Crankshaft by Tom Batiuk and Dan Davis for June 30, 2024

Well, now we know why Ed didn’t stick around for warmed-over pizza with Min-dull and Mopey, And yeah, I’m sure a casual cuisine family dining chain would have “miso-infused salmon” on its (breakfast?) menu.

Still, it is Cranky and his pals eating a meal together, with no comic books, movie premieres, Claude Barlow, or book signings in sight…for the next 24 hours, at least.

It’s unnerving to see the old lady in the mirror. I can’t be that old!

Most of my aunts and uncles died in their late 40’s and early 50’s. I never thought I would live to be 73 years old, but here I am!

Edbert Crankstein eh. Gives him a NoBell prize.

And yes of course… It’s called ageing!

All my friends are getting old.

It’s old age… I’m see more I knew now more often now days in the obits.

Ed ain’t going to be around long if he is ordering salmon from a diner

When my kids say that I’m ancient, they’re right. I was 48 then 55 when they were born and the youngest is turning 18.

Speaking of “infested“…

Brilliant deduction!!!!!!

All that “red” in every frame…..made my Sunday!!!!!!

My mom once told me that she didn’t feel old. She thought like a younger person. Now I know what she meant!

how do you tell pizzabox monsters age ?

All right, I’m going to come out and say it: this is a good strip. It shows what Batiuk and Davis are capable of. The “throwaway panel” is a classic Ed Crankshaft malapropism, and unlike many of the ones we’ve seen since the hostile takeover by Funky Winkerbean, it works well (well enough that Bill Thompson speculated on how they could have made a whole strip out of similar jokes). The main joke is relatable; I suspect 90% or more of readers are old enough to have experienced not feeling as “old” as people our age looked when we were younger. No space ships, no comic books, no time traveling janitor, just a funny comment on a real-world thing. And the joke is structured well; the setup doesn’t feel stretched or padded, the punch line gets a proper delivery, and the strip ends without anybody commenting on the joke and thereby ruining it. Nice work, Tom and Dan. If all your strips could be done this well…

And for those who wonder why we “haters” keep criticizing the strip… this is what Crankshaft was before it became Funky Winkerbean Act IV: a solid, character/situation driven, relatable, consistently good for a chuckle or even a belly laugh comic strip. We miss that.

Here’s……Crankshaft!

Ed was probably fight when he said infested.

Now pay attention to this important message. The proper way to enjoy the comic strips is to (1) without reading the dialogue bubbles, observe the artwork in each panel, paying attention to details, then (2) go through a second time reading the dialogue. This way you can truly appreciate the comic strip. Thank you for your time.

Thank you for that Cranky…….

So for me the big question is… why is this strip so good, and so classic Crankshaft? Why no komixturbation, self-gratification through awards, book signings, etc.? This reads like a strip from before the hostile takeover by Funky Winkderbean. This reads like it was written and set for publication two or three years ago.

I have only one answer: TimeMop®, the Rather Elegant Solution™

You’re only as old as you feel, eh? … ;)

Since when did Ed become such a wise philosopher?

How many old people don’t know that “wasabi” means super-strong horseradish?