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Posted on 11/25/08
MOTHER OF AN EPISODE
So little dialogue...so much drawing...and I don't like any of it.
I've gotten slammed in the past for being too critical of my work. Whenever I get into that mode, people usually do one of two things: either 1) defend my work against me and my wonderful insecurities or 2) tell me that I'm being a complete artwad for even talking like this. As such, I had resolved to not be so critical of myself and stop trying to ruin others' good fun with what I'm doing with SF. Examples of this would be the commentaries I've been working on for Chapter 5, which thus far do not contain quite as much venom as I had been spewing forth on Chapters 1-4.
But then an episode like the one you see above comes along. An episode during the creation of which I felt really good about. And now...now, it's kind of painful to look at. My ambition outstripped my talent, I think. I would normally keep quiet about such things...but I'm just feeling so down on the art for this episode that I feel like if I don't say something then I'm a complete liar for putting it out there without some sort of qualification. There's just a certain refinement to the whole thing that's...missing. I can't quite put my finger on it. It just looked much better in head, I guess. Too bad. Could have been really special. Ah well. Draw and learn. (And no, I'm not fishing for anything here. Please talk about anything but this topic in your comments. This is just confession, not group therapy.)
You can find each one of the characters represented above in the "Characters" section of this very site. But, for those that are curious, here's the run down.
Panel 1: The Space Pig
Panel 2 L-R: Mega Matt, Captain Emo, Gene, The Healer, Captain Spectacular, Spy Gal, Heroman, The Thrice Evil, Black Rain, Star Maiden, Captain Spectacular II, Swifty, Ninjalina
Panel 3 L-R: Lumbering Jack, Duchess of Keno, Bingo Knight, Baby Plinko, Bubbles of Light, Venusian Evilhunter, Death, M.D., Dr. Klein, Dictator Tot, Nurse Carter.
As for the notable absences...don't worry, they'll be explained soon enough. Though I'm sure if you think about it you'll know very quickly why they're not there.
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Be sure and check out the SuperFogeys Store for the latest original art for sale. Right now, I have just two pencil pieces up, but more is coming! If there's a strip in particular you're interested in, please let me know and I'll do my best to accomodate you.
Don't forget that SF T-Shirts and Books are available as well!
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hjones831 says...
posted 11/25/08 12:50 am
Wait a second! Swifty and Bubbles of Light are seperate!! I mean, there's TWO Swiftys!!And no Jerry....
hjones831 says...
posted 11/25/08 12:51 am
BTW- I do love this strip. I think it turned out great. But obviously I have no idea what was in your head. :)Colleen Sheehy says...
posted 11/25/08 1:41 am
I particularly like the way the handcuffed Dictator Tot is peeking over the edge of panel 2. She looks like she's getting ready to demand a juice box.japlander says...
posted 11/25/08 2:13 am
(^U^) Looks like a lot of hard work on this one Brock!!! Hats off!!!!(^U^) LOVE BABY PLINKO!!!! "chip off the old block" Ha ha ha... I kill my self!!!
So, now CS has something to say?!?!?!?!
tyler_durden says...
posted 11/25/08 6:45 am
talk about anything but the art..okay..you asked for it.once when i was five i stole a piece of candy.
when i was 13 i saw my parents doing the horizontal mombo.
i've never been able to dance.
tieing my shoes still gives me trouble.
bullfinch says...
posted 11/25/08 7:31 am
2 swiftys'? what does bubbles of light do?More Venusian Evilhunter! He just looks cool.
doubledcomics says...
posted 11/25/08 7:57 am
Gorgeous piece!Two Swifties? What are you up to Mr. Heasley?
DD.
Si Civa says...
posted 11/25/08 7:59 am
Yay for Lumbering Jack.Chip says...
posted 11/25/08 8:08 am
Probably my least favorite page of all time. I don't think you should change anything, but I agree with you that it's not your best work.No biggie, really. I'm unhappy with most of what I draw, but if I kept going back to fix everything, I'd never go forward. Leave it and learn.
CS better start bawling and beating himself with wet bamboo.
amanda says...
posted 11/25/08 8:48 am
Bubbles of Light 3! *thinks* Yeah... I have nothing else for ya. So um, happy early Thanksgiving? Since I won't be in town on Thanksgiving proper and all.Tom Dell'Aringa says...
posted 11/25/08 8:52 am
Brock, I know how you feel. I experience your exact feelings on a weekly basis. It's something as artists we all need to learn to learn from and move on.I'm puzzled by the appearance of two Swiftys. I am certain there is a reason for it.
I think the thing works until the last panel - and then the staging is what throws it. You have the call to speak, then you "pan" across all these people and nobody is saying anything. The last panel seems an odd break with the gutter.
My guess is that if the bottom section were one whole panel and CS was at the very end and spoke up facing us, not with the side angle - I think it might have worked out better. That way it would be like you panned all the way to him and he finally decided to speak up.
Anyway that's my take on it. However, I still like it - it's still good work. You are a darn good artist. Don't forget that. We can't make every strip perfect.
*Really* looking forward to what CS has to say for himself.
wit says...
posted 11/25/08 9:07 am
All I'm gonna say about this is: I don't know how/why you don't like this page. If for any other reason than you managed to fit your ENTIRE ensemble into one strip. Sometimes it's not about what comes out of the art but what goes in (if that makes any sense).Brock says...
posted 11/25/08 10:34 am
HJones - Indeed there are two Swiftys! Check back to the helpfully labeled "Bubbles of Light" and "Bubbles of Light 2" episodes in Chapters 4 and 5. That should clear things up just a bit. Don't worry about not entirely getting it right now. It's not crucial...yet. And...thank you for your kind words.Colleen - I think it's safe to say she's not a fan of funerals!
Japlander - Hard work, yes...but to what--no, not gonna go there. CS has a lot to say, actually. As you'll soon see. His little speech will take up the next 10-12 strips. Gonna be interesting.
Tyler D. - I know what you mean. I couldn't tie my shoes until I was 12. Even now, I don't tied them like everyone else because it's too hard.
Bullfinch - What indeed? "Bubbles of Light 2" in Chapter 5 will offer the biggest clue.
DoubleD - Nothing much. This Bubbles of Light thing is just a side effect of planning way, way ahead. You'll see.
Si Civa - Welcome to SF! A Lumbering Jack fan! I've only drawn him into the strip a couple of times, but I do love the big lug as well.
Brock says...
posted 11/25/08 10:42 am
Chip - You kid me so much about my work sucking, that it's weird to see you actually being serious about it. That's cool. I can take the hit and you know I agree anyway. You're absolutely right about moving on. I learn from my mistakes and schedule demands that you all get to see them.Amanda - I almost did call this episode Bubbles of Light 3! But then I realized that's more of a minor element to this strip. Maybe I should subtitle it? I think I will.
Tom - I think your version of this one would have been more effective. Why didn't you suggest that last week!!!??? The idea with the last panel isn't so much a side angle as it is CS stepping forward. You'll notice that in panel 2 he's behind the Healer and Spy Gal. In the last panel he's in front of them. I guess that didn't work as well as I'd hoped.
Wit - Thanks, man. I guess I wish I'd done a better job on this once-only opportunity--putting everyone in. I wanted this to be really special strip, but I don't think my line supports the concept well enough. Just feels like I should've done something else with it--approached it a different way. It's okay. I'll just create an excuse to get everyone together again sometime.
Lucas -- Imagine THIS says...
posted 11/25/08 1:06 pm
Wit -- "All I'm gonna say about this is: I don't know how/why you don't like this page."Ditto for me. It looks great.
I'm sad Clovis didn't make it for the funeral. But, it's understandable if the funeral is taking place during Judge Judy.
Jarrett says...
posted 11/25/08 1:51 pm
"My ambition outstripped my talent"...that's the story of my f**king life...That will be the title of my biography is my son ever writes one about me...and scribed on my tombstone...if he buys me one?dgriff13 says...
posted 11/25/08 2:16 pm
Brock, I think you expressed the silence well, and I enjoy the group ensemble... it's always an ego-boost to see all your characters on display. I hope you can at least take pride in that. Look at all these people and creatures you brought to life!I do understand the "looked better in my head" comment, as well as being your own worst critic. But I believe without these psychological nudges, you would not be the true artist you are.
BTW, I love Dictator Tot's handcuffs falling below the 3rd panel, nice touch.
me! says...
posted 11/25/08 5:15 pm
"Bingo Knight" LOL. That's a new one for me. Is there a "Ladies Knight"?kavonn says...
posted 11/25/08 6:53 pm
I love the touch with the handcuffs - and that's Nurse Carter? Does she have to be here? She looks prettier without the hat.Gene looks shocked in the last panel. I wonder why...
Brock says...
posted 11/25/08 7:34 pm
Lucas - Darn it! I didn't leave Clovis out intentionally, I swear. Merely an oversight. I had planned on giving him a couple of strips, but that bit got cut for space and I still could have worked him in here. I'm sure he'll return one day. You haven't seen the last of him. (And by the way--I'm really loving the Clovis vs. Snuggles stuff. Classic storyline)Jarrett - That's a sad, sad tale. One every artist can tell, sadly. Except Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. And Betty Crocker.
DGriff - Agreed. It is gratifying to see them all in one place. That's why the Characters page is so important to me. It's kind of neat to look at them all and think "Yeah, I did that." DT was a last-minute addition, and it probably doesn't make any sense that she would be there, but I just couldn't resist.
ME! - There should be! Man, that would hilarious. Maybe BK has a brother? See more of Bingo Knight back in Chapter 2.
Brock says...
posted 11/25/08 7:36 pm
Kavonn - No, I don't suppose Nurse Carter HAS to be there, but I she's worked with and cared for Dr. Rocket, so there is some affection there, I think. Gene is shocked just like everyone is shocked. No one thought CS (or anyone, really, outside of Dr. Klein and the Space Pig) would have anything to say.chaseman113 says...
posted 11/25/08 11:03 pm
Hey look it's past or future Swifty coming to the rescue or something.Also , dude you got everybody there , cool!
argonsassistant says...
posted 11/26/08 12:06 am
Knowing how you are brock ....this should be good!Something out of the blue to be said im sure! I still havn't gotten over my LOOSING bet on the doc over ol tange!Brock says...
posted 11/26/08 12:15 am
Chaseman - I'll save the supense for you--Bubbles of Light Swifty is just popping in.ArgonAssistant - I hope its good. What CS says next is something I've been wanting to do for awhile, I just hope everyone has the patience for it!
Ellaturis says...
posted 11/26/08 1:02 am
As for the bubbly Swifty, I wonder if its him from the future or past. He really needs to figure out someway to control that pesky cancer of his. I love Dictator Tot's hands and chains just outside the panel. It adds wonderful character.Si Civa says...
posted 11/26/08 6:56 am
I'm not actually fan of Lumbering Jack (he has only been two strips now so I can't really say what he is like) but he always reminds me about Monty Python. But he was good though there. One way it's tribute to Doctor's bunny attack.And to say, don't too critical to your work. Criticism is good as it helps you become more talented artist (looking this strip and the first Superfogeys strip you surely see how you have get better and better), but too much may kill your joy and that's not good thing at all.
Oh and btw, as I was reading older strips and your coments here I noticed that you would like to get fogeys in Las Vegas and I naturally though that it would be logical marry Captain and Spy Gal there. It would at least good reason bring them there.
Jarrett says...
posted 11/26/08 8:44 am
I keep forgetting to post this thought, but I love the 'X' now over the face of Dr Rocket in your SF Header...that's brilliant on its own.Brock says...
posted 11/26/08 11:50 am
Ellaturis - DT...she just keeps worming her way in there.Si Civa - Ah, looks like I jumped to conclusions then. You're right--he's mostly an incidental character. Definitely a Monty Python influence there though. And you're right--it is possible to "kill the joy." I like that; gotta remember it.
Jarrett - Thanks, man! I was wondering when somebody might notice that. Seems only right to acknowledge DR's passing since he's so prominently displayed.
Skeptible says...
posted 1/22/09 2:39 pm
I can't help wondering if you ever figured out what it was you didn't like about this strip. Sadly, if you didn't, that means that you didn't even get a chance to learn from a strip that you didn't like.I for one think that the last panel reads just fine as CS taking a step forward.
I couldn't help wondering if maybe it was the level of detail lines. Some of your strips have more lines indicating folds/shape of clothing. After drawing the bigger strip, not going for the detail is understandable, but maybe that is what you missed.
Or not. My ignorance on the subject is vast.
Marisa says...
posted 5/25/09 1:50 pm
I really love the look of this one. Star Maiden and Dictator Tot are really charming.I'm really loving the strip. It's amazing how much it has grown and developed since it started! My daughter loves reading it with me too.
PS, I just found out my ex-husband is a SF fan. He had no idea that I "fake" know you. Or that our RL friend Tad was the one who provided the initial inspiration. You should totally give Tad a cameo sometime, if you haven't already. :^)
Brock says...
posted 5/25/09 11:49 pm
Skeptible - No, I never did figure out what I don't like. Still don't though!Marisa - Hey, great to hear from you again! I can't believe you know that many people that know what SF is. That's crazy. Tad cameo is coming, never fear.