Category: Announcement

This started out as a goof-off in Paint Tool SAI, which I’ve never used before. (I really like it now, though.) I’ve been thinking about Ordinary ever since my last Ustream, where I mentioned it for the first time in years.

The basic premise is sort of an anti-Templar; a lot of unconnected vignettes, featuring very few characters, primarily the two in the fake logo thing above.

The human (no prizes for guessing who I stole his looks from) is named Milton. He’s in his mid-twenties, lives with his little brother and stepmother, and is the all-purpose guy at a second-run/artsy movie house. He’d be an obnoxious film school asshole if he could afford it, but he can’t, so he’s just an overbearing film buff, the kind who snorts and rolls his eyes if you dare to enjoy movies he doesn’t approve of. His affect is slightly manic and sullen; he feels left behind by his marrying, child-bearing, good-job-having former friends, professionally frustrated, and generally dissatisfied.

The demon-like creature… His name changes every time I remember this idea, but for now, he’s Fitch… is Milton’s present object of attention. Fitch’s origin is intentionally murky, although comments suggest he, and a lot of things like him, are recent arrivals to the physical world. He has a social worker named Sandy, doesn’t sleep, doesn’t age, is filled with cold black smoke instead of meat, is functionally immortal (but could be “killed” with a paper cut), and has the mind (but not the intellect) of a child; what does the work of a brain in Fitch’s body is stuck in the permanent knowledge sponge mode that humans experience for most of their early childhood.

Milton’s curiosity about Fitch is pretty rude and demanding, but Fitch either doesn’t know enough to recognize him as inappropriate, or doesn’t care enough to do anything about it. Their like-a-friendship-I-guess begins primarily because Milton is horrified by Sandy’s reading list for Fitch (which includes Bridge to Terabithia, The Star-Bellied Sneeches, and Peter Rabbit) and appoints himself Fitch’s instructor in the human condition, primarily by way of Fellini, D. W. Griffith, Herzog, Lynch and Welles movies.

There was more to it than that, naturally. But I’m probably never gonna get around to it anyway.

TAZ reader and all around-peach pcornelius, with Freeman Dyson at the International Space Development Conference.

You know Freeman Dyson, don’t you? The Dyson Sphere guy. He is kind of a big deal.

Thanks so much for sending this t’me, pcornelius!

I did a minicomic back in high school, a sci-fi sorta thing. Because I can’t let go of anything, I’m trying to get that going, again.

Nothing more to show than this sketch, which is not by me, but by Roxxy Goetz. (I can only take credit for the lovely red lines.) If things work out, she’ll be doing the drawing.

In case you don’t follow my Twitter, I’ve recently decided to have a go at making a run of designer resin toys.

I have a whole themed line planned, but my first mistake-riddled, feel-free-to-fuck-up, cherry-popping, throwaway project is a satyr.

I work on him on weekends, when I’m not doing TAZ. This is what he looks like right now; click for piss-poor iPhone turnaround photos.

He’s got a core of armature wire wrapped around wadded-up tinfoil; it keeps him reasonably light, and less likely to crack when he’s baked. Over the tinfoil and wire, which established his basic body shape, went a layer of Super Sculpey. And over that, I’ve been bulking him out and sculpting on the details with Super Sculpey Firm.

He’s been baked about six times so far; I bake him every time I’m happy with a few hours of work. After baking, I usually sand down any minor imperfections with 400 grit sandpaper, then buff the sanded bit with flannel.

He’s about seven inches tall, five inches wide (arm span included), and a weekend from being finished. When he’s done, he’ll get one last bake, sand, and buff, be coated with primer, and I’ll start on the second big step; casting copies of him in resin.

I hope you buy one.

He would have also accepted a few hours of PS3 and some pizza.

Is my favorite webcomic artist.

Hi, guys.

In case you don’t follow my Twitter (Why don’t you, I’m pretty awesome), Templar pages are kinda on hold for the next week or so while I get Trouble Every Day into its prettiest dress and down to the printer.

The pre-order for TAZ’s first book literally took less than a week to hit goal. That’s the fastest this thing I do has ever gone, ever. And as a way of saying OMGTHX, I’m doing you guys a free bonus comic. It’s a series of portraits (and a little insightful commentary) of some mothers of a few Templar, Arizona characters. For now, you can find them here.

Mom #1.
Mom #2.
Mom #3.
Mom #4.

There are more coming. When I finish ’em, they’ll go on the Bonus Comic page with the other two. Just my way of high-fiving you guys for being so great.

Thanks again. Watch this space!

Hey guys, Spike here. I’ve got good news and bad news.

The bad news is, TAZ won’t update until Monday. The good news is, that’s because I’ve been insanly busy getting together a project for Kickstarter. And now, it’s finally ready.

For the unaware, Kickstarter “is a funding platform for artists, designers, filmmakers, musicians, journalists, inventors, explorers,” and other people with great ideas looking for funding to execute them. When you post a project to Kickstarter, to set a monetary goal and a time limit, and try like hell to convince people you’re worth an investment; It’s kinda like what I do whenever I’m publishing a new volume of TAZ to pre-pay for printing. Thing is, I don’t wanna do TAZ via Kickstarter. I wanna do something else.

It’s called Poorcraft.

Click over to the KS page for more info on what I’m talking about. I hope you dig what you see and maybe help me out with iron Circus comics’ first non-Templar, Arizona project.

One more thing: I’m gonna be at APE this weekend, sharing a table with Corey Barnes of Turnpike. it’s gonna be my last convention of the year! I’ll be at table 261. Come say hi!

Soooo, I’m maybe 4 hours from heading to the airport. I’m hopping on a plane for Maryland, cuz I’m gonna be at SPX this weekend! Exciting, huh? Here’s a handy-dandy floorchart as to my whereabouts. I’m wayyyy in the back.

So, I hafta pack. TAZ updates will resume, with any luck, next Tuesday.

See ya!

I’ve finally gotten around to posting the latest fan art you guys have sent in. This round has everything from mash-ups to metalwork, so be sure to check ’em all out. And I apologize for the wait! Some of you have been waiting to see your stuff posted since May. Sorry, I’ve just been so freaking busy. I love that you thought to make and send this stuff, though, never doubt that.

In other news, Deal Breakers, the latest ransom comic, is still being held hostage! The pot’s up to about $200.00 now, so there’s still a ways to go. Contribute to set it free!

That’s it for now. More comics tonight…