Sunday, September 11, 2011

September 11, 2011: Sunday Showdown!

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Clockwise from the bottom left:
  • I understand that the bloodshot eyes are supposed to imply that Leroy is a degenerate drunk who can often be found nursing roaring hangovers from the previous night, but judging by the goofy smile on his face and of his equally glassy eyed friend, it appears that they may be dabbling with the demon weed. Come to think of it, that might explain the lethargy and the cognitive problems. Also, if you had to eat Loretta's cooking everyday, anything to help stimulate the appetite would be greatly welcomed. Loretta gets the point.
  • It's a shame Loretta isn't here to here be gravely offended by Leroy making light of the relentless unhappiness of their marriage. The grim discount drug store manager doesn't appear to see the humor in Leroy's comment either. Hopefully Leroy will be able to get a custom made "unhappy to indifferent" anniversary card and we'll be able to see Loretta's reaction when he presents it to her on their anniversary. I'm going to have to rule it a push, Loretta leads 1-0.
  • I don't know why, but I found myself really liking this particular panel. I thought the reversal of the usual neighborhood domestic disturbance complaint situation was pretty clever. Given the Lockhorns' belligerent history, it's actually quite logical that the neighbors would call the police due to silence. An absence of the familiar sounds of the Lockhorns' yelling would likely indicate that one might have finally snapped and killed the other one. It'd be like "Rear Window" [note to self: write treatment for remake of "Rear Window" set in Levittown with the Jimmy Stewart character cast as the suspicious next door neighbor of the Lockhorns]. It's another push, Loretta still leads 1-0.
  • This scene is a masterclass in weirdly disproportionate Lockhorn perspectives. First off, the car is gigantic, or possibly Leroy is usually small. For a compact hatchback, it is downright cavernous. Secondly, how much gas does Leroy expect to carry back in his ridiculously small gas can? It looks like a miniature handbag. Leroy could legitimately carry more fuel in his left shoe than that container. Loretta's insult comes off as extra cruel given the additional embarrassment of being forced to walk and get gas (I'd like to think that bead of liquid on Leroy's face is a tear rather than sweat, although I wouldn't be surprised if Leroy was in such poor physical condition that he starts sweating after walking five paces). At the very least, Leroy can take some pride in the fact Loretta is apparently acknowledging that he can read. Loretta goes up 2-0, locks up the day.
  • Leroy's bread and butter food insult comes up far too late to help him win the day. It's not even a particularly good insult at that. Leroy tries to make a humorous twist on an old axiom and but it sort of comes out ambiguous and confusing. So what could qualify as a "detour" to a man's heart. Leroy isn't dismissing Loretta's ability to reach a man's heart, he is saying that it's not through the stomach. I don't even want to venture a guess as to what these "detours" could be. Loretta takes a close affair 2-1.
Official Count:
Leroy - 91
Loretta - 99
Push - 64

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