EOS 54: New Years

Ok, I am going to do something decidedly different this week. Basically, I realized that since no-one actually gives a crap about what I do on this, I am going to illustrate some of my rants and neuroses. If you don't like it, I don't care, because you obviously didn't very excited about anything else I posted on this site. Deal with it.

I have never been able to force myself to fall asleep. Growing up, naptimes and bedtimes were torture. My parents would get mad because I would never get to sleep before them. It's not like I fought them or made noise, I just couldn't shut off my brain. I still can't I don't know how you freaks do it. What is wrong with you? There are just too many things to do, to go to sleep before being completely exhausted.

Anyway, Happy New Year.

Top 10 Webcomics

I have been reflecting on my comics recently and I have decided on a hard truth. What I want out of Lona is not what people like, but at least I am starting to understand what people like. What people like are fun characters and humorous responses to situations, not overly forced philosophical ramblings. They want to see characters grow in a story, not just illustrate a point. I have decided to all-out scrap Lona and just go back to telling whatever stories I find amusing. I have learned quite a bit in the past two years, but this is still going to be by the seat of my pants.

I have been watching a number of film criticisms by Nostalgia Chick (http://blip.tv/nostalgia-chick) and I feel that is influencing my already overly analytical take on all things pop culture. Seriously, I cannot just sit down an enjoy something these days without thinking about why I enjoy it and how it uses it medium.

Since I am going to go back into being gung-ho about comics, and I feel a need to analyze everything, perhaps I should list my most influential web-comics and what they mean to me. So, without further ado, here are my top 10 most personally influential web-comics.

10: Dilbert (www.dilbert.com)
You may find it odd that I am listing a syndicated comic as a webcomic, but Dilbert is more a web-comic than anything. While not independently published, it was the first mainstream comics that utilized the World Wide Web as a major outlet and email as a main means of communications. It was born out of cooperate networks and really became the first smash hit comic online. In fact, one major employer from my hometown received an email from the publisher asking if their employees ever did any work because they received so many hits from them each day. It is the first comic to truly make the jump from print to digital in a big way.

What Dilbert means to me, besides a historical context, is that it was my first does of daily cynicism to which I could truly relate. Here was a cartoon about corporate engineers, and it took me through engineering school and into my chosen profession. I’ll never quite forget the first “Dilbert” moment I had as an intern, walking into the conference room finding buzz-words painted all over the walls like it was a good thing. I think more than anything Dilbert has influenced my world-view than my actual cartooning. Wally is my engineering idol. I guess what Dilbert means to me more than anything is that a cartoon can be a mascot of a people, even if that people is just about everyone, because we all have frustrating days at work.

9: Surviving the World (www.survivingtheworld.net)

OK, for the uninitiated, STW is a comic, but it is not a cartoon. Let’s get technical here. A comic is a story told by static images. There can be one, like the Far Side or Family Circus, or there can be many like your typical comic book. There is nothing dictating that they must be produced by a certain medium. A cartoon, on the other hand, is an intentionally simplified illustration of an object or idea intended to capture the essence of object but not duplicate it. Thus, something like the Shrek is a cartoon because it is not trying to be photorealistic with its characters. Whereas, something like the Star-Wars Prequels, despite being heavily animated, is not a cartoon because it is intending to fool you into looking like real life. Am I being clear? Honestly, I just wanted to expound on some stuff. I will get back to the task at hand now.

            Maybe it is the engineering/academic/thermodynamisist connection, but I really get Surviving the World. Part of it is my shared frustration with him on how people behave, but I admire the approach Dante Shepard takes. He plays the role of professor, (which he is in real life) and it is his job to educate us. His comics don’t fall into the beat-you-down-because-you-are-stupid category, which a lot of frustration comics fall into. Instead, he comes at you with a lesson, you feel better about yourself to know something new, and maybe you won’t make the obvious mistake this time. I guess it is more a lesson of being a teacher than being a cartoonist, but if you ever want to be a good cartoonist, sooner or later, you are going to be teaching your viewpoint, and you want to educate people not insult them.

            8: Doghouse Diaries (www.thedoghousediaries.com)

This comic also falls under the frustration-at-the-world category. The Doghouse Diaries takes a slightly different approach. The cartoons take frustration and push it to hyperbole. Common themes are daily annoyances based on things coming between us and our inane desires and, as the title suggests, the struggle between the sexes that often lands us in the proverbial doghouse. What makes this comic influential to me is that it allows the creators to poke fun at the overly simplistic viewpoints that men are purported to have, but the misgivings of common female viewpoints do not make it off Scott free. See http://thedoghousediaries.com/1764 and http://thedoghousediaries.com/1771 . I admire that in the end, this comic is a group of men honestly reflecting and making sense out of their lives, and we get to see the humor in it. 

            7: Connie Wonnie (www.conniewonnie.com)

I like Connie Wonnie for so many reasons but most of all because I like the creator. I generally consider her an actual friend, but I think I may have scared her off. I tend to do that to people. Anyway, why is liking a creator such a big deal to me? It simple. That is exactly what you are getting in Connie’s comics. You are getting the world through her eyes, pure and unadulterated. It is frustrated, whimsical, and brutally honest.  If you are ever need inspiration to open up, this is the comic for you. I think today’s comic illustrates this perfectly. Also, it has cute animals. (http://www.conniewonnie.com/2013/12/free-nuzzles.html)

Also, I really identify with her whole, educated, perpetually-singe, living-away-from-family-in-the-Northeast motif. I think I am noticing a pattern of liking comics with which I identify.

6: Dr. McNinja (www.drMcninja.com)

The name says it all. He is both a doctor and a ninja. Unlike other comics whose humor relies on what might be considered randomness, Dr. McNinja stays somewhat logical. Yes, the characters and situations are a bizarre fantasy one might dream up as a young boy, (complete with references back to the creator’s youth) but the resolution and interpersonal conflicts are strongly grounded in reason and realistic emotions. It’s a lesson in humor as I like it. Humor isn’t about being over-the-top. Humor is about pointing out the absurdity of life with hyperbole and bizarre substitutions that somehow still work. I think Dan McNinja’s line on this page says it all (http://drmcninja.com/archives/comic/4p15/)

            This comic also taught me another lesson. I don’t want to do action. I will just leave that for the best of them, because there is no way I could compete.

            5: PhDComics (www.PhDcomics.com)

If there was ever a comic that influenced a life decision, this was it. I was introduced to the PhD Comics while I was contemplating graduate school. When I read the entire archive, I was hooked. It sounded like fun. Basically, I was bored and suffering sounded like more fun that watching my brain rot. I was already pretty cynical from years of Dilbert, but PhD finished me off. I was so jaded that I thought I could take on anything, and in that mindset I embarked on what can be poetically referred to as "the best mistake of my life" all because I thought it would be fun. Yes, it actually was loads of fun. However, over that 5-year period I would keep on experiencing frustrations, setbacks, and feelings of impending doom, and in those moments I would recall some comic I read years ago that applied perfectly. It was comforting more than anything because it reminded me that if these problems are common, then people must be able to overcome them. You see, that is what is special about the cynicism of PhD Comics. Whereas Dilbert is the mascot for the masses who that binds us together, PhD is for the broken that are reminded that they are not alone. If you want to understand the frustration of a graduate student, just go through this list. (http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/most_popular.php)

            This comic also taught me a lesson. I really don’t need to be another comic laden with cynicism. I prefer to look at things through a more optimistic light. Let others do the commiseration. I will add the hope.

            4: Questionable Content (www.QuestionableContent.net)

QC was probably the first webcomic I truly loved. When I found it, I read through the entire archive in like a day (maybe two) and despite my efforts, I cannot put it down. What does QC mean to me? In some ways it is the classic slice-of-life webcomic, a slightly tweaked reality with a large fun cast of semi-rejects, ongoing soap-opera drama, and designated comic relief characters that could not exist in real life. It comes complete with a glorification of hipsters in coffee shops. I guess what keeps me in QC is two things. First, the characters are genuinely interesting and endearing. You want to hear what they have to say and how they react to different things. The other thing is that the world keeps moving in the little things, be it the change of the seasons, the daily rotation of their clothing, or the specials listed on the chalkboard. You can actually count the days as they move. The stories are neither static nor do they jump disjointedly from event to event. They progress through time just like life, and QC captures this.

            Like all of my top comics, QC taught me something valuable about what I don’t want from a comic. I don’t want to play up to the cool stuff to do like hanging out in coffee shops and talk about music just because that is the trendy thing to do at my age (or was). I kind of want my comics to be a little more timeless. We’ll see how this goes.

            3: Dresden Codak (www.DresdenCodak.com)

I will find it hard to describe what Dresden Codak means to me. Dresden Codak is the first comic I fell in love with because of the artwork. It is philosophical, funny, and ornate. It can range from huge strips with tons of artwork for a simple payoff (http://dresdencodak.com/2009/09/07/the-sleepwalkers/) to straightforward literature jokes (http://dresdencodak.com/2009/09/22/caveman-science-fiction/). Either way, if you are willing to wait the sometimes months between updates, you are rewarded with something quite amazing each time. I am not going to say much about this comic, not because I don’t have much to say, but because it is hard to summarize. It draws influence from so many areas, yet it manages to run all of the conflict through one strange mal-adjusted protagonist. I think that is its strength. While brilliant, Kim’s excesses are relatable as she geeks about the silliest ideas in a way we would too if only we could conceive of them. (http://dresdencodak.com/2010/06/10/dark-science-02/) It influences why I must get philosophical in my work.
            I guess the lesson with Dresden Codak is that you should never take yourself too seriously in your message or your artwork. Sometimes, people just want a pretty picture and a smart joke, and if you get a little pretentious about that, you can turn off people. Also, you tend to take longer when you take yourself too seriously, and people don’t like waiting.

            2: XKCD (www.XKCD.com)

What is there to say about XKCD? Well, let’s heap some praise on it. Randall Munroe is considered a god among geeks, and the true torchbearer of the single-panel comic, passed along from the greatest of them all, Gary Larson, whose flame of humor must have been stolen from the heavens in a truly Promethean manner. Hefty words, I know, but hear me out. XKCD is not really a comic about anything. Much like The Far Side, it is a really a collection of disconnected ideas with occasionally reoccurring themes. It is rooted in the way Randall Munroe wants to see the world, a world where geekiness is used for cuteness (http://xkcd.com/162/) and to solve problems (http://xkcd.com/322/). It is a tool and a quirk, but it is also a drawback in many situations (http://xkcd.com/309/). It is his personal fight against the rest of the world (http://xkcd.com/172/), yet it is not angry (http://xkcd.com/968/). He romanticizes, and stands in awe despite the obvious problems around him. That is XKCD. I wish I could do that. Also, seriously, he can get some totally awesome emotion out of stick figures (http://xkcd.com/486/).

            I guess what XKCD taught me not to do was that I do not want my works to be without theme. I like pulling things together on a personal level like he does in his jokes, but I also like feeling like I am telling a larger story. It is hard to do that with every strip just bouncing around. Also, if I am going to do an info-graph, it should either be informative, awe-inspiring, or funny. Charts for the sake of charts don’t do it for me.

            1: Girls With Slingshots (www.girlswithslingshots.com)

Why GWS? Are you surprised? Why is a comic I probably wouldn’t show my grandmother the most influential web-comic I read? Part of it was timing, I guess. GWS was the tipping point. I read some GWS through the years, but it never really clicked with me until February of 2012. Then, in about a 24 hour period I read the entire archive and decided that this was what I wanted to do with my life. I am still nowhere near ready to make it a profession, but I will at least take it seriously.

            I think the biggest thing for GWS, as far as influence goes, is that there is something very accessible about it. In reading the archive, I got to experience the progression of Danielle Corsetto from part-timer to professional to Goddess of the Web-comic world. I am simultaneously in awe of much of her artwork without being intimidated by it. It is beautiful yet simple, a tough act, and it is only getting better. However, I saw from where it started. So, I know I can make the same progression.  It is extremely encouraging.

            I think the biggest thing about GWS is accessibility. Danielle writes much of her own personality into her main protagonists. That genuine nature comes through, and she writes her supporting characters to be people she would actually like. I can only assume many of them are based on people she knows. Also, her situations are wacky and border on fantasy with talking cacti, ghost kittens, and other oddities, but the driving stories are personal and human. In many ways, if QC is the classic slice-of-life comic, GWS is slice-of-life perfected.  I mean look at today's strip (http://www.girlswithslingshots.com/comic/gws-1765/).

            The other major thing GWS is how personable Danielle Corsetto is, even over the Internet. Of all of the comic authors I have followed, she is the most open. Whereas, I have mixed feelings about #TMItuesday, I appreciate that an author incorporate her readers in her life to the point that they are the go-to solution for any technical problems she encounters. She also post GWS inspired recipes (http://www.girlswithslingshots.com/comic/ask-the-cast-4-2013--ginger-pear-cookie-recipe/) As fans, we will gladly share what we know with her because she gladly shares herself with us. It is nice not to have some author who just occasionally updates us on progress or lack-there-of but brings us into the challenges of being an artist. She also does fun things like occasionally live-streaming her drawing process some nights. During the last EOS I drew, her live-stream was in the background. It was good to know that I was not the only person making a comic at that time of night. Oh, and she would stop and join the chat with the readers. How cool is that? If there is one thing that night taught me, I am more creative when I am feeling connected to people. Maybe that is the key I need to learn, “connect.”

            I guess, the one thing I would not do that GWS does is that I would not let such dirty themes enter my comic, but that is just staying true to myself. I guess that is the lesson I learn. Don’t imitate someone else’s model for success. Be true to yourself.

So what does this say about comics and me? Don’t imitate others. I prefer comics that connect to my station in life. I prefer comics when I can relate to the author. I like comics that reinforce my cynicism to get me through the hard times, but I would rather have hope and wonder.

New Lona is up.

Yes, I spent my weekend drawing a new Lona!
You can see her at lona.mildlymiffed.com

I hope to have a joke strip or two out for next week. I'm not sure if you would really call them jokes, but I am not sure that I am in a state were I can actually tell a joke right now. Honestly, in May I felt that I was 17, now I feel like I am pushing 30 (well, wait 30 days.) Anyway, aging 13 years in 7 months takes it's toll on your sense of humor. We'll see.

EOS 53: Mall Music

OK, I made an important decision over the weekend, and that was I am taking myself too seriously with Lona and no one cares about my pretentious art message. I will still finish Lona, but I will also try to do things that actually interest the general public. As such, I am reintroducing the cast of Eyes of Solace and their message of humorous contentment.

I am surprised how easily I jumper right back into these characters after having not touched David and Sylvia for over a year and Nat for about six months. This was a one-night-wonder and for the number of panels and faces I had to do, I am pleased with the quality.

Also, it appears that Sylvia wears the same sandals in winter as she does in summer. Maybe she has waterproof socks, or maybe they are magic. I don't know. If you like her shoes you can buy a pair here. It might be a bit late to get them for Christmas. (Edit, they are not making shoes are the moment, but you can get in on their kickstarter. I am tempted, but I have no use for a pair of womenfolk's sandals. So my donation would be at a non-shoe tier.)

www.mohop.com

Finally this strip goes out to three women. The first is my favorite singer whose atrocity of a Christmas album inspired most of the songs selected for this strip. The second is my mother who hates "Santa Baby" even more than I do. The Final one is off to Danielle Corsetto who decided to live-stream her drawing tonight. Knowing that there are other artists out there doing what I am doing at night really makes this a lot less lonely, especially when there is an active chat among the viewers. Danielle does the amazing strip Girls With Slingshots. If you are unfamiliar, then what is wrong with you? Go to www.girlswithslingshots.com and read the whole archive.

(Edit, 4:33 AM is not the time to write a newspost. The part of my brain responsible for proofreading passes out around 2 AM.)

Scarlet Shame

This little story is based somewhat on a collection of experiences I have had in my professional and academic career ranging from understanding from where I came to my confusion over the ridiculous pitches I have heard at start-up fairs. Seriously, some of them made this comic seem reasonable: http://xkcd.com/1060/

This story is also a cheapshot taken at my school's bitter rival. It's all in good fun, and I actually do respect their alumni quite a bit, except for Kirk Herbstreit, but that is a story for another time.

Scarlet Shame.

Hester zipped up her jacket as she walked out the door. She bought the jacket years ago after her freshman orientation. The neutral colored jacket sported but one distinguishing feature, a stylized vowel on the left breast pocket.  Despite its once bright scarlet hue now fading to more of a shade of pink by football seasons, walks by the river, and lounging on the oval, she wore it with pride. After all, she knew that the institution it represented made her what she is today, and she cherished the memories more than anything.

She turned around and took in her home. It wasn’t much, but it was her first real apartment by herself. She loved her old roommates, but it was time to move on and be an adult, and the town was a charming full of friendly folks as one expects in the Midwest. On cold days she had to talk the corner shop into letting her pay for her coffee, and things of the like. It was a good place.  Something she would have never found if it were not for her new job, and she would never have landed it without the connections from her college. It all goes back to that place.

Arriving at work was always a bit of a spectacle for Hester, partially because she was the type to make a scene out of everything and partially because she always stood out. Being the only female engineer in a small company is always going to weigh on a woman’s mind, but, additionally, all of her co-workers had something else in common.

“So when are you going to lose that old jacket?” Lloyd asked her somehow peering at her from across his desk without actually looking at her. “It really isn’t professional to be seen in something as worn and tasteless as that.”

“Shut up. I love this jacket,” she replied, knowing where the conversation was going.

“We’ll, I’m just saying I would hate to drive away potential customers just because you showed up looking like that. Listen, you are probably swamped by your student loans. So, we could take up a collection and get you something. I’m liking this,” he said as he pointed to his computer screen.

Hester walked around his desk and recoiled in disgust complete with an audible sticking out of her tongue for dramatic effect. What she saw was a dark-blue jacket with a large bright-yellow letter sewn to the back. She returned to her desk without saying a word. Altogether, her job was good, but it was a small company founded by a couple of alumni from the bitter rival of her school to the north. In fact, she was the first person hired by the company who had not attended that college. Sometime she bothered them about it, but she didn’t understand their condescension. What made their school so much better? After, they hired her. She was always amazed at how much she learned at her university. It really made her the engineer she was today. Then, Hester brightened a bit as she thought to her plans that day. She counted the hours until lunch when she would be meeting with some old college friends. “This is going to be fun,” she thought.

Arriving at the small diner, Hester’s face immediately lit up. Woody AND, Jim, AND Emily were there! They were probably the brightest classmates she had ever had. Sharing an alma mater with them made her so proud.

After dispensing with greetings and pleasantries, and finally after several reminders by the waitress to actually looking at their menus and ordering they began discussing business.

“So, tell us about the job?” Woody asked first.

“Well, we are a small firm that designs parts for joint and limb prosthetics. It was a bit slow at first but they have me working on some interesting projects. In fact we are applying for a new patent. It should be a major improvement the durability of replacement joints.” Hester replied.

“So you really like it there?” Emily asked.

“Yeah, except in football season.” Hester Joked.

“You see that is why we wanted to talk with you, we were wondering if you would want to work with us. You might find it a lot more friendly atmosphere.” Jim responded.

“Really, you are starting a business? Oh my goodness, this is amazing, what is your plan?” Hester had to hold back here immediate consent, but the thought of working with these three was overwhelming her in the best possible way.

“Well, we are going to be doing logistics consulting for a web-app that will find crowd-source engineering solutions databases.” Jim exclaimed with delight.

Hester could tell that Jim had been waiting all day to say that. Beyond that, Hester was confused, “So, you are making an app?”

“No, we are doing consulting for people who want to make an app.” Jim corrected.

“An app that manages crowdsourced engineering solutions?” Hester asked.

“No, the app helps people find places that do engineering crowdsourcing.” Jim Corrected again.

“Let me get this strait. Your business plan is to tell people how to make a piece of software that tells people where to ask random strangers to help them solve their design problems, and all of these strangers would have to front their own R&D expenses? So at what point is any actual work being done? I mean couldn’t the customer just type the problem into a search engine and see what comes up?” Hester asked.

“Ohh,” Emily lit up, “We could suggest people have a search engine feature. Hester, you are so smart. You see guys, there is a reason I told you to invite her.”

“Yes, this is already an improvement on my original idea.” Woody said. He then began to explain it in detail. The entire time Hester’s head sank closer to the table wondering how a man she had looked up to for so many years could believe such a foolish endeavor was even feasible.

Hester returned to work at almost 2 PM. Passing her boss, Bo, in the hallway, she lowered her head in shame. She had been caught. Could the day get any worse?

“Taking our time at lunch are we?” he asked.

“I was meeting with some old friends, we kind of got carried away.” She apologized, “Won’t let it happen again.”

“Oh, its quite alright, sometimes you have to put work on hold when the opportunity arises. Have a good afternoon,” he said continuing down the hallway.

Hester called out after him. “Bo, I was wondering. ” He turned around, she continued. “Was talking with my friends from college about a business idea of theirs. I respected these people a lot. Not, just me, but everyone in the school respected them, even the professors. Now I talk to them, and their ideas just seem so foolish. What can change someone like that?”

“Hester, I don’t think anything changed them, but I know you changed, “Do you remember the project that you showed me during your interview?” Bo asked.

“The bird repelling squirrel feeder, yeah. I won best senior project award for it.  Actually, Woody (a friend I met with today) suggested the idea,” Hester held her tongue for a moment, “but who would actually buy such a thing?”

“Well, that is the question. As far as a business idea, it was a terrible product, but we were so impressed by your ingenuity that we decided you were the one we wanted. You came up with some really elegant solutions to a complex problem.” Bo assured her.

“How come no-body at school pointed out how obviously bad it was? I mean compared to the other projects, it was easily the most functional, but looking back I would have rejected them all. I mean, the one Woody did himself would have been the biggest commercial flop of them all. I think in order for it to work the way he described, certain rules of physics would have to be violated, but I can’t put my finger on which ones.”

“Oh, don’t be so harsh,” Bo said, “Students rarely understand the ramifications of their projects. However, in many institutions people simply do not care. They only ask that you make a show of your work without looking at the actual content. In places like that you can get some real slugs who sink into never contributing anything useful. However, you also have innovative and bright people, like yourself, that despite being weighed down with bad ideas, actually learn something.”

“How can you say that? These people, that place, made what I am today. I am here because of that place.” Hester was a little choked up at this point.

“Are you really here because of that school, or are you here in spite of that school. In the end, you accomplishments are your own, but it is a lot easier to accomplish things when you are not fighting the institution around you. That is why we brought you here, and once you cleared your head of that adversity, you really started to shine,” Bo assured her again.

“Trade it for a different adversity. No-one here respects me just because of the school I went to. How can I prove to them that I can contribute?” Hester asked. “I am working with Lloyd, and he never gives it a rest.”

Bo looked confused, “Lloyd respects you more than anyone in this place. He was the one that insisted that your name be added to the patent application. He said without your contributions we would have been working on this for years. As far as the ribbing goes, he does it to everyone. If it really bothers you I know he can tone it down.”

“No, I think that is alright. Thank you anyway.” Hester returned to her desk.
“Nice jacket, you honestly wore that in public” Lloyd said, “The offer still stands on the replacement.”

Hester looked down at the faded scarlet vowel. This morning, it had meant so much to her as a person as her identity, and as her value. Now, it just represented memories, good memories, but memories don’t really dictate what a person can do. Hester removed the jacket. “Nah, I think I’m good. I can handle it myself when the time comes.”

Lona Part 3 is done.

Yes, I only have three more parts to go!

Lona.mildlymiffed.com is where you can find it.

Because I get two extra nights this week, I think I might have time to write a short story tomorrow night, just for you. I also have some Christmas shopping to do!

Andrew