I look at comics like this, and think that the guy and the girl must have a relationship, at least when it comes to the lobster’s attempts on his life, like Dib and Gaz from Invader Zim.  Clearly Dib is fighting Zim in a struggle of terrestrial incompetence vs. extraterrestrial incompetence.  However, incompetence is incompetence, and an inconvenience to her either way.  In a similar way, I get the feeling that when stupid stuff happens she’s not looking for an explanation, she’s just upset that stupid stuff is inconveniencing her life and busting up her house.

Of course, this is coming from a guy who has a lobster with what appears to be a combustion-powered messenger bag launcher in his comic.  Perhaps the whys aren’t that important in this case.  Maybe sometimes I just want to draw an elaborate yet incompetent sequence of violence.  Perhaps I watched too many Road Runner cartoons growing up.

This is the card I sent out this year.  Sorry I posted it after Christmas, I had a lot of driving to do and then a lot of chores to finish up when I got back.

I liked this one, particularly the neutron saying “meh” in the last panel. The electron gets excited in the second panel, and falls back to a normal state in the last panel, throwing off excess energy in the form of light. None of this is terribly accurate, of course, just one artist’s illustration for the sake of humor, not accuracy.

The first step to realizing you have lost your mind is to admit it is lost. Paradoxically, this requires a mind. I think that’s why people find ways to dig themselves deeper and deeper into holes: They lack the sense to realize they don’t have the sense they need.

I tried a few different things today, but I also rushed this comic. I used my Pentel brush for a lot of the linework, which I keep forgetting is a mistake. I would much rather have more fountain pens with varying nib sizes for this type of work. The brush has its uses, of course, but this was a poor choice. Also, I tried some different things with the coloring, and I’m not sure I like it yet. Keep an eye open, because I will be experimenting in the coming weeks.

I have also tagged the lobster in this comic, even though he’s hidden. I figure, what the heck. Correct me if I’m wrong in doing so. I’m new to your Internet and am not familiar with the customs.

I told myself I wouldn’t do any comics about the economic downturn; That everyone is already bummed enough, and I did not need to bring it up. However, once I came across this gem of a statement, I couldn’t resist. To all of you big-wigs out there, here’s some free advice: If you want to comfort your employees, let them know you have cash and revenue sources to cover their salaries for two years.

I tried something new with this, using some different brushes to give the whole thing a bit of texture.  Frankly, it was probably a bad choice because it didn’t fit the theme, but I do like the results for a first try.

Does anybody else smell crayons or colored pencils when y’all are looking at this?

To the nitpickers out there, the equation was an aesthetic choice.    If other than that you still think I’m mixing my maths, you need to review your math history.

For the vast majority of you non-dork humans, the guy gets hit with a bunch of sandbags.  That’s the gag here: There’s no hidden math gags.  Classic comedy.

I’m really digging the old guy. I wish I could use these other characters more often, but seeing as I can’t muster 12 panels most weeks (3 updates, 4 panels at best) I don’t know how I’m supposed to do that. I considered today starting blogs for some of the characters. That’d be nice and easy, comparatively: Log in to a pre-built site, dash out the part of the story line you can’t see from the characters’ perspectives, post it. That’d be MUCH quicker than drawing up a few measly panels, and I’d get to use all the stuff I write that I end up dropping to meet (read: run over) my deadlines. Plus, I may be able to do that more often, and if I’m rushed (read: I’m watching 24) I can still post something.

I’ve also toyed with black and white. On the one hand, this is great coloring practice, and I’ve been doing it so long (242 strips, give or take a few uncolored ones) that it would look weird. On the other hand…More updates! It’s a tough call.

Of particular interest in today’s strip, the three ovals are all slightly different, enough to be quite noticeable but not enough (I think) to totally stand out. I did this intentionally. I’m experimenting with different positions/sizes to see what I like. If you have any comments, as always, please speak up. E-mail link is above and I do read (and usually respond, at this point) to every e-mail I get.

I like the old guy. I’ll have to write him in at some point in the future.

I also like the lobster in his Hawaiian shirt and baseball cap. It just seems fitting that he should be dressed up to go out in public. It’s a pretty common theme in surreal comics where animals, aliens, etc. walk around in broad daylight and nobody is the wiser. It’s a stock humor idea, I know, but I enjoy it.

Yeah, the title is a line from Forrest Gump (as I remember it).

I had a lot of fun drawing this one. I screwed up the perspective on the building (windows and door), but perspective is something I’ve been working on, so even though I don’t like the result I don’t feel bad about screwing it up. some of the proportions aren’t quite right (the car seems a bit small), but again, I don’t feel terrible about it.

The graduated background is one big gradient with several color stops and blends. It isn’t exactly what I wanted, but I’m pretty happy with the result. I got watercolor equipment for Christmas, and I really like it. I don’t know how to translate the appearance to digital yet, but I’d really like to figure it out, and that’s where I was trying to go with that. It’s a bit flat. The building brick was textured with the film grain texture in Photoshop, a 4 on the grain slider if I recall. Four whats, I do not know. Units.

As far as the choice to do a long horizontal panel, I am pleased. I really like how it came out, and it really gives that sense of urgency and haste I was trying to convey. The guy’s poses are something I’m really pleased with as well. I think they clearly convey that he has to go. This panel also sets apart the lobster and gives the impression that he is not part of this supply run, which is reinforced by the last panel where he’s trying to get someone’s attention. Presumably he wants another drink.

I am pretty pleased with this one, which is good — That keeps me motivated. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some video game animations to get on and some sleeping to…uh…sleep?