Crankshaft by Tom Batiuk and Dan Davis for December 28, 2023

“Blast it, how could all of them have survived the accumulated toxins in that kitsch?”

Somehow Batiuk will turn this into “Now that you’re gone, Funky, everyone wants to go to Montoni’s!”

Gee it sure does bring tears to our eyes, I’m all choked up over it.

“And I get to keep all their money!” (sheds single tear of greed)

Meh. “Iron Eyes” Cody did it better 50+ years ago.

By the by, before anyone asks “Where’s Crankshaft?,” in the 28 days of December to date, Ed Crankshaft—the protagonist whom this strip is named after—has appeared in all of nine installments (including two where he’s a background figure in a single panel) and uttered a total of six word balloons. Barney Google did better over in the strip he used to star in!

Antique Roadshow would not appraise the items … Goodwill asked them not to leave the items … landfill wanted to see their EPA hazardous waste permit.

Is he crying because he realizes that nobody actually wants that stuff any more?

Credit where itsdue ..thisis genuinely sweet

“I tried SO HARD to break the curse by scattering all those demonic things to the winds… Only to have them come back… Ooohh, my God it’s starting up again…”

Funky: YES! I GET TO WATCH AND DO N-

Holly: Darin just told me the Pizza Box Monster isn’t revealing his name any time soon.

Funky: NOOOOOOOOOOOooooo

That isn’t a tear on his face. It’s a present from a seagull with really good aim.

“I am SO happy we’re out of that dump!!”

Now can we go back to the Dale Evans in Centerville and get some real news?

Just brings a tear to your eye.

Batty should rename this strip Crankshaft Winkerbean

A common reaction when reading what used to be Crankshaft.

Emotion in a comic strip…..unheard of!!!!!!!

Can’t be pleasant even during Christmas week. So sad.

I suppose Crankshaft died. Sorta going the way of Judge Parker. Strip is called Judge Parker, yet he’s never in it.

Quick! Get that tear to the Pensieve!!! (There may be more plots in it.)

This would have actually been a better final “FW” sequence than the one Batuik actually gave us. Too bad he had to destroy Crankshaft to do it.

Seriously, though… If Montoni’s was so great, then why did the original customer base let it go broke and shuttered, only to return everything later on and support its grand re-opening?

@J.J. O’Malley – Thanks for that info! Barium and Davis are off on an unknown tangent!?

Always a delight to read the same comments every day, in which they complain about a lack of originality.

Well, ALMOST everyone. We learned only two days ago the guy who bought the picture of John Darling, who was murdered, will never part with it, so they’re using a duplicate. And who was that guy—Les Moore?

Sweet and touching. Glad he is so happy