(click to enlarge)

Haven’t drawn up a comic in a while, so here we are. The whole move towards a digital format has proven more difficult than anticipated, most notably due to my laptop that is nearly half a decade old. That might have to wait until i secure some better hardware, i don’t know.

At any rate, it’s a doodle that nicely sums up the Daybreakers experience for me. The movie has a decently interesting premise, and yet somehow always resorts to showers of gore or explosions instead of something actually worth watching. It’s pretty clear that they didn’t take themselves too seriously, which is a shame because of the aforementioned decently interesting premise.

One positive note is that the vampires explode when staked, which is amusing. Has anyone done that before? It’s way more entertaining than bursting into flames or melting or however else it’s depicted in alternate vampire lore. In contrast, the bat-monsters the vampires mutate into when starved of blood are decidedly less entertaining, and mostly just look clumsy. Imagine a mix of Bat Boy and the orcs from Lord of the Rings. Very goofy, right down to the webbed wing-like arms.

Had a spare afternoon to doodle with a Wacom tablet. Enjoy.

I love this idea. Especially since people would have a huge problem with this if it was done with birds or some other kind of fluffy animal. I also imagine the tiny banners make it easier for visitors at the tradeshow to swat at the flies.

Well, maybe it doesn’t always have to end up that way. But throughout the constant process of adding and subtracting concepts from my portfolio, some treasured gems inevitably get the axe. So in the past week I spent a little time digging in the trash bin for the rejects I valued for some reason or another and compiled them into The Slideshow of Rejects. Enjoy!

- Drawing them all digitally:
I don’t know how to use Photoshop or anything, so this is going to be a learning experience for me. It’s going to take me some time to get used to the new hardware and software, so that should give you ample time to forget about the comic altogether. Nevertheless, i believe that the “undo” feature is a big enough incentive to make the transition. I am slowly learning but have thus far only managed to be reminded my poor artistic abilities.

- Making my own font:
This one actually shouldn’t take that long, but i don’t really like my own handwriting so i’ll probably never be satisfied with it becoming a permanent font. When it finally happens though, it’ll make everything a lot easier. This is a boring bullet point; i don’t even know why i’m sharing it with you.

- A separate website:
I have a ton of fun with this comic and i’m proud to be able to put them on the internet for you guys to not laugh at. I’ve been drawing comics since i was a little kid, and i think it’s time i put a little more attention and effort into making them more than mere doodles. When i finally settle on a name for the comic (suggestions are welcome), i hope to give it its own dedicated little slice of cyberspace,  separate from my internet discoveries, random musings, and meandering rants. I’m hoping some of these changes will help me streamline, simplify, and focus the process, and allow me to make more comics without wasting as much time or effort. This site of course isn’t going anywhere, and i will continue to update it. Not sure about the logistics regarding this blog and the comics, but i’m sure there will be extensive linking.

And now, a doodle about the movie 300, which is really just an excuse to play around with Photoshop and my digital tablet (i’ll get the hang of it yet). If you don’t recognize Edward Fat-hands down there, it’s because he’s only in the movie for about 20 seconds. He was the executioner that decapitates that Persian general, and a brief but stark reminder that any attempt at a serious discussion about the content of the movie would be as frivolous as the movie itself.

So, i’ll keep you guys updated on how all of this goes (but i wouldn’t hold my breath).

For anyone that missed the Season 4 premier of 30 Rock this past week, let us fill you in. Our blog got a quick shout-out from Judah Friedlander, who plays Frank! This is clearly an endorsement and definitely not referencing the popular food that we have named ourselves after. Thanks Judah, we love you too!

Tune in to 30 Rock on NBC Thursdays at 9:30pm EST.

Meet the Kakapo, the world’s fattest parrot. Thousands of years of living in predator-free New Zealand have spoiled the bird, making it slow, flightless, and delicious. Humans came to the island with their dogs and rats, and the population of the clueless bird plummeted. After some desperate conservation efforts, they have nursed the species back to a mere 125 individuals.

Evolution was not kind on these parrots, and cursed them with a dumb face, the “freeze when startled” reflex, and the inability to distinguish a potential mate from a human head. The following video, although perhaps not entirely flattering for the parrot, might be the best chance this bird has to avoid extinction. If someone had come up to me, showed me this video, and asked for a donation to keep them around, i’d definitely throw in a few bucks.

I can’t help but imagine how hilarious (stupid) the dodos would be if they weren’t already extinct.

]]> http://discofries.wordpress.com/2009/10/12/the-kakapo/feed/ 0 Will Kakapo http://discofries.wordpress.com/2009/10/08/end-of-the-world-party-posters/ http://discofries.wordpress.com/2009/10/08/end-of-the-world-party-posters/#comments Thu, 08 Oct 2009 16:41:01 +0000 Pete http://discofries.wordpress.com/?p=376 ]]>

2012 is on its way. THE END OF THE WORLD! And we’re having a party! What better way is there to watch all of human civilization crumble around you than a BBQ with lawn chairs, beer, and sunglasses?

Now we need to get the word out. And to do that we’re going to need posters. I’ve added a sample to give everyone an idea of what direction to go with this. So get your creative juices flowing and hammer out a kick-ass poster inviting everyone to witness the end of life, the universe, and everything. Here are some guidelines:

• Give the party a sweet name.
• Include the words “2012″ “End of the World BBQ” and the date and time (December 21st at midnight)
• The place is fictional. Just make something up. Extra points for having the party based somewhere awesome.
• Standard size is tabloid (11″ x 17″) but not required for the Adobe-program-deprived.
• E-mail me your poster to prceran@gmail.com with your name and a short message to all the folks that will be seeing your artwork.
• Deadline is November 12th. Winners will be chosen by Will and I. All entries will be posted, but First Place will be given preferential treatment and the winner will be proclaimed The King of the Universe.

So join in the fun. It will be almost as good as the disappointment that sets in after nothing happens!

If you don’t love this by the 1:00 mark, there’s no winning you over.