The Announcer
Adam and Fred sure do a lot of walking around. I guess it’s better than having them stand around in a room though (unless the joke calls for it.) Walking around is good though. It makes things more visually interesting, and as a side effect, it’s also good for you. I would go so far as to say that Jetpacks and Timemachines (the best slightly sci-fi comic on the web) encourages healthy lifestyles. Isn’t that nice?
In this comic, I introduce a new character… The local neighborhood crackpot. Adam and Fred do their best too avoid him, but it crackpots can sense that sort of thing. They’re in for a diatribe, but luckily, Fred manages to dole out some wit to make an escape. Adam tries some wit too…
Also, I love the term ’snark’.
I’m curious, how does everyone feel about ‘the announcer’? I’m going to develop the character more down the road, and I’m really going to try to add more depth than the standard “sign waving doomsayer” I think.
July 31st, 2007 at 3:50 am
Hi Jim,
Yeah, like the announcer - suitably manic !
I take it you’re familiar with ‘The hunting of the Snark’??
I was woindering will Jetpacks and Time-Machines actually feature in the strip, or are they to remain a kind of clue to the ‘ethos’ of the strip??
All the best,
Jan
July 31st, 2007 at 5:23 am
I think the idea could add another avenue to keep the story lines fresh. My only concern would be keeping away from the whole political/religious area that usualy surrounds the neighborhood quack. It’s not that I would worry about offending someone, I just don’t find these areas humorous. Though our government is laughable at times.
July 31st, 2007 at 5:45 am
“More like Idiots”! Haha! THAT could have been the closer! Oh Mercy.
July 31st, 2007 at 7:32 am
Thanks for the feedback guys!
@ Jan: Nope, I wasn’t familiar with the hunting of the snark until a recent googling, but I will be. I just mentioned ’snark’ when reviewing someone elses comic, and I just thought it was sort of a funny word.
As for jetpacks and time machines… They’ll be mentioned possibly later (I’m still working it out), but primarily they are meant to cue in readers to what the strip is like.
@ Kevin: Yeah, I’m not going terribly political, the announcer is more of a venue to run with some of the crazier ideas people have, and maybe poke a little fun.
@ JC, I figured that line would be up your alley. But then again, I know you’re all about being against technology and for “the natural way”…
July 31st, 2007 at 8:26 am
I disagree with Kev on this: Political jabs can be very funny as long as they veer away from sounding preachy. Berkeley Breathed made quite a nice living doing just that. I love the “Mark My Words” frame.
July 31st, 2007 at 8:28 am
The whole “..all days are numbered…” line is great. It’s ran through my head all day. That’s the last time I check out the updated strip early in the day.
July 31st, 2007 at 9:38 am
@ wit: Yeah, I’m middle of the road on this… As long I can keep it light and make it fit in my strip, I’ll roll with it a little. I’d like my strip to me mostly character based, but a little social or political commentary can’t be avoided. Of course part of this view is biased due to the joke I have coming up on thursday.
@ Kevin. That’s the kind of thing I’m aiming for. Memorability. If that’s even a word or an attribute. Or is that the ability to recall stuff? Who knows. (probably anybody with google.) I should just google these things first, but I don’t feel like it. I do get nervous sometimes that I might be making words up as I go along.
July 31st, 2007 at 9:55 am
I really enjoy the strip and have already recommended it to a few friends.
I know you hear your stuff compared to Watterson a lot (which is cool) but lately I can’t help but notice similarities between it and the short lived cartoon “Invader Zim” as well.
July 31st, 2007 at 10:09 am
Thanks bob, I always like to hear people are spreading the word. I’ve gotten the zim reference once before, but I can’t say I’m actually familiar with it. Regardless, I’m cool with most comparisons, although I will attempt to email a fist in the face to anyone that compares it to a strip I don’t care for (although I won’t mention which ones. I don’t want to publicly trash anybody. You’ll know when you get that virtual punch in the nose!)
July 31st, 2007 at 11:17 am
Jim, there’s nothing wrong with making up words as long as you convey the meaning well to everone else . The English lanquage is so far beyond hope, you can’t make it any worse.
July 31st, 2007 at 3:07 pm
HI, been reading JP&TM for a couple of weeks (I saw the ad on another webcomic, not sure which one). Really like what you’ve got with this, very different to most other comics on the net and has been recomended to anyone that will listen to me.
Also, as i love great one liners, the “days are numbered” and the “sting in the mouth/street cred” comments are deinately going to be dropped into conversation.
July 31st, 2007 at 4:13 pm
Hey Ant, thanks for the feedback!
Yeah, I’m working more and more on the dialog these days, ironing out the kinks and what not, so keep reading, and hopefully it will only get better.
August 1st, 2007 at 6:31 am
I’m here to ground you, not pat your oddly shaped head. So here it goes.
I have read this comic now 4-5 times throughout yesterday and now once today, now being the first time I have time to leave comment(s). I enjoyed this comic. PANELS 1,3,5-7 are spot on. Terrific line work, much fun to look at.
Now, all you viewers who are not artists ready yourself for the pickiness which runs our lives. Panels 2 & 4 poke me in the eye. The announcer has some proportion problems with his arms in Panel 2. Like anybody in the world would notice this…but a sillouette only has proportion going for it, so if you mess that up, the panel becomes weakened.
Panel 4 the Announcer looks Zing, but Fred and Adam’s proportion compared to him is now off. They seem too short to me, unless The announcer is a relative of Andre the Giant.
Again, I am often more wrong than right, but Jim and I fought in Korea together so we are close, our words no matter how stern are fused with love.
Fantastic comic, better each day in my opinion.
August 1st, 2007 at 3:10 pm
Really do enjoy the comic strips so far. I am going to keep on reading, because I am a nerd like that. But ’saludos de Puerto Rico!’… that until I move.
But yes, a reader from another corner of the world. I clicked on here from The Pursuit of Mandy… which I thought was too cute for my taste but seeing that the creator was in Korea with you, I might just give it another go. I hope I don’t get killed via internet for that comment.
August 1st, 2007 at 5:40 pm
Hey Ariana, thanks for the feedback! Puerto Rico, Canada, China… Slowly JP&TM will smother the globe! MWAHH HAHH HAHA HAAAHHH… Sorry. I get a little carried away with my internet conquest.
Don’t worry, I think you’ll be safe from any sort of internet homicide. If jarrett and I fought in korea, it would would be on vacation, and probably in a bar somewhere, so if he’s sending violence via the internet, it’d probably just be wobbly haymakers. (but, maybe you shouldn’t open any emails with the subject, “I’LL SHOW YOU ‘TOO CUTE!’ just to be on the safe side.)
August 1st, 2007 at 7:36 pm
ARIANA…first of all, I love your name. Maybe that will be Mandy’s best friends name eventually. “I hope I don’t get killed via internet for that comment.” Nope…comments are good any which way I get them. Too cute is definately a concern.
I am glad however you found Jim through me, he’s about the best there is in this art form. Deep down he also thinks my strip is too cute and would never read it regularily if we weren’t friends.
I have another strip in the works about plane crashes and incurable diseases.
Thanks for giving my strip atleast a once read through, cute is just part of it.
Jarrett
August 1st, 2007 at 10:19 pm
@Jim: Ha. Snark. I love it.
More of this “Announcer” character. His speech makes me feel smarter.
@Jarett: I don’t think Mandy should have a best friend… Wouldn’t that break the imagination thing?
August 2nd, 2007 at 6:19 am
Jarett:: I had not noticed the arm-proportion thing until you pointed it out. The eye which it is now poking is not amused. I disagree with your assessment of panel 4, though, because (maybe it wasn’t, but I’m sure jim will claim it was anyway) I think that The Announcer looked so tall because he was looming over Fred and Adam. Being taller is kind of the only way to loom. A little exaggerated proportions just helps to move the idea.
jim, I loved the art in panels 1, 4, and 7 in particular. I think you should do more urban backgrounds. You rock at it.
August 2nd, 2007 at 7:47 am
@ Rachel: Don’t worry, the announcer is hear to stay. Thanks for the feedback!
@ The Bug: Don’t worry, there will be plenty more urban backgrounds where those came from. They’re probably one of my favorite things to draw, more so than just about anything else, so we’ll see a lot of them, and we’ll see them develop a whole lot. Thanks, and keep reading!
August 2nd, 2007 at 7:56 am
Hush, Rachel, let Mandy have an imaginary friend. Now, don’t be sad that Jarett thinks I’m real and you’re not. (Yes, I’ve read the comments). If he wants to make an adorable character by the amazing and fantastic name of Ariana then let it be!
And if it’s a try to win me over, then it might work. I’m easy like that… not in that internet whorish kind of way. More in the ‘Yes, I will read your comic strip every day!’ format of being easy.
Pssssst… Jarrett, you owe me 5 dollars if I love you long time. In loving you long time, means reading every comic strip from the beginning. Oh yeah. That’s right.
August 2nd, 2007 at 9:22 am
@ Ariana - You read every strip? My god, I pity you. Where do I send the $5? $5 canadian though…
@ Rachel - You’re right, maybe not a best friend, maybe a neighbor who also has imaginary friends…competing imaginary friends.
@ Bug - The don’t call me hawk eye Osborne for nothing.
@ Jan, Kevin, Bob, Ant & JC - Swing by my site if you want to see what not to do with your life.
August 2nd, 2007 at 9:37 am
@ Ariana: Reading the comments? Somebody’s been doing her homework eh?
@ Jarrett: quit trying to swipe my fans and get back on your side of the internet Osborne!
August 2nd, 2007 at 12:52 pm
Oh please, Ariana, i’m not that Rachel. My name is just common. So THERE.
August 2nd, 2007 at 1:16 pm
Sorry. Bad Habbit. Canada wants to be friends with everyone.
August 4th, 2007 at 12:11 pm
It was a joke! Chill. Chill.
August 4th, 2007 at 12:37 pm
No, Everybody fight! (conflict makes for some good internet!)
August 28th, 2007 at 10:21 pm
Loving the strip. This is one of the best ones so far. (I also love the ‘all days are numbered’ line. Brilliant use of logics! ) Plus, insane hobos always make things better.
One crit: This could have benefited from being -sliightly- longer. The final panel would have served us a sharper punch had it been preceeded by an identical panel, sans dialogue. This added image would help narrate how truly ‘left hanging’ the poor fool was.
Otherwise, awesome.