Tag: jukebox

Montoni Maternity

In case you’ve been wondering whether the 40th anniversary “flashbacks” are the actual vintage strips, today TB tips his hand. Compare today’s panel 2 (at left) to the original, taken from the archive page on the official FW site.

It’s a shame, really, because you’d expect the redrawn version to be better than the original.

billytheskink
March 27, 2012 at 11:16 am
I kinda like seeing the old, original FW artwork. It was the closest thing this strip ever had to charm. It’s not entirely coincidence that the further TB moved from this artwork, the further the strip sank.

It’s natural for a cartoonist’s style to evolve, especially over four decades. But the “charm” that billytheskink mentions is absent in the redrawn version. Check out the facial expressions, Les’ comical posture, and the sweet checkered tablecloth.  Compare both panels: imagine the dialogue balloon is not there, and consider which one still tells the story.

Tony's Place

Well, we almost got through a whole week without seeing Les’ smug puss: the erstwhile “weekend manager” pops in to hear about how his “step-son” is revolutionizing the pizza business. For a brief moment, Tony musters the courage to stand up for himself, and for his (admittedly idiotic)  “ideas”, but TB is only setting him up to be further marginalized: notice how in every panel, Funky and Les loom above him. In the penultimate panel, Tony looks and acts like a mustachioed toddler as Funky looks down his nose at him, until finally Tony throws up his hands once again. Better warm up that Space Invaders machine; Tony’s goin’ back downstairs to sulk.

“La donna mobile”?
You may not recognize the lyric (I sure as hell didn’t) but you know the tune… 

Counter Intuitive

Did I say Montoni’s was deserted? I stand corrected: as long as the coffee’s free, there will be “Crazy” Harry Klinghorn taking up space at the counter. Darin unwisely decides to use Harry as a one-man focus group to market test his latest hare-brained scheme. Sadly, though he still wears a postal uniform, Crazy’s been unemployed since before Act III began (think about it: have we ever seen him deliver any mail?) and is reduced to scrounging free grub from his old friend Funky. Hence, Harry’s preoccupation with where his next meal is coming from.

Meanwhile, over in Centerville:
Snarker Flummoxicated emailed SoSF to call my attention to a ver-r-r-ry intriguing Crankshaft crossover: Cranky is introduced to the daughter of his friend “Smokey” Williams. Damn! She looks very familiar…

That Darin Young Man

Even a meeting of Montoni’s board of directors is more welcome than a continuation of Les’ Story. Wunderkind Darin, whose “I-Phone” app was a huge success (as the sight of the deserted restaurant will attest), apparently has another brilliant notion. In expressing his disapproval, Funky manages to disparage both Darin and Tony. He forgets that Tony’s worst idea probably was making a partner of Funky, whose reckless expansion plans and cost-cutting measures nearly sank the business that bears his name.

Anniversary Schmaltz

Finally: a respite from Les!

The titular character and his missus are celebrating their anniversary, at…where else? Montoni’s! And according to this news item, “Tom Batiuk, the cartoonist, specifically requested the use of the song as a loving tribute to his wife for their 40th wedding anniversary.” Awww! Happy anniversary, Tom and Cathy.

I have to give Funky (and TB) credit for musical taste: “Til I Gain Control Again” by Rodney Crowell is a pretty sweet tune (though it was never the “B” side of “The Rock of My Soul“, which was recorded 26 years later…