I feel the need to point out that my son actually likes carrots, but I needed something that would give me good contrast against the green hoodie. Artistic license.
My daughter has a follow-up with her cardiologist today. Hoping for good news.
My son wanted to see those chipmunks mentioned on page 1, so here they are on page 2. Hope you dig.
First off, let me wish Casimir Pulaski a heartfelt “Happy Birthday.”
The image on this page is where it all started. Well not quite. It all REALLY started with a Pottery Barn catalog one Christmas when my son was a tiny little boy. On the page of the catalog where Pottery Barn had its rocking horses, there was one rocking horse that was actually a moose. Truman’s Grandma Marsha decided this was so cute, her grandson just had to have it. So that Christmas morning, Truman rode on a moose for the first time, and had a good time with it until he eventually got old enough to not be interested in such things. We set the moose aside, and some years later, Truman’s little sister Wini had her first turn riding a moose.
She, like Truman, had a lot of fun. Truman played with her as she rode the moose, and I was just struck by this look of nostalgia on his face–not a look I expected to see on the face of a 9-year-old. I found myself wishing they could ride a moose together, so I drew it.
In the original sketch, for some reason I drew the hilt of a katana sticking out of Truman’s backpack. In my head, the fact that it was there to fight zombies was just sort of assumed, and rather obvious really.
“Katana? Is that for the zombies?”
“Of course. What else would it be for?”
As I looked at the sketch, I thought, “Wait a minute. Where would a 9-year-old get a samurai sword? Don’t be ridiculous.” That’s when I changed it to a crowbar… because that made perfect sense.
Anyhow, I’ve redone the antlers since that original concept, but other than that, it’s mostly the same. The old antlers are still available on a skateboard deck, btw.
Oh, and if you find yourself trying to turn the phrase “riding the moose” into some sort of filthy euphemism, then you are officially a sick bastard.
Ok, here we go!
This is the cover for chapter one of The Moose Riders. Yesterday was my daughter’s 5th birthday, and since I started this whole thing when she was, what… 2? 3? Well, it’s about time I get moving on it, don’t you think? For those of you who are fans of Grandpa Sex Machine, apologies for the lack of cleavage in this title.
Thanks to Sarah, Chris, and JT for the critiques/advice, and thanks to my son Truman and my daughter Wini for inspiring this whole thing from the beginning.
Check back next week for page 1!
A Zombie Apocalypse separates two children from their parents while on a camping trip in Alaska. The kids befriend a moose who becomes their guardian against the shambling hordes.
I’ve been slowly putting this comic together for awhile now and have finally quit dragging my feet on it. Hoping to start making pages available to read beginning in Jan. or Feb.
Didn’t make it to the Drink and Draw last night, so just a couple zombie sketches here. The comic I’m submitting to the Comic Book Challenge will feature zombies. And a moose. Speaking of the challenge, the deadline’s been pushed back a couple weeks, so that means I don’t have to rush page 3 of my submission, which I was worried about. Although not worried enough to just draw it in January, I guess.
Shopping for laminate floor today. Good times.
So last night was the second “official” meeting, and was basically a meeting of one. Gene was there but working (there was a small crowd for the jazz band that was playing (good stuff)), Marsha had a previous obligation, and nobody new showed up. I’m feeling a bit pathetic.
Anyhow, up above you see what I drew while drinking alone. The girl is actually an older drawing that I was finishing up a bit, but I’m struggling to figure out a way for Gus to interact with her. A reference to a teabag seems a bit too obvious.
The other rough drawing, like Girl w/ Moose from last week, is tied into this drawing, which I’ll give you more info on next week. Have a good holiday weekend–stay safe.
Well, the Belleville, Illinois Chapter of the Drink and Draw Social Club had it’s first meeting last night, and my results for the hour and a half I spent there are posted above. In attendance were myself, my mother-in-law Marsha, and Gene, who works in the kitchen at Mosaics on Main (the place that hosted the meeting). In spite of the low attendance, it was a good time. Gene and Marsha are both super-talented, and I would link to examples of their work, but I don’t know if either one of them has anything online.
Mosaics was hosting an open-mic night as well, and the dude in the hat up there was one of the performers. Good times. I’m hoping for a bigger turn-out next week (I’m going to try again to talk my friend Chris into going), but I’m guessing that the Dr. Sketchy’s thing they have planned for next month will put more butts in the seats.