Clive and Yolanda discuss their relationship.

Remember to click "Original" below for the full view!
All artwork is Copyright (c) Chris Woodward

The earliest images of Jim ever made. I originally wanted him to be a giddy, manic daredevil character, but I decided to move those qualities into Jerry. He's on a skateboard because he's preparing for an incredible, death-defying stunt, and is explaining to the interviewer how he hopes to accomplish it. But Super Dave hasn't been on for 15 years and Jerry plays off the others better, so don't expect me to return to this concept.

As for Jim's design itself, I gave him some very Ace Ventura hair here. I think that's where I got the idea for the curly-cues along the side of his face. Also note his tail, something I decided to drop from my animal characters, since they tend to look clumsy with it.

Artwork is Copyright (c) Chris Woodward, 2008

EDIT: My bad, Super Dave had a brief thing a few months ago. Still, nobody wants to be thought of as the guy who ripped off Super Dave to make a comic strip about a cartoon cat.

Testing the waters. Enjoy, and be excellent to each other.

Guest comic I made for my buddy Toby's Tim's Restaurant series. TIM'S GUESTARANT AM EYE WRITE?

All artwork, dialogue and original characters are Copyright (c) Chris Woodward
Tim's Restaurant is Copyright (c) Toby Fox

AND HEY! Read the original Tim's Restaurant comic at http://fwugradiation.deviantart.com

First it was a massive essay. Then it was Christmas. Then New Years. Then, a grad school application process so intense that if you told someone about it, they wouldn't believe you. Will I get in? Will I get to write my super-rad thesis on aesthetics?? Depends on how much they're willing to spend on me. And they'll take whatever excuse they can get to NOT HAVE TO DO THAT. We'll see how it goes.

In the meantime, there will be two new comics coming. The fine folks at the campus print shop botched the cropping on one of them, and the other has just a few panels to go. I also attended a local art show/party, where I blew up a few of my best strips and mounted them onto foamboard. It was a fantastic night and I met some wonderful people. Also, a little bird told me something related to an art auction happening sometime this month, which could be my ticket to...PAINTING?!?!?!??? Maybe. It's something I know a lot about, yet have never done. Well, okay, there was that one time, but the canvas wasn't primed and I made it in like 30 minutes so I CAN'T WORK LIKE THAT, PEOPLE. But this time things will be different! Really!

I'm taking figure drawing classes once every few weeks with some amazing folks downtown. I'm really the baby in the group, given that everyone is like 30+, but they're all super-cool people with way more talent and skill than me. I wish some of it would rub off.

But whatever. Moping tomorrow, comic tonight!

DRAMATIC RE-ENACTMENT

Stay tuned for more details.

All content (c) Chris Woodward

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I deliberated for a while on which pronouns to use for D.C. Although I consider "him" a man, since he was born one, raised one, and his essays were often accompanied by pictures of his male self, I cannot deny the fact that he may now be, mentally and hormonally, a woman. As of this date, I do not know if his transition is completed, which is the deciding factor, for me, as to which sex he currently is. However, because my experiences with transexuals have been largely positive, I feel unable to deny Mr. Simpson his right to be regarded in the gender he prefers. As a result, this article will use feminine pronouns when discussing D.C.'s work, but for entirely selfish reasons--based on personal experience, and not out of any false reverence for how D.C. expresses himself, or how he spends his time. Regardless of how I feel about D.C.'s personal character, I am in the habit of criticizing what people do, not what they are.
--C.W.

"Family Circus" creator Bill Keane believes there are two kinds of comic strips in the world: those made for readers, and those made for comic strip artists. He sees a true divide between readers and writers, and also sees moments where writers forget their readers, to the extent that the medium is used not to convey a view of life, but to bemoan it.

To illustrate Jim's disgust in panel 8, his word balloon melts into the shape of Italy. SYMBOLISM!

All content Copyright (c) Chris Woodward, 2009

Have fun, don't hurt yourselves.

I just asked you a question, son.

Why are you giving me that look?

Don't give me that look.

I don't think I much like your attitude, son.

Perhaps you should join us in a song.

We should gather in the living room,

And sing a joyful tune.

What do you say, son?

Can we give that a whirl?