Crankshaft by Tom Batiuk and Dan Davis for April 29, 2023

Okay, I’ll admit it; Most days I’m annoyed, bored, or disappointed by this strip, but today’s offering simply has me bewildered. The unending hammering of the PTSD comparison I anticipated, but what in the name of the Great Garloo is a “blue tent,” and why does Batiuk think there’s a joke it it?

Plus, allow me to point out again how Ed Crankshaft, the titular “protagonist” who’s been dating Mary for a couple of years, has had precisely two lines of dialogue in this week’s arc of his girlfriend’s health issues, and every ounce of concern for her has come from Andy, while Cranky stands around or sits and drinks coffee.

Good idea, I’m sure the Blue Tent is much better than calling an ambulance and getting her to an ER.

Crank, “Mary who?”

Maybe Mary saw one of the seniors from her bus.

Crankshaft looks better in his long distance shots. Especially behind a coffee cup.

And Crankshaft calmly sips coffee!

Well we have some BRICKS. But why not the entire wall?

The only way to make this better is to stretch it out for another week.

“She’s in the blue tent being examined!”

And the tentative diagnosis is…?

I don’t Z Y she’s being Xamined.

:’(