Doodles, Details and Dayjobs

With the dayjob sucking a lot of my writing brain away lately, I've enjoyed a replenishing break doing some doodling. Lately, this has gone from more simple, static figures, to actual scenes from There Goes the Galaxy and The Purloined Number.

It's always surprising to me what I learn from doing this. For instance, when I decided to draw Bertram in the discount souvenir crap he picks up at the Lunch-n-Launch diner in The Purloined Number, I had NO IDEA he'd gotten himself the questionable orange and green logo pants he seems to be wearing here. He just needed something extra, and they APPEARED. (I'm sorry, Bertram. I'm really sorry. But at least you look happy about it.)

Rollie below was fun because I finally got a better bead on those heavy-treaded boots he's always clunking onto things. I liked adding the little frayed bits to the bottom of the coat, too. I don't imagine Rollie bothers with having many wardrobe options in his closet.

I wanted to draw Xylith, who's integral in both books, here doing a little pick-pocketry... her speciality. Here, I knew about her very strange feet, but I wasn't aware until I started trying to design the boots and clothes that her people may well be amphibious.

I also wanted to try to draw Rozz, the other main Earth person in the series. From comments online, Rozz apparently looks like a fuchsia-haired Felicia Day. I would have liked this drawing better if it wasn't limited by my crappy handwriting. Missing those first grade penmanship classes--- it still haunts me! :)

On the plus side, I have a better idea of what the Print Liberation Lounge logo and company colors might be.

One of my friends at work, who'd been following along with my drawing projects, requested a scene from the first There Goes the Galaxy, wanting to know what the Seers' Tower on Rhobux-7 looked like. I wasn't sure if I was up for doing such a complex scene, but it was really fun to try to figure it out!

That got me thinking about that big lime green eyeball (The Receptionist) inside the Seers' Tower. I was pretty happy with little details like the sweep of Rollie's coat, and the hole in poor Bertram's sock.

I also thought it would be fun to see what the Peace Guards on the planet Podunk-17 looked like. I knew they were lizardoid. But I didn't expect they would be inspired so much by tropical aquarium fish.

So, that's where I am currently. I'm working on the picture below today.

This is in Vos Laegos, in The Purloined Number where Bertram and Rollie visit with Rollie's snitch acquaintance, Skane. Here the challenge will be in doing Rollie's high-tech camo. It's supposed to be visible but not visible, so it's an interesting balancing act for me. I don't know if my drawing skills are up for it. But I'm preparing for takeoff anyway. :)

If any of you have suggestions for a scene you'd like to see doodled, I'd be happy to hear it!

--Jenn

The Final Showdown: Influ Enzo versus... well... Somebody

On Friday, when we last left the two-dimensional city of BurghTown, it was being taken over by that Sultan of Sickness... that Demon of Disease... BurghTown's Number One Crime Boss, Influ Enzo.

But where was BurghTown's B-level protector Back-up Girl, you ask?

Why, she had troubles of her own!

So Mayor Skippy sent his Deputy Mayor to the last resort-- the Last Resort Karaoke Bar and Grill, that is-- in search for some backup for the fallen backup super-heroine.
Superheroes love nothing better than half-off nachos day!

And that's when the Deputy Mayor came across the perfect choice for Back-up Girl's backup. Captain Cassette: BurghTown's former backup to the A-level heroes, circa 1984!

Captain Cassette might be warped a little here and stretched thin a bit there. But overall he's as in-shape and sharp as he was when his favorite band, Devo, was on the charts!

And once he hears about Influ Enzo's reign of terror-- and the nachos and Jell-O shots wear off -- he's ready take on this Viral Villain and whip him--

Whip him good.

But what's this?! Captain Cassette's Magnetic Strength is doing absolutely nothing in the face of Influ Enzo!

Could it be that, for treating an illness like Influ Enzo's, magnet therapy simply doesn't work?!

Great Polka-Dotted Pandemics!, whatever will BurghTown do now?

Well, it looks like it's time to call in the next choice of available heroes... Third Banana, Super Sidekick!...
The Deputy Mayor appeals to Third Banana for help. But Third Banana isn't so sure. Why didn't the town come to him first?

He knows martial arts! He's worked with heroes all his life! He even wrote his own theme song! Is it because humans tend to think monkeys are unreliable, is that it? Is it some deep and inherent Monkey Prejudice?

Well, fine. He says he'll do it. But BurghTown will see. You just can't monkey around with peoples' feelings.

And so he tracks down Influ Enzo, who is enjoying the view of BurghTown's newly smogged skyline. And the Simian Sidekick makes with the Chim Pan-Zee style martial arts!

But in spite of kick after kick-- it's just no banana. Influ Enzo will simply not stay down.

Can nothing and no one strike Influ Enzo where it hurts?!

Meanwhile, back at Back-up Girl's super-secret third floor headquarters on Main Street...

Back-up Girl has struggled out of bed and made a very important phone call. She knows only one hero can truly take down Influ Enzo and his gang.

It's just a matter of his trawler getting in range for mobile phone reception.

Yes, that's right-- it's Gorton, the Anti-Virus Fisherman! Gorton comes complete with an antivirus utility belt, AntiPhishing Fishing Rod, and plenty of containment bags to put an end to Influ Enzo's evil-doings.

When you have Influ Enzo, Gorton Anti-Virus is just the one you need to make it right!

Influ Enzo has been bagged and snagged...

Yet, as the pea-green virus begins to clear, the citizens of BurghTown see something unexpected in the sky...

Surely, Lady Liberty, BurghTown's A-list superhero hasn't finally found her Invisible SmartCar?

No! It's Back-Up Girl!...

She's perfectly 100% well again, and sporting a really interesting new non-copyright infringing makeover!

Back-up Girl, we hardly knew ya!


Yes, the City of BurghTown has been saved! All thanks to the hero who backed up the hero, who backed up the hero, who backed up the hero, who backed up ...

Gorton the Anti-Virus Fisherman...

Oh. And Back-up Girl.

-----------------------------------------
Humorbloggers
Humor-blogs

Cast YOUR Vote for Back-up Girl's Backup Sidekick!

The City of BurghTown...


When last we left our heroine Back-up Girl, she'd been hit hard by the Godfather of Gross-- Influ Enzo and his mob family.

Right now they're pestilentially plotting to pack a punch to the personal pep of the poor paralyzed populace!...

But with all of BurghTown's pre-approved and properly-insured A-list superheroes currently busy with other more pressing obligations...

Who will save BurghTown from this disaster of dysentery waiting to be dispensed?

For the first time ever, Back-up Girl needs backup herself-- and fast!... And you, good Cabbages readers, can help her!

Yes--- between his 2 o'clock nap and his 3pm cookie-and-Yoo-Hoo break, Mayor Skippy will be sending the Deputy Mayor to the only remaining place in BurghTown where they might still be able to find a superhero to save them...

It's the last resort.
No, really.

Here at The Last Resort Karaoke Bar and Grill, B-, C- and D-list superheroes with extra time on their hands get together, pour out their sorrows, and commiserate on their careers.

And-- why, I believe we have one of them here now!

Is that...?! Yes-- it IS!..
It's Third Banana-- BurghTown's popular simian sidekick to other BurghTown sidekicks!

Over the years, Third Banana has worked alongside The Cloned Stranger's mono-syllabic Native American guide Pronto...

He's lent a hand to GuanoGuy's junior partner, Nuthatch, the Boy Stumbler...

And he's even traveled through time, as in-ship mechanic for Doctor Doe's robot cat, Mr. Rivets.

Third Banana's super-secret backup powers include his black belt in Chim Pan-Zee, super-psychedelic hypnotic eyes, and his deep understanding of quantum bananaramadynamics.

He also enjoys playing guitar and taking long walks on the beach.

Hurray!-- BurghTown is saved!

But wait! Third Banana isn't the only superhero here at The Last Resort. No!

Fresh from singing a well-meaning, yet painfully off-key karaoke version of "Wind Beneath My Wings," here we find...
... Miss Congeniality!

And what luck! This Gal of Goodness, this Champion of Cheer, this Diva of Diplomacy stands as a Beacon of Backup for everyone who ever followed their dreams to the very end-- and still got the shaft.

Her astounding talents include her tooth-enamel blind-beam, the whiplash sash, and a genuine BurghTown license as a certified mediator.

Well, this isn't going to be an easy choice, is it?!

But... look! Over there in the shadows of the karaoke stage...

Who's that in the neon green-and-black Tron tribute costume, knocking back a Jell-O shot?...

Why, the Deputy Mayor hasn't seen this hero in ages! It's Captain Cassette, the Totally High-Tech SuperGenius Circa 1984!...
Captain Cassette has been retired and freelancing for over a decade, having been replaced by the backup crime fighting duo, LANman and DigiDog, in the early 90s.

Ah, but Captain Cassette had known serious power. He could instantly recall and playback anything he ever heard-- though if you made him recount it more than a few times, his voice sounded a little warped and crackly for the retelling.

Combined with his super magnetic strength, Captain Cassette could tie up any villain in tape. Crime was going nowhere when he was on the job!

So here is where we need you all: who should be Back-up Girl's backup?

Should it be:

a.) Captain Cassette?
b.) Third Banana?
or
c.) Miss Congeniality?
Cast your vote in the comments section, and around Wednesday of next week, we'll reveal the rest of our exciting story.

BurghTown is counting on you, friends!

Have a super weekend!
-------------------------------------------------------
Humorbloggers
Humor-blogs

Back-up Girl Versus Influ Enzo

The City of BurghTown...

Home to the one superhero city residents call when the really important crime-fighters all have something better to do:

Yes, that's right-- Back-up Girl!...

Ah, but what's this? (GASP!)

Back-up Girl-- you don't look so good!

Oh NO! You've been hit by that Malcontent of the Malady...

That Instigator of Intestinal Angst...

That Villain of Vomit...

Influ Enzo, patriarch of the Orthomyx-Oviridae crime family!


Will Back-up Girl still manage to make it to work today?--

(Y'know, since Captain Coolness has a hangnail operation scheduled...

Lady Liberty misplaced her invisible SmartCar again...

And Mayor Skippy kinda has a playdate at PizzaMouse he'd still like to make.)

With Influ Enzo bent on increasing his territory in the city, could it be BurghTown will need back-up for its back-up?


Tune in to our next exciting episode to find out!

(Or, um, not. We'll see how we're feeling.)

PS-- Did you miss previous thrilling episodes of Back-up Girl? Really?! (Gasp!)

• Click here to check out Back-up Girl Versus Captain Anonymous !
• And here to see Back-up Girl Versus Miss Management!
  

-------------------------------------------
Humorbloggers
Humor-blogs

Brotherhood of the Probable Pummeling

Imminent death. That's what I expected the day three Theta Xi brothers discovered I was the person behind a particular weekly sheep comic strip.

It was in college, right before writing class. And in my comic's storyline a few weeks before, I'd made a cheeky reference to the Theta Xi fraternity and our woolly friends.

It was a common enough campus joke, hearkening back to some unfortunate Sheep Violation Incident in the fraternity's past. (Unfortunate, mostly for the sheep, as I'd heard it). Anyway, the comic got printed and I thought nothing else about it...

Until I had to drop off a new strip after class.

Well, the Theta Xi boys... there were at least three of them in this course. Three largish guys I didn't know very well. And when one of them spotted the drawings, he nudged the two other fellows, drawing their full frowning, squinting attention my way.

I swear, stormclouds rolled in and thunder rumbled overhead.

The central Theta brother leaned in to me, eyes narrowed, as if trying to burn my face deep into his memory. "YOU draw that comic?"

I tried to will myself invisible, but remembered too late that that had never effectively worked. "Yes."

I think I could have finished War and Peace in the painful pause that followed-- which wasn't even appropriate, as Russian literature was covered in an entirely different class.

And suddenly, the clouds parted. Golden sunshine beamed in through the classroom window and a bluebird lit on the windowsill.

The Theta Xi brother offered me a broad, radiant smile, reserved normally for toothpaste ads and game show hosts. "I love that comic! You know the one where you mentioned Theta Xi?"

"Er... I'm familiar with it..."

"I have that on the door to my room. Don't I, guys? Don't I have that taped to the door of my room?"

Yes, yes, they all agreed he had it taped to the door of his room.

I dabbed the sweat from my forehead and neck, careful to not dampen my comic's panels and make the markers run.

This was my very first bit of audience feedback.

So tell me, fellow bloggers and creative-types, has your work ever gotten response from a very unexpected audience? I'd love to hear about it.

-----------------------------------------
Vote for this post at Humor-blogs. If it's working.