Crankshaft by Tom Batiuk and Dan Davis for March 19, 2025

What possible order was the encyclopedia under before this? By smell? “I’ll put Sie-Sup under B, because it still smells like when the cat Barfed on it!”

“And thus I created my first hero, Stuporman! Slower than molasses in winter! More powerful than a barrel of Valium! Able to leapfrog giant plotholes at a single bound!”

Ooooh, look, it’s Crankshaft in the background! Quick, Skippy, stiff Tooter Turdle and join Ed!

… but Batton, can you draw? Can you develop a sustainable dialog?

Wait a minute…Batton Thomas, Creator of the Once-Syndicated Comic Strip “Three O’Clock High,” was in grade school after Superman’s debut? I figured him for a contemporary of Siegel and Shuster.

Hey, look, everybody! It’s Ed Crankshaft, back there in a booth with his buddies! Hiya, Ed! Tryin’ to force your way back into your strip, are ya? Good luck.

“I met Siegel shortly thereafter, and became the inspiration for Nature Boy.”

Nice that instead of stick figures in the background, Cranky and friends make a word-free appearance…

Maybe Crank and the boys slipped some Strychnine into the coffee..

“So I decided to become a cartoonist and create comics that treated real-world social issues with such depth, sensitivity, and understanding that they would surely win a Pulitzer Prize. It turns out that some things really are impossible, after all.”

“Then the librarian whacked me with a ruler because I was goofing off instead of doing what she asked me to do.”

Hilarious! “Impossible seemed possible”! Snort! Another classic rib-tickler from that undisputed master of comedy, Tom Batiuk! Oh, my sides are aching from laughing so hard!

Yes, it could definitely make you feel that way. Believe it or not, I used to read my father’s encyclopaedia for fun.

Yes and this story like seems impossible to leave and get on to something more interesting.

…………get on with it!!!!

Alas poor Crankyshaft. Become a background character in his own komix.

this weeks crank and mary worth are affecting sominex sales

Ferlin Nxyly, where are you?(SUPERMANtrivia)

No mention of Joe Shuster, Siegel’s partner? That’s BS!

whoa! Crankshaft has a cameo!

Youtube: v=ScFwRoLhR2sJoe Shuster drew Superman in Toronto.

There sure a lot of judgmental people on Facebook who hide behind made up names.

All this exposition will be boiled down to three column inches on page 4.

This whole arc illustrates the narcissism of the cartoonists. What would make them think anyone other than their fictional reporter has any interest in their life history?

Sheesh… I can hardly wait to read Skip’s article that he writes about this guy …” … and then, my teacher had me put the encyclopedias in alphabetical order…”… that’s some exciting stuff right there!