Crankshaft by Tom Batiuk and Dan Davis for July 20, 2024

And take this story with you!

Is that the sun or is Batiuk mooning us?

Gosh, I’m so moved about this abruptly ended story about a guy we’ve never seen before.

… and he was never seen again. (Eerie closing music)

It’s the Summit Lake legend of ‘The Bow-tied Man’. Dun dun dun!

By the way, Eugene, you’re rowing the boat backwards. You’re rowing the boat stern first in the direction of travel. The wide stern creates one hell of a lot of drag.

It’s a lot easier rowing the boat by the narrow bow first. Your back against the direction of travel for better leverage.

You’re not too bright but I’m sure Lucy loved you anyway.

They say you can never go home again. Apparently, you can’t go on vacation again either.

Lillian is an ancillary character to Crankshaft. Her sister is an ancillary character to Lillian. Fedora Boy is an ancillary character to an ancillary character to an ancillary character! WHO IS HE? Am I supposed feel joy or sadness over this nobody we’ve never seen before, as he sets the canoe-controls to the heart of the Sun? It’s Called Writing! Incompetent and pointless Writing, but sure whevs, Tom.

It would be funny if this arc ended tomorrow with a U-boat surfacing and torpedoing the canoe of Whoever This Dork Is! Oh, Dorky, We hardly knew Ye! Of course, that would depend on Davis’ AI scraping an Ayers-drawn U-boat, because Davis ain’t drawing nothing. Maybe it’ll be a badly ’shopped giant seagull eating Who Cares Fedora Boy like a trash can french fry! WE MISS YOU, WHOEVER THE GOLDANG HECK YOU WERE!!

Where’s a loch ness monster when ya needs one.

Living with this everyday without him

Off to what he thinks is Valinor?

Last of the Summer Wine

If he slowly rolls a body over the side at midnight, we got something here. Otherwise, wtf?

P2: And today it is now a canoe with Oarlocks and Oars.

Leave the man with his memories. In time you will be in the same situation, alone after a loved one passes on. For once ( if possible) show that (possibly) you have a heart, but I doubt it.

Great story line. Nice sentiment.

Happy times!!!!!

I will say it’s light years better than comic books, book signings, the Valentine theater or Dinkle anything.

It’s funny because the sky is purple in the last panal! It is supposed to be blue maybe red, how does Batty think of these? Wow!

As the sun dipped lower, Rose and Tom paddled back towards the shore. The sky was ablaze with colors, reflecting off the water and creating a magical atmosphere. They docked the canoe and stepped onto the shore, hand in hand.

“That was wonderful,” Rose said, her eyes still sparkling with the joy of their shared adventure.

Tom nodded, a contented smile on his face. “It’s amazing how a simple canoe ride can bring back so many memories.”

They walked slowly back to the car, the air cool and refreshing. As they drove home, they talked about the past, their voices filled with warmth and laughter.

In the days that followed, Tom found himself thinking often of their time at the lake. One evening, while Rose was resting, he decided to take the old canoe out once more, this time alone.

The lake was serene, the setting sun casting long shadows over the water. Tom rowed slowly, his mind filled with memories of their shared life. He could almost hear Rose’s laughter, feel the warmth of her hand in his. As he reached the center of the lake, he paused, letting the canoe drift.

The sky turned a deep shade of purple, the sun a fiery ball on the horizon. Tom felt a sense of peace wash over him. He knew that their love, their memories, would always be with him, as enduring as the lake and the setting sun.

With a final, contented sigh, Tom dipped his oars back into the water and began to row back, the gentle rhythm of his strokes a comforting reminder of a lifetime of love and adventure shared with Rose.

Is it still riding off into the sunset if you’re rowing a boat?

Is Batuik signing off?

While responding to DQ’s plea to “have a heart” and “leave the man with his memories,” I came to realize what bugs me about this “story”: it’s glorifying unhealthy behavior. Here’s what I mean: I was probably about the same age as Eugene (judging by how he’s depicted in the strips where Lillian’s treachery is first revealed to us, I think back around 2011-ish) when my college sweetie dumped me. I got a nice card saying that for Christmas she had gotten some gifts I don’t remember “…and engaged.” Ow.

I got over it in a few weeks, like normal, healthy people do. Fifty years later, I remember this as a thing that happened, but can’t even remember her name. Got on with my life, had another relationship, broke up, met another woman and been happily married for 39 years and counting. That’s how life works.

Wallowing in his (perceived, as he never followed up to make sure Lucy got his proposal) rejection for seventy years is not normal or healthy. It may be a staple of “romantic” fiction, but in a strip that claims to be “a quarter inch from reality” it’s just glorifying mental illness. Eugene needed help seventy years ago and didn’t get it. This is nothing to spin as “sweet,” “romantic,” or “touching.”

Are we about to hear/see a quiet splash?

Batty must be fun to be around.

Sweet memories.

hope he gets bit by a water mocasin or some hillbilly is fishing with hand grenades

Happy past. Happy present.

I gotta add this to my Saved Comics!

Ahhhhhhh…. I thought he was going to take a canoe out.

Someday we will all fade away into the sunset…..

Misty water colored memories of the way things were (poetic license)…..

The usual sadness and misery.

Let me guess, the row boat is named Trigger.

So is this gonna be like the end of “A Star Is Born”?

Meh. “Pogo” did it better.

I refuse to look at any of the comments and see nasty comments that will ruin the wonderful calm feeling this gives me.

Hail Mary full of grace…

Memories are wonderful, even when they make you cry!

To the ignorant readers who think the tale between Lucy and Eugene is romantic here’s how it went down. It’s actually quite silly.

Eugene was dating Lucy when WWII broke out. Eugene decided to enlist. Before he left, he decided to ask Lucy to marry him. Instead of proposing in person, Eugene wrote Lucy a letter. In the letter Eugene stated, if Lucy’s answer was “Yes”, she was to meet him at a certain time at the ballroom. If Lucy didn’t show, Eugene would know her answer was “No” and he wouldn’t bother her again. As most readers know, Lucy’s jealous sister Lillian intercepted and hid the letter for the rest of Lucy’s life.

So, here’s where it gets really s​tupid. Eugene returned from the war and never followed up on the marriage proposal? He stayed true to his promise of never bothering her again. Why was that so important? He’d lay flowers on her grave but never talked to Lucy while she was alive? Lucy never understood why Eugene abandoned her, yet never attempted to contact Eugene either? Neither ever married because they were too busy pining over their lost love?

Sheesh. Batyuk always equated misery with great writing.

Who the hell proposes through the mail? It’s a life-altering decision. Why is “No answer” accepted by either party as the basis for ending a desired relationship? This is not romantic, touching, or poignant. It is s​tupid, and those two got exactly what they deserved.

If these were real-life people, I’d be glad they didn’t marry. It kept them from breeding.

Give the a break, jerk.

Sadly Eugene discovers all of his public education perpetuated a hoax … the world is flat and he has fallen off.

the people getting so sad about how good this is are real life wilber westons

Is today’s strip supposed to be metaphorical?

Ahh, memories.

Where’s Cranky?

Taking a sentimental journey

I am sure the older sister forgave herself for destroying the love life of her younger sister. My older brother forgave himself for destroying my domestic life in my father’s house. I moved out and far away. I went low contact.