Redbox, Cover Page

The Redbox

   I've already introduced you to Redbox, when I first did it. A 24 hour comic conceived in a dream and then executed as a comic within 24 hours, because the alternative was to execute the idea as some kind of movie or something, and quite frankly that wouldn't be worth it. Especially considering how topical and time-sensitive the plot was. It's one of those things that could only have been made when it was. Timeliness and all that.

   But maybe that's revealing too much. There is a twist ending, and I don't think I told you that last time. At least I hope the ending comes as a twist. Who knows, maybe I telegraphed it.

Dark Side of the Horse

   I'm not sure what this is, but I'm very, very impressed by it.

   It's the comic Dark Side of the Horse, by Samson! Which is definitely something. And as lame as the jokes can kind of get...

   ...IDK, there's just something about the presentation of the jokes that gets to me. This Samson (guy?) is a master of pacing and layouts, always using just the right style to invoke just the right mood.

   Dark Side of the Horse sometimes getting bizarrely self-aware. Wait. Did I say "sometimes?" I meant always. It's always bizarrely self-aware. And the aforementioned presentation really elevates it from common post-modern fair to make it something truly memorable. It's clean looks and snarky cynicism (and yes, I am using the correct it's there; bear with me), and absolutely bizarre pointless humor (see, I told you- it is clean looks, snarky cynicism, and bizarre pointless humor.) Think Garfield Minus Garfield, I guess, plus ponies (well, actually...)

   Okay, so it's better than Garfield minus Garfield plus Ponies.

http://www.gocomics.com/darksideofthehorse

Rawhide Vindaloo Bonus: Notes

Click to enlarge.

   Thought I'd share this. This page as you can see, is a bunch of notes and sketches I did when planning out what Rawhide was going to be. I had a few more pages like this, but most are too cut up, because of the cut-and-paste method I used for Rawhide, in which I cut out some of the drawings I liked from the notes, and pasted them into the comic. This page of notes and sketches is pretty intact, though, so it can bear sharing. This page is also ideal to share because it's a good overview of the entire comic: it's got plot points scribbled down, character ideas, sketches for ideas too poor to use (the sketches for the ideas, not the ideas themselves.)

   And, of course, a larger view of Peckinwood's sheriff badge. FOR SURE.

...The Moon Will Wayne

   It's a week since the one year anniversary of one of the worst theater-related Batman massacres of all time, arguably the worst dealing strictly outside of the realms of fiction. Yes, okay, the worst. The time the Joker gassed the entire studio audience at David Letterman, does that count? Was that a theater? I'd count it.

   So the death of Bruce's parents doesn't even make it to the top, even in that very specific category. What a world. Oh, me.

Rawhide Vindaloo, Page 24

Rawhide Vindaloo, Page 23

Rawhide Vindaloo, Page 22

Rawhide Vindaloo, Page 21

Rawhide Vindaloo, Page 20

Rawhide Vindaloo, Page 19

Rawhide Vindaloo, Page 18

Rawhide Vindaloo, Page 17

Rawhide Vindaloo, Page 16

Rawhide Vindaloo, Page 15

Rawhide Vindaloo, Page 14

Rawhide Vindaloo, Page 13

Rawhide Vindaloo, Page 12

Rawhide Vindaloo, Page 11

Rawhide Vindaloo, Page 10