The History being Made in the alt-text, if you’re curious, was that one time when Barack Obama was elected president. [May 28th, 2012]
Category: Commentary
Halloween Mailbag Comic Spooktacular!
Of these comics, the 2nd one is easily my favorite. The question was a great setup and I really like what I did with the newspaper in the last panel.
The 4th comic was a lame attempt to mildly startle readers which did not, to my knowledge, ever succeed. [May 28, 2012]
I think the Bulkies mascot is supposed to be a bear
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]
Interesting Times Friday Mailbag: "A Dubious Offer"
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]
so in that sense I guess I am looking forward to winter
Do you think that I now have any idea what the alt-text in this comic is talking about? Of course I do not. I can only assume that it has to do with the “stickperson nudity” issue OR that it’s some obscure error in the artwork. Thanks for the clues, past me! [May 25, 2012]
another fantasy quashed by Google
(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]
I gave him such a talking-to
This story is completely true. It was the end of a long day, so when Kurt leapt off the stairs to confront me with his weapons (shouting “Haaaa!”) I just stood there for a moment trying to find the words to adequately convey how much of a terrible friend he was being without even really knowing it. [May 16, 2012]
"N-no! you stay away, you…you monsters!!"
Not much to add except I really like what I did in the first panel. Looking at it makes me want to draw the digital ocean some more! [May 16, 2012]
many thanks to all well-wishers and advice-givers
That bit with the dog was amazing. It was the middle of a nice night in Jasper, very quiet, and as we were momentarily stopped everybody on the bus was either quietly stretching their legs outside or waiting to carry on. Out of nowhere this large, shaggy, friendly dog ambles onto the bus. It walked the entire aisle and back, pausing momentarily to sniff interesting things or people, then hopped off and sauntered away. Nobody said anything, but for a moment we all looked at each other and I could tell we were all thinking the same thing — “Did that actually just happen, or did I hallucinate it?” [May 16, 2012]
"Look Mom, LOOK! I made something on the internet!"
Today’s guest comic appears courtesy the enigmatic “EK R”.
He also included what he termed “major Google fodder” with his e-mail,
which I have decided to share with you all.
There is a guest comic today because I am more than a hundred kilometres away
from my tablet. But fear not! Tomorrow through the end of the week
should see me back at the wheel.
BEGIN COMMENTARY: I honestly never knew who EK R really was, and his work is almost as baffling now as it was then. That…that’s all. [March 24, 2012]