Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Comics on the Road to Nowhere? Pt. 2 of 11: Cranky Weather

[EDITED August 19-20, 2009] - The title of this series -- Comics on the Road to Nowhere? -- can be construed as rather mean, if you live in Idaho and know that I am referring to our road trip there at the end of July.

It's not meant to be mean towards Idaho. It's actually a slap at myself and my preconceived notions about going to places of which I know nothing. The truth is I quite enjoyed my first extended stay in my parents' new home in Idaho, found much to recommend about the place, and look forward to visiting again soon. But on the day on which this artistic adventure began, not knowing the fun and natural beauty that waited ahead of us at Craters of the Moon National Monument as we careened down the highway on a 100-degree-plus day, it seemed like we would never get there, and so the title is appropriate to my feelings. At least I attached a question mark to the end of the title to make my statement indefinite, and to show that our actions on this trip would prove the title a lie.

As the first comic page continued to be created and those of us without the page sat around waiting eagerly for our turn, brother Mark decided to start another page to have something else on which to work. As my turn came, staring at a picture of two clouds of differing attitude, without any thought as to how the story would proceed, I applied two sentences to the opening panel: "Fair amount of weather we're havin'!" and "A-yup!" Just the first things that popped into my head, but what else would clouds say to each other upon meeting? This is part of the fun of the game: sheer improvisation. The other fun in the game is not knowing where it will actually go, even though you can imagine where it might, and then seeing what will worm its way into the other participants' heads leaping off from what you had put down onto paper.

A third comic started very soon after that, and so on. Before long, we had a pile of comics slowly trading hands for the duration of the trip.

Here is comic #2, titled "Cranky Weather."

4 comments:

Mark Otis said...

Actually, I beg to differ with yer notes on this one. Chris was riding shotgun during the creation of this'n, which was started and finished by the hands of you and I.

Rik Tod Johnson said...

Coooooo-rected!

Though I beg to differ too. Actually, for you to finish the piece, Chris had to draw the first panel. I knew you knocked out the second one, because at one point you had jokingly discussed all the detail you had taken pains to create, so Chris not only drew the first panel, but did so to open the strip. I now recall that I wrote the words to reply to what he had drawn.

My mistake to begin with on this...

Mark Otis said...

Dude, I beg to differ with your beggin' to differ with my beggin' to differ, but I do remember drawing the first panel in response to what you had written first, and, after I had also drawn the second - and at that time captionless - second panel, I distinctly remember you chuckling about the first panel I drew (and I do remember drawing alla those whispy bits of air flowing round and round).

I also remember feeling bad about starting and finishing this particular comic sans Chris, as he was strapped to Dad's right in the front of the M'home.

Perhaps we ask Chris what he remembers? If only he would answer his emails...

Either way, these were an exceedingly fun to-do to do.

Toodeloo,
MaOTis

Rik Tod Johnson said...

Well, now I am totally confused. But you are right. Chris was stuck up front, as you said.

And I agree... these were the most fun I have had in ages.

I will post more tonight...

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