Crankshaft by Tom Batiuk and Dan Davis for July 22, 2024

There’s Crankshaft! And where’s Eugene, last seen sailing along on Moonblight Bay?

WHO IS THIS FREAK?! WHY does he make some kinda lame, but quite serviceable joke? WHO IS HE?! A creature from myth and legend? Is he BIGFOOT?!?! Oh…really, he’s…? Um, uh, carry on then.

Look like cheap steenky restaurant. They not even bother removing all that cobwebs on the wall.

Am I dreaming? Is Cranky really here?

Last panel, at first I thought he was showing his belly to her. Just the bald spot on his buddies head.

Eugene has gone to the “undying lands” to visit Frodo.

Age will do that to you

There was a time I could finish everything, including what anyone else at the table couldn’t finish

I still probably could, but I would pay for it later

“I’m afraid my fries were bigger than my stomach!”

With that stomach, I find that hard to believe.

It’s funny because Crankshaft has Alzheimer’s.

Get that man to a doctor! He left perfectly good fries on his plate.

Fuhgeddaboudit. He needs an undertaker!

Welcome back Crankshaft!!

….dem taters are filling!!!!!

It happens.

And, on the second day, Batiuk gives us a bad pun.

Notice the spotlight effect in panel three (the circle of light on the wall behind the waitress, as if somebody’s shining a spotlight on her). I have noticed this in a lot of strips the last couple years. Can’t decide if it’s Davis’s only original contribution to the strip, or something Batty brought over from FW.

once fries go cold there not so good put the bomb hot sauce on them for cranker

And that folks, is the joke that Killed Henny Youngman.

I haven’t been able to eat out since a major surgery in 2018 to remove a stricture in my esophagus. I’ve had a side effect where sometimes after I eat, I get lightheaded, vision goes white, and heart rate increases. When that happens, I have to lay down an hour or so until it passes. To risk not possibly passing out in a restaurant, when I order out, I have to bring it home to eat. Because of that, any appointments I have or trips I make during any given day, I have to do BEFORE I eat anything, so I won’t risk those symptoms behind the wheel.

Eugene’s rowed himself off the scene, Ed and his Dale Evans posse are back, and it’s a malaprop that makes sense and is slightly amusing. All in all, I call this a Monday morning win.

Is he back?

I love French fried potaters. Mm-hmm.

Those fries are reconstituted potatoes. They will expand upon mixing with fluids.

Classic Crankshaft.

There’s a behind the head shot of a 3rd person in panel 3. Is that him?