Funky Winkerbean spoiler question

[Kamino_Neko]

And here’s the most recent Medium Large shot at Funky, just to actually get Ces in here.

[jayjay]

@Tengu

It’s actually easy, now that he’s got tagging - there’s only 3 strips in the Funky Cancercancer tag (Funky Cancercancer, Funky Creepycreepy, and Robin’s crack). The character tags, and certain theme tags are obviously way more common, and would take longer to find a particular strip, of course.

Yeah, but I was about 30 seconds from my break relief coming in at that point so I really literally didn’t have time to go look. That’s exactly the one I was talking about, though.

[Tom_Tildrum]

@DChord568

You guys crack me up.

I realize it’s more than one person saying these things, but there’s been a fairly consistent collective point of view as to what’s wrong with this strip.

On the one hand, it’s pilloried for not being more “realistic” (no high school drama department would put on only that one play…no one person or group of persons could have that many bad things happen to them, etc., etc.).

And on the other hand, when a character who’s physically hurting after being seriously banged up in an accident fails to make a saintly, grateful response when a friend asks, somewhat lamely, “How are you doing?” (when it’s clear he’s not doing very well) – then that’s wrong, too…perhaps a little too “real,” eh?

You have to focus on the gestalt: After closing his NY restaurant and scraping up cash to save the failing comic book place back in Westview, Funky moves his father into a nursing home, stops at a bar to contemplate his alcoholism, gets run into a ditch by a distracted driver, drifts into a reverie of a happier time during which he reflects on his prostate problems and Elvis’ death, and wakes up battered and in pain.

All of this followed Les letting his romantic relationship wither because he’s spending too much time being fawned over by the woman who attempted suicide back in high school because she couldn’t have him.

Note too that Funky drives a PT Cruiser, which is itself a little Funky metaphor: Started out with such promise and somewhere along the line turned into the most depressing model on the road.

[The_Hamster_King]

@DChord568

On the one hand, it’s pilloried for not being more “realistic” … .

No, it’s pilloried for being such a relentless downer that the tragedy has become ridiculous.

Back when Batuik did his storyline on Lisa’s cancer, that was touching and brave. But over the last few years he seems to be putting his characters through the wringer at every opportunity. And they all respond to their troubles with the same sad, weary resignation. There’s not any joy in the strip anymore, no moments of carefree happiness or enthusiasm or triumph. Everything is tainted and ruined and everyone is just marking time until death.

It’s maudlin. Which makes it ripe for ridicule.

[Horatio_Hellpop]

I just remembered an old PJ O’Rourke quote that kind of sums up everything I hate/disrespect about Funky Winkerbean’s shift into melodrama:

“Anybody can get a rise out of a roomful of people by saying ‘I have cancer.’ But how many people can do five minutes of good stand-up comedy?”

[Tom_Tildrum]

@Krokodil

“Anybody can get a rise out of a roomful of people by saying ‘I have cancer.’ But how many people can do five minutes of good stand-up comedy?”

“Crazy times, ladies and gentlemen, crazy times. So I go in to the doctor last month and he tells me, ‘you have cancer.’ And you know what I don’t get?”

“BETTER!”

“Thank you folks, you’ve been great. Look for me at Comedyfest this fall – if I’m still alive.”