Crankshaft by Tom Batiuk and Dan Davis for July 14, 2023

Out in Ed Crankshaft’s garden shed, a man-sized pod lies empty.

“Here, I have some work for you to do for me that will eat up lots of your time so you won’t have much time to do what YOU want to do.”

That bratty kid is getting annoying…

Has anyone ever seen Crank perusing an Archie com-x?No? Me neither.

“Let’s see… Omaha the Cat Dancer, Cherry Pop-Tart, Tarot: Witch of the Black Rose, Little Annie Fanny, Xxxenophile… wow, I’ve never even heard of these, they must be rare and valuable!”

When, in the long backstory of Ed Crankshaft, did we see any evidence that he was into komix?

The last three days have been prime Batiuk “story-telling.” First we have the homunculus shrieking “say yes!!!” and the tension of whether Jff, who just kicked his komix habit, will go to Comic-Con. The next day we have Child Jff in the kitchen, preparing to ask Scary Female Authority Figure if he can indulge his komix habit. Anothe tense moment: will Pmm give her permission, or will she stab a potato peeler through his dreams? Today we have Jff packing as Ed suddenly exhibits a deep interest in komix as an investment.

What’s missing? In each case, tension is built up, but then released off camera. This is beyond “Tell, Don’t Show.” The skipping past the dramatic payoff is downright tantric.

Scavenger hunt.

I don’t think they’ll be cheap enough for an investment club at the comic-con. Those people know what they’re worth.

Seems like a ridiculous thing for an investment club to purchase, considering they are surely not getting these things at any kind of a discount. Especially since this wouldn’t be a long term investment, what with the club members averaging 90 years of age.

Comic books as an investment…hmmm…

“There’s a comic book called ‘Lisa’s Story’? Oh boy! Oh boy! Oh boy oh boy oh boy oh boy oh boy!!”

Buying vintage comics now is not an investment.

When has Ed ever expressed an interest in comic books? He didn’t even learn to read until a few years back.

Wow a Crankshaft appearance………….

Why not just bring him along?

(With apologies to the Beach Boys) … “Let’s go, comics now, everybody’s groaning now, come on com-safari with meeee! Come, come on, comic safari, come, come on, comic safari!”

Don’t forget to stop at the Comic-Con museum in Balboa Park.

Oh, my! Crank didn’t start speaking with a ‘SO!’

Factor in the fact that all of those in the investment club are well past 80 and you’ve guaranteed that this story will make no sense.

Hey! Winkerbean’s been retired! The story line had to go somewhere!

At least they are reading!

Just admit it Ed. You like reading comics too!