That’s How Familiar I am With Stuff.
“…like the back of my hand.”
Yeah right, how often do you really study the features of the back of your hand? I mean seriously… I’ve glanced at my hands numerous times just while typing this because they’re on the keyboard in front of me, but am I really that familiar with them? Actually, I suppose that’s sort of unfair to ask a cartoonist, because odds are, any cartoonist who draws people on a regular basis is probably very familiar with his hands, just because he’d have to use them as models so often. (Seriously, try drawing an anatomically correct “thumbs up” from anything other than a side view without looking at it.)
On to the “Behind the Scenes” Notes:
I’m producing these smaller comics faster than the larger format comics, but not by much. This is my own fault. They’d actually be faster if I’d do them two or three at time, because right now, doing them the night before, I end up wasting like an hour a comic just getting my drawing hand warmed up. How annoying is that? Once I get caught up with my day job work, I’ve got to get ahead on these suckers. Obviously I don’t need the massive time that syndicated types need, because there is no print time or anything, but still, I figure if I could at least work three weeks ahead, that would give me a nice buffer zone, so I think that’s my next goal. (I don’ t think I need to mention I’ll be doing tomorrows comic tonight though eh? I meant I’ll get ahead in the future.)
As far as the set-up of this strip goes, I think this one hits all the elements I’d usually like to get into a standard format strip. I lead with the establishing shot and I squeeze in some dialog and character interaction but keep some background elements from ambiance. That sort of setup is hard to do all the time, due to space constraints and the needs of various jokes, but it’s definitely something I’m aiming for as often as possible. I wonder though, if I should bother trying to make each strip as stand-alone as possible or if I should tie more of them together? I personally sort of like non-consecutive story lines, but I know they’re not for everyone.
August 29th, 2007 at 4:28 am
Thanks for the added strip. The smaller size does seem to agree with you. They have been very clean, yet extremely detailed. The variation in the layout really adds to the overall feel of the JP&TM world.
August 29th, 2007 at 4:51 am
Ah, the urban jungle, a flock of blimps overhead, floating in the sun amoung the clouds (better clouds than last time, I feel I should add)… lovely opening panel! Having the closing panel done in the same style as the first is a nice touch and looks good. Something about the flow of the strip jars with me, though…I think it is because Fred and Adam are slowly descending throughout the course of the strip (I checked the eyelines - they really are), then in the last panel Fred is suddenly centre stage again, staring at the back of his hand (and haven’t we all been doing THAT since reading this strip). Maybe if the 3rd panel had been more similar to the 2nd? Still, I like the half-panel format of the 3rd… It’s all up and down, and I’m all at sixes and sevens!
Still, I really like the short strip format. It certainly makes for a good punchy joke if you have one (after all, brevity is the soul of wit). You can use the larger format strips where you need to develop a concept or tell a story, and use the shorter ones for the kind of ideas that you have above. I think a combo of one-off and consecutive story lines would work well. It all depends on what you want to do with your characters, I guess. Keep up the fantastic work.
Hmm, must go memorise the back of my hand some more……………
August 29th, 2007 at 6:12 am
Not much to say. This is, as usual, awell thought-out and illustrated strip.
August 29th, 2007 at 6:24 am
Man, I need me some serious Mammal talent.
August 29th, 2007 at 6:51 am
3 out of 4 mammals posted today….did I miss a meeting?
August 29th, 2007 at 9:01 am
Heh, i actually do look at the back of my hand a lot, but i wouldn’t know it in a lineup. I could tell my left from a reversed photo of my right, though, because the veins are different.
…Anyways, very funny, i like this comic!
August 29th, 2007 at 9:40 am
I’m lovin’ this standard spec sized strip. I think they are better comics. And now that you have done bigger ones, a sunday special will be nothing for ya.
I also like how wide this site is…can my site be made this wide? Me hopes so.
August 29th, 2007 at 9:48 am
What the–I had no idea you were going to post today, you sneaky son of a….
Wait….how can I complain? This is an excellent strip. More JP&TM is always a good thing. So are you officially five days a week now? If so I might have to do the same (earlier than I had planned) due to Panel Mammal peer pressure.
August 29th, 2007 at 9:50 am
Hey, thanks for the feedback as usual guys! I’d agree, right now the simplification is working for me. We’ll see how long I can keep that going for.
Jarrett, your site would be exactly the same size. At first it would even be the same color and have the same images (until you make your own.)
Scott, no way in hell am I going to five days a week. I’ll keep at a guaranteed two strips a week, with a possible third… Wednesday is going to be a “sometimes” day for a while… Depending on time.
August 29th, 2007 at 9:52 am
I mean, eventually I might hit five days, but that’s down the road a ways… I’ve got to get ahead a bit first.
August 29th, 2007 at 10:28 am
I’m only 1, 24 hr day ahead. I finished tomorrows strip yesterday, and I am going 5 days.
Don’t give me that get ahead crap.
Be like me, hit the holy shit button, stay up 2 hrs later and get up to hours earlier, course, this all helps if you have some canadian kahunas and strong like bull.
August 29th, 2007 at 10:36 am
Canadian bull kahunas…..yeah that’s an image everyone needs embedded in the mind.
August 29th, 2007 at 12:10 pm
Red Bull and Excederin. That’ll keep ya up. Not in the sense that Jarrett is thinking but yeah..
August 29th, 2007 at 9:29 pm
Went through this 20 years ago drunk.
Still only way to draw a hand.
Still drunk.
Damn good comic, BTW.