Crankshaft by Tom Batiuk and Dan Davis for February 21, 2024

Everybody sing! “Shake, death-rattle and roll!”

Withdrawal.

So, Ed’s trying to not show he has the shakes by sitting there shaking?

Incidentally, Ray Milland did it better in “The Lost Weekend.”

Just hands him glass of milk and you is can makes and sells milkshake.

It’s really hard waiting for packages. I’m sure Ed will hold it together.

Nah. It’s too much caffeine. Or a stroke.

Love Pam here! “Yes. My father, who is 102 years old, is having a massive seizure.” (VERY LONG PAUSE FROM PAM, who then hears plaintive moans from her father, writhing on the lawn) “Is he still doing it? Dad…What is this? What, your catalog AGAIN?! I SOOOO care.” (turns to Lillian) “So… are you the writer avatar, or the Bad Brownies Lady?” (background choking noises slowly end)

Old joke; His med bottles said shake well before taking.

Ed’s nerves must really be on edge.

And here’s a example of the innocent bystanders that nobody ever thinks about during a strike…

Maybe Ed accidentally cut off his tongue when he was playing with that chainsaw. That would explain his silence all week. I approve.

Hand him a package to open and he should be OK……for a while!!!!!!!

Withdrawal is no joke.

Ed is old, Ed always shakes, see Ed, see Ed shake.

Cranky’s blacksmith anvil and sledge hammer will be late in arriving

All of a sudden, all the snow is gone.

Lookit him, sitting in his electric chair. Waiting for his sizzling 50,000-volt ECT.

what did ed order a babys arm holding a apple ?

Considering that just a couple of days ago, there was snow everywhere, and an ice sculpture contest outside. I don’t think a slight delay in the delivery of his gardening supplies is cause for concern.

Honestly, the group of you that EXTREMELY dislike this strip, why do you keep pulling it up? Karen trolls?

There was a time when Tom would have written an actual gag here, as in:

Panel One: Lil asks, “How is Ed dealing with the UPX strike?”

Panel Two: Pmm responds (with the current Panel Three art), “He’s trying not to show it, but he’s starting to get the shakes.”

Panel Three: no dialogue, the art from Panel Two, but Ed’s surrounded by empty paper cups and sucking from a milkshake.

See how easy it is? A bit of a surprise and a pun. But Tom doesn’t do “gags” anymore. Not since Lisa died.

Retailers have programmed their robo-operators to transfer Ed’s call to an unintended voicemail box; the White House, UPX, and the labor union has sent him a Cease and Desist from sending any more letters begging for a Presidential intervention like the railroad strike.

All have quoted the “needs of the many outweigh needs of the few” in each letter.