Let's Be Lumberjack Friends Again

Let's Be Lumberjack Friends Again
Originally uploaded by Colleen AF Venable

LBFA : The Teasening Part 2

LBFA : The Teasening Part 2
Originally uploaded by thechrishaley

The introduction page for our first book, LET'S BE FRIENDS AGAIN, VOL. 1 - UNDER PRESSURE by comic writing superstar, Benito Cereno.

Dang ol' Superman

Dang ol' Superman
Originally uploaded by thechrishaley

Want to hear me talk about Superman and Wednesday Comics?
www.letsbefriendsagain.com/2009/07/31/i-am-terribly-vexed/

Autumn got dark..

A friend of mine just emailed me and told me he'd finished Scott Pilgrim Vol. 4 last night and that he'd really enjoyed but that Scott's stupidity almost got to be too much at points.

Immediately I thought, "Wait.. Scott's not stupid.. is he?"

I think it's not that he's stupid, it's that he's equal parts naive, obtuse, and self-involved. On a different character, those characteristics would make him the villain or completely unlikeable, but Scott is endearing because he doesn't engage in any of the acts that reveal those characteristics intentionally.
Sure, he's a selfish jerk sometimes, but it's not because he means to be. It's that he just has a hard time seeing the world beyond his world.

What do you guys think?

He is professional..

Man, I have been a terrible blogger as of late.
If you're reading this, then I think you know this is totally unlike me.

Apologies.

I know I've said this before, but the fact of the matter is I just have most of my free time wrapped up in Let's Be Friends Again.

Speaking of which, here is a preview of today's yet to go up new strip!

Doesn't that make you want to read more, tell your friends, and send us money?
I bet it does.
After our foray into reality-altering, Grant Morrison enamorizing comics that few understand, we're back to weird, dark, "funny" comics that few understand.

Joking aside, I'm really amazed and thankful for the level of success we've had with the comic in such a short period of time, and I know that's due in no small part to you (the person who is reading this) and people like you who have been kind enough to check us out and tell others that we're worth their time.

That is a thing which is awesome, and I hope it continues.
Making comics with Curt continues to be one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, but knowing that what we're making is making other people laugh or smile or whatever is a specific kind of good feeling that's hard to describe.

Awfully unsporting..

For those of you that missed it, we have uncovered what really happened to Batman in Final Crisis #6.
I think this is week has been Let's Be Friends Again's best week ever, in that the comics we have done this week both make me very proud to have been involved with them.
It is my hope that if you have not already seen this week's comics you will check them out and enjoy them thoroughly.
It is also my sincere hope that people will continue to enjoy them so much so that they tell other people (emailing, linking, blogging, Digging, Stumbling, whatever).
I am not a marketing or internet expert so I have no idea on how better to do this, but I think we are making comics that certain audiences will enjoy if we can only find a way to get said comics to said audiences.
It is my hope that those of you who are already enjoying them will continue to help us out in this respect.

I've seen every blue-eyed floozy..

Curt and I have made a new comic that is kind of about video games!

In celebration of this, here is a meme I have filled out on the subject.
Feel free to fill it out and post it on your own blog, and if you should do so, let me know so I can read it.

1) What was your FIRST video game console?
I remember playing the Atari, but the Nintendo Entertainment System was the first system I owned.

2) Name a few games you played on said console.
Super Mario Bros. (1-3), The Legend of Zelda, Metroid, Bubble Bobble, Rygar, Ninja Gaiden, Dragon Warrior, Tetris, Dr. Mario, The Punisher, Mega Man 2, The Bugs Bunny Crazy Castle, Captain America and The Avengers, Superman

3) Excluding handhelds, how many VG consoles do you own presently?
Wii, Gamecube, Nintendo 64, Super Nintendo, NES, Dreamcast, Playstation 2

4) Were you a Street Fighter nut? Any character in particular?
Yes. As a youngster I liked Guile because his moves were easier to pull of than everyone else's. Or that's what I thought at the time at least. Nowadays I'm more likely to play as Ken or Ryu.

5) Do you think Capcom is a FUCKING awesome company with kickass character designs?
Of course. I don't keep buying those art books they put out for no reason.

6) Here's the scenario.. You had some friends over and you all ate FRIED CHICKEN! After the meal you all decide to play some video games. As your friend reaches for a controller you notice his/her hands are very "greasy." Are you the type that would insist they wash their hands before pawing the controller, or is it no big deal?
It is most certain. I mean, I wouldn't be a dick about it, but if he didn't I'd probably have an aneurysm.

7) What's your favorite RPG/Action RPG?
Probably the Paper Mario games.. does that count?

8) Do you prefer 2D games or 3D games?
Depends on the game I guess. I've probably enjoyed more 2D than 3D games.

9) Are you an SNK fan?
Of course. Do you want to see my Terry Bogard costume?

10) Who wants to kick that dog's ass from Duck Hunt?
I'm sure that dog pissed me off when I was a kid, but I think he's hilarious now.

11) Have you skipped out on important events in life because of video games?
Define important.

12) Do you listen to video game music?
Certainly. I've got a good bit of video game music in my iTunes at work even.

13) Have you ever cosplayed a VG character?
It seems likely, though I can't recall at the moment. I should probably be filling this out when I am less tired. Oh, wait, upon re-reading this it says "cosplayed" as opposed to dressed up for Halloween, which is what I thought it said. I guess I dress up as Speed Racer all the time and I'm sure he's been in some video games.

14) Have you ever been in an arcade playing a fighting game, KICKING ASS, and then some 6 year old Asian kid comes in and OWNS YOU??
Nope. My little cousins have beaten me at some games before, but they aren't Asian, and those instances took place at home.

15) Name three games you would love to see remakes of if it was done properly.
Power Stone. POWER STONE. POWER STONE!
(Also Rival Schools/Project Justice and Incredible Crisis)

16) Mario or Sonic?
This is not even a real question as far as I'm concerned. And don't get me wrong, I like Sonic, but I mean, seriously. Sonic is like the video game equivalent of Poochie. "Boy, that Sonic is one outrageous dude." "He's totally in my face!"
Mario is a hell of classy little dude with a moustache that refuses to quit keep on keepin' on regardless of how batshit insane the world around him continues to become.

17) When a movie shows up in the theaters, let's use Spider-man as an example, are you likely to buy the GAME version?
No. Unless it's really awesome. Then maybe.

18) What is your LEAST favorite genre of video games? (ex. fighting, sports, shooters, etc.)
First person shooters.

19) Is there a game out there that you feel was unique and didn't get enough love?
Power Stone. Rival Schools/Project Justice. Incredible Crisis.

20) Have you ever verbally abused a game because you couldn't beat one of the levels and/or bosses?
Are you kidding? Absolutely.

21) Do you own any VG apparel?
A couple of t-shirts and some boxer shorts. I think I actually might be wearing a pair of the boxers right now. I'm not going to check though.

22) What are your thoughts on the live-action Super Mario Bros movie?
Kind of a mess, but there's something kinda charming about it as well.

23) On that note, what did you think about the live-action Street Fighter movie?
Never saw it. Even as a kid I knew it looked terrible.
Update : Well, I just found out via Netflix that it's being released on Blu-Ray next month, so it has officially been added to my queue.

24) Who's hottest out of the King Of Fighters chicks?
May Lee is the first one I could find a cool looking picture of, so I'm going to say her.

25) Do you say "old-school" a lot when you're having a VG conversation with others?
No.  I think I'm more likely to say "classic".

26) Have you ever lent someone a game and they returned it to you damaged?
Probably. Who cares. It's in the past.

27) Do you own any imported games?
Yeah, I've got some import Dreamcast games somewhere.

28) Are you ready for this meme to be over, or could you keep going?
It's been pleasant so far except for that hottest chick from King of Fighters question.

29) In this scenario, let's pretend you're going to get a video game tattoo! What would you get and where?
Already did. I have a sort of glowing, primary Tri-Force on my wrist.

30) Are you good at DDR?
Not at all. To be fair though, I've only played once or twice, so I guess I might be good at it if I practiced.

31) Have you ever cried after you beat a game? If so why?
I think I wanted to cry at how incredible the ending of Portal was. Well, to be more precise how incredible the song at the end of Portal was.

We can all know everything..

As some of you may or may not have noticed, actual content around these parts has slowed down quite a bit as of late.
Some of you may have also already deduced the reason for this, but should there any non-detectives amongst the teeming internet throngs I'll tell you that it is because most of my free-time (is that supposed to be hyphenated?) is devoted to Curt and I's webcomic, Let's Be Friends Again.
If you're reading this chances are you're already very aware and are already a fan, or at the least a visitor to said webcomic.

The picture up there is a wallpaper I made from the first panel of our latest comic that you could use for the same purpose if you so chose.
I am of the belief that this most recent comic represents the best comic artwork I have ever created as it pretty much looks (more or less) exactly how I imagined it would look when completed.

Also, I think it's pretty funny.
I mean, it's got everything.
It's got Superman being a dick in classic Silver Age style, it's got Lois Lane being brutally murdered, it's got biting commentary on what a terrible idea that DC vs Mortal Kombat game was.
What else could comic and/or video game fans want from a free webcomic?
Nothing. That's what.

So the thing is I'd like more people to see this particular comic, as I am proud of it, and I think people might enjoy it if they saw it.
And if they enjoy it, they might check out some of the others.. which they also might enjoy.
And if they enjoy several, they might keep coming back for the new comics.
And if they keep coming back for the new comics and enjoying those, then they might tell a friend or two about it, and the cycle I described above might repeat itself.

So far we at LBFA have been very fortunate to have gained an already awesome audience due to multiple linkings from such incredible internet institutions as Lying in the Gutters and SuperPunch.
We are incredibly thankful for the opportunity to be seen that this has afforded us, but we also know that there are a lot more people out there that are going to have to be convinced to come check us out.

This is where you can come into play.

I've previously had blog posts I've written here be mentioned or linked to on places like Neatorama and Blog@Newsarama.
Those were really exciting moments for me to be sure, but I've never had anything to do with whatever transpired to get those posts in front of the appropriate eyes.

So what I'm asking of you guys and gals is this : If you know how to get the appropriate eyes (comic sites, video game sites, general awesomeness sites) pointed towards that comic in particular and Let's Be Friends Again in general, I would really, really appreciate it.

I thank you for taking the time to read this, and assure you any help towards this end you can provide will not go unnoticed or be forgotten.

We've extended it..

No one is safe.

Hello? Hello.

It is never not awesome to get linked.

How come I'm killing myself..

That's for you if you haven't checked out the new comic at Let's Be Friends Again.

We're making comics..

Odds are you're already well aware of this, but we're making comics all over the place at Let's Be Friends Again.
We would love for you to join us (and hundreds of other like-minded, ahead-of-the-curve, webcomic enthusiasts) at this particular party* we are throwing.



* - Not an actual party. It's more of a "reading our comic every Tuesday and Thursday" party. I mean, it's like, it takes place on the internet.. so I mean, how real of a party can it be? I mean, I guess you could get a keg and get totally ripped while you're reading our comic, but.. actually, that might be a goodass idea. We should start putting the comics out on Friday and Saturday nights so that people can organize actual parties with drinks and snacks around when our new comics drop.
Someone please organize a "Let's Be Friends Again Party" and send us pictures of it and we will definitely make some kind of awesome award or prize or something for you.

Take us for cola...

Today's new comic over at Let's Be Friends Again is based on an actual conversation between Curt and I that really stuck with me. I then told Curt we should make it into a comic. Such is the nature of the collaboration. The portions featuring crying, pleading, and more crying have, of course, been omitted so as to keep things as light as a summer's breeze around these parts.

Rob Liefeld was not the original funeral portrait artist, and even though making fun of Rob is like shooting apples in a barrel (full of apples), it was classier than Curt's original joke.
The original joke was probably funnier, but we are nothing if not classy.

The part of today's comic that features me requesting something of Curt is 100% true as it really is something I made Curt promise me.
Seeing how he's going to handle things though, perhaps I should try to institute some further stipulations.

It ain't easy..

Although according to website statistics that Curt has shown me today, I don't even need to tell anyone, I'd still like to implore all of you to come join us over at Let's Be Friends Again.
We update with new comics on Tuesdays and Thursdays.. you know, the days you're not visiting Penny Arcade, and we generally have other content on non-comic days.
This week's comics were our vaguely related to the election comics, and they represent what I believe to be the best work of my comics career so far.
I've already made the "that's not saying much" joke, so no need for anyone else to chime in with that.
You can go back and read our entire original mini-comic that we produced for MOCCA 2008 that involves barbarians, monsters, shouting, naked anime people (so tasteful), cuss words, and Evan Dorkin.

Even though apparently things are taking off pretty swimmingly, you can still get in on the ground floor now and then you can tell people you were into "LBFA" (that's what you'll call it because you're so hip) back when it was good.
You can be the cool friend that told all your not as cool friends about it.
Everyone will be so jealous of how cool you are.
You're so cool.

Welcomed with open arms..

Speaking of presidents and elections and whatnot and such and such as that, it is my most sincere hope that you have been following the online publication of Curt and I's original tiny comic, Let's Be Friends Again over at our website, http://letsbefriendsagain.com/, as it was a prelude to today's full launch of Let's Be Friends Again in all-new,all-original webcomic form.

With out first comic falling on Election Day, we even went so far as to make today's comic about the election!

Please come join in the fun with us.. and by join in, I mean, help us get Penny Arcade rich.

She goes all the way..

Freddie Mercury Gets It Together!
The full picture is over at Let's Be Friends Again.
Another in my series of Freddie Mercury sketches for people from Curt and I's convention appearances.

This one was actually drawn for Bryan Lee O'Malley and given to him at HeroesCon.. and while it is important to note that he did not request this sketch (or any sketch from me at all) he didn't throw it away (while I was standing there).
This leads me to believe he loved it.
That is the train of logic I have chosen to ride upon.
This "crazy train" is also bolstered by my previous intimation that I am in the personal possession of the two greatest images Mr. O'Malley has ever drawn.
I am saving those for tomorrow though.

Not when I need it..

It's funny how when I don't really have anything to talk about, I can find a million things to blog about, but when I have big things going on or a lot of exciting things to talk about I get what amounts to "blog-fright" (Note to self : Get Curt to get the lawyer to trademark that phrase).

I just end up feeling like the task of organizing my memories into coherent thoughts and those thoughts into interesting word-collections ("sentences") is hell of daunting. Or that I'm never going to be able to re-tell my adventures with the same kind of incredible adventure-y-ness that they deserve.

And then I keep putting off doing any regular blogging as well because I keep telling myself, "Dude, you really need to get on that SPX report." And now I've got this Post-It note on my desk filled with post ideas I need to get to, but can't until I get the SPX report out of the way.

So having said that, I should say that SPX was really awesome.

I mean, really.

It's where we need to be.

There is no way Curt and I (and thus, Let's Be Friends Again) will not become a permanent fixture of SPX.

I don't have everything scanned or uploaded yet, so I can't post all my pictures, but there are pictures forthcoming.

I will tell you in advance I own the two greatest things Bryan Lee O'Malley has ever drawn.

Oh, and before I forget, the above art was a 2 minute coloring job I did on a panel from page 5 of Let's Be Friends Again #1 which is being syndicated in it's entirety over at (you guessed it) letsbefriendsagain.com!

As today is Thursday (and Tuesdays and Thursdays are the days we've deigned fit to bless you with new content), there is a new comic/page up as well as insightful writer's commentary from Curt.

Please go check it out, subscribe to the feed, and tell a few dozen of your friends so that we can be friends with them too.. again... for the first time. 

We have stories..

Curt Franklin is basically the best guy anyone could ever know.

He's honest, trustworthy, dependable, upstanding, courageous, intelligent, handsome, clever, witty, sharp, understanding, forgiving, encouraging, funny, and most importantly the ballin'-est dude I know, all without being a dick about it.

Thanks to him I've seen places and done things I otherwise never would have seen or done.

Some of these things include meeting Evan Dorkin, James Kochalka, Patrick Gleason, Mike Mignola, Tad Stones, Bryan Lee O'Malley, Nate Bellegarde, Benito Cereno, Becky Cloonan, Dan DiDio, Mike Nelson, Kevin Murhpy, Bill Corbett, and Darth Vader.

Some other things include finding myself passed out in strip club bathrooms, seedy motels in shady parts of town, and in rehab.

That last bit might be a joke... since he's helped me develop this drinking problem it's hard to remember everything clearly.

My point is this, Curt is as good and true a friend and talented and supportive a creative partner as anyone could ever hope for, and I am very thankful that I am able to say he is both to me.

Today is his birthday, and I hope that it is a wonderful one.

Friends won't let you down..

This is a quick little Batman I drew.
Full SPX report coming soon!
I may not post it here though, I may have to go ahead and post it at http://letsbefriendsagain.com/ since the trip was a Let's Be Friends Again-Brand Adventure.

Pardon me..

This is where Curt and I will be this weekend, pushing Let's Be Friends Again on the masses!
I'll probably be live-tweeting it on my Twitter account, so feel free to keep up with that if you like hearing about me talking to Bryan Lee O'Malley about Sloan.

OH!
HEY!
While I'm on the subject of Let's Be Friends Again, LETSBEFRIENDSAGAIN.COM is now officially open for business!
Seriously.
Go check it out.