Jetpacks and Time Machines is a semi-sci fi comic featuring a partially robot boy, a nerd, a violent monkey, a retired supervillain, and more.
JP&TM updates when I'm able to update it.
This entry was posted on Thursday, September 13th, 2007 at 12:01 am and is filed under comic.
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GREAT strip. The art was little less intense than usual, but that is not a bad thing with this concept. Yes it is “Very Wattersonesque” but with your own twist on humor.
Hi Jim, Yeah, great strip - I think the first 5 panels did it for me - not quite sure what’s going on or going to develop (the drawing is superb - by the way) with the effective ‘told-ya-so’ type ending. Love it !
It’s (for me) also a moment where the boys are just involved in theor own hare-brained way of looking at things - Not in a bad way you understand! - and not particularly caught up in their external world - which is no less hare-brained ! but there you go !
Comment: The scrambling motion is very well done. Without Fred’s mention of it, scrambling was what it looks like.
Critiques: Adam’s legs (as you mentioned yesterday, barely exist) look too long bending under the swing. And, to go with previous comments, It is Watterson-esque, but I wouldda changed up the camera just a bit, probably looking slightly up at Adam swinging and getting rid of any background. I seem to recall Calvin swinging in an all-white panel and getting the feeling that he must be really high up. Not that I think you should lean towards becoming a Calvin-clone.
Related jokes: I got nuthin’, ‘cept that “Calvin-clone” sounds like a certain cologne company. “She’ll want you in her future: JPTM…by Calvin Clone”.
Jim, this is great. The silent panels are spot on, and the sound effects are great.
But where’s his cape? This kind of thing wont work without a cape.
It gives ya superpowers.
@ Ray: Hey, thanks for stopping by and dropping off some feedback!
@Wit: Yeah… I became aware the other day that my strip is missing a number of things… So in the coming weeks you’ll probably see a number of changes and advancements.
@Kevin: Thanks kevin. I’m working on it. It’s a fine line between showing your influences and ripping them off, and it can be tricky to stay on one side, but I try.
@MJ: That action rendering was a pain in my ass… There were a few “do overs” for sure.
@Jan: Thanks jan… I’ve been thinking a lot more lately about ‘deepening’ the world of JPTM, so we’ll see how it goes.
@me!: yeah, I know about the legs… but I figured trying to hit the proper action look was more important. It’s like if you ever look closely at watterson’s drawing of calvin or suzie lifting a big snowball over their heads… the fact is, he has to extend their arms… but you often don’t notice because you’re focused on the action taking place.
@Scott: It’s all about changing that pacing you know?
@Rachael: No capes in this sucker… We don’t go for that “underwear outside the pants” stuff around here.
I think this strip is great. I don’t think the “camera” angle should be different at all. the placement of the buildings in the background tell you how high up he is. The only minor this I would have done differently is keep Adam face down on the ground in the last panel. Let the comedic effects of the plummet to the ground linger a bit. One of the funniest things about the old Roadrunner cartoons, to me at least, isn’t so much when the dynamite explodes in the coyote’s face, rather the frazzled look of pain and defeat on his face after the smoke clears. Still, top notch strip, though!
Sweet! You’ve obviously jumped off many a swing in your time, Jim. Love Adam’s face in panel 3. And, yeah, I’m forced to agree with Marc. But still a great strip, nonetheless.
Thanks for the feedback Tor! Everybody loves the grandpa (as much as anybody can love a retired super-villain.)
The thing about Adams arms… The right one is a robotic arm. Usually I articulate that a little better than I did in this comic, but basically, he always has a long sleeve on his left arm, but his robotic arm is exposed. I suppose he could have a sleeve cover it, but it just wouldn’t be the same.
September 13th, 2007 at 4:10 am
Very Wattersonesque today.
September 13th, 2007 at 4:43 am
hope you don’t squirm at me saying this, but I think this strip is a big step for you. It’s very simple yet expressive and it’s funny. Nice job
September 13th, 2007 at 5:23 am
GREAT strip. The art was little less intense than usual, but that is not a bad thing with this concept. Yes it is “Very Wattersonesque” but with your own twist on humor.
September 13th, 2007 at 5:46 am
Hi Jim, Yeah, great strip - I think the first 5 panels did it for me - not quite sure what’s going on or going to develop (the drawing is superb - by the way) with the effective ‘told-ya-so’ type ending. Love it !
It’s (for me) also a moment where the boys are just involved in theor own hare-brained way of looking at things - Not in a bad way you understand! - and not particularly caught up in their external world - which is no less hare-brained ! but there you go !
Jan
September 13th, 2007 at 6:33 am
Agree with Wit,real nice change up to the normal filled in areas. I like it, very entertaining with top notch rendering of the actions.
September 13th, 2007 at 7:15 am
Comment: The scrambling motion is very well done. Without Fred’s mention of it, scrambling was what it looks like.
Critiques: Adam’s legs (as you mentioned yesterday, barely exist) look too long bending under the swing. And, to go with previous comments, It is Watterson-esque, but I wouldda changed up the camera just a bit, probably looking slightly up at Adam swinging and getting rid of any background. I seem to recall Calvin swinging in an all-white panel and getting the feeling that he must be really high up. Not that I think you should lean towards becoming a Calvin-clone.
Related jokes: I got nuthin’, ‘cept that “Calvin-clone” sounds like a certain cologne company. “She’ll want you in her future: JPTM…by Calvin Clone”.
September 13th, 2007 at 9:06 am
This is a great change of pace….six panels, five of them silent, and it’s funny. Well done.
September 13th, 2007 at 9:11 am
Jim, this is great. The silent panels are spot on, and the sound effects are great.
But where’s his cape? This kind of thing wont work without a cape.
It gives ya superpowers.
September 13th, 2007 at 9:48 am
@ Ray: Hey, thanks for stopping by and dropping off some feedback!
@Wit: Yeah… I became aware the other day that my strip is missing a number of things… So in the coming weeks you’ll probably see a number of changes and advancements.
@Kevin: Thanks kevin. I’m working on it. It’s a fine line between showing your influences and ripping them off, and it can be tricky to stay on one side, but I try.
@MJ: That action rendering was a pain in my ass… There were a few “do overs” for sure.
@Jan: Thanks jan… I’ve been thinking a lot more lately about ‘deepening’ the world of JPTM, so we’ll see how it goes.
@me!: yeah, I know about the legs… but I figured trying to hit the proper action look was more important. It’s like if you ever look closely at watterson’s drawing of calvin or suzie lifting a big snowball over their heads… the fact is, he has to extend their arms… but you often don’t notice because you’re focused on the action taking place.
@Scott: It’s all about changing that pacing you know?
@Rachael: No capes in this sucker… We don’t go for that “underwear outside the pants” stuff around here.
September 13th, 2007 at 1:39 pm
I think this strip is great. I don’t think the “camera” angle should be different at all. the placement of the buildings in the background tell you how high up he is. The only minor this I would have done differently is keep Adam face down on the ground in the last panel. Let the comedic effects of the plummet to the ground linger a bit. One of the funniest things about the old Roadrunner cartoons, to me at least, isn’t so much when the dynamite explodes in the coyote’s face, rather the frazzled look of pain and defeat on his face after the smoke clears. Still, top notch strip, though!
September 13th, 2007 at 1:56 pm
Damn you Marc Lapierre (of Boxcar Astronaut Fame), your observation is correct! I should have left him face down and muffled his word bubble!
Good point. Thanks. Next time please look into the future and let me know ahead of time though ok?
September 14th, 2007 at 3:56 am
Sweet! You’ve obviously jumped off many a swing in your time, Jim. Love Adam’s face in panel 3. And, yeah, I’m forced to agree with Marc. But still a great strip, nonetheless.
September 14th, 2007 at 10:18 am
Yeah doug, thanks. I know… Marc is right.
September 17th, 2007 at 6:45 pm
I love the comic, it’s fantastic. Especially the evil villain grandfather haha.
@the comic: Adam has his arms showing in the first few panels, and a long sleeve shirt on in the last panel.
September 17th, 2007 at 10:11 pm
Thanks for the feedback Tor! Everybody loves the grandpa (as much as anybody can love a retired super-villain.)
The thing about Adams arms… The right one is a robotic arm. Usually I articulate that a little better than I did in this comic, but basically, he always has a long sleeve on his left arm, but his robotic arm is exposed. I suppose he could have a sleeve cover it, but it just wouldn’t be the same.