So, here’s the list, non-ordered:

Ruby Suns–Sea Lion:  An altogether global, semi-otherworldy affair that is enhanced by the anachronistic synthesizers that accompany the multicultural sounds.  Very pleasant music to put on in the background and have wrestle your attention from you.

Wolf Parade–At Mount Zoomer:  This one, at least for me, was a grower, because this is rock music with many subtle nuances that require a little aural pussyfooting before they reveal themselves to you.  Rockin’, melodic, unique, quality stuff.

My Morning Jacket–Evil Urges:  I’ve began reading record reviews more often, and I came across many complaining that this album sucked dongs.  Call me a philistine, but I like what I hear on this album.  If My Morning Jacket wants to tinker with their sound, that “sounds” good to me!  As long as the songs sound as good as the ones on this album, I’m down (except that track “Highly Suspicious” was lamer and less fun than they wanted it to be, I’m afraid).

Dr. Dog–Fate:  This one was atop my music pile in 2008.  These songs are crafted in an authentic Band/Beatles/Kinks blend that goes for something real, I think.

Vampire Weekend–Vampire Weekend:   I know I appear to be perilously close to being a hipster, but I’m not a hipster, and my enjoyment of this band is evidence to back me up.  That’s about all I got though.  Sometimes I secretly worry I’m a hipster.

MGMT–Oracular Spectacular:  Fantastic, soaring, soaking-through-your-loinhairs smooth musics.

Silver Jews–Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea:  This is some of that timeless, unplaceable rock music that anyone with half a soul could get behind.

Islands–Arm’s Way:  From the ashes of the Unicorns comes Islands, a band dabbling in similarly uniquely-constructed music.  Give it a try, it’s strange this band isn’t getting more press.

Fleet Foxes–Ragged Wood:  Really pretty music that owes a great debt to Iron & Wine.

Yes, he’s playing a Super Nintendo.  Probably Wanderers from Ys III.

But during my travels around the internet today, I came across this in my e-mail, and it gave me pause.

In the first panel on the second row I understand there is confusion as to what Eric is doing. I couldn’t render it to my liking, but Eric is trying to douse himself with gasoline and light himself on fire. I have a cousin who killed himself that way, true story.

By the way, Happy Christmas and all the celebration it suppresses through intimidation!

Your funtasmic comicker,

Ignacio

Sure, this one is two months old, and sure, the quality is already far lower than what I’m shooting for with this first book, but it makes for a decent enough introduction, you’re plopped right in the middle of the action. If I had set out writing this story like I normally write stories the build-up would have been longer than the story, kind of like all the crappy Simpsons episodes. So what I’m saying is my writing is crap.

That this is beginning during this holy season is a complete coincidence, though one I appreciate.

A while back I posted this comic, which I said was going to be the beginning of a storyline I would sell but not put up on this site. Then I decided that was an asshole move and decided to put everything up here on this site. There’s got to be an incentive to keep coming, right?

I went with this one instead of the original conclusion for this storyline.  This one wasn’t even going to be in the storyline, it was created for someone, but I figured it kind of fit into the theme of this one anyhow.

The next few weeks are going to be unpredictable for the progress of this comic, I suspect.  Something in my brain has finally clicked and I feel connected to my art, and in command of it for the first time since I was a badass child who could draw Bugs Bunny better than all the other kids.  So, it’s going to be unpredictable, but very interesting stuff may come out of it.  Semi-very interesting-ish.

I think I might as well rename this comic “Sorry For the Delay”.  My schedule has been consumed by art lately, and in the hierarchy of needs my internet site was low on the totem this last couple weeks.  I had to put the finishing touches on my first comic book before I sent it off to the printers.  More on that as it develops.

So, in terms of this story, this strip is new to what I had originally scripted out.  You see, I did the sketches for this storyline over a year ago, and always held off on it because I didn’t think I was at the skill level where I could render it well.  So I waited and had the hubris to think I can do it now.  But my syle and goals now are no longer what they were a year ago, so I think I may have to abandon this story (which was kind of bland and kind of depressing) and slap it with a neat ending (equally bland, but uplifting), and move on to the things that interest me at the moment.  I need to render the present, not the past.  And this story is most definitely the past.

This has let to output though.  I’ve been working on my first printed comic, which has turned out just to be a collection of strips with extra art and things to justify the cover price.  It’s coming along nicely and I should have it printed and for sale in about a month.

My compatriot Rick and I are planning some local San Francisco-related comic events.  In tandem we drew a picture:

Things are happening.