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…and the other dozen people I’ve seen post these delightfully fun avatars from the Scott Pilgrim Avatar Creator. Don’t take this out of context, but I’m really looking forward to this romantic comedy starring Michael Cera.
Context is important.
Well, my computer is taking a long nap, since its internal BIOS battery (understand that I have no idea what I’m talking about) has died, effectively putting poor little Compy in a coma. I’ve got a new one on the way, but it’s going to take some time, and I that rather than miss more updates, I would share some lost and/or behind the scenes stuff. Updates most weekdays until I’m back on my feet!
Monday: 2008 24 Hour Comic
Tuesday: Fight Song, a weird experimental comic/warm-up sketch
Wednesday: Independent study. I’m not your damn monkey!
Thursday: Beth’s comic, Boo-Niversity!
Friday: Whores! (or How I make them funny pictures with the words. Probably whores.)
Last September, I made a commitment to slowly work both my own character and Janna’s out of the strip by the end of the school year, which is rapidly approaching right now.
There were two main reasons that I came to this decision: first of all, while it’s fun to put a person that you know in a comic, and they almost always get a kick out it, it leaves every other reader out in the cold, alienating them, because in a big way, they aren’t in on the joke.
The second reason, which I feel is the more important one, is that it’s easier to write for fictional characters. You can’t have a real person say something that conflicts with who they are both as a comic strip character and a real person, and you can’t put the character in a situation that the person finds distasteful, uncomfortable, and so on.
Writing for fictional characters can be a challenge, naturally, but you get to develop the characters; avatars for real people, on the other hand tend to stagnate, or be very one-note. The comic actually started, and ran for the first two years, as nothing but characters based on real people, and it was kind of really horrible for that.
So, say your goodbyes to Kyle and Janna, who I’m sure will still show up now and then, but are basically done for as cast members. To commemorate their leaving, we’re going to be featuring some amazing guest strips for this week and the next, seeing what it’s like when the artist who is a character becomes neither. Four awesome comics, then a goodbye, and then Dan and Yvette get to make some new friends!
This has been a lousy week, so I’m essentially taking it off, but you probably already figured that out. Next week I’ll be back in full force. Sorry gang.
Did you know that other than comics, I draw things? Things for people? It’s true! For instance, here’s a poster I did for local band Norris’s upcoming Southern Ontario “Fall Fail Tour”.
If you’re in one of these towns, or at least close enough to drive, I highly suggest hitting up one of these shows. I’m not really a metal dude myself, but even I can agree that it’s objectively good stuff.