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As you determine where to spend your hard earned monies this holiday season, might I suggest these fine establishments?

  • The HijiNKS ENSUE Store: Books, Prints, Posters, T-Shirts and more by yours truly!
  • Sharksplode: Geeky T-Shirts by me and Wil Wheaton, made to order!
  • Science & Fiction: My wife’s Etsy shop full of fantastically geeky jewelry!
  • Emily Watson Photography: Give a loved one a beautifully restored photo to remind them of how live used to not be so burned, torn and sepia toned.

If you want to support HijiNKS ENSUE for the holidays, but hate capitalism then perhaps you would enjoy GIVING A DONATION or purchasing sometime on my Amazon Wishlist? All of those ideas sound terrible? Then how about a digital highfive via Twitter or email?

STILL WAITING ON A FANCY DIGITAL SKETCH?: I am still plowing through them. You will have yours in the calendar year of 2013. This I vow! If yours was a time sensitive gift for someone, please email me right away and I will move you to the front of the line.

I’m still recovering/playing catch up from Webcomic Rampage, which was this weekend in Austin, TX [Hence the temporary sketchyness of the comic above. Though it seems a non-zero number of your enjoy the pencils better than the inks/colors. Bunch’a weirdos.]

UPDATE: Inks and colors are done, but you can still see the sketchy version on my Tumblr.

This comic is somewhat inspired by a story I wrote on my Tumblr earlier this year about a father and son I saw at San Diego Comicon. I feel like any self proclaimed geek would do well to adopt “We’re having so much fun, and EVERYONE is invited,” as a personal motto. Better to be a geek ambassador than a geek gatekeeper.

We came home Monday night to the aftermath of DALLAS ICEFUCK 2013. Kiddo thought it was snow that had completely entombed our home, cars, yard, cats, etc. and wanted to go play in it. My initial reaction was, “No, it’s just ice and there’s no way to play on ice without hurting yourself,” to which my wife offered the counterpoint, “Eh, fuck it. Let her go have fun.” She did a bit of running and sliding on her knees, and a bit of falling over on her head just to pop up a quick “thumbs up” to let us know the injuries weren’t fatal. She threw chunk of ice at our fence and watched them explode into powdery crystal puffs with a very satisfying “PFATT!” sound. She stomped holes in the ice that covered the ground to reveal the grass underneath and pried large ice chunks off her swing set then piled them high wherever she saw fit. She frolicked (this is the most literal and perfect demonstration of what it means to FROLIC that I have ever witnessed) for a good hour before bed. She was grinning and laughing and completely enthralled in the simple act of running around and falling down in the ice and I almost deprived her of that joy because it seemed messy or slightly dangerous. I want to learn how to adopt, “Eh, fuck it. Let her have fun,” as more of a mantra in the coming year.

COMMENTERS: As a child or a parent has the  idea of  “Eh, fuck it. Let ’em have fun,” every led to any long lasting memories… or injuries?

 

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ThePhysicist · 79 weeks ago

When my now-14yr-old twin boys were 4, they each took a side of a chocolate cake pan and snuck it to their bedroom. I found them nestled on the bottom bunk, elbow-deep in chocolatey goodness and wide-eyed at having been caught. Couldn’t get more than a few words into my best “no-no” speech before breaking. I wiped the laugh-tears from my eyes, climbed in beside them, and grabbed a fistful of cake.

p.s. Shout out from Carrollton. Proud to that you’re local! -Chas

3 replies · active 79 weeks ago

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hijinksensue· 79 weeks ago

Hah! I used to live in Carrollton right behind that big green belt next to target.
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Richter12x2 · 79 weeks ago

I used to live in the other apartment complex, just a little further down on the opposite side of the road – not the one with the fountain, but the one where the police used to like to sit and catch speeders.
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hijinksensue· 79 weeks ago

I was actually in an old neighborhood, not an apartment. We were the youngest people on the street by like 25 years.
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skorpeyon· 79 weeks ago

I completely agree with the alt text. That, to me, is the only Batman.
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FSilvermane · 79 weeks ago

I was like 9 and we went to GA to see my Grandparents. It was the year they had like 5 inches in Savannah, GA. I had never been in snow so when it snowed overnight I wanted to go out and explore. Grandma was dead set against it since their house was a 100 year old structure and all the furniture in it except the TV room and soem appliances int he kitchen was antique. Grandpa [the Sicilian]looked at her smiled and said “Feh,… let him have fun,.. whats the worse that can happen”. I immediately ran outside to explore,..Grandpa put on a coat and sat on the porch to watch me. All was well for about an hr till I waled into the field next to the house, forgot the ditch was like 8 feet deep and stepped off into thin air [the grass was cut at same level as the field and snow had covered it all]. I was unhurt but found a whole new fun place under the arch of snow covered grass.
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aeronmichaelangelo· 79 weeks ago

You keep making these beautiful half-finished comics and I’m going to start demanding a geeky Take On Me music video.
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FuryOfFirestorm· 79 weeks ago

You are on a roll here with your comic, Joel. Can I live with you guys so I can be surrounded by the awesome 24/7? I’ll just basically be like the Ben Grimm of the family, except I have better skin (but my dick is also orange and bumpy).

2 replies · active 79 weeks ago

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hijinksensue· 79 weeks ago

I was cleaning out the guest room until that last sentence.
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seriously · 79 weeks ago

@ furyoffirestorm78

Either stop eating Cheetos, or wash your hands better before masturbating.

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Wesley · 79 weeks ago

We used to jump off a rooftop into a (concrete) sand box for fun, inspired by a “no smoking”-campaign that was intended to warn against the effects of smoking rather than promote jumping off rooftops. One time I was feeling insecure about my jump – we were doing some silly pitching game and our material had run out and I had to go and get it below – and after a slight hesitation decided to take the jump anyway.

I slipped and instead of jumping into the sandbox, fell onto the concrete border on the first week of the summer holidays. I spent the rest of that summer recuperating from several sprains that left me unable to walk decently for a while.

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danwcole· 79 weeks ago

Unrelated to the comment-theme established – Kid needs to be protected from the Bloodwolves, man! The BLOODWOLVES! MAAAAN!
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locixloci· 79 weeks ago

One of your finest, dude.
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bubujin_2 · 79 weeks ago

Being a guy who has raised two boys with a high level of play in anything they do, everything has pretty much been “oh f–k it, let ’em have fun.” Fortunately nothing’s been so wild that it ever resulted in a season-ending injury.
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grneyedgoddess · 79 weeks ago

One year – when my kids were 6 and 7 – it snowed just after they had fallen asleep. We were packing for a move and I was sad because we were leaving a great yard and the snow would be gone by the time they got up. My husband found an old package of sparklers and we both looked at each other, then at the kids door. We jumped up, woke the kids, wrapped them in robes and boots, and took them outside to play with sparklers in the snow. It was one of our best decisions ever. They still remember it (at 17 and 18) and we have some wonderful photos that we will always treasure.
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GallopingConch· 79 weeks ago

I love literally everything about this strip Joel.

YOU’RE GIVING ME FEEL-THINGS

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tomspeelman· 79 weeks ago

I’ve had it where I’ve put off studying to goof around with friends. It’s helped a lot sometimes.
Paul's avatar

Paul · 79 weeks ago

Two words that anyone who grew up during the 80s/90s in NYC suburbs of NY/NJ/PA/CT know that relate to this: Traction Park

1 reply · active 79 weeks ago

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hijinksensue· 79 weeks ago

Hah! I watched the trailer for that doc recently. Seems terrifying.
Debs's avatar

Debs · 79 weeks ago

My dad was the king of “ah F it, let them have fun.” He was the inventor of tackle red light, green light, the game that never ended without tears. He let us ride on the bumper of the truck on our dirt road until I fell off the bumper and tore up my elbow. The greatest thing he ever configured for fun was a fiberglass half pipe for skate boarding reinvented as a water slide. It was the greatest thing ever, but I think I still have fiberglass slivers in my thighs thirty years later.
Fren's avatar

Fren · 79 weeks ago

I can only agree. Nerd/geek culture is the best culture because it’s INCLUSIVE. We’d never make fun of you for not knowing something! We’d just explain it to you … at length … verbosely … with footnotes.

1 reply · active 79 weeks ago

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jonathansills· 79 weeks ago

…and side digressions. And we’re not afraid of ellipses, either!
Leigh's avatar

Leigh · 79 weeks ago

I took my daughter to her first sdcc at about 3. we had to stop at all the booths with transformers. she’s 13 now, and spent most of the day in the anime film festival last con. we live in SD, so its our home con. I usually only get day passes and hit the exhibit floor, and hug all my friends. there are plenty of times when we’ve mixed up a batch of cookie dough, & eaten half or more raw. the time I let the two teenaged girls hike/float alone 2 miles down the big sur river is the one that left me worried. then they called from the campsite down river and asked for a ride back.
Kat 's avatar

Kat · 79 weeks ago

We didn’t have any hills to speak of where I grew up so my dad passed down a tradition from his. He hooked up a couple of sleds to the back of his pickup and pulled us up and down the street. My mom was horrified but let us go. After a couple of runs the other neighbor kids were at the end of their driveways holding sleds wearing their best puppy eyes. By the end there was a train of eight or nine sleds behind his truck.
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noteventhesameguy · 79 weeks ago

As I sit here in Denton watching MST3K with my eldest daughter before she goes back to her Pokemon Yellow game (we’ve already watched all the Netflix episodes of Doctor Who), I kinda love ya for posting these last few comics.
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LMcCJ · 78 weeks ago

We always start with, “yes” then add conditions afterward. Walking into nursery school one day, there was a massive mud puddle. My daughter had a twinkle in her eyes and I said, “After school, not before.” I picked her up later and, with sufficient clearance from other , let her stomp away. She was filthy, my car seat got a little dirty but she was happy and the envy from the other students… It’s astounding how many parents won’t let their children jump in puddles.
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dancingotter72· 73 weeks ago

When my now 15 yo daughter was 3, we went camping with her best friend’s (also3) family. I had brought a large amount of finger paint for the girls to paint rocks. One the last day, we put the girls in my tent to play, while I helped her friend’s mother pack up her tent. All of a sudden, we realized the girls were being too quiet. (You know that feeling, I’m sure) We looked over and the girls had gotten out of the tent and into my bin with the paints. They had by this point open every paint container and emptied them by painting each other head to toe. My first reaction was to be upset, but the other mother’s first reaction was to laugh and grab her camera. Because of her reaction, I was able to see the humor in it and in future situations. I also have the most awesome picture of the two girls that I can torment them with forever!

If You Leave Me Now

As you determine where to spend your hard earned monies this holiday season, might I suggest these fine establishments?

  • The HijiNKS ENSUE Store: Books, Prints, Posters, T-Shirts and more by yours truly!
  • Sharksplode: Geeky T-Shirts by me and Wil Wheaton, made to order!
  • Science & Fiction: My wife’s Etsy shop full of fantastically geeky jewelry!
  • Emily Watson Photography: Give a loved one a beautifully restored photo to remind them of how live used to not be so burned, torn and sepia toned.

If you want to support HijiNKS ENSUE for the holidays, but hate capitalism then perhaps you would enjoy GIVING A DONATION or purchasing sometime on my Amazon Wishlist? All of those ideas sound terrible? Then how about a digital highfive via Twitter or email?

2013-Dragons-Lair-Webcomic-Rampage-Blog-Graphic

WEBCOMIC RAMPAGE IS THIS WEEKEND IN AUSTIN, TX!!! [MORE INFO HERE] 

[Writing this on Friday 12/6/13: Due to a freak ice storm in Dallas, I had to move up my travel plans to go to Austin by a day and in the process lost two days of drawing time. Please enjoy this rough sketch version of the comic. I’ll ink and color it this weekend and re-upload]

[Update 12/7/13: Hey, it’s the finished comic! Super-refresh real hard if you don’t see it. The sketchy version is saved over on my Tumblr.]

My wife and I took our daughter to her first convention (in costume as Raven from Teen Titans) a few weeks back. It was important to me that she see the insane shrine to creativity and capitalism that pulls me away a dozen or so times a year first hand. I didn’t like that she knew I went away for 4 or 5 days a month to something called a “convention” but really had no concept of what that meant. It was a spectacle and certainly too much for her to take in (“MAN! My Little Pony is REALLY popular here!” she commented.), but at least now she can picture in her head the nerd Bacchanalia that I am consumed by when I’m away.

COMMENTERS: Can you remember a time as a child when you were brought to a place or event and simply awestruck by the size, grandeur, insanity or horror of it all? Did you ever go back as an adult? How did it compare?

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josh· 80 weeks ago

Oh yeah, all the time, the event was called “church” and we went all the time when I was a kid but then when I grew up and went back it was just really, really creepy.

3 replies · active 79 weeks ago

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sicklittlemonky· 80 weeks ago

Aw man, you beat me to it! We were Jehovah’s Witnesses when I was a kid, so we went to church 3 or 4 times a week, plus these giant conventions a couple of times a year! It felt like a punishment, and the level of commitment people had just blew my young mind. I stopped going as soon as I moved out on my own, but I went back a few years later for a memorial service, and it was just… weird. I discovered I am not the church type, to say the least!
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Bruceski · 79 weeks ago

The synagogue I grew up in was all about community and basically a social thing, so now that I’ve grown up and moved and such going to services feels really weird. They may be awesome people but they’re not MY community, and it’s hard to shake that expectation even when you know it’s silly.
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GallopingConch· 79 weeks ago

Am I the only one who still goes to church by choice?
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Lurkie · 80 weeks ago

Vegas is a good one, we went there every xmas when i was a kid – Gramma liked the penny slots. But the first thing that popped into my head was DismalLand. You know, the Tragic Kingdom? Loved it as a kid, now my kids love it and I hate it. Too crowded, too expensive. Plus, my brain doesn’t like being rattled around inside my skull by rollercoasters anymore now that I’m old. (Does 43 years qualify me to be yelling “Get off my lawn!”?)
lou's avatar

lou · 80 weeks ago

When I was a lad, I think of 10, my dad took me and my brother to this car show at the Cow Palace in San Francisco. So many weird looking cars! All shiny and new and totally-never-been used on the road. But the real treat was getting to meet none other than Ed “Big Daddy” Roth! He drew us a Ratfink on a shirt we still have (framed of course), and yes, he was wearing the hat!
Josh's avatar

Josh · 80 weeks ago

You should save the sketch version! While the finished products look great, it is fascinating to see “how it’s made”. Keep up the great work!
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TJ “Kiltman”Anderson · 80 weeks ago

Reminds me of when I was a kid and dad took me to drag racing and monster truck / tractor pulls.. didn’t realize then what a bunch of <insert stereotypical cliche of your choice here> it was full of.. did not wish to be associated with/by them
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bubujin_2 · 80 weeks ago

Probably going to Disney World (Florida) as a not-too-youngish kid on a summer family vacation, then going to Disney Land (California) when in college (perhaps twice, once without family), and a couple of times to Tokyo Disney Land as an adult with kid/kids. Except for the lines and the schmaltz it’s always been a fun time, although enjoyed a little differently from a grownup’s perspective.
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Tricia · 80 weeks ago

Steampunk Fionna? Is this a thing? 😮
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Siirenias · 80 weeks ago

I went to Star Trek cons at a very young age, but I wasn’t totally blown away by it. I had been going to rock concerts since before I can remember, and when events escape the edge of perception, it stretches your mind like nothing else. Or maybe it was the haze of pot, tobacco and heroin smoke.Also, cookies in stick form is something I miss. No hassle of fitting it in a mug of cocoa!

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Tony · 79 weeks ago

My uncle took me to GenCon the year before they moved from Milwaukee to Indianapolis. There was all sorts of sharp, geeky stuff, and there was sci-fi that wasn’t Star Wars or Star Trek (I was sheltered in Junior High in 2002…). I haven’t been to their shiny new city yet, but I want to, just as soon as I stop spending my summers unemployed with student loans hanging over me like a monthly trio of swords of Damocles…
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cookiesandmeme · 79 weeks ago

How DARE you invite people to remember ANYTHING about Attack of the Clones?!…This has really put a damper on our relationship, Joel.

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cookiesandmeme · 79 weeks ago

P.S. Your family might be the coolest family.
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Bruceski · 79 weeks ago

A couple of years after Jurassic Park came out (so I would have been 11-12 or so) dad ditched work and we ditched school to drive to Albuquerque for a technology expo. The keynote presentation was about the CG that went into JP (remember this was a Big Deal back when the movie came out) and it was absolutely worth the trip, but the rest of the expo was totally over my head. I could tell it was interesting stuff, but it was not interesting stuff aimed at being digested by kids.
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Daundelyon · 79 weeks ago

My parents took me to the local Renaissance festival the year it opened and I was immediately hooked on all things medieval and renaissance. Somehow though, I didn’t go back for almost seven years. When I did go back, it was to audition for a job.
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cbrichar · 79 weeks ago

The Vatican. Whether a card carrying member of the church or a dirty heathen like me, I defy anyone to step in and not be moved by the breathtaking artistry of the works and architecture therein, with the understanding that, somehow, *humans* made this.

1 reply · active 79 weeks ago

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Jeff A · 78 weeks ago

When I was probably 8 or 9 and my Dad took me to Fenway Park for the first time. Walking up the ramp, coming up into the stands and seeing the whole stadium open up in front of me. Grandeur galore!
Leigh's avatar

Leigh · 77 weeks ago

a grateful dead concert at 14. It was at a football stadium in Vegas. I got a contact high and fell asleep on the lawn to drums and space. No one harassed the cute sleeping underage girl.

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Mister Jay · 79 weeks ago

I like these arcs. I keep waiting to see a strip where someone whose been too jaded by the abuses of decisions finally sees something that rekindles their faith to come back to geekdom and a welcoming arm is offered and someone says “Welcome home”. It’s beautiful. And also a very positive message your sending your daughter. Just prepare her for the few geeks that war over whose series is better. Not all of geekdom is love and friendship after all.

The Face Of D’oh!

As you determine where to spend your hard earned monies this holiday season, might I suggest these fine establishments?

  • The HijiNKS ENSUE Store: Books, Prints, Posters, T-Shirts and more by yours truly!
  • Sharksplode: Geeky T-Shirts by me and Wil Wheaton, made to order!
  • Science & Fiction: My wife’s Etsy shop full of fantastically geeky jewelry!
  • Emily Watson Photography: Give a loved one a beautifully restored photo to remind them of how live used to not be so burned, torn and sepia toned.

If you want to support HijiNKS ENSUE for the holidays, but hate capitalism then perhaps you would enjoy GIVING A DONATION or purchasing sometime on my Amazon Wishlist? All of those ideas sound terrible? Then how about a digital highfive via Twitter or email?

Comments (45)

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yaluckyboy · 81 weeks ago

“answer three trivia questions about My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic” got me
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Bill· 81 weeks ago

“[Y]ou must rank the Star Trek Captains from ‘best to Janeway’.” Oh, so it’s best, bester, bestest, bestester, Janeway? Sounds good to me.

7 replies · active 80 weeks ago

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hijinksensue· 81 weeks ago

You monster.
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gabepuratekuta· 81 weeks ago

There is no New Kirk. That would imply there was a new Star Trek after “Of Gods and Men”
lou's avatar

lou · 81 weeks ago

What I took from this is Archer is better than Janeway. Although I can’t come up with why Janeway gets so much flak.
Ali's avatar

Ali · 81 weeks ago

This. Archer violated the Prime Directive as a matter of course, or would have if it had existed yet, and once came this | | close to literally throwing a guy out an airlock. How the hell is Janeway worse than him?
Mitch H.'s avatar

Mitch H. · 80 weeks ago

Throwing dudes out of airlocks is the very epitome of Awesome. Just ask Laura “Airlock” Roslin.
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hijinksensue· 81 weeks ago

Oh, no. Archer doesn’t count at all.
Jason's avatar

Jason · 81 weeks ago

We’re only talking 4 captains including Janeway, right?

3 replies · active 81 weeks ago

Tom327Cat's avatar

Tom327Cat · 81 weeks ago

Why would we be talking only 4 Captains? Is this because Sulu lost the captaincy on Muppets Tonight to Captain Kangaroo?
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hijinksensue· 81 weeks ago

Picard, Kirk, Sisko, Janeway, the end.
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BoldlyGettingThere · 81 weeks ago

“I share the same “Best-to-Janeway” as Joel Watson” is my new brag
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hijinksensue· 81 weeks ago

I had to think about that one for a while.
Tony's avatar

Tony · 81 weeks ago

If you’re old, scrawny, and bald enough, you can probably circumvent all the troll’s questions provided you’re the right combination of awesome and shameless to come up with some sweet Cohen the Barbarian cosplay and are capable of reenacting “Troll Bridge” with said troll…
lou's avatar

lou · 81 weeks ago

The Sonic Screwdriver: for whenever you need to assemble a cabinet at somebody.
gabepuratekuta's avatar - Go to profile

gabepuratekuta· 81 weeks ago

Awww, I want a sonic screwdriver… Either third or tenth would be preferred

…okay, maybe not third. That was back when it couldn’t manipulate physical objects

6 replies · active 79 weeks ago

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hijinksensue· 81 weeks ago

Fair warning, the plastic replicas that are commonly sold at conventions start to fall apart almost immediately. My “Eleven” was in top shape for maybe the first week.
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gabepuratekuta· 81 weeks ago

There aren’t any metal ones? Or at least of a better quality plastic?
hijinksensue's avatar - Go to profile

hijinksensue· 81 weeks ago

I dont keep up on this a lot but the last time I saw a metal one it was an official prop made by hand by the propmaster of DW and it was like $4000.
Trish's avatar

Trish · 81 weeks ago

Darn it, if only I had a spare lung to sell…Oh wait…
Jason's avatar - Go to profile

Jason· 80 weeks ago

All I’m saying is, if God DIDN’T want you to sell your lung to buy a sonic screwdriver, he wouldn’t have given you two.
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Joel· 79 weeks ago

that’s my philosophy for kidneys too!
Stephen's avatar

Stephen · 81 weeks ago

There should be a ranking of “struggling with humanity” characters. i.e. The Doctor (emh), Data, Spock, Seven of Nine. Those aren’t in any particular order except the The Doctor is the best.

1 reply · active 80 weeks ago

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Qmire· 80 weeks ago

Where do I find a wife like that?

7 replies · active 77 weeks ago

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DuckAmuck · 80 weeks ago

In my experience, many wives have that ability – with YOUR stuff. We can’t find our own stuff to save our lives…

It’s really bad when the husband in question is wearing a 4-pocket hoodie, an 8-pocket jean jacket and the never-ending-pocketed cargo pants. “Did you check ALL your pockets?”

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Qmire· 80 weeks ago

Not really what I meant. I meant the whole, being a geek, and referencing the show.
DuckAmuck's avatar

DuckAmuck · 80 weeks ago

Comicon?
DuckAmuck's avatar

DuckAmuck · 80 weeks ago

Or, really, the TRUE answer is “you don’t find a wife like that… she finds YOU.”
rachel's avatar

rachel · 79 weeks ago

I definitely found my husband rather than the other way around, yeap 🙂

though I can never find a god-damn thing, and he’s always telling ME where I lost my crap in the house!

Leigh's avatar

Leigh · 77 weeks ago

my husband found me at ren fair. I’m not sure if he decided to marry me when he found out I came with a framed 70’s lotr poster & framed princess bride poster, when he saw my star trek and star wars Christmas ornaments, or when he realized my book collection exceeded his.
Liam's avatar

Liam · 80 weeks ago

I can answer the first two questions okay to get in but I always get it wrong when I am asked what my favorite color is.

1 reply · active 80 weeks ago

lou's avatar

lou · 80 weeks ago

In the event they change it up and ask you about the air velocity of a swallow, ask if it’s European or African. Always works for me.
Carol Elaine's avatar

Carol Elaine · 80 weeks ago

I have to answer My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic trivia? I may never be able to enter another con again.

(Have never seen any MLP. Never plan on ever seeing it.)

Steve's avatar

Steve · 80 weeks ago

Picard, Sisko, Archer, Kirk, Janeway. Not that tough.
rachel's avatar

rachel · 79 weeks ago

hmm, I have changed my opinion on the captains so much over the last few years!

sisko, picard, janeway, archer, kirk (old AND new)

sorry friends, I just goddamn hate TOS

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CalgaryKeith· 76 weeks ago

Amazing! Just got my tix for the Con up here and watched the entire Fifth season of Dr. Who. WHY DO YOU READ MY MIND WATSON?!?

1 reply · active 76 weeks ago

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hijinksensue· 76 weeks ago

I’ve been to your house. You don’t know what I left there. In the walls. Under the floors.
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Britney · 70 weeks ago

Janeway, Janeway, Janeway, Kirk, Janeway
that is the only answer

Learning To Love Again

Screen Shot 2013-11-19 at 5.02.11 AM

Do you live in or around Austin, TX? Come see me and Dave from Cyanide & Happiness and Randy from Something*Positive at Wizard World Austin this weekend (Saturday and Sunday only). We’ll be at the Dragon’s Lair booth #938 selling merch and doing sketches. Here’s some more info! 

I absolutely refused to give Arrow a chance due to its unfortunate pedigree. Being a DC/Warner Bros super hero “reimagining” on The CW and starring nothing but underwear model gorgeous people set off all of my “DON’T WATCH! DON’T WATCH!” alarms. Then, in a moment of weakness, I watched the pilot on Netflix. 3 days later I had binged the entire first season. 3 days after that I was caught up on season 2 via Hulu and The CW app on my iPad (both horrific viewing experiences when compared to Netflix). I gotta say, I was wrong.

Arrow is super enjoyable. That is to say, it is CONSISTENT. If you like the pilot, you will like every subsequent episode just as much, and several you will like quite a bit more. Everything good and bad about Arrow is present from the word “Go” and it keeps a pretty even keel throughout. The stars are far better actors than you’d expect from the CW, the writing is above average for a super-soap, the writers are obviously not scrambling to fit a bunch of loose plot threads together (it feels like they actually have a plan, but leave room for new ideas), the FX are not cheesy, the cinematography is better than most cable action dramas and (something I was not expecting to notice or care about) the fight choreography is quite interesting. There’s a lot of close combat (it’s not all arrows from afar) and the producers have obviously spent some time developing a fighting style for the main characters that plays well on TV without being overblown or unrealistic.

All of that said, there are moments of soapy-cheese (usually between Oliver and Laurel), sometimes the villains or the guest stars are not on level with the core cast acting-wise (but rarely if ever Tom “Wait… does… Clark… smell… a fart… or… is… he… just… trying… to… convey… emooooootion?”  Welling horrible), and… no, that’s about it. There just isn’t much to dislike about Arrow at all.

One of the aspects of Arrow that I’m particularly enjoying (something that Smallville failed miserably at), is how they are integrating characters from the wider DC universe in clever and subtle ways. They plant seeds episodes in advance for big character appearances in ways that would go totally unnoticed by non-nerds, but also won’t infuriate their core nerd audience. When they do introduce a larger than life character, they find a way to distill them down to their basic elements without totally reinventing them (since the Arrow-verse seems to be one without Metahumans or actual superpowers so far). I don’t want to get into specifics to avoid spoilers, but we are doing a SUPER SPOILERY THREAD over in the Fancy Bastard Facebook Group (newbies HERE and season 2 discussion HERE).

So, if you liked the idea of Smallville but wished it were 1000% less dumb, or 100% more like Batman Begins, I strongly recommend checking out Arrow. Season 1 is streamable on Netflix and Season 2 (which is about half-ish over) is available via Hulu (free version) and the CW streaming iOS app (though episodes are being removed as they get older). It feels good to enjoy a damn super hero on TV again.

Buying holiday type gifts for a special Harry Potter Fan? If you haven’t seen my wife’s Quidditch necklaces, you probably should is alls I’m sayin’.

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HEY! CHECK THIS OUT! 

Graphic Knowledge MagazineI did an interview with Graphic Knowledge Magazine (Issue 2) (available here for iOS devices) about the origins of HE, the recent shift to storyline/character based comics, and the ups and downs of this weird job I have. I felt like I was super honest and there’s probably some good info in there for anyone looking to do their own thing for a living.

 

 

 

 

 

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gabepuratekuta's avatar - Go to profile

gabepuratekuta· 82 weeks ago

Don’t do it, Josh! It’ll destroy you!

4 replies · active 81 weeks ago

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josh· 82 weeks ago

don’t you worry about a thing, this comic would never, ever, EVER actually happen in a million years. Smallville was dead to me about 3 episodes into season 4, and I will carry that grudge to my fucking grave. This comic is basically libel. Or slander. I forget which is which.
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Jason· 82 weeks ago

If it’s spoken, it’s slander. If it’s written, it’s libel. Spoken and slander both start with S, so that’s how I remember it.

Smallville also starts with S. Draw your own conclusions.

Hielario's avatar

Hielario · 81 weeks ago

And if i use a megaphone?
HandiGoat's avatar

HandiGoat · 82 weeks ago

I’m surprised you lasted up to season 4. To be fair, I don’t think the problem was bad writing, it’s just that Superman is a terrible character to have any kind of long-term story arcs for. He’s basically a god (time-travel anyone?), so trying to create any kind of conflict gets ridiculous after a while (“OHEMGEE, YOU have a chunk of a planet that blowed up on the other side of the galaxy?! ME TOO!”).
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Jeff · 82 weeks ago

Which of the three sister witches was a total B-Word? I bet it was the one whose name started with a ‘P’!
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danwcole· 82 weeks ago

I stopped after the Huntress. I started to feel like we were treading into Cape territory after that – and I’m a LIFE-LONG comic geek.
I dunno. I might try it again. When my girlfriend’s not home and the shades are drawn.

1 reply · active 81 weeks ago

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Pikkabird · 81 weeks ago

Just…gloss over the Huntress episodes (there’s only 3 in Season 1, and no word of her in S2 so far). It’s SO MUCH BETTER outside of the Huntress episodes.
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Matt. · 82 weeks ago

“Everything good and bad about Arrow is present from the word “Go” and it keeps a pretty even keel throughout.” <– My enjoyment of Arrow is totally summed up by this statement.

The wife, who is the resident comic book nerd, does not watch Arrow but will occasionally walk by and go, “Oh cool they’re introducing so-and-so”, to which I have to respond, “Um… sure…” Which is to say, it’s quite enjoyable for the those with little comic book background who just want their stories.

1 reply · active 82 weeks ago

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bubujin_2 · 82 weeks ago

Yeah that’s me. I read some review of Arrow elsewhere that caught my interest and so started watching it online before the start of the second season. And since the comic book character was only dimly known to me, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the show by not being previously familiar with the Arrow-verse.
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Richter12x2 · 82 weeks ago

The unfortunately problem I had with Arrow is that it made me interested in the comic books. Expecting the comic book reboot to be similar to the Arrow series, I was very disappointed. 😛 Joel sums it up very well by saying Arrow is a lot more Batman Begins.
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hijinksensue· 82 weeks ago

There’s some sexual stuff, not much. Mostly its just a ton of violence that I wouldnt want my kid to ingest.
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Bruceski · 82 weeks ago

I’ve caught a couple of recent episodes, and have nicknames for the characters like “the ugly one because she’s a nerd in glasses” and “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Harvey Dent.”

ICBINHD may be a completely legit character from the comic, but he still feels like a cheap knock-off.

3 replies · active 81 weeks ago

Bruceski's avatar

Bruceski · 82 weeks ago

that should be “the ugly one ONLY because she’s a nerd in glasses”
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merovin · 81 weeks ago

I don’t think they ever even hinted that Felicity is ugly. She’s just awkward.
Less the teen movie girl who takes off her glasses before prom and is suddenly gorgeous, more more Golden Retriever puppy still tripping over its feet.
dralou's avatar

dralou · 81 weeks ago

Well, it would if Golden Retriever puppies could make unintended sexual innuendos in about every sentences…

But yeah, it never occured to me she was supposed to be “ugly BECAUSE she is a nerd and wears glasses”. Personally, I think she’s cuter/sexier than Laurel.

I’m happy to hear the second season is good too, I was kinda afraid it would go downhill pretty quick.

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King Zilch· 80 weeks ago

The moment that hooked me on Arrow came pretty early; when Diggle started to suspect that this spoiled rich kid who kept disappearing on him was actually up to something – and then Oliver trusted him enough to let him in on his secret identity. If it were Smallville, Diggle would have actually seen him and recognized him – then he would have gotten hit on the head and conveniently forget. Seriously, everyone on that show was suffering massive head trauma, all so they could adhere to the bullshit “no tights, no flights” rule.
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mouse · 80 weeks ago

I do hate the CW app, but discovered (for the android version anyway), that if I closed the app as soon as a commercial started and reopened it and hit play again, I could skip commercials. That made it much more enjoyable than watching it on the computer which had no way whatsoever to skip them and had a tendency to play the same old navy commetcial four times in a row every single commercial break.

1 reply · active 80 weeks ago

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hijinksensue· 80 weeks ago

I was streaming from my iPad to the Apple TV via Airplay and found that every time it went to commercial, or rather tried to come BACK from commercial Airplay would quit and the CW app would glitch to where I could not restart the episode without first starting a different episode then going back to the episode I was watching (it only saved my place about 50% of the time) then restarting airplay. It was a fucking ordeal.

Snatch The Pebble From My Hand

Screen Shot 2013-11-19 at 5.02.11 AM

Do you live in or around Austin, TX? Come see me and Dave from Cyanide & Happiness and Randy from Something*Positive at Wizard World Austin this weekend (Saturday and Sunday only). We’ll be at the Dragon’s Lair booth selling merch and doing sketches.

I’m actually extremely straight with my daughter when she asks me a question. If she asks me something that I don’t know the answer to, we’ll look it up and both get educated. She’s incredibly smart, so when I feed her a line of BS like the ones in the panels above, she immediately gives me this screwed up look and calls me out on it. Question/joke answer/real answer is just part of our dynamic. I’m not trying to turn her into a cynic, or a wise ass (OK, maybe that one’s not entirely true), but perhaps I am trying to teach her how to think on her feet. It’s shocking how far you can get in life by just being able to instantly and consistently talk words with your mouth while your brain takes a moment to think of an actual answer to a question.

HEY! CHECK THIS OUT! 

Graphic Knowledge MagazineI did an interview with Graphic Knowledge Magazine (Issue 2) (available here for iOS devices) about the origins of HE, the recent shift to storyline/character based comics, and the ups and downs of this weird job I have. I felt like I was super honest and there’s probably some good info in there for anyone looking to do their own thing for a living.

 

 

 

 

Comments (25)

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aeronmichaelangelo's avatar - Go to profile

aeronmichaelangelo· 82 weeks ago

As a result, everything out of their mouths (i.e. the teen years) will also be bullshit.
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King Zilch· 82 weeks ago

Your kid is a real scene-stealer, Joel! How long before she gets her own spinoff strip?
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HereForTheRide · 82 weeks ago

I must say sarcasm is one of the best parts of parenting. To see the look on their sweet faces when they finally realize that you are yanking their chain. Then to watch as they learn to use it wisely themselves. Gives the mamma goosebumps.
Xample's avatar

Xample · 82 weeks ago

Yay! I’m not the only parent doing this!

Pro tip: Some day she’ll declare you incompetent and put you into a nursing home.

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brigidkeely· 82 weeks ago

My 4yo frequently calls me out for “tellin’ STORIES.” Those stories are either sarcasm or lies, I’ll let you make the call on that one.
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samldanach· 82 weeks ago

This is why I’m one of the few people who lists Calvin’s DAD as my favorite character from the strip. Because there’s no question why Calvin is as screwed up as he is.

1 reply · active 82 weeks ago

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lou · 82 weeks ago

Not just Calvin’s Dad. Don’t forget Hobbes helping Calvin with his math homework, and turning it into calculus.
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PokeyPuppy · 82 weeks ago

I love that my deadly serious 12-yr-old nephew has started lightening up and successfully trolling his mom. He is so like his uncles, it’s fantastic. Finally, the sarcasm and smart-assery has started emerging!
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DetailBear· 82 weeks ago

I didn’t realize until today’s side-of-the-head view that Gracie wore glasses. Part of that is my vision problems. Don’t notice the frames in most panels, though.
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autojim· 82 weeks ago

You’d fit in well in my family. I come from a long line of harmless bullshitters. Pretty much every household in the extended family on my dad’s side had the Calvin & Hobbes strip where he asks his dad how they determine the weight limit on bridges, and the dad deadpans that they drive heavier and heavier trucks over until it collapses, weigh the last truck to make it over, rebuild the bridge, and that’s the weight limit (and the mom explodes “THAT’S NOT HOW THEY DO IT!” in the last panel). Because that’s totally something our fathers/grandfather would say.
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FuryOfFirestorm· 82 weeks ago

OMG, your family is so awesome and your daughter is so adorable! Can I move in with you guys and be the “cool gay uncle”? I’m sure Josh has that position filled, but I’m willing to share that job with him (and share another kind of “job” with him…hint, hint, wink, wink, say no more)
Kevin's avatar

Kevin · 82 weeks ago

Let me tell you about the Hawaiian Pineapple Famine…
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Bruceski · 82 weeks ago

My dad used to do that all the time. Mom would tell him “just because you’re supposed to be smart doesn’t mean you can’t say ‘I don’t know'”. My brother and I loved it.
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moffattbooks· 82 weeks ago

I find I’m too serious to be sarcastic with my nephews and niece…mostly because I hate the idea of giving them the wrong information from the start. my padawans deserve better
lou's avatar

lou · 82 weeks ago

Lovin’ the new direction of the strip, Joel! Can’t wait to see how the missus & kiddo get embroiled in your geeky adventures.
I remember my dad pulling my leg and my brother’s all the time, to lighten the mood for big house projects, as well as letting loose with some choice curse words. What’s your policy on swearing at your house?
Thundery End's avatar

Thundery End · 82 weeks ago

You’re actually being facetious, as much as sarcastic, from panel 2 onwards.
That’s how sarcasm can rise above being considered ‘the lowest form of wit’, and gain respectability as a tool of a comedy artist.
If only puns could benefit too. I like puns.

1 reply · active 81 weeks ago

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zathael · 81 weeks ago

My dad always used to say that the difference between being sarcastic and facetious was love.
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zathael · 81 weeks ago

When I was eight, I asked my dad why the sky was blue, but turned red in the evening. He sat me down and talked me through light refraction, including drawing pictures and diagrams when I was confused to help me understand it. By the end of it, I had a better notion of the physics of light than most high school students.

I only hope to be as patient once I’m a dad myself.

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manbeardman · 81 weeks ago

the very first word my niece learned to spell was poop my sister still has not fogivin me for that
Chris M's avatar

Chris M · 81 weeks ago

I’m so glad I’m not the only one who does this… it sometimes makes it difficult when I’m actually being serious tho.
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ThePhysicist · 81 weeks ago

I have viewed the current comic every day since it posted, and chuckled every time. I’ve lived that scene both as the kid, and as the dad. You captured it PERFECTLY… it’s a beautiful thing, man.

1 reply · active 71 weeks ago

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hijinksensue· 77 weeks ago

That’s very kind of you to say. Thanks!