While I liked the look of the original theme, it had some problems in regard to posting comics and regular blog posts. However, thanks to Tyler Martin, there’s ComicPress for Wordpress. He created this theme to work specifically for web cartoonists, and it’s great. I’m not quite done yet modifying the look, but it’s working really well for me. This will allow me to spend less time on the theme, and more time on the comic!

That’s the question I’ve asked myself. Maybe my readers (which I’m guessing I could count on one hand) are asking it too. So far I’m having a lot of fun doing the strips, and the characters seem to be working. However, I don’t know how long I could continue with the gags of John and ASIMOV one-upping each other. While funny, I think there needs to be a little more going on. And I think at some point that would run me into a dead end.

I do have some ideas though. There is actually some kind of story brewing here. Who is this little alien guy? Are there any other creatures around? What happens to our main characters who are literally stranded on Mars, years away from help with very few supplies? Isn’t it odd that Captain John doesn’t seem all that concerned about it?

During this process of evolution of the strip, I certainly hope to keep the strip funny. But I want it to be interesting too, more than just one sarcastic punchline after another. That’s going to be the real challenge.

While I’m on a Monday/Weekly posting schedule right now, I hope to post at least two strips a week. So you can “unofficially” expect a strip on Wednesday as well for at least the next couple weeks. Since I’m between jobs right now, I’ve actually got a little extra time to work on the strip.

So that’s the “state of the strip” speech. I’m probably more interested than anyone to see where it all goes.

Here’s a card I had a little fun designing, Captain John as the King of Spades. I’m not entirely happy with the design, but it’s a start. I’ll probably do some more to at least make up cards with all the characters. Might be fun at some point to do a whole deck.

Today I went on a creative frenzy and penciled and inked 3 panels. I’ll scan in and start coloring at least one panel today, so expect another bonus strip sometime this weekend. There’s definitely going to be an interesting turn coming up, so stay tuned.

Well, I’m 10 strips into the comic now and I’ve gotten to get a slight feel for the characters and the storyline. I’ve gotten some interesting feedback as well. I do think the characters need a bit more development and need to be broken of some cliche characteristics. I’ll be working on that as things go along.

Also, the 3 panel gag is tough to do well, and to keep fresh. I think some of my gags have been “cute” but not necessarily very well written (or really all that funny either.) I’ll probably be re-sizing the strip to give me 4 panels to work with, and be doing some double-sized entries to give more room to tell stories.

I’d rather have the humor come naturally through the characters, not force it by telling tired “pickle” jokes. I had already been moving toward the first real story arc anyway, and tomorrow the first strip in that story will be posted.

As always I welcome any feedback.

I did another playing card today, this time using Ugo as the Joker card. I like it better than the King card myself.