Today’s strip was inspired by my good pal, Dan Piraro, creator of the excellent comic strip “Bizarro,” and a few conversations we’ve had on the topic of not eating anything that has a face, better known as “Veganism.” Dan’s been a vegan for many years and has kind of got me interested in exploring a bit more. While I do enjoy the taste of several non-vegan things, I can certainly appreciate the brutality of eating something that can’t say “Hey, don’t eat me” back. When I was a little kid my older brothers used to dress me up in 5o lbs. of hockey pads and set me up as the basement goalie, all taking turns cracking plastic hockey pucks at me head. If I’d been a vegan maybe they would’ve stopped. …Or, something like that. — What was I saying?
This strip is very silly and weird. A “Cpap” machine is a machine people with sleep apnea or upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS) wear at night so they can breath. I know several people who wear these at night, all of them lovely people. Sleep disorders aren’t an area of health that get a lot of play in Comics, so I thought this might be cute. The joke here, if you haven’t figured it out, is just a word switch with the “PAC” in Pac-Man to “PAP” in Cap. — Not rocket-science. Just a little letter-jumbling. If you didn’t get it or did get it and found it awful, you’ve hit the nail on the head. – What the hell does Pac-Man have to do with sleep disorders? The answer is: nothing at all.
Congratulations! You’ve made it to ROUND 2.
…Get ready to play again.
This very strange strip is one of my first experiments with clip-art. Is it “breaking the rules?” I’m not sure. …No. In the year 2013 (and beyond), Comics are doing many, many strange new things.; they’re all part of something new. Some of my best pals – longtime pen-slingers on the ol’ Comics page – use clip-art. Used effectively a good piece of clip-art can really work wonders. I don’t think I’ll make a habit of it, but just wanted to see what it’s like. — I’m kind of a “process talker.” …It’s true. — Some readers really dig it.
This comic is very silly and very straight-forward. If you’ve read “Calvin and Hobbes” then you know Bill (Watterson) has a great sense of humor. I’m about 85% sure that I’m not going to get a phone call about this, but if I do I’ll be sure to blame someone else. Calvin would’ve wanted it that way.
This strip takes 1 second, literally, to get. If you don’t get it in the first 3 seconds it’s over. I seldom have strips that are this hit-or-miss. In fact, this may be my most hit-or-miss strip ever. If it’s not your thing, no bother. A new strip will be coming soon. FYI – I thought of this strip while reading a children’s book (not that one) to my kiddo. I was thinking about story book characters and then things that rhyme, and my little joke alarm just went off. …It gets me at strange times. It’s kind of like being Batman, but in a slightly different way.
As if from a true demonic story, I thought of this idea (truly) as I ran upstairs to check on something right before I was about to post another, less funny strip. As soon as I came back to my drawing board I had this idea in my head, it seemed a little funnier than the thing I was about to post, and I had it done in less than 10 minutes. As it turns out, I think this is pretty darn funny. — I’ve saved yet again. I wonder who’s been reading? …Is it getting a little hot in here or is just me?
This unusual “Watson” strip is a timely salute to the new, 12th Doctor in the “Doctor Who” series, appropriately depicted as a Dr. Seuss character, “a Who,” by the same name. This strip is only really funny/cute in the context of this TV show and those who know it. It will be very cute for the next few days, but may not have a lot of staying power over time. No bother. I’m sure there will be another comic soon.
And, yes, the “milk ticket” Watsons are still emerging; just one drawing on the back of a Good Haven Elementary milk card. – When will the old strip be back? What about all the fancy colors? …Can’t say for sure. I’m just going where the winds take me.
Any chance to write for the wonderful and brilliant Dan Piraro is always a pleasure.
This “Watson” strip is a little different. In the spirit of many things, I’m trying a slightly different approach this time. Beyond telling a joke in the strip, I’m also starting to think about the world of the comic strip and where it might come from. This strip, as you’ll see if you squint, was written on the back of a Good Haven Elementary milk card, an item from the school house all the “Watson” kids attend. …Who made it? Maybe me. Maybe someone else at the school. – Nevertheless, I’m exploring many options in giving my readers something exciting and fun (maybe different) that they’ll really enjoy. I enjoy all of it so I think we’ll all be okay. — Stay tuned for more mysterious developments.
This strip is about the seasonal (and literal!) “middle” of Summer. Although calendars and astrological charts frequently align, most would agree there’s a point when most school kids think “Oh crap! I can already see September. What the hell have I done with my summer?” I think it would probably be much easier to have your wake-up call be a tumble into a big squishy pit, BUT we’d probably need a lot of pits; parking-wise, I just don’t see it as a possibility. – Bottom line, Summer – like all good things – does have a beginning, middle, and end. Try to make each day count. Enjoy the weather. Drink your silly iced latte’ with extra squirts, and just LIVE! LIVE! LIVE! — And, keep an eye out for the “middle.” It’s always hungry.
This strip is all about movies in the Summer: making movies, going to movies, watching movies; loving movies. Every summer, right around now, I get in a funny mood where all I want to do is be outside at night and look at things that glow. This may be a genetic defect of mine. It may have something to do with 50s B-movies. …I can’t be sure. That said, if you’re feeling a little funny in coming days (and you’re not glowing), I would absolutely suggest going to a Drive-in, dressing your dog up like a space-alien, and/or just doing what feels right. One of the great things about being a kid, especially in the Summer, is that no creative venture, short of setting someone on fire, is ever off limits. Kids go crazy in the Summer and parents know it. They wanna be aliens. They wanna sleep under the bed. There’s a mutant-lobster in the furnace room… These are all par for the course. My advice is for you to embrace these extra-terrestrial vibes from planets beyond and just have fun. That’s what Summer’s for …Correction! — That’s what’s life’s for.
This is based on something that really happened.
Remind me to tell you later. – I was the guy yelling at the whale.
The whole thing looked exactly like this.
Any chance to write for the wonderful and brillaint Dan Piraro is always a pleasure.
Any chance to write for the wonderful and brillaint Dan Piraro is always a pleasure.
I love Summer. Most days all I can think about is iced coffee, sand, and the sea. I think this strip is a combination of all three. This strip is a little unusual (for me) in that it doesn’t feature any of my usual characters, but I think it’s good to shake things up a bit every so often. – In a benevolent universe, I’d like to believe that all the squid really wants is some scones, but I can’t say for sure. The coffee cannon atop a Starbucks sailing vessel is a truly ingenious idea. If they had Starbucks ice cream trucks that toured around town spraying kids with iced coffee, I think summertime would be just so exciting. — Let’s all work on making that a reality.
This strip was inspired by a number of ideas, but I fear it may just be as simple as thinking about Drive-Ins in the summer time. In this instance, I believe I was thinking about monster movies, and corn fields, and flashlights, and it all ended with this. — A little spaceship making crop circles in Watson’s fur. Maybe Watson fell asleep outside. Maybe he was chewing a bone out by the corn. Not sure. …The lighting on this was really fun to do. I have no regrets about this strip. Call it weird. Cringe because there are no word balloons or punchlines. Coming from the mouth of the artist, this is my sense of humor to a T. — If it leaves you feeling cold, alien abduction lines begin right behind the little Tonka truck.
This strip was so much fun to draw. All the coloring was very relaxing and meditative. Little sea-monster boy and I became fast friends. I never knew making scales could be so much fun. – Not sure how much beach-time we’ll have in “Watson” this summer, but a little more would be nice. I think drawing sand is almost as much fun as drawing snow. It’s very close. – I may need to try more rain.
This strip, inspired by the upcoming “Man of Steel” is all about the world of make-believe, and how, even though anything is possible, some kids (boys) still want to hog the entire universe for themselves. In this scenario, I imagined Fudgey telling all the little kids they were going to play “Superman,” and then having Clover come dressed up as Supergirl with all her little pets as Super Chicken, Super Snake, and Super Hamster. — At this point, clearly, the thrill of being a “Super” anything would’ve been lost for Fudgey, as it would for most obnoxious boys, and he would’ve just had enough. — Some readers may find it strange that to think of a gag – especially in a strip as “strange” as mine that I would take the time, or need to, think about things in this manner, BUT I do. More than just “gag strip” which could be about any guy who goes to work or “…a thing that happens,” my strip is about how people (kids) feel in certain situations – more than just physical comedy – and understanding how they got to that place is always important for me to feel like the joke makes sense to me. — Again, some readers don’t always get these jokes or know where I’m coming from, BUT those who do totally dig ’em. “Watson” is an acquired taste; but I’m perfectly happy to cook for those who’ll join me at my table. Drawing the strip for my loyal readers is still a great thrill.
This Watson strip is a slightly glum nod to those that never get a proper Summer break because they have to go right into summer school. I don’t think there actually schools where you walk directly out of the last day of regular class right into summer school, BUT I could certainly imagine a place where that might happen. Someone remarked that the school in this strip looks an awful lot like a factory. …Is that how I see school? – Maybe. Depends on the day. There were certainly days like that. UGH! Thank God it’s over. …Comics! Hooray!!!
This is the first “non-pink” strip to appear since my new Watson Pink series. As to why it’s appeared (a relapse?) so shortly after the new pink-series is a bit of a mystery. The pink series is by no means finished. In a few short weeks, I took a lot of keen things from it and hope to do more with it soon; perhaps very soon. As to what you can expect in days to come: a whole range of things. More pink Watsons. More intricate Watsons. Many different kinds of everything. I’m leaving all doors open. — We’ll just have to wait ‘n’ see… Again!
This one was very silly. The pink thing is still underway.
This comic is a very deep, heady idea diffused by something very silly. Fudgey losing his balloon has him worried about big ideas and Watson’s response is very surreal. Of the all the new Watson pink strips this one is, by far, the most minimalist. I’ve heard both positive and neutral things about the strip’s “new look” and have been glad to see them all. In addition to being an exploration of the characters in the strip, the strip is also an exploration in my work in Comics. — Things are always changing. It’s all just one big adventure.
Although Fatcake the Cat looks a little annoyed here the joke is that he thinks sleeping would help rid Fudgey of his troubles. The dark side of this joke, I suppose, might have Fudgey sleeping days on end until he spiraled into an awful depression. I don’t think that’s why cats are always sleeping: depression. I think they’re just bored… maybe tired. I’m sure we could go on and on about this for days. But, we won’t. — Time to go sleep our questions away!
This strip is very straight forward. Although the point is subtle, I had intended that Fudgey on the left would represent “knowledge” (or the lack thereof) and Peanut (the kiddo in the glasses) would represent information. The discussion here, I suppose, is what does it mean to actually know something, and of what value “knowing things” is when answers are just a click away. It’s a larger discussion to be had, but not here. – Someone else have it and let me know what happens.
Why shouldn’t we have a strip about Spring and Love? After such a long winter, I think a little love is probably a good idea. Unfortunately, Cupid is also a little kid, too, and darn-it if they don’t all love their goofy little texting-pods. Rumor has it, Cupid switched from arrows to suction-cups some time in the mid-70s. I salute his desire to adapt.
After months of snow-snow-snow, Spring has finally arrived. I don’t know where the Sun’ been hiding, but clearly it feels bad. I think it brought some cookies to apologize. While not totally necessary, I think it’s a nice gesture. Thanks, Sun. Let’s make it a good Summer.
Spring is really dragging its feet this week. It snowed twice and then rained, and now it’s very foggy. I’m not picky. It doesn’t have to be surf-weather, but a little sun for more than an hour would be great. While I know it’s sunny in other parts of the country, it’s kind of cold and soupy ’round these parts, and certainly so in Good Haven. While it’s a little easier to draw snow, I think I’m ready to make the switch to grass. I’ll play ball as soon as the weather does. Again, I’m just the messenger.
Today’s “Watson” is all about the icky snow that just won’t leave us be. After several Spring strips there’s just more snow. While I try to mix-up my topics a bit from week-to-week, I know everyone in the Mid-West is feeling kinda blue about the latest winter storm, and just wanted to toss this one out the have some fun. On the creative end, the new “experimental” style of getting business done is still holdin’ strong and opening new doors. This strip took about 15 min to ink (going slowly sans penciling) and turned out just fine. Clearly, I’ll never get as much crazy detail as I did using my uber-boring, Rain Man-style, but the light, fluffy clouds that enter my studio while drawing this way are well worth the trade-off. Over time, I’m sure I’ll grow into my new hippie shoes. Overall, another satisfying turn. No problems here… Just snow.
Today’s Watson strip is another step in what’s sure to be a long, fruitful path or renewal and discovery. If you’re wondering why Watson looks a bit more like a gazelle than in previous strips you’re not alone. Watson, as well as the rest of the strip, is undergoing a transformation in an unknown, new direction. Rather than hide it from my readers, I’m hanging all my wash out on the line to dry. After two years of drawing (and thinking about) “Watson” in one, I’ve decided to turn my laundry bag upside down, empty out all my drawing socks, and start down a slightly different path. …I’m not the first one to attempt this. If I had to comment on what prompted all this, I’d say: I’d just like the strip to be a little more “free” and more fun to draw. You may not see a real difference, but it’s there I promise you. – More good things are in store each and every strip. Not sure when or where the great transformation will end or stop, but I’ll be sure to tell you when it does. I suspect it will just keep on going. That’s what Art just likes to do.
After my previous strip of quick, zippy lines I’ve returned to a bit more structure. This strip took a little more time to draw: a return to my old method of doing things, but was still a bit quicker. I’m perfectly content to share my creative thoughts with my readers, as I find this kind of discussion is something of a rarity for features of this type, and it’s usually that “behind the scenes” info that fans enjoy most. I’m not sure where my “fast line” style will join hands with my previous tidy rendering. My original style is very controlled and sharp, but it takes a great, long while and tends to rob the strip of much of its energy. Readers may not notice, but I always do. Now that I’ve opened this door, I suspect I’ll have to continue on through. My style’s sure to evolve and my gags, as well. It’s a fitting new sprig for this time of year. We’ll see how things evolve and grow. Although Lemondrop seems to think Spring is truly here, Fudgey seems to think more cold’s a possibility. I tend to agree with both. Things will be warming and growing, but we should all be prepared for a bit of bite as well. That seems fine with me. Maybe a little bit of both is what we need to get to where we’re going. Hope for the best but keep the scarf on. – I’m cool with that.
Each year there’s a “Watson” strip that symbolizes, in part, the end of Winter, and I think this is it. Looking back through the Watson archives, the “Spring” strip is usually a good litmus for how the strip will fare for the next months. Each year, there are 4-6 strips that mark distinct turning points for either the look or the writing of the strip, and the Spring strip is usually significant in that regard. I never plan it that way. It just happens. That said, this strip was quite unusual in that I did no penciling on it and just dropped everything down, free-hand, with no outlines at all. Not only was it fancy-free, but it took significantly less time than previous strips; it took about 10 minutes, which for me is quite amazing. I’m not sure if this strip will usher in a whole new look: a total Renaissance, or was just a fluke. It was certainly fun to draw and felt quite good, so we’ll see what kind of road map that offers up. Two things I’ve learned about making art in my day: #1) If it feels good follow it. #2) If you know where you want to end up just start doing it badly and keep doing it until you’re good at it. Oh…! One more thing I’ve learned. #3) If there’s something you hate doing do the complete opposite and make that work. — These three rules have been extremely useful for me while drawing the strip, all of which I learned one strip at a time. They’re by no means infallible, but certainly better than having no rules at all. Take ’em for what they’re worth. And, again, they’re all free.
This strip was inspired by a number of strange ideas. Number one (for those who can relate): the oddity of being one of the only kids at school eating a PB & J sandwich on two little scraps of dry-wall (i.e. matzo) the day after Easter. Number two: How, when you’re a kid, how everything that’s bad always gets worse just by sheer virtue of you being you. And, Number three: How anything that falls in water (when you’re a kid) automatically grows 5x its normal size, except you, your friends, or any of your pets. Originally, I think the idea for this was just about the horror of eating matzo sandwiches at school, but then turned into something a little more strange. FYI – Just in case you’re scared, matzo is actually quite delicious. It’s like a giant cracker with no flavor that tastes great with almost anything else that isn’t matzo. When you’re looking for a quick ‘n’ easy snack, I’d say matzo with anything else is the way to go. – Happy Passover!
The idea for this strip came from a wonderful place; Little Free Library, which is, in fact, a very real thing. Little Free Library is a grassroots organization that started in Wisconsin, whose mission is to get people sharing books by building “little free libraries” in their yards. You can use one of the models on the LFL website, or you can make your own. Once you have your library built, you can then register it with LFL and make it an official part of the movement.
Like Clover – the little girl in the strip – I love reading and have always made reading and books a central theme of “Watson.” I rarely draw strips that are a clear “shout out” to specific groups or movements, but this was a pleasure to do.
This strip is a little unusual for a “Watson” strip in that it doesn’t feature any of the regular Watson characters. I thought about this, briefly, when drawing this strip, but then decided I wouldn’t worry. There are a number of strips who occasionally take a break from their usual fare to introduce alternate perspectives/ adventures, so I thought I might grant myself a pass on this one. At the time, I remember thinking this idea was very funny and probably worth a spin. It may not make into any collections and may ultimately be forgotten, but it was certainly a fun experiment. Of note, while I don’t usually like to use a lot of special effects when making the strip, I think the last two panels here are a little more fancy (and blurry) then I like to get. That, too, was a bit of a cheat but for a strip like this it’s okay. – Some early feedback I’m getting seems to indicate that “Watson” fans seem to prefer traditional “Watson” strips more. — I never would’ve guessed. …How swell.
The idea for this strip, I think, is pretty central to one of the main themes of “Watson,” which is what the Good Haven kids know and why. If you haven’t noticed (yet) there are no parents in “Watson” and it’s a deliberate choice. As a comic strip “Watson” is meant to be fun and enjoyable, but I occasionally think about some of the larger issues I’m trying to touch on, and one them is certainly how kids go about navigating themselves in today’s busy world. In the strip, the kids only have each other to learn from and occasionally get things wrong. While it’s fun to laugh at the funny things they do and say, I think it’s also good think about what “Watson” is telling us about how we live and what example we set for others, especially kids.
The idea for this strip was “generated” while trying a slightly new writing approach, which may or may not be a repeat event. Aside from the obvious gag, which may or may not make you chuckle, I think the best part of creating this strip was coloring the inner tubes. – As I sit here writing, I realize I have never typed the word “inner tube” in my entire life. WOW! …It just happened. If only all my nipples had been hear to see it.
In any event, this strip was a fun new thing and we’ll see how increasingly “zany” my strips will get. Of added note, I’m also trying a few new things with my shading, so we’ll see where that goes, too. I’ve always been very resistant to doing things with color (like fades) that don’t show up well in-print, BUT I’ve decided to let my hair down …and my nipples! – We’ll just see where the whole nipple parade takes us!
See you soon, Watsoneers!
