckle at the expense of the “Barbie Dolls”:
Son of Stuck Funky 
