Kevin Comics • Comics by Kevin McShane

Grustle Hours

Bonus Panel

Strip Info

Title

Grustle Hours

Date

July 14, 2024

Tags

bonus panel, capitalism, cell phone, couch, grind, hustle, Kevin, productivity, relatable, self care, side hustle, social media, The Grustle Monster

Notes

I think about time a lot. Like a whole lot. There’s so much I want to do in my lifetime. So I worry that, unless I make the most of every minute, I won’t get to everything. This anxiety has made me very susceptible to productivity and hustle culture. The Grustle Monster is, obviously, the embodiment of my anxiety. I have conversations like this with him every day.

But lately, my relationship to time and achievement has been changing. Part of that has been due to several big personal events in the last year. Part of it is due to reading the book 4000 Weeks by Oliver Burkeman. Now I’m trying to think about time as this beautiful, limited resource of unknown quantity. This lovely video from my old boss Ze Frank sums it up nicely.

So do you have a Grustle Monster in your head? How do you deal with him?

Transcript

Panel 1 : Int. Kevin’s Apartment – Day

Kevin lays on his couch, looking at his phone. Behind him, The Grustle Monster stands with his arms crossed.

Grustle Monster: Eight hours for sleep. Eight hours for work. Two hours for meals. One hour for exercise.

Panel 2 : Int. Kevin’s Apartment – Continuous

The Grustle Monster continues.

Grustle Monster: That leaves five hours per day for your side-hustle. You say you don’t have time, but it’s your discipline that’s lacking.

Panel 3 : Int. Kevin’s Apartment – Continuous

Annoyed, Kevin retorts.

Kevin: You forgot: two hours for commute, three hours for family, two hours for bathing and chores…

Panel 4 : Int. Kevin’s Apartment – Continuous

The Grustle Monster does the math.

Grustle Monster: That’s twenty-seven hours per day.
Kevin: So piss off.

Bonus Panel : Int. Kevin’s Apartment – Moments Later

Kevin, still on his couch, still looking at his phone.

Grustle Monster: Where does ‘Scrolling Social Media for Two Hours” fit?
Kevin: SELF CARE!

Every. Job. Site.

Bonus Panel

Strip Info

Title: Every. Job. Site.
Date: February 13, 2024
Tags: capitialism, desk, glasses, job hunt, Kevin, LinkedIn, moustache, office, resume, technology, The Internet, website

Transcript

Panel 1 : Int. Office – Day

A website—personified with glasses, a moustache, and arms and hands—sits in a chair at a desk. Across its forehead is written EVERY JOB SITE. It beckons to someone off-camera.

Website: Just give me your resumé and I’ll auto-populate our application for you!

Panel 2 : Int. Office – Continuous

Wide shot revealing Kevin sitting on the other side of the desk. Wearing a short-sleeved dress shirt and red tie, he hands his resume to the website.

Panel 3 : Int. Office – Continuous

The website adjusts its glasses, looking at Kevin’s resume.

Website: Ah! I see your last job was “Resumé” with a start date of “Baltimore” and an end date of “Microsoft Word”

Panel 4 : Int. Office – Continuous

Reverse on Kevin. He frowns and beckons the website to give him his paper back.

Kevin: -Sigh- Just let me do it.

Panel 5 : Int. Office – Moments Later

Kevin and the website still sitting at the desk.

Website: Isn’t this a Dilbert comic?
Kevin: No. I’m not a racist.

Just Trying To Make A Living

Bonus Panel

Strip Info

Title: Just Trying To Make A Living
Date: December 4, 2023
Tags: algorithms, art, bonus panel, capitalism, commerce, creativity, creator economy, Kevin, Patreon, robots, social media, technology, You
Notes: Don’t tell Instagram, but I’ve started a Patreon. Patreon, if you don’t know, is a membership site where you can get access to exclusive bonus material from me for a small monthly fee. Tiers start at $2 a month and come with a bunch of cool stuff: including bonus comics; old, embarrassing comics from my archive; and a monthly, invite-only “Draw With Me” livestream. Join me!

Transcript

Panel 1 : Int. Void – Day

A cartoon version of You, with all your wit, charm, and good looks, walks up to Kevin and waves.

You: Hi, Kevin! I really like your comics and cartoons!
Kevin: Gee thanks!

Panel 2 : Int. Void – Continuous

Kevin motions to a nearby door. It’s a frosted glass door with a sign over it. Cut off by the panel border, the sign reads only “Patre”. Beyond the frosted glass door, we can kinda make out baloons and some type of flashy lighting. Looks like a real party.

Kevin: You know, I have some great bonus stuff over here if you’re interested.

Panel 3 : Int. Void – Continuous

You smile that winning smile everyone loves.

You: Oh cool! You’ve got a Patre-

Panel 4 : Int. Void – Continuous

From off-screen, Kevin interrupts you by shoving his hand in your face. His finger presses your lips, quieting you.

Kevin: Shhhh!

Panel 5 : Int. Void – Continuous

Kevin comes in close next to you, pressing his cheek into yours.

Kevin (whispering): The Algorithm will hear you!

Bonus : Int. Void – Moments Later

The Algorithm, a towering, angry robot, appears behind You and Kevin. It extends its arms out in a menacing way. You and Kevin shrink in fear.

The Algorithm: Outside Link Detected!!
Kevin: Run!

A Very Accurate Halloween Costume

Bonus Panel

Strip Info

Title: A Very Accurate Halloween Costume
Date: October 30, 2023
Tags: Bird, bird costume, Cintiq, desk, Halloween, Halloween costume, jack-o-lantern, Kevin, pumpkin, table

Transcript

Panel 1 : Int. Kevin’s Apartment – Day

Kevin sits at his desk, drawing on his Cintiq. Behind him, his bird stands on a pumpkin on a table. His bird is wearing a little black t-shirt, blue pants, and a sandy blonde wig, just like Kevin.

Bird: Look! I dressed up as you for Halloween!
Kevin: Oh god…

Panel 2 : Int. Kevin’s Apartment – Continuous

Kevin’s bird furrows his brow.

Bird (mocking): “Hi. I’m Kevin. I’m a little bit grumpy all the time…”
Kevin: Please stop.

Panel 3 : Int. Kevin’s Apartment – Continuous

His bird continues:

Bird (mocking): “…I’d sure be a lot happier if I didn’t tie my self-worth to my productivity…”
Kevin (rolling eyes): Yeah yeah. Very funny.

Panel 4 : Int. Kevin’s Apartment – Continuous

Kevin’s bird starts to walk away.

Bird (mocking): “Whelp! Off to make a comic with a mediocre punchline!”

Kevin swivels around in his chair.

Kevin: Oh fuck off!

Bonus Panel : Int. Kevin’s Apartment – Later

Later, Kevin’s bird stands in front of an iPad, drawing something. He turns around to see Kevin standing behind him, wearing an ill-fitting green parrot suit — just like him.

Bird: Am I supposed to be offended? You look great!

The Tetris Effect

Strip Info

Title: The Tetris Effect
Date: October 16, 2023
Tags: anxiety, Bird, couch, Kevin, mental health, self care, Switch, Tetris, video games, wholesome

Transcript

Panel 1 : Int. Kevin’s Apartment – Day

Kevin slouches on his couch, bags under his eyes, playing his Switch. Next to him, an empty bag of Doritos and a few empty beer bottles. His bird, perched above him, leans in.

Bird: Umm… are you okay?
Kevin: I read that playing Tetris helps distract your brain from anxious thoughts.

Panel 2 : Int. Kevin’s Apartment – Continuous

His bird looks concerned.

Bird: You’ve been playing for the last nine hours straight.
Kevin: Have you seen the news lately?

Panel 3 : Int. Kevin’s Apartment – Continuous

His bird looks off into the distance, thinking, as Kevin goes back to his game.

Panel 4 : Int. Kevin’s Apartment – Continuous

Kevin continues playing, his bird nestled under his arm. The bird lays its head on Kevin’s chest, watching him play.

The Best Streaming Service

Bonus Panel

Strip Info

Title: The Best Streaming Service
Date: October 2, 2023
Tags: Bird, bonus panel, cars, film, Gas Station TV, gasoline, jacks, Kevin, Martin Scorsese, movies, pop culture, relatable, streaming

Transcript

Panel 1 : Int. Kevin’s Apartment – Day

Kevin walks through the front door of his apartment at night, taking off his jacket. His bird sits on a nearby table, playing jacks. The bird looks up at Kevin.

Bird: Hey! Where have you been?
Kevin: At the gas station, filling up my car.

Panel 2 : Int. Kevin’s Apartment – Continuous

Kevin hangs up his jacket as his bird looks at him skeptically.

Bird: For three hours?
Kevin: Yeah. There was this amazing movie on Gas Station TV.

Panel 3 : Ext. Gas Station – Earlier

Kevin stands at the pump, staring at the tiny gas station TV, holding back tears. He holds the pump handle in his hand. The gas cap on his car is open. He hasn’t even started pumping gas yet. The sun is setting. A line of cars behind him HONK incessantly at him.

Panel 4 : Int. Kevin’s Apartment – Continuous

Kevin shrugs.

Kevin: Scorsese? At the Exxon?!
Bird: These streaming wars are getting out of hand.

Panel 5 : Int. Kevin’s Apartment – Continuous

An attendant approaches Kevin at the pump.

Attendant: Sir? Are you crying?
Kevin (clearly crying): No! It’s the gas fumes! Shut up!

Forced Career Change

Bonus Panel

Strip Info

Title: Forced Career Change
Date: September 25, 2023
Tags: bonus panel, creativity, Instagram, Kevin, relatable, social media, video

Transcript

Panel 1 : Int. Void – Day

An Instagram icon with arms and legs stands on a table. Kevin stands in front of it, presenting a comic.

Kevin: I’m a cartoonist! I make comics!

Panel 2 : Int. Void – Continuous

Instagram snatches the comic from Kevin’s hands. Kevin looks surprised.

Panel 3 : Int. Void – Continuous

Instagram rips up Kevin’s comic as Kevin’s eyes bug out.

Instagram: Now you make videos.

Panel 4 : Int. Void – Continuous

Instagram insists.

Instagram: Say it.
Kevin (defeated): Now I make videos.

Enhance!

Bonus Panel

Strip Info

Title: Enhance!
Date: September 11, 2023
Tags: AI art, AI training, anime, awkward, bonus panel, crime, entertainment, police, Stable Diffusion, TV, waifu, weird things people do

Transcript

Panel 1 : Int. Police Squad Room – Day

A tech sits in front of a monitor and keyboard. A police sergeant leans over his sholder.

Tech: Sergeant! We have security camera footage from the crime scene!
Sergeant: Show me.

Panel 2 : Int. Police Squad Room – Continuous

Close on the monitor: grainy footage of a parking garage. The sergeant points at a small, dark silhouette of a figure walking.

Sergeant: There’s our perp. Enhance!

Panel 3 : Int. Police Squad Room – Continuous

The footage zooms in 200% on the silhouette. Not much more detail.

Sergeant: Enhance again!

Panel 4 : Int. Police Squad Room – Continuous

The footage zooms in to 400%. A little contrast in the figure, but still not enough.

Sergeant: Enhance using generative A.I.!

Panel 5 : Int. Police Squad Room – Continuous

The footage transforms into a purple-haired anime waifu with… a rather large chest. She winks and throws up the “peace” sign.

Panel 6 : Int. Police Squad Room – Continuous

Back to the tech and the sergeant.

Sergeant: Nice.

Full Disclosure

Bonus Panel

Strip Info

Title: Full Disclosure
Date: August 27, 2023
Tags: Batman, Batman In Therapy, bonus panel, Catwoman, couples, Gotham City, masculinity, mental health, movies, Poison Ivy, pop culture, self care, Therapist, therapy, toxic masculinity

Transcript

Panel 1 : Ext. Gotham City – Day

Catwoman straddles a prone Batman. With a sly smile, she traces her finger across the bat-symbol on his chest.

Catwoman: So tell me… what’s the Big Bad Bat really afraid of?

Panel 2 : Ext. Gotham City – Continuous

A close-up on Batman. He looks… sad?

Batman: Honestly? I’m afraid that, if I fully process my childhood trauma and grief… I’ll lose my motivation to fight crime.

Panel 3 : Ext. Gotham City – Continuous

A close-up on Catwoman. She looks away in discomfort as Batman continues.

Batman: …And since crime-fighting is such a big part of my identity, I’m afraid losing it will change how I define my masculinity.

Panel 4 : Int. Catwoman’s Hideout – Later

Catwoman sits on the couch of her hideout, looking out the window, concerned. Behind her, Poison Ivy leans over to gossip.

Poison Ivy: Sooo… how’s it going with Batman?
Catwoman: Honestly, it’s been a bit heavy since he started going to therapy…

Bonus Panel : Int. Therapist Office – Later

In full costume, Batman lies on the couch of his therapist’s office. Behind him, in a plush chair, his kindly therapist takes notes.

Therapist: …And how is commmunication with the woman you’re seeing?
Batman: Good! I think she likes me!

Stop Asking

Bonus Panel

Strip Info

Title: Stop Asking
Date: August 13, 2023
Tags: awkward, beer, bonus panel, creativity, cups, dumb things people do, frat guy, Kevin, party, social interactions

Transcript

Panel 1 : Int. Party – Day

At a party, a drunk frat guy walks up to Kevin.

Frat Guy: Hey! Cartoon Boy! Put me in one of your comics!
Kevin: Sorry, but no…

Panel 2 : Int. Party – Continuous

The frat guy presses.

Frat Guy: C’mon! I bet I’m funnier than your dumb characters.
Kevin: Oh, I’m sure you are.

Panel 3 : Int. Party – Continuous

Fed up, Kevin explains.

Kevin: Look, no offense, but stop asking cartoonists to be in their comics. It’s just not going to happen, okay?

Panel 4 : Int. Void – Continuous

Zoom out to Kevin, sitting at his desk, drawing the comic we’ve just been reading. He lifts his pen from his monitor.

Kevin (realizing): Wait. (beat) Shit.