ON BIRTH EDUCATION AND THE BIRTH OF A WEBCOMIC

Have you ever thought about how it is going to be to give birth? How about giving birth to a cartoon? A-ha, both questions occupy our minds lately as both due dates are getting closer and closer - the real 'blood sweat and tears, why did you do this to me, get this baby out, fuckerrrr' one, and on the other hand my presentation of Comic-ish to a panel of industry people, (ooh we sound so special with words like industry and panel). So in this blog post we'll share some notes on birth education and the birth of a web comic.  

It happened around the same time. The day Comic-ish went online and the day I discovered I can no longer stuff my face with brie and wine. Since then we're in a pilot mode - testing the waters, trying out new things, growing little by little and looking more like a cartoon every day. That's the way it is done, you can't expect to see your baby without going through a long process.

In the process of having the real, screaming one, we joined a day of childbirth education in our hospital. We were opting for some hardcore breathing and swaying sessions along with our fake plastic baby and in some awkward positions. I was ready for my role as a hyperventilated walrus and my better half, my Russian bear was ready for his role - a sleepy Russian bear. I was ready for some action, posing in weird positions that would help me later on in the task of tearing in half gracefully. 

It was a long day. We didn't get to huff and puff, but we did get to sit for hours and listen to a nice lady go on and on and spam us with photocopies of what she just said. We did get to have a photocopy of recommended positions - and I think you should all get your copy too. It had some pretty erotic, Kama Sutra style positions. Some of which my Russian bear really wanted to try when we get back home and when time comes - in the delivery room.

I especially liked the outfit worn by the illustrated female model - an infantile body suit, tres chic but not very helpful when trying to pop out a human cartoon. Well, not tres chic either, more like on the ridiculous side of things. I was amazed that with this look there were no positions such as 'the rubber girl', 'the super split', and the 'Comăneci somersault'. 

At the end of the day we came back home tired and hungry and mumbling mummy mummy, but also with some inspiration (mainly for Comic-ish).  Final note before I go practice my elegant ballerina position - whatever is your brainchild, try to create it out of passion, know that it takes time to grow and be ready for when it needs some puffing and pushing to get it into the real world. I'll go sit on my ball now :-) 

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See our previous blog post web comics, hall of fame and garlic olives

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WEB COMICS, HALL OF FAME, AND GARLIC OLIVES

Last Saturday we went to the launch of such-and-such literary journal at the Melbourne Writers Festival. My short story got published in the above such-and-such and thrilled to the bones the Comic-ish duo marched to the private function room in Fed Square.

Well, the facts are a tad twisted as we weren’t exactly thrilled – I was more deeply depressed, sensing a breakdown in an ‘it’s-my-party-and-I-cry-if-I-want-to’ style, and we weren’t marching we were more lagging slowly on the tram. Eventually we got to the launch only to be left on the wrong side of the party, outside the closed doors of the event, which did not for one bit change my plans and immediately I started crying.

Worry not, as we did enter the ‘hall of fame’ in the end. Tears and raging hormones of a passionate writer (and a preggy one, one may add) did the trick. Once in, I realised there was indeed much to cry about: the hard work, the romantic literary dreams and the artist (me, me) waiting for comforting acknowledgment all faded to the reality of a dull afternoon and a plate of really over garlicy olives in my hand.


Now why am I telling you all this? (Pure self-centred, my friends). Firstly, I have no frigging idea, somebody please stop me. And secondly it is about time to write about the journey of the artists behind this web comic, about the hall of fame and the over garlicy olives. So be prepared for the ‘on occasion’ blog posts.


We started Comic-ish out of passion for the illustrated word. No, seriously now, are you for real? (Imagining someone answering back – no need to worry, not talking to myself, well, kinda). Really, my friends. Creative people need to be creative and have fun with it and so we ended up opening Comic-ish and updating every week for the past (almost, almost) six months.

There’s a sea of web comics out there (not to mention other blogs and distractions and porn! God forbid). The competition is rough and chances to succeed and even make a profit are slim. In fact there are about a dozen (or 2 max) that actually turned web comics into their full time job. But it’s not for us to give up (ha-ha! Putting my brrrrave face on (to be read in a Scottish accent)). We love doing what we do. We love our angry Franz and Ganz, we love Dr. Rex and the new bits we try. And mostly we love it when people are reading and enjoying. (And we hate the motherfuckers who think we are not funny! Shame! Shame! Just kidding. Ah hmm.)

In a way we are still on ‘pilot’ mode - growing, learning and trying to get more and more readers. We really want to get into that party, the hall of fame so to speak. We know there’s a chance we get served with a plate of smelly olives but seeing more readers come by and getting comments (not nearly enough, people start conversing!) is really a major motivator to continue creating. Think about it, the solitary writer/illustrator working hard isolated in his capsule and all he needs is some recognition. And a few bucks, do you have change?


So keep coming and let us hear you say – yeaahh! Or beeehhhrr, which is in southeast Celtic - beer! And now, (I know, there are too many words on your screen, and it is a web comic after all - so), here’s a doodle of a sexy, dancing hot dog.

Hope you're satisfied now. You made a preggy woman cry in a hot dog custom. Wanna redeem, my friends? Join our facebook page, it makes me feel less like a hot dog, or send a comment with some cookies - favourite nutrition these days.