unnatural hand gestures – Page 20

Old Man, Take a Look at My Life

“When I look in the mirror, I can’t believe what I see
Tell me, who’s that funky dude, staring back at me?”

–Weezer, The Good Life

It’s not only endings that have to be earned: readers of Funky Winkerbean are made to wait like obedient dogs for even a crumb of plot advancement. Anyway, today we get a payoff of sorts, as embittered, befuddled old Funky encounters…well, that’s too skinny to be Owen, right? Yep, it’s the classic, carefree High School Funky who captured our hearts over thirty years ago. And there’s Crazy Harry…clean-shaven (probably not even having to shave) and sporting his Fidel Castro hat instead of a tweed cap.

Geezer, Please

The comics-savvy folks around here have already pointed out that whatever value attached to Starbuck Jones #1 is greatly diminished by that fact that it’s not bagged or better still, slabbed (submitted to an independent grading company and encased in a sealed, hard plastic container). TB, who is supposedly comics-savvy, sees fit to place this highly valuable artifact in the sweaty, pasty paws of Dead Skunk Head John.

I was so in awe of Funky’s shape-shifting skull in panel three that I brought it to life:

What Did Happen?

I guess getting detention on the last day of school means the poor kid is going to have to sit in the classroom for the next three months? Susan appears so baffled by this turn of events that in panel 2, she momentarily develops a Jay Leno-esque jaw.

Les-o-line Alley

Today, TB borrows a device from Gasoline Alley: dropping a real-life character into the cartoon milieu. Today’s special guest is none other than Fred Gwynne…what? Oh, Fred passed away in 1993. Then I guess that must be Will Underwood, director of Kent State University Press! Hey Will: why the long face? HA! HA! HA! HA! HA!

It’s personal

Memo to Nate: I guess it’s acceptable for Westview faculty to date one another; however, it’s not cool to snap Cayla’s bra strap, like you appear to be doing in today’s panel 1.

“How the hell should I know where Les is, Nate? Aren’t you his damn boss?”, would be the appropriate reply from Cayla. Instead, she spreads Les’ business about the office (so much for the concept of “personal” day). Susan snaps to at the mention of the Grounded One’s name.

Panel 3, I believe, is a first for this comic: Susan “breaks the fourth wall” and fixes the reader with an ear-to-ear smirk. But instead of giving a “thumbs up”, she extends an index finger. Les is Number One? Or has Susan harvested a particularly ripe booger, and preparing to do the ol’ picky flicky?

Update: Merry Pookster has helpfully pointed out that “Susan just appears to be ‘crossing’ her fingers for luck.” OK, that clears that up! Thanks, Pookster. I stand by my “breaking the fourth wall” statement.