I think the Bulkies mascot is supposed to be a bear

Posted on by Nathan

I am inordinately proud of the creation of “Off-Brand Bulkies!” cereal with its cheerful, bear-resembling mascot. I slip Bulkies in when I can, and in my imagination they have roughly the same look and consistency of dog food but are slightly tastier.

The inspiration for these comes from all the store-brand knockoff cereals that every supermarket carries. I grew up on a lot of bulk-purchased cereals that were similar, but legally distinct, from popular brands; usually I didn’t mind eating them in any case.

Fun fact: My favorite off-brand cereal in all the world (and bear in mind that this award has nothing to do with taste) is carried by my local Co-op food stores. It is reminiscent of Froot Loops but has no mascot and is called, in capital letters on a white background, “FRUIT-FLAVOURED CEREAL”. [May 25, 2012]

no comic tonight

Posted on by

in my coffee
no comic tonight
in my tea

I was forced to make poor life choices this evening and ended up seeing the Dark Knight at the IMAX instead of drawing stick people. Blame this man: Steve Keys. (Then, listen to his music.)

Tomorrow: possible Super Double Comixplosion. Bonus points* awarded if you guess the song I’m referencing at the start of this post.

*points have no monetary value.

Interesting Times Friday Mailbag: "A Dubious Offer"

Posted on by Nathan

Please send your comments, questions,
and yes, even your questionably valid offers
to journalcomic at gmail dot com

Come on! Do it!

[BEGIN COMMENTARY] I’m very happy with the artwork in this comic, starting with the Eustace Tilley shout-out in the middle panel (full disclosure: I’ve never read the New Yorker, but that’s sort of an iconic image and it captured what I was going for).

CARINA in the last panel looks like something you’d have to fight in Contra or Mega Man so of course I am happy with that too. Mostly it’s because of that big sort-of-skull on top, which honestly was an accident. When it comes to cartoony supercomputers I draw a big rectangle and start adding details, usually massive cables and lots of little lines. The “orbs” just made it look like a face, suddenly. [May 25, 2012]

another fantasy quashed by Google

Posted on by Nathan

(Painting is “The Hands Resist Him” by Bill Stoneham.
Permission for usage neither given nor requested)

[BEGIN COMMENTARY] I’ve never actually developed a comics rivalry. Mostly I just hate everybody who’s better than me at comics, which is a lot of people. I think they need to return that hatred for a true rivalry to happen, but I don’t think the Better Comics People are aware of my existence, so here we are.

(That was a joke, I don’t hate anybody in comics) [May 25, 2012]