December 25, 2001 - Season's Greetings

December 25, 2001 - click to embiggen

Holiday wishes and a chance to draw a little differently. Had I ever become serious about web publishing, I would have explored more alternative compositions and presentations. Drawing Jake in a larger format helped me nail down his look.

December 18, 2001 - Nonplussed?

December 18, 2001 - click to embiggen

As soon as Maybel existed, this conversation was inevitable.

December 11, 2001 - Check Yes, No, Maybe

December 11, 2001 - click to embiggen

One thing I loved about doing this was creating a bunch of characters, trying out various pairings, and seeing what happened. This strip was the first in a little series that went into 2002. Not much of a joke here, but a set up for the rest.

December 4, 2001 - Animal Lover

December 4, 2001 - Click to embiggen

One thing I knew about Maybel right off the bat—Gentle would hate her!

November 27, 2001 - I Went to the Dark Side

November 27, 2001 - click to embiggen

I have no excuse for this. I had to do it.

November 20, 2001 - Little Sista's Wrath

November 20, 2001 - click to embiggen

Since this strip was on a teeny tiny corner of the web and not in hundreds of newspapers across the country (sigh), I felt I could spice up the language a bit. Hence the use of the shocker, “crap.” Compared to what is on the Disney Channel these days, it barely merits comment.

November 13, 2001 - Mothers Always Bring Extra Love

November 13, 2001 - click to embiggen

Yay! I love Maybel!

Maybel was the last “cast member” for a while. I imagined it would be fun to have someone who was as thrilled with Jake as he was with “the girl.” Writing her as Marty’s niece allowed her to be around the store.

November 6, 2001 - Scorn of the d20

November 6, 2001 - click to embiggen

I had a hankering to draw with a little more detail, so I came up with this. More roleplaying stuff. 

I see now the influence of Calvin & Hobbes in how Calvin’s daydreams were also drawn in more detail.

October 30, 2001 - Trick or Treat!

October 30, 2001 - click to embiggen

My old co-worker, Karen, used to rib me that she thought Gentle looked like HeroBear in his stuffed animal form, so I couldn’t resist dressing him up for Halloween. Having specific dates allowed me to be seasonal when I felt like it. I’m really fond of the white text in the first panel and Barry’s lack of vocabulary in the second.