Comics in Category : Creativity
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!
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.
-
- Now you make videos.
- Panel 4 : Int. Void – Continuous
-
Instagram insists.
-
- Say it.
- Kevin (defeated)
- Now I make videos.
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.
Touch Grass
Bonus Panel
Strip Info
- Title
- Touch Grass
- Date
- June 25, 2023
- Tags
- bonus panel, capitalism, computers, creativity, guilt, Kevin, mental health, nature, park, productivity, relatable, rest, self care, shame, The Grustle Monster
Transcript
- Panel 1 : Ext. Park – Afternoon
-
Kevin lies in the grass of a field on a sunny summer day. Eyes closed. Hands behind his head. Smiling.
-
- Kevin
- Aaaaah. There’s nothing like a lazy summer afternoon…
- Panel 2 : Ext. Park – Continuous
-
Closer on Kevin’s face as a strange shadow creeps over him. He opens one eye to see:
- Panel 3 : Ext. Park – Continuous
-
Kevin’s POV: The Grustle Monster standing over him, blocking out the sun. Furrowed brow. Frowning.
- Panel 4 : Ext. Park – Continuous
-
Wider to reveal The Grustle Monster looming over Kevin in a menacing way.
-
- Kevin
- Damnit I’m allowed to rest!
- Panel 5 : Ext. Park – Later
-
Later, two passersby notice Kevin sitting on the grass, his full, two-monitor desktop set up in the grass in front of him.
-
- Passerby 1
- Did that guy bring his desktop to the park?
Starting A New Hobby – Part 2
Strip Info
- Title
- Starting A New Hobby – Part 2
- Date
- April 2, 2023
- Tags
- Bird, crafts, creativity, hobbies, Kevin, metalworking, recreation, relatable, weird things people do
Transcript
- Panel 1 : Int. Kevin’s Apartment – Day
-
Kevin stands at his table, wearing a metalworking visor, apron, and gloves. He holds a welding torch in his hand. On the table in front of him, a vise holds a piece of metal. Kevin’s bird, wearing a visor of his own, looks on from a pile of nearby metalworking gear.
-
- Kevin
- OK! After buying all this gear, I’m finally ready to try my new hobby for the first time!
- Panel 2 : Int. Kevin’s Apartment – Continuous
-
Kevin presses his torch to the metal. Sparks fly everywhere.
- Panel 3 : Int. Kevin’s Apartment – Continuous
-
Kevin turns off the torch. The metal has melted into an unattractive lump.
- Panel 4 : Int. Kevin’s Apartment – Continuous
-
Kevin turns to walk away, throwing the torch over his shoulder.
-
- Kevin
- Whelp, I’m no good at this. I quit!
- Panel 5 : Int. Kevin’s Apartment – Months Later
-
Kevin sits on his couch, rubbing his chin in thought.
-
- Kevin
- I think I want to try a new craft as a hobby…
-
His bird facepalms.
Starting A New Hobby – Part 1
Bonus Panel
Strip Info
- Title
- Starting A New Hobby – Part 1
- Date
- March 26, 2023
- Tags
- Bird, bonus panel, crafts, creativity, hobbies, Kevin, metalworking, recreation, relatable, weird things people do
Transcript
- Panel 1 : Int. Kevin’s Apartment – Day
-
Kevin sit on his couch, rubbing his chin in thought. His bird sits on his arm.
-
- Kevin
- I think I want to learn a new skill as a hobby.
- Bird
- Cool!
- Panel 2 : Int. Kevin’s Apartment – Months Later
-
Kevin sits at his table, hunched over his laptop. His bird sits on his shoulder.
-
- Bird
- Make anything yet?
- Kevin
- Not yet. I’m still researching techniques and gear…
- Panel 3 : Int. Kevin’s Apartment – Months Later
-
Kevin sits in the same spot, wearing protective eyewear. Some metalworking gear sits on the table next to him.
-
- Bird
- Anything yet?
- Kevin
- Not yet. I need better gear…
- Panel 4 : Int. Kevin’s Apartment – Month’s Later
-
Kevin sits at the same spot, wearing a leather apron and a safety face shield. Metalworking gear sits on the table next to him. His bird sits atop a pile of unopened boxes of stuff behind him.
-
- Bird
- Anythi-
- Kevin (interrupting)
- Look: this is half the fun of this for me, okay?!
- Panel 5 : Ext. Graveyard – Day
-
A tombstone reads: “Here lies Kevin. Who almost started a new hobby.”
The Side-Hustle Shuffle
Strip Info
- Title
- The Side-Hustle Shuffle
- Date
- February 26, 2023
- Tags
- couch, crafts, entrepreneur, grind, grustle, hobbies, hustle, Kevin, knitting, side hustle, The Grustle Monster
Transcript
- Panel 1 : Int. Apartment – Day
-
Kevin sits on his couch, smiling, knitting a little scarf.
-
- Kevin
- What a relaxing new hobby I’ve found!
Behind him, The Grustle Monster rears up.
- Grustle Monster
- TURN IT INTO A SIDE HUSTLE!
- Panel 2 : Int. Apartment – Continuous
-
Shocked, Kevin turns around to address The Grustle Monster.
-
- Kevin
- C-can’t I just enjoy it?
- Grustle Monster
- NO! MAKE YOUR PASSION YOUR PASSIVE INCOME!
- Panel 3 : Int. Apartment – Continuous
-
Kevin begins to interject, but The Grustle Monster yells in his face.
-
- Kevin
- But-
- Grustle Monster
- MONETIZE YOUR FREE TIME!
- Panel 4 : Int. Craft Fair – Continuous
-
Kevin sits, cross-armed and scowling, behind a table at a craft fair. On the table, several of his knitted scarves are displayed. A sign above the table reads “Kevin’s Stupid Scarves. $20 or whatever.”
Rage Against The Machine
Strip Info
- Title
- Rage Against The Machine
- Date
- January 22, 2023
- Tags
- AI art, artificial intelligence, capitalism, creativity, digital art, Future Kevin, Kevin, Past Kevin, The Future
Transcript
- Panel 1 : Int. Kevin’s Apartment – Day
- Caption: 20 years ago…
-
Past Kevin sits at his drafting table, drawing comics. Behind him, a time portal opens and a desperate Future Kevin leans out.
-
- Future Kevin
- Hey! I’m YOU from the future! Don’t post our artwork online!
- Panel 2 : Int. Kevin’s Apartment – Continuous
-
Future Kevin continues
-
- Future Kevin
- In the future, companies will train A.I. to mimic our style without our consent!
- Panel 3 : Int. Kevin’s Apartment – Continuous
-
Future Kevin continues.
-
- Future Kevin
- Then, any talentless hack can make comics just like ours!
Past Kevin looks down skeptically at his work.
- Panel 4 : Int. Kevin’s Apartment – Continuous
-
Past Kevin raises his eyebrows.
-
- Past Kevin
- …Like ours, but funny?
- Future Kevin
- IT’S INFURIATING!
Prime Grind Time
Strip Info
- Title
- Prime Grind Time
- Date
- December 30, 2022
- Tags
- capitalism, grustle, holidays, Kevin, productivity, relatable, self care, The Grustle Monster
Transcript
- Panel 1 : Int. Office – Day
-
Kevin sits as his desk, looking over at calendar hanging on the wall. The calendar reads “December.” All of the days are crossed off except for the last week.
-
- Kevin
- Ahh! The week between Christmas and New Year’s: when no one expects me to work…
- Panel 2 : Int. Office – Continuous
-
A wider angle reveals The Grustle Monster standing behind Kevin, arms crossed.
-
- Grustle Monster
- EXCEPT ME.
- Kevin
- …Except my Grustle Monster.
- Panel 3 : Int. Office – Continuous
-
The Grustle Monster looms over Kevin as he draws.
-
- Grustle Monster
- NO DAYS OFF, BRO. THIS IS PRIME GRIND TIME.
- Kevin
- …Which is why I feel compelled to draw a comic instead of relaxing.
- Panel 4 : Int. Office – Continuous
-
The Grustle Monster continues.
-
- Grustle Monster
- YOU’LL THANK ME WHEN YOU’RE RICH.
- Kevin
- From comics? Do you even hear yourself?
The Problem with A.I. Art
Strip Info
- Title
- The Problem with A.I. Art
- Date
- December 11, 2022
- Tags
- AI art, AI training, artificial intelligence, Kevin, Lensa, self own, Stable Diffusion
Transcript
- Panel 1 : Int. Startup Office – Day
-
Kevin stands at the desk of an engineer in the office of an A.I. startup. Hands on hips and frowning, he wears a shirt that says “Reject AI Art.”
-
- Engineer
- O.K. sir, I searched our A.I. training database for your artwork and found no results.
- Kevin (indignant)
- Good!
- Panel 2 : Startup Office – Continuous
-
The engineer bends over, adjusting his glasses to better read the screen.
-
- Engineer
- Oh wait- there’s a note. It says: “This artist’s work was found to be of insufficient quality for training…”
- Panel 3 : Int. Startup Office – Continuous
-
The engineer continues reading as Kevin’s face falls.
-
- Engineer
- “…Including this artist’s work, even as an example of a negative output, would degrade the quality of the algorithm…”
- Panel 4 : Startup Office – Continuous
-
The engineer continues reading as Kevin puts up a hand in protest.
-
- Engineer
- “Hashtag crappy, hashtag hack-“
- Kevin (interrupting)
- O.K. Y-you can stop reading now.
The Dedicated Practice of a Future Prodigy
Strip Info
- Title
- The Dedicated Practice of a Future Prodigy
- Date
- September 11, 2022
- Tags
- capitalism, couch, esports, gaming, grind, grustle, hustle, Kevin, productivity, self care, The Grustle Monster, video games
Transcript
- Panel 1 : Int. Living Room – Day
-
The Grustle Monster sits, arms folded, next to Kevin, gaming, on the couch.
-
- Grustle Monster
- GAMING IS A WASTE OF TIME.
- Kevin
- -Sigh- C’mon, man. Please just let me relax.
- Panel 2 : Int. Living Room – Continuous
-
The Grustle Monster continues.
-
- Grustle Monster
- RELAXING DOESN’T GET YOU CLOSER TO YOUR GOALS.
- Kevin
- Fine. What if my goal is to become an esports pro?
- Panel 3 : Int. Living Room – Continuous
-
Kevin continues.
-
- Kevin
- Suddenly, this isn’t wasted time, but the dedicated practice of a future prodigy.
- Panel 4 : Int. Living Room – Continuous
-
The Grustle Monster retorts.
-
- Grustle Monster
- YOU’VE BEEN STUCK ON THE TUTORIAL LEVEL FOR WEEKS!
- Kevin
- IT’S HARD!
The Grustle Monster Cometh
Strip Info
- Title
- The Grustle Monster Cometh
- Date
- September 4, 2022
- Tags
- creativity, creator economy, fomo, grind, grustle, hustle, Kevin, motivation, productivity, relatable, self care, The Grustle Monster
Transcript
- Panel 1 : Int. Bedroom – Night
-
Kevin lays in bed, startled awake by a large, purple monster kicking in the door. Across the monster’s chest, the word “GRUSTLE” is written.
-
- The Grustle Monster
- WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN BED? AMBITION NEVER SLEEPS!
- Panel 2 : Int. Bedroom – Continuous
-
The monster jumps on the foot of Kevin’s bed, causing it and Kevin to shoot up at attention.
-
- The Grusle Monster
- WHILE YOU’RE IN HERE, SOMEONE’S OUT THERE STEALING YOUR SUCCESS!
- Panel 3 : Int. Bedroom – Continuous
-
The monster bellows.
-
- The Grustle Monster
- GET UP! GET OUT!! GET TO WORK!!!
- Kevin
- AAAAAAH!!!!
- Panel 4 : Int. Office Breakroom – Later
-
Hunched over his coffee, disheveled, with a crazy look in his eye, Kevin twitches as his coworker makes a dry observation.
-
- Coworker
- Dude, you look like crap.
- Kevin
- Can’t sleep… Grustle Monster will get me!
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