Like Spy Gal in Chapter 1, I had spent two strips building up the arrival of the Healer. I wanted his entrance to be important and surprising. Originally, the Healer was going to be an old man in a cloak. Much more like Dr. Strange or something like that. After being comfortable with that for [...]
The SuperFogeys are so stiff and immobile, it was fun to cut loose a little on a character like the Healer. I made it double-sized because I wanted the figures to breathe a little and see what I could do with a character who is real expressive. There’s some good lines in this one (Dr. [...]
More Healer nonsense. You can see how my camera is really changing up now. I’ve left behind almost completely the cut/paste of the previous chapter, something I was real glad to do. The Space Pig is always fun to bring back. There’s no way to explain him and his function every time out, so I [...]
I knew the back half of this chapter would be light on the Swifty, so I wanted to make sure his last time in the spotlight was a memorable one. Everyone seems to have a different favorite Swifty ailment, but the one I like the best (and the first one I wrote) is the one [...]
Yeah, I did a Viagra joke. You almost have to, given the subject matter. I think I did it in the best possible way. It was important to me to have the Healer is so disapproving and grossed out. I think that’s how we all felt the first time we saw Bob Dole talking about [...]
I had been looking for an excuse to do a single-panel strip for a long time and this conclusion of the Healer’s interviews with all the SuperFogeys was a good excuse for it. Originally, the dialogue on this one was vastly different. It was a back and forth between the Healer and the Captain; none [...]
This is one of those connecting strips that I didn’t know I needed until I did. Strip 45 was always a story I was going to tell, but before I got to that story I realized that I had nothing leading into it. What would be Dr. Rocket’s final scheme? Why, bunnies of course. Why [...]
Another “ugh” strip for me. I have a real problem with drawing too big for the panel. I truly need to zoom the camera out more. The Healer declaring the Captain the winner without checking the score should come across as a bit strange. He’s just being too nice. It’s the first hint there might [...]
I absolutely love this strip. This is a case of art elevating the script. On paper, this one didn’t seem like it would be much. If anything, I felt like I was trying to do too much. However…I think it works. Bingo Knight was a character name given to me by a reader of my [...]
I tried and tried to not make this one a double-sized. I had just done one and I didn’t want to take the time to do another one, but there just wasn’t any other way to make it work. Too many characters all interacting with each other. It has been said that this is one [...]
This is the one that was lifted almost entirely from the rejected version of strip 43. That’s how a lot of strips get written. I may write lots and lots of possible dialogue for any given strip and if something isn’t right for the idea, but the dialogue is good anyway, I’ll save it and [...]
This is one I was really excited about doing. The art in the SuperFogeys represents a style that I invented just for this strip. I work in a lot of different styles at my 9-to-5 and in my freelance work, so it was fun to show off one of those styles in this strip. Plus, [...]
By the time I got to this strip I’d really tossed away any notion I had of keeping the same structure of four panels for each strip. This is another of those ideas I had from almost the very beginning of Chapter 2. It’s so weird seeing the Captain standing. I don’t know that I’ll [...]
Talk about left field, huh? All I’ll say here is that I do know who the Healer is talking to and it is a hint at something greater and we WILL find out who it is. There are more questions to be asked about this one, but I’ll let you figure out what they are.
I wish I had never done the WebSpace pages. Originally, I thought they would be a great change of pace. A fun way to get to know characters better that the readers would enjoy. Well, that all happened. To an extent. But then I kept doing it. And doing it. I felt some reader fatigue [...]
UPDATE! CALL FOR GUEST STRIPS Each year I schedule a one week break for myself around Christmastime. I never miss updates, so I figured I deserve at least a week away. Nice time to recharge. Last year, I just didn’t post anything during that week, but now it occurs to me that there might be [...]
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 [...]
SKETCH CARDS If you’ve paid any attention to the links down at the bottom of these comments week in and week out, then you know that this week SF Book 4, collecting Chapter 5, “The Redemption of Dr. Rocket” finally ships. Been waiting on this one a long time–too long in fact. Which is why [...]
HMMM…WHERE DID THEY GO? This is just my guess, but If I had to place money on it, I’d say here. BUBBLES OF LIGHT Ah, the bubbles of light. How I have missed you. We’ve seen these before, do you remember? If you don’t or if you’re new to SF, I’m here to help. Previous appearances [...]
LET’S TRY SOMETHING NEW TOGETHER Normally, I offer little-to-no commentary on the strips and pages on the day they’re released. Last Thursday, I broke that rule a bit by linking to past Bubbles of Light episodes. I though it would be helpful and most of you seemed to enjoy that. You see, a small part [...]
SUPERFOGEYS VOL. 1 UPDATE Things are going well with the production of the first mondo SuperFogeys trade paperback. Last week I did a complete recreation of the first SF strip in my current style (to be placed side-by-side the orignal on the first page of the book for comparison) and created some new Bing Knight [...]
SPECIAL THANKS Thanks go out to Erin Heasley, Mike DeVito and Tom Racine for their help on this strip. “CHARACTERS” PAGE UPDATED Did a pretty big update of the “Characters” page yesterday. Added some new characters, mostly from the Tangerine origin (currently running in SuperFogeys Origiins) and from Chapter 7. Did some minor updates on some [...]
MARJORIE RESHEL BREAKS IT ALL DOWN IN HILARIOUS FASHION! Only a true blue SuperFogeys fan could have crafted this. This is a knowing, detailed, mythology and character-rich guest strip that had me laughing out loud for quite a while. Marj is a semi-regular commenter in these parts, but she’s clearly ALWAYS paying attention. She’s a [...]
UPDATED! WITH ANNOTATIONS! BEHIND THE SCENES… Want to know what Dr. Klein was up to from his perspective during the first five chapters of the SuperFogeys? Then this week’s strips are for you! Enjoy. For those curious, here’s some links to the strips that are referenced in today’s flashback scenes… Panel 1 - SF 28, “The [...]
The 5th Anniversary Celebration continues with this hilarious recap of Chapter 7, “Visiting Day” by Rossana Bugini! You may remember Rossana as the artist of the SuperFogeys Origins story “The Six Wives of Captain Spectacular.” If not, check it out now!
Because I’m never one to shy away from calling myself to task (it’s healthy!) and writing a Top 10 BEST SuperFogeys moments would be incredibly self-serving, here are my picks for the Top 10 WORST SuperFogeys Moments (excluding SuperFogeys Origins–that’s a whole different list). We’re talking bad strips, embarrassing creative choices, mistakes, bad art, etc. [...]
Lots of hints at bigger stories here, but our focus is on the Matt. Artist Marjorie Rishel rolls with it as usual though. I love how even when the Healer is doing good he still looks like a punk. Only two pages left in this origin story! Big, BIG revelations next week. Hey, don’t forget [...]
This page is a story that was hinted at a loooooong time ago. Now that you’ve finally seen, what do you think? Big thanks to artist Marjorie Rishel for the epic rendering of a tough scene. Sometimes, things get in your head and you’ve got to get them out. This week, it was an allegory [...]
Annnnnnnd thus concludes the unexpectedly controversial origin story of Mega Matt. I, for one, really love this last page. My partner in crime, Marjorie Rishel did a fantastic job taking on the 1950s setting and some real-life figures I asked to be put in there. Thanks so much for taking this journey with me, Marjorie! [...]
Some really cool stuff going on in this one. Besides Marc’s typically great art, check out that trophy room! Ten points to whoever can identify where the items came from. This chapter is nearing its conclusion… any guesses as to how it will end?
The modern day Society of Heroes team has a long and spotty history in these parts. I’ve never really detailed what their origin story is (the one separate from the original Society of Heroes) or why they are the way are. Maybe someday I’ll get to do that in an origin. Suffice it to say, [...]
You gotta sympathize with the Society of Heroes. If you had a sweet pad like that, wouldn’t you just want to enjoy it? Alien invasions… giant robots… wouldn’t those all just get in the way? Someone (forgive me for not remembering who) in the comments last week floated the idea that the Society is my [...]
Okay, I kind of love the Society of Heroes now. Why didn’t I ask Marc to draw them before? He does such a great job and I’m finding a lot of new life in them as characters seeing them through his eyes. Once upon a time, SuperFogeys Origins was going to be a modern day [...]
I was pretty specific in the script for this one. If I remember correctly, I asked for an X-Men-esque second panel. I have lots of fond memories from the John Byrne-Jim Lee era of great scenes of the X-Men on their blackbird. Then you have CSII doing that with his hair. Cracks me up. Still [...]
I think crazy Star Maiden will always be my favorite. I’m sorry to see her go… again. Sorry about Friday! The latest and greatest page of SuperFogeys Babies was late, but you can see it at this link now!
I’ve probably said it before, but pacing doesn’t get enough attention as one of the big keys to comic-making. Bad pacing can ruin a comic and make it unintelligible. Marc had a great idea with this strip and added the beat in the second panel to what was originally scripted as a three panel strip. [...]
Goodbye, Healer. We’ll miss you so. Why, it seems like only yesterday that you first came to Valhalla to cause your very specific manner of mischief. And then–you ascended! A spot at the table in the Great Hall of the Society of Heroes. And now, dead. Your superhero career was short lived… just like you. [...]
This is it! The penultimate strip of Chapter 14, “Invasion, Part One: The Arrival!” Come on back Wednesday to see how it all ends and get a hint of where the story is going next… Plus, a special (unfortunately necessary) announcement.
