Comics Tagged : creativity

Just Trying To Make A Living

Just Trying To Make A Living
Bonus Panel
Just Trying To Make A Living

Strip Info

Title
Just Trying To Make A Living
Date
December 4, 2023
Tags
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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

Forced Career Change
Bonus Panel
Forced Career Change

Strip Info

Title
Forced Career Change
Date
September 25, 2023
Tags
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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.

Stop Asking

Stop Asking
Bonus Panel
Stop Asking

Strip Info

Title
Stop Asking
Date
August 13, 2023
Tags
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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

Touch Grass
Bonus Panel
Touch Grass

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

Starting A New Hobby – Part 2

Strip Info

Title
Starting A New Hobby – Part 2
Date
April 2, 2023
Tags
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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

Starting A New Hobby – Part 1
Bonus Panel
Starting A New Hobby – Part 1

Strip Info

Title
Starting A New Hobby – Part 1
Date
March 26, 2023
Tags
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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.”

Rage Against The Machine

Rage Against The Machine

Strip Info

Title
Rage Against The Machine
Date
January 22, 2023
Tags
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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!

The Grustle Monster Cometh

The Grustle Monster Cometh

Strip Info

Title
The Grustle Monster Cometh
Date
September 4, 2022
Tags
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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!

The Procrastination Game

The Procrastination Game

Strip Info

Title
The Procrastination Game
Date
May 8, 2022
Tags
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Transcript

Panel 1 : Int. Living Room – Day

Kevin sits on his couch, controller in hand, playing a video game. His bird sits next to him.

Kevin
Ugh. This game sucks.
Bird
Then why not play a game you like?
Panel 2 : Int. Living Room – Continuous

Kevin replies.

Kevin
Because if I play a game I like, I’ll get absorbed and won’t do the other things I have to do today.
Panel 3 : Int. Living Room – Continous

The bird ponders.

Bird
So why not do those other things first, then play a game you like?
Kevin
Because playing games is how I procrastinate.
Panel 4 : Int. Living Room – Continous

The bird looks concerned.

Bird
Wow, you’re all messed up, huh?
Kevin
My therapist calls me his “goldmine.”

Switch It Up!

Switch It Up!

Strip Info

Title
Switch It Up!
Date
February 13, 2022
Tags
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Transcript

Panel 1 : Int. Home – Day

Kevin sits at his desk drawing, head resting on his Cintiq. Perched on the top of the Cintiq, the bird looks on.

Kevin
-Uuugh!- My comic strip is just a rehash of Garfield. I’m a hack!
Panel 2 : Int. Home – Continuous

The bird responds.

Bird
Sure, the whole ‘Cartoonist/Pet” setup is the same, but it’s the details that make it different.
Panel 3 : Int. Home – Continuous

The bird continues.

Bird
For example, an original art style can make it more unique. Try switching it up!
Panel 4 : Ext. Forest – Continuous

Kevin and the bird appear drawn in the style of Bill Watterson of Calvin and Hobbes.

Kevin
Like this?
Bird
Perfect.

The Realization

The Realization

Strip Info

Title
The Realization
Date
February 6, 2022
Tags
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Transcript

Panel 1 : Int. Home – Day

Kevin sits at his desk drawing. The bird perches on his shoulder.

Kevin
I’m making a comic strip about us!
Bird
Oh! Like Garfield?
Panel 2 : Int. Home – Continuous

Kevin pauses.

Kevin
No. Garfield is a cat. You’re a bird.
Bird
Sure… But besides that, it’s basically Garfield.
Panel 3 : Int. Home – Continuous

Kevin scoffs.

Kevin
…No it’s not.
Bird
Yes, it is. ‘Cartoonist and his sassy pet?’ That’s Garfield.
Panel 4 : Int. Home – Continuous

The bird puts a newspaper scrap with Jon Arbuckle on it next to Kevin’s drawing of himself.

Bird
Look. You even draw yourself like Jon!
Panel 5 : Int. Home – Continuous

Kevin eyes widen. He stares off into the distance in realization.

Bird
Congrats, dummy. You’ve created Garfield.
Panel 6 : Ext. Beach – Evening

Kevin stands on the beach at sunset, same hundred-yard stare on his face.

Panel 7 : Ext. Beach – Continuous

Wide shot of Kevin walking into the ocean.

Panel 8 : Ext. Beach – Moments Later

Kevin is gone. Only his footsteps in the sand remain.

Trust The Process

Trust The Process

Strip Info

Title
Trust The Process
Date
January 24, 2022
Tags
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Transcript

Panel 1 : Int. Home – Day

Kevin sits at his desk drawing. The bird perches on a camera behind him.

Bird
What’s with the camera?
Kevin
I’m documenting my creative process.
Panel 2 : Int. Home – Continuous

Kevin continues.

Kevin
Y’know- in case someone wants to make a documentary about me someday.
Panel 3 : Int. Home – Continuous

The bird scoffs

Bird
-Pfft- No one will want to watch ‘Idiot Sits Alone In A Room For Hours.’
Panel 4 : Int. Kodak Theatre – Later

Two presenters at the Oscars open the envelope for Best Documentary.

Presenter 1
And the Oscar goes to…
Presenter 2
…’Idiot Sits Alone In A Room For Hours’
Panel 5 : Int. Kodak Theatre – Continuous

Kevin sits in the audience in a tux. Next to him, Meryl Streep applauds. Kevin raises an eyebrow and looks to his shoulder, where the bird crosses its arms in indignation.