Meet Karen!

It has been a while hasn't it? The big day is finally here, I have posted a new comic, the first in a little over two years. What happened? I guess I got distracted by what I thought was going to be a career in editorial cartoons, but when the newspaper industry fell apart I was left (like most other editorial cartoonists) wondering what was going to be next. I've been wanting to get back into drawing a comic, but I feared I wouldn't be able to make the time. Recently I've convinced myself it could be done and, I just had to try... and I was right. In the end it was alot harder going back than I thought it would be... but it was worth it. I'm hoping to get on a pace where I can start producing comics on a weekly basis again, but since I am working mainly from my place of work that may not be entirely possible. More than likely I would expect a comic every other week at this point, but I'm going to do my best to see how quickly I can get another one done. I have gone back in time in a way and I am making the comic on with Adobe Illustrator 10, Photoshop 7, both of which are older programs than what I was using when I started Shrimp Chips years ago. But they don't bog down my computer, or take up too much hard drive space, which is nice.

I'm happy to finally introduce my fiancée to the comic, we were early into our relationship when I made my last comic and the script for this comic has been kicking around since then. I hope I captured her adequately.

Cut to the Chase!

I would just like to say... wow... it took a really long time to get this comic done. I admit I sort of put Awesometown to the back of my brain because I have been so busy this last year, but just as I had intended, when things slowed down I started to work on it again and I was psyched to be working on it. That's when it happened. I got super busy again, and it took forever. I'm hoping that with one behind me the next one won't be as hard... and I'd like to get more than 4 done a year, which seems to be my current pace. It is further frustrating that two of my friends now have webcomics which are pumping out new comics at lightning speed... nothing against them or their comics... but damn it is annoying. I take pride in the fact that my comic has very clean, well done art, and decent dialog that can at times be both witty and funny. However it is because of these things that it sometimes takes so long to get these strips out, because each one is crafted with love... well maybe not, but not far from it.

This strip welcomes in Chase, who is one of those damn friends with a new webcomic. It is quick, quirky, and sometimes gross, but it is funny and I think everyone needs to go check it out.

Also, there should be some new features added to the site pretty soon, so be on the lookout.

Olde Time Hockey!

I know, I know, I know. I'm sorry, I really am. Let me explain. This comic is the first appearance of Joe Martin who is one of my best friends. Joe is one of those people that I have wanted to put into my comic for a long time (I have even gone so far as to squeeze him into most of the backgrounds and splash pages for the old Shrimp Chips comics). However... there has been alot going on lately and to be honest there were some days where I was pretty irritated with Joe, not always because of anything he did wrong... but my inability to focus caused me to stop production of this comic about half way and once I stopped I had a hard time getting it going again. I haven't ever told Joe this, and I hope he doesn't read this and get mad or feel bad, it's not his fault.

Now that I have put Joe out there... let me explain why it is not his fault. You see, I could have skipped this comic at any point and just moved on... but I didn't, and there are other more complicated reasons for that. Essentially we will just say that I was not in the "headspace" to write a new comic for the last few months, and since I couldn't write a new comic, skipping this comic was not an option. I hope everyone understands that it is for the best that I don't write comics while I am depressed, irritated, or feeling rejected... and it is for the best that I waited until I got my "headspace" clear.

My life has changed quite a bit recently, and I am really happy about it. I met the girl of my dreams, and after some time she and I seem to be on the same page. Anyone hoping for me to get on track with weekly comics probably just started crying... yes, another distraction... but you know what, this is one distraction I wouldn't trade for anything. Even if that means that you have to wait for comics... sorry, thems the breaks.

I hope everyone enjoys the comic, just click on the picture in this news article or this link to view it. Thanks again, and enjoy.

PS-I wrote this comic three months ago so "hockey" was more relevant at the time... but then again, hockey is always relevant to me... deal with it. Oh yeah, and "How 'bout them Whalers?!!"

Give a little whistle!

I have a little momentum now it seems, as this is the second comic in 5 days, however I don't think that pace will last, I really don't want to burn myself out anytime soon so I think it will be over a week before we see another new episode. I haven't decided yet if I am going to create a schedule for new comics, Shrimp Chips published every Friday without missing a beat for quite a long streak. I don't really have goals like that this time around. I know schedules make comics more "reader friendly" but I don't know, I guess I'll wait and see if people ask for a schedule.

This episode is a little random, and I think that is why I like it. It sort of echos the "Bananas The Monkey" storylines, in that it shows that Gabe is just a big kid and his mind wanders and creates things to entertain him. Thanks to Joe Martin (Discount Hero Team) for the idea that springboarded this strip. I'm not really sure where the storyline would have went without it. As usual click here, or click on the picture to view the comic, enjoy.

Catch up time!

Well, it has been a little while. Thank you to anyone who stumbled upon this, the fact that people still check back, hoping I do something, baffles me. But I guess it paid off... I did something. Awesometown is my new comic, the site is still in a state of emergency, but I only get so must time off of work to build it so it may take a little time. I hope everyone likes where the new strip is going, and I'm sure old fans will miss characters like TK, Hanken, and FJ, as will I. However, as they have all moved on, the strip should do the same. New friends are around the corner, and old friends may stop by now and again. You never know what will happen next in Awesometown, and maybe it's better that way. This strip is taken pretty much straight out of real life. I hope no offence is taken at my use of the "Hanken story" as a punchline, but to be honest... it sort of wrote itself. Well, I hope everyone enjoys the comic, just click on the picture in this news article or this link to view it. Thanks again, and enjoy.

Also, A huge thanks goes out to Chase Smith (Chiizu) for telling me how much he missed Shrimp Chips, as often as he could, it meant alot, and helped inspire me to bring it back.