Funky and Friends

In this sixth volume, we see the changes in tone that now characterize Funky Winkerbean. The story arcs increasingly intertwine to mark the shift from the simple sitcom mode to a more complex narrative with subplots. At this point in its evolution, Funky Winkerbean is resonating with readers and its popularity is growing. Ed Crankshaft, the irascible and curmudgeonly school bus driver, has become a fan favorite—so much so that cartoonist Tom Batiuk spins off Crankshaft into his own comic strip. Westview High School band director Harry L. Dinkle, the World's Greatest Band Director, takes the band to New York City for a gig at Carnegie Hall, and drum majorette Holly Budd performs her acclaimed flaming baton trick with catastrophic results for the hallowed hall.

New characters continue to appear. Cindy Summers, the most popular girl in school, and Bodean, Westview High's resident hood, join the cast as the polar opposites of the high school continuum. Big hair was beginning to come in, and Cindy's hair was the biggest of the big. Crossovers between Funky and John Darling continue, and with the introduction of Crankshaft, new crossover opportunities emerge. Change is becoming a palpable part of Funky, and some big changes unfold in this volume.