Search and Research #159

Jason and I had originally intended this strip to be a Valentine's Day strip, but weren't able to make the timing work, so the idea has been hanging around for quite a while. I'm glad we were able to find a way to put the idea to use. When SCOM begins reciting the poem, it's because Boük is controlling him since Boük can control technology with his mind. I tried to indicate that this is what's happening with SCOM's surprise and the instant screen change, along with the "bzzt!" sound effect, but I had a hard time trying to think about how to definitively show that this is what was happening. I'm interested to hear your thoughts on how well that came across. Enjoy!

Search and Research #158

I'm not sure how anyone else feels, but I'm often tempted to pretend to use the handheld scanner as a phaser from Star Trek. That's where this strip came from. I guess I'll never be too old to pretend to play with laser guns. :0) Enjoy!

Search and Research #157

There are few things more annoying to me in the library than watching students "fix" a printer or some other piece of equipment. I mean, I'm right there at the desk, they can see me...why wouldn't they ask for help? However, in the spirit of full disclosure, I have to admit I'm guilty of the same thing when I'm outside the library, and I encounter stuff malfunctioning...paper towel dispensers for instance. I have a bit of expertise in how paper towel dispensers work, so if I find one jammed, I have no problem opening it up and fixing it. I'm sure the folks in charge of them would be equally as frustrated. Anyway...enjoy!

Site updates

I'd like to draw your attention to a couple of new features I've added to the blog recently. First, I've put all of the strips into a Picasa web album, so you can scroll through and catch up on past strips or reread favorite story lines. You can access this by clicking "Just the strips" in the menu bar under the blog title, or you can click the slideshow widget on the right hand side of the page. Second, I've added a Meet the Cast page in the menu bar, in case you would like to know more about these characters. Thanks for stopping in!

 - eli

Search and Research #156

Ok, here we go with the next strip. Drawing this strip was like hanging out with friends you haven't seen in a long time, good and nostalgic at the same time. Enjoy!

Looking ahead...

Well my friends and readers, it's been about 9 months since anything was posted on this blog, but that's about to change. Since last July, my wife and I have moved, gotten settled, and I've been working with an illustration mentor who is helping me make a move towards being a free-lance illustrator. I've been learning about watercolors and all sorts of other stuff, which has been really exciting, and working to create a portfolio of images. I also had more commissioned artwork last year than all my previous years combined. All that stuff is the reason that I haven't posted any new strips. I felt like I needed to drop something, and Search and Research was the easiest thing to drop. However, Jason (my co-writer) has been consistent in encouraging me that we really couldn't leave these characters hanging like this, that we needed to bring some of our story threads to a conclusion. I mean, we've created over 150 strips at this point and it's worth the effort to complete the body of work. I've come to agree with him through some soul-searching and with the encouragement from one of my co-workers, and I'm pretty sure that, despite my work load, I can make this work, and produce the strip in a timely manner.

So, here's the plan as it sits: Jason and I are going to write the heck out of these strips, I'm going to draw the heck out of them and do my best to put a new strip up every week, and we're going to shoot for 45 new strips, which will give us 200 strips in total. Sound good?

Above you'll find a panel from a new strip that I penciled last night. Keep your eyes peeled and your feed-readers on! My best to you all,

eli

P.S. - Thanks Karen!