Guide Note

Funky Winkerbean is a syndicated American comic strip.

Fast Facts

1. Creator: Tom Batiuk
2. Debut: March 26, 1972
3. Schedule: Daily
4. Syndicate: King Features

Funky Winkerbean started as a teen comic set in high school. It is currently a more serious strip, covering various social issues like school violence, divorce, alcoholism and teen pregnancy.¹

In 1999, Funky garnered attention when one of its characters, Lisa Moore, learned she had breast cancer. Creator Tom Batiuk drew Lisa going through treatments, and depicted the effect her diagnosis had on the Funky cast.

After extensive chemotherapy, Lisa thought the cancer was gone, but discovered it had returned in 2006. Despite protest from some readers, Lisa died in the strip published on October 4, 2007.² Batiuk said that Lisa's storyline was semi-autobiographical, since he battled prostate cancer while in his 50s.³