Crankshaft by Tom Batiuk and Dan Davis for December 04, 2023

Umm, Mindy, you were apprehensive to the point of nausea over this deal a couple of days ago. Why aren’t you saying something instead of shaking hands and keeping a blank smile on your face…or are your preparing for your upcoming nuptials with Mopey?

Where’s Pizza Box Monster while this is…OH, MY GOD! SOMEONE CARVED HIM UP AND PUT HIM ON THE SHELVES IN PANEL ONE!!!

Meanwhile, Ed tries to escape through a freezer door but realizes that’s not going to work.

“Kevin Feige! Welcome to your new job washing dishes in a rust belt Domino’s!” “Yeah! I’ve gone from multimillionaire to being crushed with revolving debt I’ll never escape with just a handshake! I’M THE LUCKIEST MAN ALIVE!”

So the joke is…Pete’s an idiot? Or that HOLY COW can these people TELEPORT!

Wow I was not expecting things to be resolved that quickly

Mournday’s wearing that 1960s spy movie onesie because she knows this is the last time she can ever wear white. From now on, all her clothes will be colored pizza stain grease. She does lead a charmed life!

Ed’s checking hot the Pizza oven can go

It’s just amazing how quickly the place has been spiffed up and stocked with Montoni’s cartons and regular boxes of, uh, stuff. Or did Batiuk just give us another time jump?

Mopey leads a charmed life? Where’s the fakir playing a flute for him?

Let’s celebrate with a fresh pizza! Fire up the oven, Ed!

The lack of moral support is strong in this thread. And did no one hear him say yesterday that he will continue with some comics work while reviving Montoni’s?

Can’t wait until he tells Chester he’s quitting.

“Thank you relieving me of this curse… this place is inherently evil. Whatever you do, stay away from the old well that’s in the basement. Otherwise, best of luck and I hope you’re both good fighters!”

do they even know how to cook?

From comic books to pizza. Throw in cancer and it’s the Tom Batuik trifecta

The cardboard cutout Crankshaft said nothing after stating he was there to oversee the fairness of the transaction. Had a lawyer like that.

They’re getting there.

Crankshaft as wallpaper

If you say that someone leads or has a charmed life, you mean that they always seem to be lucky, as if they are protected or helped by magic.

Welcome back Funky.

I see Cranky wandered back in. Do you suppose he will have some role in this story line? Otherwise, why bother, unless Batiuk feels torn between including him or cutting him out all together.

ok pizza story over back to bookclub tomorrow or insane ways to get rid of snow

And the long, slow, death spiral into reality begins.

One of the most infuriating aspects of this storyline is that there were characters in FW that actually worked at Montoni’s and could have taken over the business, including a woman of color, but, no, gotta bring in the middle aged white guy with no connection to the shop at all.

So that’s all there is to it? No negotiations, lawyers, inspections, contracts, closing?

Did Ed actually contribute anything to this?

Pete looks way older than Crank’s granddaughter. Is he supposed to be?

I think it’s hilarious how many people come here to complain about a comic strip that nobody is making them read. Also that they don’t seem to realize that it IS a comic strip, and that the writers will determine whether Pete and Mindy will be successful. It seems to me that the writers just want to integrate a familiar element from Funky as they continue to integrate the two comics. I personally enjoy the crossover.

Have you ever heard “The Willing Suspension of Disbelief?” I don’t think Batiuk ever has?"

And have you ever heard of hate reading?

Wait, how did this go from “meet the (former) owner and have him answer questions/give us a tour”, to, SOLD! with no negotiations, inspections, etc.? And where is Pizza Box Monster? If he is part owner, doesn’t he need to agree to this? Also curious as to how this “bare” restaurant as they called it, is fully loaded with equipment and supplies. What exactly did Funky auction off, the pictures and that one tiffany lamp? That was profitable.

writer drags out storyline " Oh man another day of NOTHING happening" Writer moves things along “What about…etc etc etc?”

Cross Buffalo Chicken Pizza off the menu

Crankshaft is just checking to see if there’s a leftover Pizza in there.

He’s a real optimist.