Last week Les magically teleported from Africa back to Westview to check out Funky’s new car. And at first glance, it looks like today Funky has materialized in Africa. Actually,this is “Dan”, whose carefully rendered mug in panel 2 suggests that, like James, he’s based on another of Batiuk’s fellow travelers on his real-life Kili konquest.
“There’s one on every climb…” And on this climb, Les is gonna be The One. One of what? James is too polite and professional to say, but Summer understands only too well: Les’ latest attempt at humor turns her panel one smile completely upside down in panel 2. The camp may be primitively drawn, but it certainly doesn’t suggest Bedrock, and anyway, James probably wouldn’t pick up on the Flintstones reference. But Les can’t help but make his lame little joke while making his lame little smug face.
“I presume” you’re wondering why the journal page in today’s panel 1 is dated “FEB. 12 FRIDAY“. It’s not Batiuk playing fast and loose with continuity (for once). “I presume” that it’s a page from Batiuk’s journal of his own Kili trek in February of 2010. “I presume” that James who we meet today is based on Batiuk’s guide, who is seen in the Kilimanjaro pic from the official FW site’s Archives page. And “I presume” that Les fully intends to make good on his promise to say “I presume” “every five minutes” on this trip, in which case, fasten your seatbelts, ladies and gentlemen: it’s going to be…an “African massage”.
Les and Summer arrive in Africa for their climb of Kilimanjaro, and if Les keeps this “I presume” shit up, by the time this trip’s over Summer’s eyes will have permanently rolled back in her head. Their driver immediately pegs Les for the douchebag that he is, and declines to shake his hand. That “establishing shot” of Kilimanjaro International Airport looks suspiciously like one of the first images that Google Image Search turns up. And speaking of Google, “African massage” does check out as a phrase people use to describe traveling on the region’s bumpy roads. Just don’t look up that same phrase on urbandictionary.com.
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.
Son of Stuck Funky 
