Crankshaft by Tom Batiuk and Dan Davis for August 05, 2024

Good morning, all.

Quick, call Hairy Dingle, have him bring in the band to strike up the “Humblest Man Alive March!”

Ok, I’ll say it. Where’s Cranky?

Skip It, if you were an actual reporter you’d know the guy’s name and just have to say “Where can I find Batton Thomas?”

More of this. Enjoyed Crankshaft while we had him. With this, I’ll try.

Right back atcha…

Oh noes. Not the Korny Komix Korner again. And who this one armed old man?

That time of the year to print another paper.

Here we go again with more ridiculous comic books.

aaannnndddd, we’re back to Mary Sue patting the other Mary Sue on the back for being so great. I can’t wait for the month long arc where Batton Thomas wins an Oscar and the rare Super Pulitzer.

Here we go again. But you’ve got to hand it to Skip…

Funny thing is, the idea that a reporter might interview a washed-up—I mean, retired—comic strip artist at the local comic store (where he’s known to hang out) isn’t all that odd. Makes as much sense as meeting up in a coffee shop or a bar. Imagine if Skippy had said “Hi, I’m Skipping Record from the Sentinel. I called you yesterday. I’m meeting Batton Thomas to interview him for a story.” And the other guys would nod and say something like “Mr. Three O’Clock High?” And another might add “Oh, we call him Captain 8-Track.” And it would be more or less believable. What makes no sense is Skippy strolling in on a random Monday morning in the hopes that he might cross paths with the guy who’s supposed to be the subject of his next Big Story.

Imagine if Tom did this strip an actual quarter-inch from reality: Skip shows up today, hoping to randomly bump into Batton. Tomorrow… no Batton. Wednesday… still no Batton. Thursday… another day without Batton. Friday… yet again no Batton. Saturday… Skip goes back to the office and sets up the front page, which reads “Our apologies for having no feature story this week.”

Alternative explanation for Skippy showing up on a random Monday morning: he once had the misfortune to meet Batton Thomas, and the last thing he wants to do is ever encounter the guy in person again. He’s just going to pump the Komix Koroner regulars for dirt on Batton, go over to AtomiK KomiX for more embarrassing and/or incriminating stories, and then go back to the office to write his exposé.

Nah, that might be interesting.

……before my time!!!!!!

Thay should be Battin, as in Battin Belfry.

Bye, see ya next week.

Must be a really slow news day for whatever fish-wrap grandpa here works for

Captain 8-track? Captain Doosh fits better….

Not to be confused with Captain Fantastic. Or the Brown Dirt Cowboy.

does one arm and comic book owner ever change there clothes ?

Shriek! (Drop over dead).

Because a dead media format writing about a tired art form is the recipe for success!

Please go back to the grill gags…

Comics! One armed geezers! Stilted dialog! We got it all!

Great Caesar’s Ghost, we’re back to this. Why can’t Skip Bittman just say “I’m looking for cartoonist Batton Thomas, and I heard he visits here”? Did we really need to have the “Three O’Clock” strip name shoehorned in yet again for what probably be the only time this week?

Oh, and Harry: you graduated high school in 1973 and work in a comic book store. You’re the last person to be calling someone “Captain Eight-Track.”

Skip Rawlings looks like he’s wearing a disguise

I enjoy the Komix Korner stories because they bring the trivia experts out of the woodwork.

And remember, it is pronounced MIX-YEZ-PITEL-ICK

At least a week of Skip Rawlings, DeadSkunkhead, The Komix Korner, and Batton Thomas? It’s one. It’s two. It’s three, no it’s four kinds of cr​ap all rolled up in one. This is going to be a snarker’s paradise.

Grab your seats, kids! Winkerbean weeks are upon us again!

P 4 (skunk boy): “… he ain’t here so either buy somethin’ or get tf out pops…”

Be creative with Cranky stories not other—-or if you are burned out-get another job. I want Crankshaft, not some half baked thing.

After the interview, let’s all go to Montoni’s for some yellow-waxy triangles covered with black bits, and drink glasses full of some kind of unidentifiable pale brown liquid. YEE-HAW!

I love these stories about old comics and those of us who loved them and created them. Much more than stories about Crankshaft and the grill.

A new arc, I presume?

Another boring week when nothing happens. I think that the 300th straight week that’s happened.

Day 11 without a hint of cranky. Maybe Sunday he will make a cameo appearance.