Titling a chapter is a source of great stress for me. I’m not very good at it and I put it off until I absolutely have to come up with something. That said, “The Techno Shuffle” very much fits what this chapter is going to be all about. Originally, this chapter opened on two characters [...]
Archive for ‘Chapter 03 – The Techno Shuffle’
The super-prison in the first panel is loosely based on the design of the Hall of Justice from the old Superfriends cartoon show. I don’t have a good reason for this other than it’s a design that always stuck with me and seemed strong enough to house all the wonderful bad guys that must be [...]
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May 13, 10 | 256 – A Misnomerstanding |
Mar 27, 07 | 126 – Who the @#$% is the Third Man? |
Jul 8, 10 | 264 – You Betcha |
Aug 27, 09 | 222 – $500 A Head |
Nov 25, 08 | 182 – Someone Steps Forward (Bubbles of Light 3) |
How is it than in one strip I have both my worst and one of my best drawings of Dictator Tot? I like the idea of what I was going for in the first panel, but I don’t think I pulled it off very well. Love the drawing of her in the last panel, though [...]
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Jul 23, 12 | 429 – Shenanigans |
Aug 19, 10 | 273 – All Is Revealed |
Jan 8, 07 | 64 – Introducing Dictator Tot! |
Apr 15, 10 | 252 – Like A Son |
Nov 10, 20 | 854 – Don’t Touch the Lava |
My wife loves, loves, loves Dictator Tot in the first panel. I don’t usually do a lot of shading in SF, but that first panel screamed for a different lighting scheme. I don’t know that you’d be able to tell what’s going on without it. Second panel could have been better. A more arresting visual [...]
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Feb 17, 12 | Pg. 2, “Devil Horned Goodbye” |
May 18, 11 | 317 – Why Dr. Klein Needs a Robot |
Nov 4, 06 | 32 – Bingo Night Begins |
Jan 25, 07 | 83 – The Seduction of Dr. Klein |
Sep 9, 08 | 161 – Tangerine’s Arrival and Dr. Klein’s Return |
The Third Man is a character that first appears in the backup story in the First SuperFogeys Collection. I have big plans for him. His look is directly inspired by the film “The Third Man,” and Orson Welles’ character in particular. I think it’s fair to say I took a bit of inspiration from one [...]
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Sep 15, 14 | The Principle of Order |
Jan 16, 17 | 726 – Harrison Ford Finger of Doom |
Mar 13, 07 | 112 – Budapest ’68 All Over Again |
Feb 17, 12 | Pg. 2, “Devil Horned Goodbye” |
Apr 3, 07 | 133 – Beginning the Tale of How Captain Spectacular Met Dr. Klein |
Visually, this strip is meant to be a direct reference to Episode 55. I’ll make it clear right here: Yes, The Third Man is the person the Healer was talking to. The Third Man’s connection to Gene was a surprise to me. I had planned for the Third Man to be involved with the shenanigans [...]
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Mar 31, 07 | 130 – When Pigs Fly |
Jun 24, 08 | 141 – Why, Little D? |
Jun 8, 10 | SF Origins: The Life and Times of Soviet Sam, Pg. 3 “Valhalla” |
Sep 22, 09 | SF Origins: Herman’s Story, Pg. 4 “I Am Dr. Rocket” |
Finally we’re back to the Fogeys. It was a conscious decision on my part to not have the Fogeys enter the stage for so many strips—six, to be exact. I wanted to try something new. Re-energize myself. I found I really missed them and the strip seems to come alive when they’re “on screen.” I [...]
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Oct 15, 06 | 22 – Dr. Rocket is Sorry? |
May 5, 12 | Pg. 11 “Fly Away” |
Aug 8, 11 | 340 – What Lovely Teeth You Have |
Apr 27, 12 | Pg. 10 “Mother and Child Reunion” |
Apr 25, 12 | 406 – Spy Gal’s Wall of Evidence |
Something I’m starting to return to that I haven’t really done since Chapter 1 is repeated panels, something I swore off of (for the most part) for Chapter 2. The difference now is that it’s not a crutch. I truly feel that this strip (and the next one, for that matter) was best served by [...]
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Apr 2, 07 | 132 – Shake! Shake! Shake! |
Sep 6, 22 | 921 – Obedience is Key |
Jun 19, 08 | 140 – The Kindness of His Heart |
Mar 17, 07 | 116 – Still Hot |
Aug 23, 22 | 917 – The New Valhalla |
Visually, this is one of my absolute favorites. You can see I’m trying something new with the background. I first used the “faded background” technique in a guest strip I did for Wes Molebash’s strip “You’ll Have That” Once I did it there, I knew I needed to try it for SF. More copy/pasting [...]
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Jul 16, 14 | 610 – Do the most you can do. |
Oct 7, 10 | 279 – Gina Galloway |
Mar 18, 10 | 248 – The Difference Between Justice and Revenge |
Oct 2, 06 | 10 – Why Spy Gal Came to Valhalla |
Mar 21, 11 | The SuperFogeys 2011 Teaser |
Whew. What a mother of a strip this was. For those of your keeping track at home, that’s 21 panels there. This marks Swifty’s return to the story after an absence of about 18 srips. I wanted it to be huge and Swifty playing frustrated is just fun. Originally, the last panel was silent—no joke. [...]
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May 19, 09 | SF Origins: The Society of Heroes, Pg. 14 “Save Him, Dirtlicker” |
Aug 20, 18 | Swifty Origin, Pg. 12 “Party Hard” |
Jan 13, 11 | 291 – Ear Cancer |
Jan 26, 07 | 84 – You Don’t Mess with Dr. Klein |
May 22, 13 | 506 – Disappearing Act |
The first panel shows a depth of field we haven’t really seen in SF thus far. My goal was to do a drawing that would also work well as a group shot and, possibly, a wallpaper. Plans are in the works for just such a thing. Obviously, this is a huge change of pace for [...]
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Apr 4, 11 | 304 – Catchy and Mysterious |
Dec 7, 16 | 717 – The Fury of Soviet Sam |
Sep 1, 22 | 920 – …The More They Stay the Same |
Dec 28, 09 | Guest Strip by Don Oskowski of “Conduit Flux!” |
What a nightmare this strip was. Sometimes moving the plot along is a joy. Anytime I do it I already know what the point of the strip is, I just have to figure out what the joke is. Except…for this one…I had no joke. I had a set-up, but no payoff. Still, I started drawing, [...]
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Mar 11, 07 | 110 – Spanking |
Mar 16, 07 | 115 – Star Maiden Flattens Dr. Rocket |
Jun 27, 11 | 328 – Pairing Off |
May 21, 09 | 209 – Coming to Jesus |
Jul 4, 11 | 330 – Swim City |
Gene’s closing line in panel one was originally something like “Give her your utmost respect.” I quickly discovered at the lettering stage that I didn’t have enough room for that. Thank goodness. I love that he just shouts “Respect!” Kinda’ thing that makes me laugh. Spy Gal threatening violence on a little girl makes me [...]
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Sep 26, 12 | GUEST STRIP by Crystal Murphy, Summer Fun Pt. 2! |
Oct 26, 12 | Pg. 10 “The End?” |
Mar 14, 07 | 113 – “THAT’S NOT FAIR!” |
Oct 19, 12 | Pg. 9 “Let’s Go!” |
Apr 16, 09 | 204 – Florida Beckons |
The Swifty-Jerry dynamic is one of my favorites, and this is one of my favorite exchanges that I’ve had a chance to write. I love how Jerry just ignores Swifty. A fun strip that segued into one of the biggest mistakes I ever made with the SuperFogeys…
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Sep 3, 18 | Pg. 14 “Fire and Light and Rain” |
May 29, 13 | 508 – Slightly More Conclusive Evidence |
Oct 10, 06 | 17 – Spy Gal Doesn’t Need Jerry |
Dec 10, 20 | 861 – tink tink tink |
Could I just not be bothered to draw backgrounds this time? Looks like. Still, the colors are pretty, right? Right? I try to make the Space Pig be an animal of as few words as possible. You never quite know where he’s coming from, I think. He’s a popular character, so he must be [...]
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Feb 22, 12 | 389 – The Invisible Pain |
Jul 8, 15 | 653 – When a Shirtless Captain Spectacular Shows Up |
Oct 1, 12 | 445 – I Don’t Know What I’ve Been Told |
Dec 29, 10 | Guest Strip by Javier Del Villar (Extra) |
Oct 8, 06 | 15 – Introducing Swifty! |
I don’t remember if this strip was done this way out of laziness or because I wanted to shake things up. Honestly, if I had to guess I’d say I was trying to shake things up. I think I was trying to create the feeling of overhearing the conversation before you really see who is [...]
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Jul 1, 11 | Pg. 12 “Comic Book Clothing Physics” |
Aug 8, 11 | 340 – What Lovely Teeth You Have |
Sep 25, 08 | 166 – Beer Don’t Judge |
Jun 29, 12 | Pg. 3 “Sounds Like Monsters” |
Sep 20, 16 | 10th Anniversary BONUS STRIP 1! |
Another “colorful” strip. Seriously, this is just ugly. I never pull off the silhouetted figures thing as well as someone like Mike Witmer over at Pinkerton. I try but…no. Still, Jerry getting rejected by Spy Gal…that’s always gold as far as I’m concerned.
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Dec 10, 12 | 465 – Lip Lick |
Mar 7, 18 | 769 – Weeping Wandering Fat Children |
May 15, 08 | SF Collection #2 Cover |
Aug 13, 12 | 435 – A Job Well Done |
Jul 9, 09 | 215 – Little Snot |
I think my ink line is too thick in these middle Chapter 3 strips. Also, the camera is just a little too tight, a constant problem of mine overall. Knowing what I wanted to do with Dr. Klein by the end of this chapter, it was important to keep him present in the story. That’s [...]
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Jul 15, 08 | 145 – Wrinkly Butt |
Apr 1, 07 | 131 – Spy Gal Cares |
Feb 9, 10 | SF Origins: The Six Wives of Captain Spectacular, Pg. 5 “Michelle Masters” |
Sep 7, 10 | SF Origins: Spy Gal, Pg. 2 “Cats at the Back” |
Mar 16, 21 | 882 – Says You |
I love the panel with the close-up of the hands. From the drawing to the colors, it just works. Too bad the rest of the strip doesn’t. A lot readers asked me what those sparks near Spy Gal’s wrist were in the last panel. Then answer: My feeble attempt at visually depicting her arthritis. …I [...]
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Dec 7, 16 | 717 – The Fury of Soviet Sam |
Mar 25, 13 | 491 – Proof |
Feb 2, 21 | 870 – Spy Gal’s Patience Runs Out |
Apr 1, 10 | 250 – To Be So Stupid |
Oct 14, 06 | 21 – You Must Respect Women, Dr. Rocket! |
Swifty coming in at the end was kind of cheap. I didn’t have a real gag for this one, and he usually does in a pinch. It was an important Dr. Klein moment though.
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Jul 30, 12 | 431 – Blights of the Round Table |
Mar 12, 07 | 111 – Forgive Dr. Rocket |
Sep 21, 16 | 10th Anniversary BONUS STRIP 2! |
Jul 4, 14 | Pg. 1 “One Month Later” |
Apr 15, 10 | 252 – Like A Son |
Just keeping the Third Man alive here. Also, it was important to me that Dictator Tot get her animal crackers.
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Apr 4, 07 | 134 – Driving Everybody Off |
Mar 25, 07 | 124 – Shooting |
Apr 27, 11 | 311 – The Glow of the Screen Shines Brightly |
Nov 12, 09 | 233 – She Was Undercover |
May 23, 11 | 318 – The Plans of Dr. Klein, Pt. 1 “Getting Rid of Captain Spectacular” |
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Oct 4, 11 | Chapter 9, “Head Games” Recap by Eric Merritt |
Oct 7, 06 | 14 – Watchin’ TV |
Nov 2, 10 | SF Origins: Spy Gal, Pg. 10 “Anywhere But Here” |
Sep 14, 10 | SF Origins: Spy Gal, Pg. 3 “She Dead” |
Aug 8, 11 | 340 – What Lovely Teeth You Have |
Dr. Rocket is always a lot of fun. Perversity is one of the worst evils, I think, because it reduces people to objects. That’s pretty dangerous thinking. Here, the good doctor is showing another side of his evil–the clumsy, bid-for-power type of evil. It’s not a very good plan for world domination, but in the [...]
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Feb 29, 12 | 391 – Secrets, Secrets Are No Fun… |
Jan 29, 18 | 758 – No One Else He Can Think Of |
Apr 23, 09 | 205 – Here is What I Propose |
Mar 26, 09 | 201 – The Orphan BBQ Will Have to Wait |
Nov 11, 11 | Pg. 7 “Nipped” |
And now we see the real plan. Get the Captain on the computer to see his ex-wife. In the end, it’s kind of weak. There should have been something extra on the plan, or a bigger reaction from the Captain. It bears fruit, sure, but I think the Captain’s reaction could have been stronger and [...]
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Apr 13, 11 | 307 – T-Magus |
May 28, 12 | 415 – Someone REALLY Hates Space Monkeys |
May 7, 09 | 207 – Not My Story to Tell |
Feb 26, 09 | 197 – Requiem |
Jul 25, 14 | Pg. 4 “Daddy’s Little Girl Packs a Punch” |
A fun, fun page. Star Maiden is just a pure pleasure to right. Star Maiden started out as Star Woman. Eventually, that character turned into Spy Gal (as explained in the commentary for episode 6, I think). Still, the initial idea for Star Woman wouldn’t let go. I knew I wanted a Wonder Woman type. [...]
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Jul 4, 12 | 426 – Daddy’s Little Girl |
Apr 11, 12 | 402 – Lost Signal |
Apr 2, 12 | 400 – Dark Maiden |
Mar 26, 07 | 125 – Jerry’s Down |
Jun 24, 10 | 262 – What Happened to Star Maiden, Pt. 4 “All Hail” |
That last panel of Star Maiden is something I’m really pleased with. I wanted a really fluid figure and I often have a hard time drawing women. I surprised myself here. For some reason, readers really latched onto the phrase “Spill it, Gramps!” I have no idea why. I didn’t think it was particularly funny. [...]
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Jul 11, 08 | Guest Strip by Sean Conchieri of “Pixel!” |
Dec 12, 16 | 718 – What is Deserved |
Aug 19, 13 | 527 – A Concerned Husband |
Oct 5, 16 | 704 – Ankle Biters |
Mar 23, 12 | Pg. 5 “Where Are The Unicef Upstarts?” |
93 – Beginning the Tale of How Captain Spectacular Met and Married Star Maiden
by Brock Heasley on February 2nd, 2007The genesis for this flashback came from Daniel Woodhouse, artist on “Thog Infinitron” and sometime artist of “Beaver and Steve.” I asked Dan to do a short backup story for the second SuperFogeys book and asked him what he wanted to draw. He said “Captain Spectacular fighting in the skies above a city. Maybe a [...]
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Jul 4, 14 | Pg. 1 “One Month Later” |
Jun 19, 15 | 645 – Say the Name Correctly, Idiot |
Dec 9, 06 | 58 – Jerry’s Single Chest Hair |
Mar 11, 21 | 881 – Minutes Away |
Aug 24, 12 | Pg. 3 “Crybabies” |
I don’t know why Mr. Crook is in there. It doesn’t really add anything to the story to have him there. Great Dr. Rocket moment though. I had a lot of fun drawing that tongue and making it as yucky as possible.
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Nov 3, 09 | SF Origins: Spy Gal vs. Star Maiden, Pg. 1 “The Mrs. and the Ex” |
Oct 28, 11 | Pg. 5 “Knife in the Mouth” |
Jan 15, 18 | 754 – Not Strong Anymore |
Oct 16, 08 | 172 – The Superhero Code |
The obvious signified of a flashback is to do the art in black and white. That gray shading I add in there is an effect I wish I had time to do on all the SuperFogeys strips. Plans are for that effect to be added to the strips for the trade collections. Once that happens, [...]
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Dec 19, 16 | 720 – Thank You for Making Me Angry |
May 17, 08 | SF Collection #3 Cover |
Oct 20, 20 | 848 – Organic Deodorant |
Dec 7, 06 | 56 – Dr. Rocket Will Have His Revenge |
Jul 18, 14 | Pg. 3 “Naughty Girl” |
This strip is a favorite of mine. It’s some of my favorite dialog I’ve written and the sparse look really works for it. Portal could have been drawn better though.
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May 7, 09 | 207 – Not My Story to Tell |
Apr 9, 09 | 203 – Shame, Shame |
Jul 1, 10 | 263 – What Happened to Star Maiden, Pt. 5 “A Parting Gift” |
Mar 20, 07 | 119 – #@$% Heroic |
Sep 14, 15 | 682 – Milk and Cookies |
Obviously, something big went down in that other dimension. For the whole story, check out the backup tale “Captain Spectacular and Star Maiden in the Inevitable Dimension” in the second SuperFogeys book. It’s drawn by Julio Molina-Muscara, artist on “Omega Chase.” I wanted a “no bad guy” break-up here. I think you get where everyone [...]
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Feb 17, 14 | 572 – The New War Room |
Oct 28, 08 | 175 – My Pleasure |
May 25, 11 | 319 – The Plans of Dr. Klein, Pt. 2 “Isn’t Everybody?” |
Aug 28, 13 | 530 – Jerry’s Greatest Hits |
Mar 2, 10 | SF Origins: The Six Wives of Captain Spectacular, Pg. 9 “Mature Love” |
The Pig is the minister! That’s the payoff to the Space Pig’s WebSpace page. Don’t know how many people picked up on that. I had a lot of fun with this page. Designing the Ninja Bridesmaid was particularly fun.
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Jan 2, 13 | Guest Strip by Brock Heasley (???) |
Mar 19, 09 | 200 – Where is He!? |
Jul 31, 08 | 150 – Star Maiden and Clovis the Bear |
Jul 23, 09 | 217 – Jerry’s Family? |
Aug 24, 11 | 345 – Taking a Pill |
Some people objected to the Captain and Star Maiden getting a divorce over a stinky sock. Them I would say: it’s one panel. Obviously, there’s a much bigger story there. I had a lot of fun with the interplay between Dictator Tot and Captain Spectacular here. I need to get those two together again.
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Remind me never to do a triple-sized again. In fact, this burned me out so much that not a single double or triple-sized strip appeared in all of Chapter 4. I had been waiting a long time to do this one. I knew from before the beginning of Chapter 2 that the Third Man and [...]
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Mar 1, 07 | 104 – Is Spy Gal Paranoid? |
Jan 26, 07 | 84 – You Don’t Mess with Dr. Klein |
Dec 29, 10 | Guest Strip by Javier Del Villar (Extra) |
Jan 25, 07 | 83 – The Seduction of Dr. Klein |
May 20, 10 | 257 – Blood on the Carpet |