Crankshaft by Tom Batiuk and Dan Davis for December 24, 2023

“Here you go, Pete Reynolds-Roberts! We spent all this money to get this stuff, but you can have it all back for free, just because! Nevermind that you’ve earned more money from comic book writing than we have ever earned in our lives! Please, don’t stop us from showering you with more unearned gratuity! Merry Christmas!”

Where’s Crankshaft?

Ed Wood’s “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

“By the way, I got a call from the police. They say the Tiffany lamp was stolen from a pawn shop in 1953 and they want to discuss ‘receiving stolen goods’ with the owner of Montoni’s. That would be you, right?”"

“I tried to sell the Band Box but the appraiser said its value had been destroyed by a bungled restoration job. Catch!”

Why do all these people from Centerville give a hoot about the re-opening of a pizza parlor in Westview?

“Did you know that all of these autographed photos of Phamous Pizza Purchasers originally hung in the local Post Office? And two of them are still at large!”

I miss getting to see Ed portray Santa, every year!

The Christmas Spirit is alive in Montoniville.

How sweet!

What was the point of decorating the place for Christmas if they don’t open until after Christmas?

Calls you one, and calls you all,

To gain His everlasting hall

“I was going to bring back the autographed photo of John Darling Who Was Murdered, but it’s the centerpiece of my collection now. So I brought you another picture of John Darling Who Was Murdered instead.”

“Is… is that an autopsy photo…?”

(On the plus side, it’s not like it could possibly be any less appetizing than the actual food there, right?)

…..tidings of great joy!!!!!

“It just can’t be Funky Winkerbean unless I bring back all of this dreck!”

Aw, and soon they can buy them back at the bankruptcy auction

What is the town going to do for White Elephant Christmas gifts after this???

It’s a good thing they’re living in the restaurant 24/7 now. Otherwise these people would be standing outside in the cold. Too bad nobody that bought all the equipment and supplies brought those back.

Basically we are to assume this is the same day that Pizza Box Monster signed the contract. So it’s too soon to be finalized. And they’re already opening in a couple of days?

One wonders why the Funky strip ended. It’s replaced Crankshaft.

A beautiful holiday story! Happy Holidays, everyone!

Too bad Crankshaft was not included….it is his comic!

Merry Christmas

“Thanks! Uh, do any of you want to work here? I forgot to hire cooks, servers, and dishwashers. Also I don’t know how to work the cash registers and I haven’t actually filed any paperwork to legally open.”

now THAT’S neighborly!

Now that’s what Christmas is all about — and thank you Tom and Dan — and I forgive all the Naysayers (Where’s Crankshaft) in advance for your anticipated snark

I love their sweet, generous neighbors who value the old pizzeria.

I stopped reading the ‘comments’ after the first one, a few days ago. I enjoyed the strip much more. Today I took a chance. Oh well.

Oh, great… that stupid Band Box is back…

Well said, duggersd, well said!!!!!

Even though it’s Pete and Mindy (as well as the “Pizza Monster,” actually bringing back Montoni’s, looks likr a lot of the town is emotionally invested.

There was a pizza place in my town called Old World Pizza. It was a great pizza place until the current owner bought it from the deceased original owner and made some bad choices which forced it to close. This place has been around since the 1980’s and everyone in town loved that place including former residents that wanted a pizza from there when they moved into a different state. There is always a place like that in towns across America that people will always love going to it.

I remember growing up the local Italian restaurant had pictures on the wall for sale

WOW! This is the first time in like years I have read crankshaft and I have found more hate and jealousy than in most political cartoons. Hate and jealousy is usually shown from the radical right wing nuts.

Jeez, from reading some of these comments it feels some some folks feel entitled to a strip that panders to their sensibilities. It’s just a strip and go with the flow. If you don’t like what the author is doing stop reading it.

Aww! :’)