Crankshaft by Tom Batiuk and Dan Davis for February 08, 2024

“Such sadistic glee!” Let’s all pretend he didn’t just say “such sadistic glee!” (collapses laughing)

“Why, they even hypnotize kids into ruining their health to sell spoiled turkeys!”

“This calls for an immediate Congressional investigation!”

Once again Tom shows he hasn’t really.. read a comic since 1995. I know rebutting him is futile: he dosen’t read his comments and if he did i’m not sure he’d care about anything I have to say. But as someone who loves this medium, how it’s evolved, and what it can do, it annoys me to see someone just.. flat out lying. There isn’t some 90’s style rise of anti heroes. There ARE runs over packed with angst like the current Amazing Spider-Man, and problems of some writers not caring about consitent characterization. Comics today aren’t without their problems.. but “THEIR TOO ANGRY AND BORDERLINE VILLIANOUS” is a complaint from a decade ago and stories like it have already been put through the wringer. Bill Waterson satirzed the dark age of comics frequently and comics like Kingdom Come and “What’s So Funny About Truth Justice and the American Way” Have already covered the idea that a hero being idealistic simply dosen’t work anymore. If Bautik made this complaint in say the 90’s or early 2010s, when the new 52 was in step, he might of had a point, but in 2024.. he’s just.. wrong.

“Shhh! The other customers might hea…Holy Moley! We actually have other customers! Where the heck did they come from!?”

Okay, Amazing Boomer-Man!

Apropos of nothing, have we ever seen Jfff reading any modern comics? All he’s done is hole up in the attic with the remnants of his Beloved Silver Age books or go to San Diego and the Komix Korner to buy expensive hardcover reprints of his Beloved Silver Age books. Never once has he been shown curled up on the porch perusing The Boys, Evil Ernie, The Punisher, Sin City, or even Identity Crisis.

I didn’t know that Jfff even read modern comics?

Sunny Day, chasin’ the clouds away! I’m gonna go where the Air is Free! Can you tell me how to get, how to get such sadistic glee!

K-2SO looks like he might still be in the same spot as on Tuesday (though he’s not facing the same direction), only now he’s blocking a door that wasn’t there, and the Iron Man statue seems to have moved as well. (Presumably, the door is the main entrance as seen on Monday, but, again, that was in front of Skunkhead before, whereas now it seems to be in a good position for someone to run in and grab something from behind the counter, assuming Skunkhead ever leaves his chair. But there are only so many strips that Davis is willing to look through for “reference” before he just says “eh, good enough, it’s not like Batiuk cares about keeping things consistent”.)

Jeff, let me introduce you to Peter Parker, as originally written by Steve Ditko.

“By the way, if you don’t buy something in the next five minutes, I’m kicking you out.”

That dresser behind Mr. Dead-Skunk Head… is that furniture from his childhood bedroom?

Comics!

The best heroes are flawed individuals

Never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down, never such sadistic glee!

Thanks for another fine strip: Tom Batiuk, Count on my visiting this page every-day.

…..oh the comic store drama……..and the drama of the comments!!!!!!!!!

Shhhhhh, and by the way where is Crankshaft these days?

Don’t say it out loud! The people here that actually read the comics have no idea about the personalities of the characters they’re reading unless we tell them.

ralph the ratsnake from mark trail made more sense today !!!! plus did they lose another star on yelp

Jeff Murdoch is skyrocketing up the chart of unlikable Crankshaft characters. Not because he’s a sadistic misanthrope like Ed or an egomaniacal tyrant like Dinkle, but because he’s so bloody boring.

Still, I suppose this Crankshaft arc could be worse. DeadSkunkHead could be having this conversation with Mopey Pete. Ugh.

Crazy is getting ready to tell Jeff that he has to buy that, because his grandson ripped the package!

Today’s comic book superheroes must maintain a social media profile and deal with all of the trolling “karens.”

If superheroes were forced to fly on commercial airlines like the rest of us, they wouldn’t have those “suitcases full of anger management issues.” Delta would have lost them during the connection in Atlanta.

Demonology does seem to be recurring theme in today’s comic books.

As has been asked by wherescrankshaft : “Where’s Crankshaft?Where’s Crankshaft? Where’s Crankshaft? Where’s Crankshaft?Where’s Crankshaft? Where’s Crankshaft? Where’s Crankshaft?Where’s Crankshaft? Where’s Crankshaft? Where’s Crankshaft?Where’s Crankshaft? Where’s Crankshaft? Where’s Crankshaft?Where’s Crankshaft? Where’s Crankshaft? Where’s Crankshaft?Where’s Crankshaft? Where’s Crankshaft? Where’s Crankshaft?Where’s Crankshaft? Where’s Crankshaft? Where’s Crankshaft?Where’s Crankshaft? Where’s Crankshaft?” : )

Audiences and artists change over time.