Crankshaft by Tom Batiuk and Dan Davis for April 26, 2024

Generate dialogue a two panel Funky Winkerbean comic strip where the strip’s author avatar, Batton Thomas, speaks with one of his fans at a book signing event.

ChatGPT

Panel 1:

[At a book signing event, Batton Thomas, the author avatar, sits behind a table with stacks of his books. A fan, wearing a Funky Winkerbean t-shirt, approaches with a smile.]

Fan: Mr. Thomas, I just have to say, your work has inspired me so much!

Panel 2:

[Close-up on Batton Thomas, signing a book with a grin on his face.]

Batton Thomas: Thank you! Hearing that means the world to me. Remember, keep dreaming big and never stop reaching for the stars!

… OK, I guess this is how we know that today’s strip wasn’t generated by AI. The AI dialogue is more coherent.

I’m wondering why there’s a cat under the sign on the wall?

You know, Tom, there’s a very easy way to find out if people would come up to you and offer fawning praise while telling you how much they miss your comic strip work.

The way she rolls her eyes, expecting yet another comment about her deprived life and about a comic strip meaning so much to her. Well done.

aaaand, yet another pair of glasses that hold themselves together without a nosepiece.

Social butterfly or a reclusive moth.

“I miss your terrible strip. And I need an inspirational hump which will make me smile! Yes, I live a deprived life.”

Do hate reading Trolls go to book signing events?

I would love to see how certain commentors might be portrayed

“But enough of this small talk. Want to make out?”

This lady needs professional help if she depends on a comic strip to maker feel better

OMG – it literally is just “Tom tells himself how powerful and important his own comics are week.” Stay tuned for the Sideways Sunday when an apologetic Pulitzer committee bursts into the shabby attic with not one, but TWO Pulitzers as they weep and beg “Batton’s” forgiveness.

Kindred spirits ….of a sort!!!!

Pat yourself on the back. Now, where is Crankshaft?

That’s the mean old librarian who once fined me 50 cents for an overdue book

Oh, Chrisalys!

half yes half no you know how it is

What would Crankshaft say about a guy who spent 50 years in a room all by himself!

“If only you wrote a companion strip that you could hijack with the same characters and stories!”

Funky Winkerbean is where I went for a frown, a deep depression, and a fit of rage. And that means I’ve lived a normal life, for a snarker.

This is more like the old Funky Winkerbean each day I read it. Why doesn’t Batiuk change the name of this strip since there are no more main characters like Ed Crankshaft.

Hey, why don’t you ask him for a real hug rather than just a cartoon?

(Or is that a Rhettorical question?)

“Speaking as somebody who spent the last fifty years in a room by himself”…

That’s what Batton gets for irritating his parole officer.

This week’s comic strip shows Batton Thomas appearing younger in each subsequent panel. On Monday, he looked like a middle-aged man, who was actually drawn younger than the gray-haired senior in previous story arcs. Today, Batton is depicted as a balding teenager. Who knows, maybe tomorrow he will resemble a third-grader?

Book festivals, the Komix Korner, and another book signing. Is everybody enjoying this rollercoaster? /s

Ed Crankshaft, please come home. All is forgiven.