Recent Comments

1. about 1 hour ago on Crankshaft

   I think we can all safely assume Harry will answer the door.

   Meanwhile at Westview High School, a certain band director lets out a contented sigh and smiles.

   Becky: Thank God Harry’s not here today.

2. about 1 hour ago on Crankshaft

   We can stop referring to what the cartoonist is doing as The Funky Winkerbean Invasion.

   It’s no longer an invasion. The conquest is complete.

3. about 1 hour ago on Crankshaft

   With the disappointment I feel in the new direction the cartoonist is taking, I’d like to create a new type of comment. A Random Strip in Crankshaft History. I will obtain a random Crankshaft strip utilizing the GoComic “Random” button. I will comment on the random strip and render a verdict if it is better, IMO, than the present-day offering. I will stop if I ever discover a random comic strip that I judge worse or more offensive than the actual strip of the day. I am purposely leaving out details because I want to invite you to read those strips. Constructive comments and critiques are welcome.

   Today’s Random Strip in Crankshaft History: Crankshaft from June 06, 2012. Andy, Rocky, and Ed are conversing in the bus garage. Andy says, “I hear they’re talking about taking away two of our calamity days for next year.” In the second panel, Rocky gapes and says, “Really?” Ed eyes Andy and quips, “Now that is a calamity!”

   Verdict: The random comic strip is featured in a week of one-off gags, starting in the bus garage, and ending with Ed and his Dale Evans buddies. The comic features a joke that is not an Ed Crankshaft malapropism. It’s a serviceable joke. Hi Andy and Rocky! We haven’t seen you for a while.

   Crankshaft 05/20/2024. Mason Jarre sits in his car talking to himself as he arrives at the home of “Claude Barlow’s biographer.” Cindy has inexplicably disappeared. The home of “Claude Barlow’s biographer” (we all know who it is, Tom) has a treble clef prominently displayed on the garage door. This is a joke that was funny the first time. After seeing it a few dozen times, the joke has lost its effectiveness. The Dinkle home may change color every time we see it, but that treble clef will be on that garage door every time.

   Winner: Random comic.

   Number of days without an appearance by Dr. Harry L. Dinkle: 0. I think we can safely assume the vile creature is lurking within that home somewhere.

4. 1 day ago on Crankshaft

   With the disappointment I feel in the new direction the cartoonist is taking, I’d like to create a new type of comment. A Random Strip in Crankshaft History. I will obtain a random Crankshaft strip utilizing the GoComic “Random” button. I will comment on the random strip and render a verdict if it is better, IMO, than the present-day offering. I will stop if I ever discover a random comic strip that I judge worse or more offensive than the actual strip of the day. I am purposely leaving out details because I want to invite you to read those strips. Comments and critiques are welcome.

   Today’s Random Strip in Crankshaft History: My major complaint has been the absence of the strip’s eponymous character, Ed Crankshaft. It doesn’t make much sense to have a random comic comparison when the type of strip I want is present. Hi, Ed!

   Number of days without an appearance by Dr. Harry L. Dinkle: 8

5. 2 days ago on Crankshaft

   You are correct. Back in the days when Batiuk first made Lillian his Crankshaft author avatar insert. The harridan took over the strip for an entire month. Setting up a writing area, Setting up a laptop. Going to book fairs. Finding an agent. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. After Lillian’s mega arc ended, I sarcastically set up a counter to count the number of days she was absent. I expected it to be immediately reset to zero, but seemingly magical, it kept Lillian away for almost a month.

   Please don’t jinx my Dinkle counter.

6. 2 days ago on Crankshaft

   Max is Mindy’s brother. Max is married to Hannah and operates the Valentine Theater with her.

   Mindy and Hannah are both “Interchangable Blondes”.

   Wouldn’t it be funny if an amorous Max tried to plant an affectionate kiss on his wife, only to get slapped silly because he kissed his sister instead? Oopsy!

7. 2 days ago on Crankshaft

   Make room for another member of the “unrecognizable Blondes”. Mindy, Hannah, Jessica, please meet Cindy Summers-Jarre.

8. 2 days ago on Crankshaft

   With the disappointment I feel in the new direction the cartoonist is taking, I’d like to create a new type of comment. A Random Strip in Crankshaft History. I will obtain a random Crankshaft strip utilizing the GoComic “Random” button. I will comment on the random strip and render a verdict if it is better, IMO, than the present-day offering. I will stop if I ever discover a random comic strip that I judge worse or more offensive than the actual strip of the day. I am purposely leaving out details because I want to invite you to read those strips. Constructive comments and critiques are welcome.

   Today’s Random Strip in Crankshaft History: Crankshaft from February 16, 2013. Pam and Ed are in the kitchen. Pam is looking into the refrigerator while Ed is eating at the kitchen table. Pam asks, “Did you throw out the cheese that was in here?” Ed replies, “No, I had it for lunch.” In the second panel, Pam looks at Ed and asks, “Was it any good?” Ed replies, “I guess… I couldn’t find an explanation date”.

   Verdict: The random comic strip is the last strip featured in a fortnight of one-off gags. The comic features a recognizable joke with another Ed Crankshaft malapropism. It’s not the funniest, but a respectable effort. 

   Crankshaft 05/18/2024… WTH? I have no idea what to make of this strip. Cindy Summers, who was in the same high school graduating class as Funky and Les. Cindy, who was married to Funky. Funky, who is now happily retired and living with his wife Holly in Florida. Holly, who was also in Cindy’s graduating class. Holly, who is the same age as Cindy, but appeared in the strip a few weeks ago as a dumpy senior-aged hausfrau. Cindy, who attended her 50th class reunion a couple of years ago in the Funky Winkerbean strip. Cindy Summers, a 70-year-old in the established canon is pregnant?

   I think Batty is pulling our collective legs with this one.

   Winner: Random comic.

   Number of days without an appearance by Dr. Harry L. Dinkle: 7

9. 3 days ago on Crankshaft

   Hiya. How ya doin’, Squirrel?

   Yes. I confess that was an inspiration, but Funkaholic’s version was more of a “This Day in Funky Winkerbean History.”

10. 3 days ago on Crankshaft

    Thanks, J.J., well said. I could have taken time to try to convince this person, but that would have been an actual waste of my time. I gave them the answer they deserved.

    I guarantee they didn’t read the story arc I spotlighted and probably didn’t even read much of my post. They most likely bash politicians, actors, and musicians in the comments elsewhere, but snarking on a cartoonist who’s clearly into self-indulgent pap is sacrosanct.