A certain backlog

Recently I've been asked if I would be drawing any more comic strips.  That's interesting, because having started this blog recently, it's got me to thinking about writing creatively more often.  And of course, the essence of comic strips is the writing, not merely the drawing.  So I've been thinking myself that I should get back into the comic strip scene.  I have a stack of loose, undrawn ideas for comics (sorry for the blah photo!):

So will I break out the dip pen and India ink again?  Sure, why not!  But I will surely re-design the characters, for this fourth go-around.  That'll likely mean re-drawing the previously made strips.  


I was thinking about the nature of the comics that I write, and the main theme seems to be that of people tormenting each other.  That seems too negative an approach, on the surface I suppose, but certainly it's a valid strategy for the medium.  It embraces character and conflict, the essence of a story.  But at the same time, it would be good to know that the characters are decent humans, and that they do care about each other.  That's something that I want to strive to portray better.  And, taken as a whole, are the comic strips that I draw an actual story?  Do the characters reflect on their past experiences, or at least seem capable of doing so?  Do the characters grow and change?  That suggests that the comics are drawn on a sequential timeline (as the fine comic strip Luann seems to be), which I'm not really concerned about doing.  A sense of timelessness allows the artist greater freedom in re-visiting certain habits and beliefs of a character (or at least makes it easier to explain why the characters never seem to learn anything).   


On another note, the other day at the department store, I bought the worst package of toilet paper that I've ever experienced in my bathroom.  I had to stop at the grocery store yesterday, to buy some more toilet paper, that I can work into the rotation to provide occasional relief from the sandpaper that I bought.  The lesson here is to never do panic shopping at the department store, even if there is a bad ice storm coming.