Birthday Roundup

I meant to do this sooner, but I was having too much fun. FCBD kind of kicked off a birthday week here, from which I am starting to recover. First, I'm getting piles of comics, next thing you know, comics arrive in the mail from friends (Thanks Grant and Sherilyn, just what I always wanted: Kirby's Demon Omnibus) and then the parents come to town for a fun visit, mom having made a good supply of her son's favorite peanut butter cookies...

So, I've basically been laying on the couch, reading comics and stuffing myself with cookies for the last week. Best Birthday Ever.

The highlight in the middle of all of this was artwork showing up on my twitter doorstep on the big day, orchestrated (I found out later) by my best girl, Kirsten (whose own art piece graces the top of this update).

• The first to arrive was this piece by Chris Sims (writer for the Eisner-nominated Comics Alliance, co-writer of Awesome Hospital) showing a senses-shattering team-up. To top it off, Mr. Sims also gifted me with the gift that keeps giving: Batman, namely Morrison's Batman. It's pretty likely that I will draw anything he wants, forever, at this point.
  
• Next was fellow Action Age Comics artist Matthew Allen Smith (artist of Solomon Stone) who stole my heart with this Steranko homage.
• Rusty Shackles (TableTopFetus, Creator of Twitter Art Jam) made me feel like I had front row tickets to the most awesome and medically beneficial concert ever.
• Chad Bowers (Die Comics Die, co-writer of Awesome Hospital) forwarded me this medical paradox by Adrian Rodriguez and Amit Ghadge. Babies having babies, sure. But babies delivering babies...?

It was a blast wake up to all of these on my birthday, and really put the whole experience over the top. Thank you, everyone.

Deck the Halls

A Special Christmas Event for all Sequential Fans! Head on over to ACTION AGE COMICS and read The Christmas Chronicles of Solomon Stone written by my buddy, Chris Sims, and drawn by yours truly! Happy Merry!

Look for new Sequential Cartoons (Hey! Stop laughing! I promise!) after the New Year!!!

All Right!

I'll be getting to all the strips I started in Kenyon, Ohio. I have no excuse, other than I was having too good of a time at Kenyon to draw finished strips. I know, I know... I've been back for over a month. Thanks for pointing that out.

I have finally made it to Kenyon. I'm working on locating a scanner that I can use while I am here. Hopefully, updates won't be far behind.

The Shushie

I kid. Grant's a wonderful pool player, and can hold his Guinness far better than I can.

In other Sequential Life news, I've opened up an online store at Cafe Press. Right now, I've got a t-shirt design that I was prompted to make for the Kenyon Review Young Writers Retreat:

A little something to encourage the writer in your life. The design is a mutation of this WWII era poster. The t-shirt comes both in mens and womens styles, and there is also a handy tote bag, the proceeds of which will go to support Kirsten's mother in her recovery.

Stay tuned. I plan to put up some proper Sequential Life designs soon.

More Questions

Questions

My Brain...

...is in the process of rewiring itself. Delays to be expected.

Checking In

A few items:

• Those of you who follow the Twitter updates know the computer crashed last week, so getting these up online is a bit tricky lately. We apologize for these technical difficulties.


• Kirsten will have you know that the device featured in panel 3 is what she calls a "nosepon". She invented it many years ago as a means of addressing nasal drip when one grows weary of constantly blowing and wiping. She has totally patented it and if you steal her idea she will totally sue your pants off, mister.


• She's not kidding.

Hope the new year has been good to you so far.

Breaking News

A Publice Service Announcement

Odds & Ends

Last night instead of burning the midnight oil drawing the next installment of SL, I opted to fall asleep on the couch. Feeling pangs of guilt today, I've cobbled together some content for you.

An Item of (minimal) Interest!

Behold! Pictured below is an actual pencil used to create the fine drawings you see here (mostly) everyday at Sequential Life:


Nubby little thing, isn't it? I was having a personal contest to see how long I could use it. It helps, of course, to have one of those old-school art supply tools pictured next:

It holds the pencil for you, when it can no longer hold itself. Kind of like a crutch, or wheelchair, for pencils. Looks like I may get a few more cartoons out of this one, yet.

Shortly after I took these photos, the lead fell out, no longer having the necessary surface area of wood to hold it into place. A private ceremony was held.

Outbound Links!

• I contributed a bit of fan art to Action Age Comics. It looks like they're putting together exactly the kinds of stories the 13-year-old in me would like, but who am I kidding? There's virtually no difference between the 13-year-old in me and the regular-year-old in me's taste in comics. One of the perpetrators of the site is one of my favorite comics bloggers, so check it out.
• I read this piece a while ago, but wanted to link to it. For a guy like me who a) is a big Simpson fan and b) can be reduced to tears quite easily, this story is kind of a perfect storm.

Sweet Boys Alert!

Closing Thought of the Day!

Just realized that this may have provided a subliminal inspiration for the invention of H.U.G.G.E.R. Bear. I don't remember actually seeing the movie, but I do remember reading and rereading the novelization. The movie in my head was probably better. It usually is.

Previously...

Looks like a new season is about to start...

Catching Up

Regular service should return shortly. A few items:

• We greatly overestimated out own moving capabilities and/or underestimated how much junk we actually owned. Thanks to Sherilyn, Grant and James for jumping in and helping us out. I intend a proper cartoon salute to you soon.
• Unpacking, unpacking, unpacking. Most of it by Kirsten. Meanwhile, I am busy putting up shelves and breaking down boxes. I like to break boxes.
• We are now host to our niece, Kayla, for the next few weeks. Kind of our own baby-borrowers experiment. Also, she thinks her aunt and uncle are the coolest, and not just because we took her to Alien Fresh Jerky.

Time Flies

We had a lovely evening with Jenny, Joe, Robert, Michael and Alex Monday night. Thank you for having us over. I hope I didn't monopolize the conversation too much re: the comics talk with Robert.

SITE BUSINESS: As you can see, Kirsten and I are looking for a new place. Hopefully we'll get approved and have the keys to our new digs this week. The bad news is that posting may be a little light for the next week or two as we haul our two metric tons of books across the San Gabriel Valley and get settled in. Oh, my bones are aching already.

Two Years Later...

Today makes it two years since I started posting here at Sequential Life. There are no special plans here at SL Headquarters, though I may indulge in a little pizza later, maybe drop by the local comic shop and treat myself.

I just wanted to say thank you to all the readers who have stopped by and left a comment over the years. It's meant a lot to me. I started Sequential Life as a more efficient way to deliver my little drawings to Kirsten while she was off on her adventures, but to my surprise, something about it appealed to strangers and friends alike. For your indulgence, I sincerely thank you.

Also, it goes without saying, I couldn't have done any of this without Kirsten. She has done double (triple?) duty as my muse, my editor and patron. It was largely her idea to keep this enterprise going as she saw it as a much needed creative outlet for me (even if it meant airing out some dirty laundry). This blog is a labor of love, and I labor gladly. I live for that moment I make you giggle at something dumb... there is no sweeter sound. You are my superstar.

Sketchbook Jungle

Just a page of doodles from my moleskin, done on Easter Sunday as we lounged at the local coffee shop (Kirsten added the antennae on top). Things have been a bit busy this week, so I figured that I'd put something, anything, up. Maybe, my full-assed sketches can fill the void left by my half-assed cartoons.

Also, I'm buying time for those who'd like to participate in this year's Roll Call. C'mon, don't be shy. I'll be making my response(s) to Roll Call later this week.

In other news/geniuses I know:

• Kirsten wrote a kick-ass review over at the Kenyon Review Blog.
• Friend Sam seeks advice over at her blog.
• Comcisblogger Bully's What If? where Barry White subs in for Perry White.

Roll Call '08

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Well, it's been about a year since I've done roll call around here. Last time it was my way of flushing out all the lurkers by giving them an opportunity to come forward, introduce themselves, ask questions, share their opinions, turn-ons, turn-offs... whatever they felt like sharing in the comments section.

After having come off the high concept* of Bad Kirsten/Bad Mathew (described as "brilliant" by one reader and "unfair" by another), it seemed like as good time as any to check in, get to know who's out there and have a little fun.

Also, it's a cheap and easy way for me to generate content by relying on you, the lovely reader. So, don't let me down, baby.

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*yeah, I snickered when I reread that, too. Ooh, look at the cartoonist and his high-falutin' words and ideas. I'm sorry.

Sigh

Actual content resuming shortly. Sorry, fan.

Out of Town

Work has sent me to Miami for a few days. Thought I might have access to a scanner, but that looks less likely right now. Hopefully, special guest cartoonist Kirsten will be lending a hand for a few days. For my part, I'll begin writing beautiful poetry.