Laugh Tracks
They're called funny books for a reason
Two weeks ago, I went to the Houston Improv to see comedian and podcast extraordinaire, Bobby Lee. It was a birthday gift from my lovely fiancé. I had an amazing time.
Bobby’s set was absurdly hilarious, and I’d expect nothing less. Podcasts are my go-to media when I’m drawing. What are my favorites, you ask? Bad Friends and Tiger Belly, both starring the one and only Bobby Lee. They are incredibly entertaining. I love comic book-based podcasts, but sometimes I spiral into deep thought when listening to them. Comedy pods are the perfect balance. They allow my brain to drift into the page while still being entertained.
After the comedy show, I made a comic strip about one of the many wild moments of the night.
Con-Man
This past weekend was short. I spent most of my time planning for a new collaborative project. It’s very different from anything that I’ve done thus far. I’m excited for it, but it is going to take a lot of time. The hard part is figuring out how I’m going to balance drawing the new thing while staying productive on my current comics. Things usually work out, but staring at the tasks face-to-face is daunting.
Also, con season is about to launch into orbit. I’m bracing for impact. The first few months of the year are typically dormant. Creators go into hibernation. They create things. Then, after last minute prep, they arise in the middle months of the year with a massive case of bed-head. Here’s what my schedule is shaping up to be:
STAPLE! - 4/12-4/13 (Austin, TX)
Free Comic Book Day - 5/3 (Houston, TX)
DAGACOM - 5/10-5/11 (Dayton, TX)
Heroes Con - 6/20-6/22 (Charlotte, NC)
SPX* - 9/13-9/14 (Bethesda, MD)
Bedrock City Con - 10/4-10/5 (Houston, TX)
CASA - 11/15 (San Antonio, TX)
*not yet confirmed!
I’m sure that more shows will pop up as the year carries on.
Project Hail Mary
I finally jumped back into a novel. I used to be a fiend for novels (The Expanse being my last committed series, which was a great read), but in the last five years or so, I’ve fallen off the bookworm wagon. I’m attempting my return with Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. I’m just a few chapters in, but I’m having a great time with it so far.
I read The Martian years ago, and since, I had forgotten how great of a writer Andy Weir is. Pacing is a huge element in my reading enjoyment. Andy’s pace is so brisk and to the point. He also injects details at the perfect dosage without any worry of being too wordy. It’s all wrapped up in a darkly-comedic tone that builds a fun atmosphere amidst apocalyptic scenarios. I’m no scientist, but Weir breaks down scientific concepts in a digestible manner. The Sun is dying. An ice age is imminent. Lead character, Ryland Grace, might have all the answers, but only if he can remember them. It’s fun stuff. I look forward to how the story unfolds.
I’m starting a queue of books to read. Time to revisit some old series and dig into some bucket-list reads.
I don’t think that I’ve shared my final Staple-Gator piece here yet.
I’ll be packing the car on Friday for the trip to Austin. I will be at table 39 this weekend at STAPLE!
Hope to see you there!
Thanks for your time,
Nico