KENT, Ohio (AP) — The men behind the "Funky Winkerbean" comic strip celebrated its 40th anniversary by donating a 96-foot mural for a new student lounge at their alma mater, Kent State University.
The Akron Beacon Journal reports (http://bit.ly/HgpU7h) the full-color border mural features strip characters and students throughout their college careers. It was unveiled Tuesday by artists Tom Batiuk of Medina and Chuck Ayers of Akron.
Batiuk's "Funky Winkerbean" debuted March 27, 1972. Ayers joined him as illustrator in 1994.
The strip at first focused on gags about teenagers at the imaginary Westview High School. Over the years, it explored sensitive topics such as dyslexia, alcoholism, teen suicide and cancer.
The unveiling also was the kickoff of the first volume of Batiuk's book, "The Complete Funky Winkerbean."
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Information from: Akron Beacon Journal, http://www.ohio.com
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