Comics Tagged : self care
No “Off” Switch
Strip Info
- Title
- No “Off” Switch
- Date
- June 12, 2022
- Tags
- anxiety, beach, Bird, fomo, Kevin, mental health, productivity, relatable, self care, social media, vacation
Transcript
- Panel 1 : Ext. Beach – Day
-
Kevin sits on a beach chair on a sunny shore. Wearing an open Hawaiian shirt, he clasps his hands behind his head and smiles. His bird perches on his elbow.
-
- Kevin
- Isn’t this great? A week away from social media! No F.O.M.O. No stress…
- Panel 2 : Ext. Beach – Continuous
-
Kevin and his bird sit in silence, soaking up the sun and surf.
- Panel 3 : Ext. Beach – Continous
-
Another moment of quiet.
- Panel 4 : Ext. Beach – Continous
-
Kevin’s bird turns to him.
-
- Bird
- You’re thinking of ways to turn this into content, aren’t you?
- Kevin
- Yes. I’m very broken.
The Procrastination Game
Strip Info
- Title
- The Procrastination Game
- Date
- May 8, 2022
- Tags
- Bird, couch, creativity, dumb things people do, Kevin, mental health, productivity, relatable, self care, videogames
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.”
The Sensible Detective
Strip Info
- Title
- The Sensible Detective
- Date
- April 17, 2022
- Tags
- Bird, couch, crime, Kevin, police, pop culture, self care, Sensible Detective, TV
- Notes
-
Fun fact: this is actually a redraw of a comic I first drew over 10 years ago. The original was part of an earlier version of my comics website called Funny Comics For Cool People. I produced about a dozen comics for it, but never actually launched the site. I always liked this idea, though. So I thought I’d take another swing at it.
Transcript
- Panel 1 : Int. Police Station – Day
-
A grizzled cop sips from a mug. Scowling.
-
- Caption
- Tuesdays at 8! He’s a homicide cop with no major vices…
-
- Cop
- Got drunk once. Didn’t enjoy it.
- Panel 2 : Ext. Park – Continuous
-
The cop and wife give piggybacks to each of their two kids. Everyone smiles except the cop.
-
- Caption
- …no personal trauma…
-
- Cop
- All loved ones alive and well.
- Panel 3 : Ext. Street – Night
-
The cop kneels at a crime scene near a corpse, covered in a bloody sheet. The cop looks at his watch.
-
- Caption
- …And healthy professional boundaries. He’s The Sensible Detective.
-
- Cop
- 5p.m.- Quittin’ time.
- Panel 4 : Int. Living Room – Continuous
-
Kevin sits on the couch with his bird, watching this commercial. They both furrow their brows.
-
- Kevin
- Well that’s no fun.
- Bird
- I prefer my protagonists damaged.
The Breakthrough
Strip Info
- Title
- The Breakthrough
- Date
- February 20, 2022
- Tags
- Batman, Bruce Wayne, crime, masculinity, mental health, movies, pop culture, self care, superheroes, therapy, thugs, toxic masculinity, vigilantes
Transcript
- Panel 1 : Ext. Gotham City Rooftop – Night
-
Batman holds up a thug by his collar on a Gotham rooftop.
-
- Thug
- What are you?
- Panel 2 : Ext. Gotham City Rooftop – Continuous
-
Batman growls.
-
- Batman
- I’m the victim of childhood trauma processing his emotions in an unhealthy way!
- Panel 4 : Int. Therapist’s Office – Later
-
Batman, in full costume, lays scowling on the couch of his therapist. Sitting nearby, the therapist writes in his notepad with a patient smile.
-
- Therapist
- Excellent, Bruce! We’re making real progress here.
The Secret of My Success
Bonus Panel
Strip Info
- Title
- The Secret of My Success
- Date
- October 10, 2021
- Tags
- Avengers, bonus panel, burnout, Captain America, city, Kevin, Marvel, memes, mental health, movies, New York City, parody, self care
Transcript
- Panel 1 : Ext. New York City – Day
-
Close up on Captain America, during that famous scene in the big battle of the first Avengers movie.
-
- Captain America
- Kevin, you haven’t taken any time off from work in over a year. How are you not burnt out?
- Panel 2 : Ext. New York City – Continuous
-
Kevin, walking away, looks back over his shoulder with a smile.
-
- Kevin
- That my secret, Cap…
- Panel 3 : Ext. New York City – Continuous
-
Closer on Kevin. Still with the cocky smile.
-
- Kevin
- …I’m always burnt out!
- Panel 4 : Ext. New York City – Continuous
-
Reverse on Kevin as he faces away from Captain America. His smile is gone. Replaced by the hundred-yard stare, heavy eyelids, and sagging mouth of someone at his wits’ end. Cap stands confused behind him.
- Panel 5 : Ext. New York City – Continuous
-
Wide shot from behind Kevin as that flying alien catepillar thing approaches him. Kevin’s shoulders slump.
-
- Kevin
- -Sigh- Can we not?
Blue’s Clues Blues
Strip Info
- Title
- Blue’s Clues Blues
- Date
- September 19, 2021
- Tags
- apartment, bachelor pad, Bird, Blues Clues, childhood, couch, Kevin, mental health, nostalgia, self care, Steve from Blues Clues, TV
Transcript
- Panel 1 : Kevin’s Int. Living Room – Day
-
Kevin’s POV: Steve from Blues Clues speaks in a clip from that recent video.
-
- Steve
- And then you at you! And look at all you’ve accomplished!
- Panel 2 : Int. Kevin’s Living Room – Continuous
-
Up angle on Kevin, who is watching the clip on his phone, derpy look on his face. The bird watches over his shoulder.
-
- Steve (OS)
- And it’s just… it’s just so amazing, right?
- Panel 3 : Int. Kevin’s Living Room – Continuous
-
Wide angle of Kevin’s shitty bachelor apartment. Laundry on the floor. Dirty plates and trash strewn about. Unopened mail. Framed Quentin Tarantino movie posters on the wall. And that one torch lamp every dude had in the early 00s. Kevin sits slumped on the couch, in his boxers and socks, watching the video on his phone.
-
- Bird
- He’s not talking to you.
- Kevin
- I figured.
As Good As It Gets
Strip Info
- Title
- As Good As It Gets
- Date
- June 27, 2021
- Tags
- Bird, birdcage, existentialism, Kevin, mental health, self care, The Future
Transcript
- Panel 1 : Int. Home – Day
-
Kevin sits at his desk, working on his laptop. Behind him, his bird stands on its cage.
-
- Bird
- What if this is as good as it gets?
(For you, I mean.)
- Panel 2 : Int. Home – Continuous
-
Kevin rasies an eyebrow as the bird continues.
-
- Bird
- What if you’re never as happy, healthy, or successful as you are right now?
- Panel 3 : Int. Home – Continuous
-
Kevin looks visibly annoyed as the bird really drives it home.
-
- Bird
- What if it’s just one long, slow slide into irrelevance from here on out?
- Panel 4 : Int. Home – Moments Later
-
The bird is in its cage. A black shroud covering it.
-
- Bird
(from under the shroud) - Not the self-reflective type I see.
- Bird
Define “Strong”
Strip Info
- Title
- Define “Strong”
- Date
- March 28, 2021
- Tags
- bodybuilding, empathy, masculinity, self care, strength, Strongman, toxic masculinity, vulnerability
- Notes
-
This is one of my favorite comics I’ve made to date.
Transcript
- Panel 1 : Int. Outdoor Arena – Day
-
Two strongmen stretch before an event.
-
- Announcer (OS)
- Welcome back to the World’s Strongest Man Competition…
- Panel 2 : Int. Outdoor Arena – Continuous
-
The two strongmen stand nose-to-nose, frowning at each other.
-
- Announcer (OS)
- This next event is one our most daunting – even for our toughest competitors. Let’s see what they’ve got…
- Panel 3 : Int. Outdoor Arena – Continuous
-
The two strongmen embrace tenderly.
-
- Strongman 1
- I’m having a really hard time lately.
- Strongman 2
- I’m sorry to hear that. Please tell me more.
- Panel 4 : Int. Outdoor Arena – Continuous
-
Two announcers watching fight back tears.
-
- Announcer
(quietly) - I should call my dad.
- Announcer
How I Feel Every Valentine’s Day
Strip Info
- Title
- How I Feel Every Valentine’s Day
- Date
- February 14, 2021
- Tags
- fomo, holidays, Instagram, love, mental health, modern love, Sarah, self care, social media, valentines day
Transcript
- Panel 1 : Int. Home – Day
-
Sarah sits on a stool. On a nearby table, Instagram walks up.
-
- Why so sad?
- Sarah
- I’m alone on Valentine’s Day. Again.
- Panel 2 : Int. Home – Continuous
-
Instagram makes an offer.
-
- Wanna see pics of your friends in happy relationships?
- Panel 3 : Int. Home – Continuous
-
Sarah stares blankly at Instagram.
- Panel 4 : Int. Home – Continuous
-
Instagram starts walking away, beckoning Sarah to follow.
-
- Yeah, y’do. C’mon!
-
Sarah sighs.
Weekend ToDo List
Strip Info
- Title
- Weekend ToDo List
- Date
- January 15, 2020
- Tags
- bed, bffs, couples, Egg & Toast, productivity, relaxation, self care, weekends
Transcript
- Panel 1 : Int. Bedroom – Day
-
Egg lies in bed, wrapped snug in the comforter. Toast walks up bedside, holding up a sheet of paper.
-
- Toast
- OK! Here’s my list of everything we need to get done this weekend.
- Panel 2 : Int. Bedroom – Continuous
-
Egg isn’t moved.
-
- Egg
- Is “Stay In Bed & Watch Netflix” on your list?
- Panel 3 : Int. Bedroom – Continuous
-
Toast looks quizzically at the list.
-
- Toast
- No… That’s not–
- Egg (interrupting)
- –Weird. It’s on mine.
- Panel 4 : Int. Bedroom – Later
-
Both Egg & Toast are curled up in bed, watching Netflix together. Toast sips a cup of coffee.
-
- Egg
- Isn’t my list better?
- Toast
- Shut up.
The Power of Waffles
Strip Info
Transcript
- Panel 1 : Int. Bedroom – Day
-
Egg lays in bed. Wrapped in a purple comforter. Toast stands at the foot.
-
- Toast
- Are you getting out of bed today?
- Egg
- No.
- Panel 2 : Int. Bedroom – Continuous
-
Egg doesn’t move.
-
- Egg
- The world is hot garbage. I live here now.
- Panel 3 : Int. Bedroom – Continuous
-
Toast makes an offering.
-
- Toast
- I made waffles.
- Panel 4 : Int. Dining Room – Moments Later
-
Egg & Toast sit at a little table. Eating waffles. Toast is all smiles. Egg is still wrapped in the comforter.
-
- Egg
- Damn you.