The Artist here,

I’m not really certain who, if anyone, reads, enjoys or even understands my posts about how I actually create the comics. Since the majority of you probably don’t care, I’m gonna just not talk about this one. Suffice it to say that it went easier than most. I’ve streamlined the process.

Seriously, after this seven-page stint, going back to four panels is gonna be FUN!

I’ve been looking around the internet for new comics, new art, new anything, really. I found Drawn! which is an amazing art blog. The guy who collects the links to post really has good taste. Another one, that The Writer tossed to me yesterday, is C’est Juste! It’s all in French, but the art is spectacular. AND, for good measure, here’s Bear Skin Rug. Go. Chew on those tasty morsels. Let me know what you think.

A brief explanation of who we are and what we’re about:

La Casa Comics is more of a concept than a comic. I mean, it IS a comic, in that thus far there have been regular characters and storylines. But it’s also a place for the writer and I to explore different avenues of graphic storytelling. I’ve been wanting to do this Ben and Robert comic for a while now. And by “a while” I mean 3-4 years. The Writer finally agreed to let me post it, and next Monday we’ll be back to the regular comic again.

We are here to play, to have fun, and to romp. We’re only 50-some-odd strips into this thing and I’m really excited to see where the next 50 will take us. I love the fact that we’ve become more regular about posting the M/W/F comic and sketches, but I have a feeling that it’s the little side stories that will keep us sane and productive. I know they’re helping ME to learn more about my craft.

As for who we are, well there’s an About section for that.

We love you. Trust us.

–The Artist Formally Known as Theo

The Writer here,

I’d just like to take a moment to let everyone know that I never held Theo back from doing the Ben and Robert strips. Okay, so maybe I said “NO SIDE PROJECTS UNTIL WE POST OUR COMIC ON SCHEDULE”, but really, what’s a little bloodshed and overuse of capitalization between friends?

Also, I have to agree with Theo on his point concerning what we’re about. Perhaps to our detriment, we are not strictly concerned with one overall story that we will stick to come hell or highwater. We’re not even that concerned about format continuity, character continuity, or any continuity at all, actually. We don’t have anything against it, but in the end we’re here to see what we can do, and if we buckle down to one format right off the bat and never change, we’ll be limiting ourselves and our abilities. This is, more than anything else, a fun adventure for Theo and I.

Hopefully, even in the absence of the “normal” characters, it’s fun for you too. In any case, as Theo said, we’ll be back to our regularly scheduled strip next Monday. For awhile, anyway.

And there’ll be pirates.

The Artist here,

Sooo, this is the first page of the Ben and Robert story that I wrote and drew. These comics are fun to do, but LABOR INTENSIVE. I don’t like that aspect of them.

I’ve looked around this morning and there doesn’t seem to be any controversy in webcomicdom. But it’s early. If anything comes up, you’ll be the first to know.

–The Artist Formally Known as Theo

My own, my precious.

Oh, sorry. Ummm, right. Webcomics.

Back when I was a gamer, and by gamer I mean someone who devotedly plays video games (I’ll always be a gamer at heart), I got way into Everquest for awhile. Okay, so it was, like, four years. During that time I was, as most EQ players are, a member of an Everquest forum, and it was there, on the Crossroads of Zebuxoruk, that I first found webcomics.

Writing for the gaming audience is a good idea. They’re an active and talkative community, they use forums, and if they like something they share it. I think GU is a horrible comic, honestly, but I read it because when I was playing EQ he had some salient and funny strips. These days, I rarely chuckle at them, but there is certainly a nostalgia factor. Penny Arcade is really and truly the comic opiate of the gaming masses. Between their reviews and their posts and their strips, they hit gamers on every level.

And you know, one webcomic, that’s a gateway drug. I started reading Diesel Sweeties, 8-bit Theater, Get Fuzzy, PvP, Sinfest, and Unshelved early on. It’s not a big list, but at the time, that’s about as far as my interest went, and frankly it can be difficult sometimes to find the good webcomics out there amidst all of the banal eyesores. It wasn’t until I came back to Washington from Ohio that my interest in webcomics really blossomed. Nowadays, I consider it a full-on addiction. In no particular order, the top three things on my mind at any one time are: swing dancing, webcomics, and girls. Starting my own webcomic has really helped me appreciate more what other people are doing in the field. Having Theo around to talk to about webcomics (which we do, ALL THE TIME), has also spurned the obsession.

And I’m discovering new (to me) webcomics all the time. A couple weekends ago, I read through all of Wapsi Square in an evening. I loved every second, I laughed a lot, and I cried at least twice. I started reading Gunnerkrigg Court recently, and it’s really a lovely story. Every week I’ll look at a handful of comics I’ve either never seen or never payed attention to before, and every once in awhile, something will hook me.

When this happens I really try to focus on what it is about the comic I liked, because I’d really love for ours to be one of those comics that people check out, and somehow, magically, it hooks them. Honestly, we’re not there yet, but we’re mad-monkey growing up in here, so there’s always hope. Until then, our gratitude to those of you who ARE hooked. Hang in there. You’re totally indie if you like us right now, but we hope you’ll still read La Casa after it becomes the cool thing to do.

If you’re interested in the general field of webcomics, and with the current hubbub, you should go read Eric’s very excellent snark on T Campbell and the History of Webcomics.

[p.p.s]Gary from Fleen.com chimes in about the History of Webcomics book, and mostly about Kurtz’s response to it. I’m not particularly fond of Fleen, and this post, in particular, doesn’t really offer much. So why did I link it? I guess I just like to share.

To make up for it, here is Jeph’s response, via indietits. Well said, dude.

The Artist here,

Yes, I know her breasts are going in two very distinct and different directions. Yes, I know that her pigtails are standing off the side of her head as if animatronics were involved in the production of this sketch. But do you like it!?

Now, an update from around the webcomics world:

T. Campbell is publishing a book. Not just any book, but a history of Webcomics (proper noun, capitalize that shiznit). Kurtz and Coffman have fascinating posts up about this so I’m not gonna go into the details of the debacle. Suffice it to say that this guy is insane. Despite Coffman’s claim that webcomics will eventually be the new “thing”, I doubt that it will happen very soon. And it certainly hasn’t happened yet. I agree that there are seven or eight supremely successful webcomics out there, but there are also a GAZILLION that won’t stand the test of time (and by time I mean a month). Our old (self-imagined) rivals, Trunks and Soto, have lost their page (ed note: page is, sadly, back up). Our new (self-assigned) rival is Pirate and Alien. Do not click on that link. Do not give that man the satisfaction of a referral!

Moving on…

In QC today … just read it. I really am starting to love that comic. Took me for freakin’ ever!

Congratulations to Chris Crosby. 8 years, man. Good on ya! Makes 5 months and 50 strips seem pidly.

Last, but definately not least, Penny Arcade recieved 1,200 donuts from Smedley at Sony Online Entertainment. There are benefits beyond the monetary kind for being the most popular webcomic ever (and making fun of companies that at least have a sense of humor).

Lots of stuff happening around webcomicdom (is this even a word? adjective maybe? hyperbole…? shit). Go ahead, hit the ‘webcomics’ link at the top of this page and read what some other people are doing and drawing. Then come back and admire Ms. Pigtails.

–TAFKA Theo