Sunday, June 30, 2013

June 30, 2013

(Click to enlarge)

Clockwise from the bottom left:
  • Loretta pulls off a nice dig at Leroy's less than stellar baseball abilities. She even uses some impressive baseball jargon given her usual lack of sports knowledge. However, she should have just listed five bad habits rather than three. Now we can assume that the two other tools are actual legitimate baseball skills. Knowing what I know about Leroy's physique, he probably hits for both power and average; an excellent yet corpulent hitter like Babe Ruth. While the execution wasn't perfect, it's enough for Loretta to get the point and take the early 1-0 lead.
  • It appears that Leroy has made a futile attempt at getting his marriage annulled by the church. Unfortunately he has for decades had an incorrect recollection of what is really the most memorable line in most traditional wedding vows. He must have been so sure that it was "debt" that he was willing to consult a priest on the matter. Alas, reality is harsh for poor Leroy. However, now that he knows the real way out of a marriage (death) he can start planning accordingly. Loretta scores the point and extends her early lead to 2-0.
  • Hopefully Leroy learns his lesson about doing something considerate for Loretta. When one Lockhorns treats another Lockhorn with anything that isn't white hot bitterness, nothing good comes of it. Not satisfied with just calling out Loretta on her tardiness, Leroy takes the extra sexist step in applying it to all wives. The officer doesn't seem to be all that sympathetic in this case, perhaps he's a bachelor or in a same sex marriage. Loretta's absence also denies Leroy a point and makes this a push. Loretta still leads 2-0.
  • I think Loretta is being a bit unfair here. After all, there isn't much Leroy can do now that he is fused with the couch. Like a bizarre version of Seth Brundle in "The Fly" Leroy seems to have tragically become some kind of horrific half man half couch. That pained expression on his face is just begging Loretta to put him out of this gruesome misery, perhaps by bashing him over the head with that undersized vacuum. As cruel as it is, Loretta's nagging earns her another point as she clinches victory with a 3-0 lead and only one more scene to go.
  • The swiftness by which the Lockhorns have embraced smartphones, tablet technology, and social media is astounding. Even a year ago they were dealing with corded kitchen phones and watching TVs with rabbit ears. Perhaps some tech savvy branching out into other social media platforms is the kind of new approach Leroy needs to get back in the game. It certainly helped him here, albeit in an overall losing performance. Leroy salvages a point but the day belongs to Loretta who wins 3-1.
Official Count:
Leroy - 64
Loretta - 79
Push - 38

Sunday Showdown Count:
Leroy - 7
Loretta - 12
Push - 7

Saturday, June 29, 2013

June 29, 2013


Official Count:
Leroy - 64
Loretta - 78
Push - 38

Friday, June 28, 2013

June 28, 2013


Official Count:
Leroy - 63
Loretta - 78
Push - 38

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

June 26, 2013


Official Count:
Leroy - 62
Loretta - 78
Push - 37

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

June 25, 2013


Official Count:
Leroy - 62
Loretta - 77
Push - 37

Monday, June 24, 2013

June 24, 2013


Official Count:
Leroy - 62
Loretta - 76
Push - 37

Sunday, June 23, 2013

June 23, 2013: Sunday Showdown!

(Click to Enlarge)

Clockwise from the bottom left:
  • Leroy's octopus tossing episode seemed like an outrageous act of rebellion for being dragged to another opera, but his ashamed expression here makes it appear like he actually thought that octopus tossing was allowed. A supposed hockey fan like Leroy should also have known that throwing an octopus would have been out of place outside of a Detroit home playoff game. What should have been a point for Leroy for spectacularly ruining Loretta's night out, has turned into a point for Loretta for belittling Leroy for his amazing stupidity. Loretta gets the point and goes up 1-0.
  • After the debacle of the first panel, Leroy manages to find some redemption with an admirably spiteful bit of gift giving. Likely having been coerced by Loretta to purchase her a gift (perhaps in atonement for the octopus throwing) Leroy does some quick thinking to literally take a bite out her enjoyment. I guess both Lockhorns are fans of coconut, often that's the one that people single out to dislike in a chocolate heart. Leroy scores a point and ties the day up at 1-1.
  • Things get real heavy in this week's center panel as Leroy makes a somber assessment about his life so far. Loretta's dead eyed stare and strange, almost unconnected, placement in the scene makes the whole thing look like some kind of Bergman-esque experimental student film. I am also quite unsettled by Leroy's huge chair and his unnatural legs up sitting position. Nearly everything about this scene is unsettling and the quicker we move on the better. It's a push, the score is still tied 1-1.
  • This would at first glance look like another Loretta triumph with Leroy acting as her disgruntled beast of burden. However, Loretta seems to be unhappily carrying her share of luggage through the airport and there is no indication that all the luggage is hers. This scene comes off as merely an inconsequential peek into the Lockhorns' shared daily miseries. Also why didn't Leroy just rent a luggage cart? These things do exist. It's another push, the score remains 1-1.
  • So Leroy sees a strip of "The Lockhorns"? Leroy manages to also see victory as he pulls of the final insult of a tightly contested Sunday. I've always wondered what Pullman's credentials were as a marriage counselor. I have held back on calling him doctor since there's no evidence (aside from looking like a caricature of Freud) that he is a licensed mental health professional. Giving a Rorschach test to Leroy, although I'm not sure how that fits into marriage counseling, would seem to indicate he is a psychologist/psychiatrist. Leroy gets the point and wins 2-1.
Official Count:
Leroy - 62
Loretta - 75
Push - 37

Sunday Showdown Count:
Leroy - 7
Loretta - 11
Push - 7

Saturday, June 22, 2013

June 22, 2013


Official Count:
Leroy - 61
Loretta - 75
Push - 37

Friday, June 21, 2013

June 21, 2013


*Author's Note: Frankly, I'm surprised they even had cameras back then.

Official Count:
Leroy - 61
Loretta - 75
Push - 36

Thursday, June 20, 2013

June 20, 2013


Official Count:
Leroy - 61
Loretta - 74
Push - 36

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

June 19, 2013


Official Count:
Leroy - 60
Loretta - 74
Push - 36

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

June 18, 2013


Official Count:
Leroy - 60
Loretta - 73
Push - 36

Monday, June 17, 2013

June 17, 2013


Official Count:
Leroy - 60
Loretta - 73
Push - 35

Sunday, June 16, 2013

June 16, 2013: Sunday Showdown!

(Click to Enlarge)

Clockwise from the bottom left:
  • Is the Star Trek red shirt reference popular enough for most people to get? At least the other suffering spouse on his way out of the mall seems to understand the reference well enough. This is definitely one of the most unexpected comments that I've heard from him. I never pictured Leroy to be much of a Trekkie. Unexpected geekery aside, Leroy does a fine job of converting a negative situation into a positive point opportunity through the power of bitter complaining. Loretta may get her day at the mall but Leroy gets the point. Leroy leads 1-0.
  • For someone who cannot complete the simplest of furniture assembly tasks or attempt to do a home improvement project without causing wholesale damage to the house; Leroy's voodoo doll making skills are solid. I suppose the extra motivation helped him focus. There is still the chance he just bought a Martha Washington doll and made minor changes to it. I also question Leroy's assumption that Loretta would somehow have a lock of her mother's hair handy. Leroy's failed attempt at voodoo still is enough to earn him a point. Leroy cruises ahead 2-0.
  • Not to brag too much but "Lockhorns vs. Lockhorn" is currently the sixth listing on google if you search for "Leroy Lockhorn". With continued support from viewers like you this blog hopes to be the first listing. I think Loretta is referring to Leroy's personal homepage or facebook profile or something, since plenty of Leroy Lockhorn based links come up when googling his name. On a tangentially related note, Leroy's legs and feet look extra freaky and disproportionate in this scene. Either that or his laptop is gigantic. Loretta gets the point and now trails Leroy 2-1.
  • Once again another unsuspecting couple makes the terrible mistake of inviting the Lockhorns to their wedding (and seating them right in front no less!). Leroy's insult about marriage here doesn't really come off as all that vicious. His point seems to be that couples become more informal around each other the longer they are together. Not exactly a huge burn. Loretta can barely register this as an insult. Overall it's weak, but once again Leroy manages to eek a point out of it. Despite the unspectacular efforts on the whole, Leroy's point here clinches the day for him 3-1.
  • Unexpectedly the best diss of the day comes from that Lockhorns' candid travel agent. To all those people who claim that travel agents have becomes unnecessary, I would like to see an internet travel site give this kind of personal effort. The Lockhorns should heed the travel agent's advice. They are in no financial condition to be booking travel vacations. Additionally they're always miserable on vacations anyway; they might as well get their misery locally. It's a push as Leroy officially claims a Sunday victory with a final score of 3-1.
Official Count:
Leroy - 60
Loretta - 72
Push - 35

Sunday Showdown Count:
Leroy - 6
Loretta - 11
Push - 7

Saturday, June 15, 2013

June 15, 2013


Official Count:
Leroy - 59
Loretta - 72
Push - 35

Friday, June 14, 2013

June 14, 2013


Official Count:
Leroy - 59
Loretta - 71
Push - 35

Thursday, June 13, 2013

June 13, 2013


Official Count:
Leroy - 58
Loretta - 71
Push - 35

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

June 12, 2013


Official Count:
Leroy - 58
Loretta - 71
Push - 34

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

June 11, 2013


Official Count:
Leroy - 57
Loretta - 71
Push - 34

Monday, June 10, 2013

June 10, 2013


Official Count:
Leroy - 57
Loretta - 70
Push - 34

Sunday, June 9, 2013

June 9, 2013: Sunday Showdown!

(Click to Enlarge)

Clockwise from the bottom left:
  • Despite the fact that both Lockhorns consider their wedding the single worst event in their lives, they sure do like to show it off. It seems like every new house guest of the Lockhorns is required to be shown their huge portrait sized wedding photo featuring Leroy's horrified expression. Maybe it's like a public service announcement against the institution of marriage. Also why do they look exactly the same in their wedding photo as they do now? Have the Lockhorns always looked middle aged their entire lives? Leroy's mildly clever pun gets him a point and a 1-0 lead.
  • I'm not sure why Leroy would take the time to fill out a television survey. He hates dealing with solicitors and he's super lazy. I can only assume he's getting some kind of compensation for his opinions. I originally thought that Leroy deserved the point here for embarrassing Loretta but then again he doesn't seem too happy revealing his apparently poor taste in TV. Without enough compelling evidence for either side, I have to call it a push. Leroy still leads 1-0.
  • Loretta shouldn't be so concerned with how old she looks. As we've surmised in the first panel, the Lockhorns don't seem to age beyond their doughy middle age years. Overall that might be a welcome alternative to real aging. Here, Loretta turns a concern and liability of her's (her age) into an opportunity to score a point of Leroy. Poor Leroy realizes he was just too slow to capitalize on Loretta's bout of insecurity before she turned it into a knock on him. Loretta's point ties the day up 1-1.
  • Leroy may have been defeated in being forced to endure another marathon shopping excursion to the mall with Loretta, but he gets the last laugh by squeezing off an insult on his way out. Leroy may have further grounds for optimism; with Loretta driving there is a strong chance that she'll just get into a multi-car wreck and he won't even have to go to the mall at all! Leroy scores the point and moves ahead 2-1.
  • If these scenes with references to the Lenharts came up just a bit more often, I would reserve an individual label for them. I'd like to see a whole comic devoted to the Lenharts, which appear to the Lockhorns' shadow selves. What sort of bitter scenes of domestic squabbling do Lenny and Lenora Lenhart get into on their side of the fence? As for the scene, Loretta's exposing of Leroy's petty thievery gets wins her the point and ends the day on a 2-2 push.
Official Count:
Leroy - 56
Loretta - 70
Push - 34

Sunday Showdown Count:
Leroy - 5
Loretta - 11
Push - 7

Saturday, June 8, 2013

June 8, 2013


Official Count:
Leroy - 56
Loretta - 70
Push - 33

Friday, June 7, 2013

June 7, 2013


Official Count:
Leroy - 55
Loretta - 70
Push - 33

Thursday, June 6, 2013

June 6, 2013


Official Count:
Leroy - 55
Loretta - 69
Push - 33

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

June 5, 2013


Official Count:
Leroy - 54
Loretta - 69
Push - 33

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

June 4, 2013


Official Count:
Leroy - 54
Loretta - 68
Push - 33

Monday, June 3, 2013

June 3, 2013


Official Count:
Leroy - 53
Loretta - 68
Push - 33

Sunday, June 2, 2013

June 2, 2013: Sunday Showdown!

(Click to Enlarge)

Clockwise from the bottom left:
  • Clever put down about Loretta's irritating personality or a demonstration of Leroy's poor grasp of medical terms? Why can't it be both? It's refreshing to see Leroy get the upper hand on Loretta at the doctor's office. Often times it's Leroy that's the one getting examined while Loretta makes snide comments from the back wall. I thought the eye chart in the background might have had a secret message, but it seems to be just a sequence of random letters. It's a shame, it would have been a nice touch. Leroy gets the first point and takes a 1-0 lead.
  • I feel like I should give Loretta an extra point here for giving Leroy a stroke in addition to running up an exorbitant debt. Looking at Leroy's rage twisted face, something is definitely going to break upstairs. I wouldn't have pegged Loretta to be the gullible short that would call psychic hotlines (I would believe Leroy would do such a thing). Perhaps she did it just to spitefully waste Leroy's money. Either way it got her a point and tied her up with Leroy 1-1.
  • Leroy was so close to getting out of the house to enjoy a pleasant Sunday of golf. He might have thought he was home free before Loretta issued her ultimatum from the front door. I think Leroy should take the calculated risk of coming home late. If he can play it right he might be able to get a point for disappointing her, especially if he has a good comeback ready. For this scene, however, Loretta scores the point and surges ahead 2-1.
  • As with all statements by the Lockhorns, one should not immediately write it off as hyperbole. Loretta may well be imprisoning Leroy at times at home for whatever sick purposes she has in store. This may be a desperate call for help to Pullman, asking him to alert the authorities. Loretta looks none too happy. Leroy may have lost his outside privileges for the week. Still, Leroy gets the point and manages to force a 2-2 tie going into the final round.
  • The obvious message is that Leroy is a poor listener and too often preoccupied with his own talking, but Loretta's zinger doesn't really make much sense. Even in the joke sense how can one be a good listener only when they are talking? Loretta should have said something more along the lines of "Leroy is a good listener, especially to the sound of his own voice". Zing! That's just my suggestion. Loretta earns the point and manages to pull out the Sunday victory 3-2. 

Official Count:
Leroy - 53
Loretta - 67
Push - 33

Sunday Showdown Count:
Leroy - 5
Loretta - 11
Push - 6

Saturday, June 1, 2013

June 1, 2013


Official Count:
Leroy - 53
Loretta - 66
Push - 33