Another “punchline that wasn’t”. Les is still trying to gracefully say no to his old pal’s offer. Funky resorts to confusing Les by saying something that sounds profound but is in fact utterly meaningless and trite.
Tag: Montoni's
Pizza Logic
Somewhere between yesterday’s second panel and today’s first, Les’ bemused expression has been replaced by one of abject terror. It must be his reaction to Funky’s Vulcan grip on his shoulder as, wild-eyed, he explains to Les why it is immutable destiny that the launch party be held at Montoni’s…rather than at someplace without a red, white and green awning.
TB also introduces a new visual effect, sort of a “sepia telescope” through which past events are viewed. Interesting to note how vans figure in Darin’s delivery as well as his conception. And hoo-boy: does Les on his wedding day look like a gay Batman or what‽
Launch is Served
That loud, metallic grinding you hear is Batiuk abruptly and inartfully shifting narrative gears back to the Les Gets Published story arc. “Hey, Les: since you and I are standing around in this deserted pizzeria, without any customers to attend to, I might as well stroke your ego by asking if that book of yours will ever see print.” Observe Les’ trademark smug, sidelong glance as his favorite topic is raised. “Ahem, yes, well, my publicist…she’s in New York, you know…is diligently seeking the proper venue for the launch par-tay…” Because that’s such a goddamn important detail in releasing a book. She can take her time booking a place: that mimeograph machine over at KSU Press only cranks out about ten pages a minute. Then they gotta collate and staple everything together.
Funky wastes no time in offering, no, insisting, to host Northeastern Ohio’s literary event of the decade at, where else, Montoni’s! …immediately sending Les into “thanks but no thanks” mode. “It’s a launch party…not a youth soccer awards banquet/after-bowling soiree/kiddie birthday party…”
Across the Crazyverse
Another Sunday, another episode of The Old Philosopher. Even Funky, in the throwaway first couple of panels, is beginning to lose patience with this old fool. “Oh shit…Harry’s formulating another one of his wacky observations…Hey! Hey! Postie! Get the hell outta here now. Really. Stop taking up space at my counter and go deliver the goddamn mail!”
But no, Funky the enabler has to ask him what he’s “thinking”. What follows is so thuddingly lame and nonsensical (“swallowing helium”? Swallow this!) that Funky cannot even muster a smirk.
The Oily Boid
Rachel, having finally attracted the interest of a man, eschews her usual Sicilian slice for a healthy salad and a Coke Zero. “Hey, Boss. Where the hell has Tony been? The way you’ve been running his business into the ground, you’d think he’d be so far up your ass you could taste Brylcreem!”
It looks like TB has forgone his year-in-advance production schedule to bring us a story ripped from last month’s headlines. Get ready for A Very Special An Even Specialer Funky Winkerbean.
Son of Stuck Funky 
