See, this is why topical humour is sometimes no good, because even though I wrote this comic I have no context for it whatsoever anymore. So the impact is gone. And I really can’t be bothered to hit up Google News and try to find out what happened in the first place. Generally you’ll notice these sorts of topical things don’t come up on the site very often. This isn’t a conscious choice on my part; it’s just that I’m not very tuned in to current events. [November 4, 2011]
Suddenly, an entire year had passed! And I knew I had to do something special, so I just started linking the standard frames together and told a rambling, nonsensical story filled with callbacks and pop culture references. Also, in typical I.Times style, barely a third of it is true.
Honestly I’m not crazy about this comic and have had a terrible time trying to come up with anything to say about it. I don’t hate it either, it’s just…hm. Hard to put into words. And isn’t that exactly the kind of insightful commentary you were hoping for??
Okay, fine! Let’s try. It’s pointlessly long and not particularly funny. The artwork is serviceable but why did I bother bringing back the masked man? And the last two panels are only there because I was re-using the entire three-panel frame each time (you can see the curves in the corners) and rather than lop them off I decided to fill them out with, well, filler.
But don’t listen to me. I am sometimes my own worst critic and have a long history of utter disdain for my own work simply because time has passed between writing it and re-reading it.
Let’s focus on the positive. I like my imaginary Tom Selleck moustache and accompanying expression. I like the panel where I threaten that guy with a knife. And I like what should have been the final panel (the one with the date in it). [May 22, 2011]
yes, the brushwork has looked different the last two comics. after the reinstall, I had to set up my brush settings in Corel Painter again, which is tricky because I don’t remember at all what I had them at beforehand. So I need to keep messing around until they are what they were before the reformat but after getting the tablet? I don’t know. Today’s I think is too thick, but the damage is done. Anyway…
My computer got overrun with adware and spyware this morning, so rather than rolling up my sleeves and trying to fix it, I “threw the baby out with the bathwater” (so to speak) and just reinstalled windows altogether. My tablet is not set up and I haven’t the time to do it AND write a comic tonight, so I guess what I’m trying to say is that I’ll get back to you (hopefully tomorrow – I know, I don’t usually post on Friday! It’ll be fun for both of us)
A commenter “Andrew”, who is also a friend of mine, noted that everyone else who left comments on this comic seemed to be a fan of the game “Rock n’ Roll Racing”. RnRR, as I’ve just decided to start calling it, is a racing game for a few different consoles in which various freaks and aliens race around ugly, square-cornered tracks for reasons I do not care to learn. The only redeeming feature of this game is a selection of MIDI versions of popular rock songs, such as Ozzy Osbourne’s “Paranoid” and “Highway Star” by Deep Purple.
Anyway, Andrew pointed out that I was alienating my fanbase by positioning myself so firmly against this game. I didn’t respond at the time but if I did I would have said “Good. I don’t want them as readers anyway.”
An example. Earlier this year I accepted a dare to overcome one of my greatest fears. I succeeded and prevailed because if I failed the dare it was agreed that I would have to play forty hours of Rock n’ Roll Racing. Do you see? I am willing to change my own life (for the better, as it happens) in order to NEVER HAVE TO PLAY THAT GAME AGAIN. [May 22, 2011]
Okay yes, “emo kid” jokes are playing off of easy stereotypes. The starting point of this comic may not be my finest hour in terms of creativity. However, I still chuckle at the idea of an “Unpopular Science” magazine (“Who Cares? NOT US.”) and the image of important scientific breakthroughts made by gloomy, introverted people. Maybe that last part actually happens all the time? [May 12, 2011]
