July 4th, 2007
The Toughest Dad in the World
I never got into the toughest dad competitions because it seemed like a futile contest… I still knew people who had the toughest dads of course. I like the idea that Fred immediately sees through the game, and uses that to his advantage.
July 4th, 2007 at 6:31 am
Crit Time from your favorite Canadian…
Panel 1 is rarely where it goes wrong for you, until this strip. Gulp. I think the two characters get lost in that panel, especially Adam. It’s hard to see him. That panel was the perfect time to use your grey backgrounds, but I know, I know, it’s strictly B&W for now as the purest blood is running through your veins. So if I am right, and it’s no greys for you…maybe a black cross hatch running from the bottom of the distant buildings up. Even the body of the fat kid gets a little lost. Just slightly cross your eyes and look at panel one, you’ll see what i mean…they go bye bye.
I like how panel two is really just an extension of panel 1. I also love the the cops pointing their guns at the pyscho dad.
Panel 4…should there be a question mark for Fred’s bubble?
I enjoyed the strip as usual, but you got enough ego Rubbers…you even got yourself fake women writing in.
July 4th, 2007 at 7:25 am
You’re fired. Go back to your side of the internet.
I had a feeling I might have gotten a little ‘pen crazy’ with that first panel… but then I decided not to worry about it.
I think you meant Purist blood… I actually almost did include grey in this comic. I’ve been toying with it for a little while now. I don’t know though. I can’t get over the feeling that grey is for hacks. I suppose I’m going against my whole “this is all about experimentation” schpiel by not wanting to use any grey, so I might consider it sometime.
July 4th, 2007 at 7:44 am
I used grey before…now the truth comes out.
Guess who I am giving your phone number to now?
July 4th, 2007 at 8:31 am
I don’t want to know….
I admit it… I have irrational issues when it comes to grey. I can’t help it, and I don’t know where it comes from. Hopefully some day I can overcome my bias.
July 4th, 2007 at 8:34 am
I would think you would issues with readers not being able to see your characters?
I keep forgetting you’re just a kid from Aireezoena.
July 4th, 2007 at 8:45 am
Hi.
I randomly followed the PW ad that appeared next to my beloved QC, because…well, I don’t know why. I was compelled by something DEEP INSIDE MY SOUL.
Gas, perhaps.
Regardless, this is great! Either you’re willingly wearing your Watterson influence on your sleeve, or your strangely channeling him. I don’t care which, I like it.
Happy 4th.
July 4th, 2007 at 9:10 am
Hey thanks Jarrod… Yeah I wear the Watterson Influence blatantly (like many, he was my favorite by far)… There was a time when I tried to hide the influence, but I found it was detrimental to my comic. I still didn’t truly accept it though, until I started reading the old peanuts comics, then I looked at the early C&H comics… It might seem weird to some people, but I got into C&H before I liked Peanuts, so I never consciously noticed the similarity before…I should say, I never noticed just how much C&H started out just like Peanuts… I realized then that I was just being foolish. I only hope I can raise the bar like Watterson did.
Yeah, QC has been very good to me… It’s a great ad spot for my comic.
July 4th, 2007 at 9:18 am
I went through exactly the same progression. When I was really young I used to read those cheap little Peanuts treasuries over and over and over again until the covers would fall off. Then when C&H burst onto the scene that became my next obsession (along with–to a lesser extent–Bloom County). Schultz and Watterson are by far the biggest influences on me as a comic creator.
*sigh* I still miss C&H. Honestly, I haven’t had a reason to obsessively read the funnies every day since those two careened off into the sunset together…
July 4th, 2007 at 12:55 pm
Hey, nice background art.
July 5th, 2007 at 1:24 am
Hey, I found you through QC too!
I love the black and white detailed style you use, and the concept of a supervillain having a conventional family is great.
July 5th, 2007 at 1:26 am
Nice! I like this one a lot.
July 5th, 2007 at 6:27 am
I’m coming in late on this one but I disagree. I think panel one works just fine. I like the fact that you haven’t used grayscales. Don’t start. Maybe a bolder outline around Adam’s helmet? I like the continuation from panel one to panel two as well. Maybe even make them one huge panel.
what is QC?
July 5th, 2007 at 8:51 am
Thanks everyone! I’m personally divided on the front panel, I think maybe I should have used a little more line thickness variation between the foreground and background but I’m not sure… I think I’m going to keep going with just black and white on the dailys but eventually I’m going to either switch one of the dailys to a full color comic in a bigger size, or if I can improve my speed, I’ll bump it up to four days a week. I figure that’s where I’ll play with my greys and colors…
Wit, QC is “Questionable Content”- I run a square ad on it every once and a while to pick up some new viewers.
July 5th, 2007 at 11:05 am
“Grey is for Hacks”
Everyone just remember that quote…
July 5th, 2007 at 12:22 pm
Wow! This is a really great comic! I found your page from QC as well, it seems to be a good advertising spot for you considering all of the previous comments! I also disagree with the first comment up there… the first panel looks fine, no, there needn’t be a question mark in panel, and I absolutely LOVE your use of black and white ink. I think greys would make it kind of dull-looking and ‘just another comic’. But as is, you have a really great thing going here!
Keep up the awesome-ness!
July 5th, 2007 at 12:33 pm
I agree with Renee…that first maroon doesn’k know squat!
July 5th, 2007 at 1:48 pm
Thanks Renee! yeah, QC is a great spot for me…
Way to not be afraid to disagree with Jarrett’s critique, although in his defense, he does a pretty good job of incorporating grey into his comic “The Pursuit of Mandy”… so he’s kind of biased. Of course, he does color much better (or so I think I remember… It’s been a while since I’ve seen a new one…)
July 5th, 2007 at 6:35 pm
Im not Fake!
July 5th, 2007 at 7:11 pm
yeah seriously Jarrett, if I were going to make up female fans, I’d totally make up a lot more… Nothing would get me increased traffic like having a site where lots of chicks hang out and talk comics. Seriously, I’d have to stock geek repellent. (I’d make at least three of them hot asian chicks who know kung-fu. Better make that Industrial Strength Geek Repellent)
July 5th, 2007 at 9:31 pm
Another person sent here from QC =)
I only read two webcomics. Well, make that three now.
July 5th, 2007 at 9:59 pm
That’s the kind of thing I like to hear. What’s the third?
July 6th, 2007 at 11:59 am
Chalk up yet another visitor courtesy QC.
Also, chalk up another soon-to-be regular visitor to your comic. I like the sly/dry humor in the last panel. Even if it’s meant less to poke fun and more matter-o-fact, Fred’s commentary makes me laugh.
For what it’s worth, I’m also enjoying the commentary about the creation process between you and some of your fellow artists. It’s neat to see the thoughts and discussion about the how of the comic - at least from the standpoint of a guy who can’t even draw a stick figure to save his life!!
July 6th, 2007 at 6:38 pm
Thanks Harlan, I’m always glad to hear from potential returning fans! Yeah, Fred is definitely being snarky in that last panel in this one. As far as discussions about the creation process go, both Jarrett and myself are really trying to raise the bar in the world of comic strips, and to that end we figured a dialog that takes a ‘Scott McCloud’ analytical approach would really help.
July 18th, 2007 at 6:04 pm
I really like your “my dad can beat up your dad” strips. Looks like a great theme to revisit from time to time.
It’d be more satisfying if in the last panel the kid had an expression as one who had received his comeuppance, though.
July 18th, 2007 at 8:18 pm
True, we all like the comeuppance. This will definitely be a reoccurring joke. I gotta have the reoccurring jokes/ themes/ and locations that all go a little farther each time.
July 24th, 2007 at 2:59 pm
I know this is late but I gotta say, I think people should treat running gags with care; if it’s really funny, do it, but if it’s just meant to make you laugh because it references all those other funny moments, they get old fast.