18
2013Babysitting
Every so often you get the proverbial offer-you-can’t-refuse. For me, sometimes that’s work with a creator or for a project that I love. Sometimes it’s when somebody you respect needs help. Sometimes it’s a fun artistic challenge, and sometimes it’s a really cool opportunity to make contact with a new audience.
And sometimes it’s all of those things, because maestro Scott Kurtz needs somebody to write and draw a guest story for his wonderful flagship strip PvP while he heals up a sore back and gets ready to launch a big new project. So! For the next little stretch here I’m happily dropping (almost) everything to do just that.
I’ve been sweet on Scott’s work, and on PvP in particular, for years now – and especially since the story moved to Seattle, my old hometown. That means that I also get to depict some of my favorite landmarks from around the city. Tough gig!
So I’m having an absolute ball taking Scott’s lovely, silly, brash, sincere characters out for a spin. If you’re already a fan of PvP, I think you’ll probably enjoy this little story; if you’re new to the strip, well, you have some very fun archive-diving ahead of you! Either way, head over to site, check out the first strip from my run, and (hopefully) enjoy.
I’m taking the week away from Family Man to compensate for producing a weekday strip; I hope to be back next week! It’s a small price to pay for having such a ball.
In the meantime, if you peruse my store, you might notice that I have soft-launched two new books! I’ll make a big deal about it later, but if you missed your chance to get in on my Kickstarter project from 2012, you can now purchase your very own copies of Outfoxed and Danse Macabre. I still have a lot of orders to fulfill from backers, so expect a slightly longer turnaround than usual, but…they’re HERE!
Michael Kirkland
You’re doing a great job! I didn’t even realize it was a guest story until I noticed the name at the bottom and googled it.
Jonathan
Yours is one of the best PvP strips recently – great job! Very impressed with the approximation of Kurtz’ art style too. The best I’ve seen so far
Mons
Good stuff! I’ve enjoyed this arc. Not to fond of the abs joke today – seems out of character – but the rest has been great.
Meconis v PVP | Bizarro Twins
[...] had me thinking that was our regularly scheduled Kurtz art… Here’s Meconis’ post about the opportunity which is really sweet. And she’s right about attracting new readers [...]
Paul
You did such a good job with pvp.
Dn Paul
I dread “guest strips”. I am very attached to PvP, and when someone comes along and draws a strip – even if they are a cartoonist whose work I know and like – it gives me a small headache behind my left eye and causes hand-spasms.
Not in this case. Loved your whole PvP arc – the drawing, the plot, all of it. You really nailed the characters. I hope you get the opportunity to do it again.
Gemini
Great Work. I was already aware of your art, and also as a great fan of PvP (has it been so many years already?), could’t help but to be excited.
Khan was badly needed! A successful alpha male that somehow is out of place in PvP geeky realm. I hope Scott keeps him around from time to time.
maplebee
I just wanted to drop by to tell you how much I loved your PvP arc. It was gorgeously drawn, expertly told, hilarious, and true to the characters. It felt just as organic as Kurtz’s own writing. It was a really fun addition to the PvP canon
Xaios
Ditto on the above noted comments. I’m generally not that big a fan of PvP’s guest strips. Even when the vaunted folks from Penny Arcade stepped in, it didn’t really grab me.
Until now. I’ve never enjoyed a PvP guest strip as much as yours, not even close. The love that you have for these characters shines through. Also, it was really nice to see Francis and Marcy get a really meaty story arc.
Well done, very well done indeed.
Paul
I agree wholeheartedly with most of the comments here, with the exception of the ab-joke-guy – I thought that was totally in keeping with the PVP spirit, that light touch of absurd humanity so frequently layered atop the deeper pathos of humanity; a counterpoint more than a juxtaposition, and one that lends a great deal of reality to the characters. It’s what makes them identifiable, relatable, and endearing.
My hat is off – and we shall be watching your career with great interest.
Edgar
Awesome work on PvP