Crankshaft by Tom Batiuk and Dan Davis for December 22, 2023

There’s the Pizza (Box) Monster! Hooray! So who’s cooking the pizza, then?

Oh, and, why wouldn’t he be welcome? He’s a co-owner of the place, right?

If Min-dull’s shirt change means this is not the same day as Monday-Thursday’s strips (how telling that Mopey didn’t change his), are we to assume that the lovebirds arrived back at the still-unopened Montoni’s separately and the PBM just happened to be there as she came in? The PBM, who is dressed in boxes even though there’s one around and no one knows their civilian identity, and who cannot sign legal documents or checks “Pizza Box Monster”?

I’m so glad Batiuk is continuing to play up the goofiest and lamest aspect of this goofy and lame storyline.

The PBM is writing a check? It’s the ultimate in bad paper!

It’s a blizzard out there. How does that cardboard costume avoid getting as soggy as a Montoni’s pizza and as limp as the writing?

Do we know who the pizza monster is? I didn’t follow the Funky strip, so I come here to figure out what’s going on and who’s who.

I thought they wouldn’t be able to accommodate such a large order. How foolish of me to forget the power of the comic strip.

And how did he sign his name? I doubt it’s legal if he just signs “Pizza Monster”. This tired old joke has been driven completely into the ground and Pete is INSANE if he enters into a business deal with some nutball without knowing who it really is.

I wonder how the PBM signed the check—“Pizza Box Monster?”

An infusion of cash is always welcome.

P3: Mindy is giving PBG the look!

But…but what about the rumballs? Have we forgotten about the rumballs?

Silent anonymous partner,,,,,,and money talks!!!!!

Where’s the Pizza Box Mon- OH! YAY!

Now what do I do? Oh, where’s Crankshaft?

Why are they just hanging around in this unopened restaurant…waiting for customers? And it’s nice of Pizza Box Monster to finally pay his half or whatever of the purchase. Long after Mopey already financed the whole thing? That makes sense.

Well, good seeing you, PBM. I’m sure we’ll see you again in about a year.

Is Crankshaft secretly the PBM? Hmmm…

Uh. When did this guy buy a share of Montoni’s? How big a share does he own? It seems that they were caught off guard when he first showed up so do they even know who he is? If he robs them blind, what kind of description can they give to the police?

Try cashing the check signed “Pizza Monster.”

And what name did he put on the check? I wanna see this guy’s face!

OK, I really dislike the consistently-snarky comments about this strip. BUT, at the risk of being similarly accused, I find the perpetually pasted-on grins on many of the characters to be intolerably obnoxious. Today is a perfect example. Arggh!

Beware who you welcome any time. That could be …

CRANKYSHAFT

So, let me get this straight. They do not yet own the restaurant. They haven’t even submitted the paperwork yet. But they have the keys, practically live in the place, are cooking in it (unless that pizza yesterday was delivered from somewhere else which I wouldn’t doubt), fully decorated the interior for nobody, are granting media interviews, are giving out promotions (free appetizers)…..

Enough of the pizza story, eh? Boring!

Health inspector: “It seems the black mold here has given you—I don’t know how to say this…but..” Everyone else: “Yeah, CANCER! Well, duh, who cares?!”

Haha! (＾▽＾)