The Long Hall series (wks 1, 2, 3)

Little Johnny calling Jonathan "Daddy" is a huge breach in protocol between the two of them, as you can tell by Jonathan's response.  Having Little Johnny talk like a baby won't really work if you don't follow the comic.  It would look like that was his basic character, which it isn't, which is the punchline.

(Eastern Echo, 8 April 2009)

Jonathan gained his ability to comprehend dogs, wolves, and foxes when he hit his head, his brain was damaged, and it was healed when he re-imprinted on the wolf that saved his life.  He can't converse with Eisnar the lolcat (or, for that matter, any cat), but in spite of Eisnar's terrible speaking skills, he's a wonderful writer.

(Eastern Echo, 13 April 2009)

I never quite revealed why Johnny freaks out at the sight of Dr. Spot.  There will be a clue, but it's so vague that I may have to reveal the connection myself.

(Eastern Echo, 5 May 2009)

Dry Humor

I've been trying to beat into my audience (though I don't do so often) that Jonathan is trying to gain Little Johnny's respect and affection at the same time.  This is why Little Johnny sometimes calls Jonathan "Alpha-Dog."  I think Jonathan has succeeded in earning his affection, since Little Johnny expects a place in Jonathan's living will of testament.  I'm not sure Little Johnny knows the meaning of respect yet.

By the way, my veterinarian has assured me that human cases of heartworm do not really happen.

(Eastern Echo, 6 Apr 2009)

These comics were rendered using a ball-point pen--a method I threw out about five minutes about finishing the second one.

When I invented the vulture "Voltaire," I had named him "Mortimer" and his worm companion "Riggs."  I wanted Mortimer to be sensitive and Riggs to be his exact opposite.

When I added a jackal (see an earlier post), the play on words (Riggs + Mortimer = rigamortis) was over--for the better, I think.  Thus, Mortimer became "Voltaire," and Riggs became "Warren."

This (^) was a characteristic thing that Mortimer would have said, so I finally decided to put the words into the beak of Voltaire.

(Eastern Echo, 30 Mar 2009)

Dr. Spot, however, has a beef with Voltaire for eating her pet flower.  It seems they were both tender-hearted idealists, but in different and conflicting ways.  I had wanted to work this joke into my comic for a long time.

(Eastern Echo, 3 April 2009