Hark, A Vagrant!

Hark, a Vagrant: Anne of Cleves

Sat, 25 May 2013 21:06:30 -0700

Yes, this is a comic that is basically a giant pun. But I couldn't not draw it when I thought of it.

PUNS

I probably should not assume that everyone either knows about Anne of Cleves' Holbein portrait or has read Anne of Green Gables but here we are. Anyway, everyone knows that Anne of Cleves was the raddest of Henry's wives, divorced and living in her party castle. Go Anne! Keep that head, gurl.

Hark, a Vagrant: Nasty Boys

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 15:27:18 -0700

I made a joke about this on twitter like two years ago, and now it has re-emerged as an insane scrawl.

If you're unfamiliar with what we're talking about here, educate yourself about Janet:

Janet Jackson - Nasty by trashfan

Ms. Jackson, if you're nasty.

I just finished a cover of a book from a series you've probably read! Shh a secret for now.

These sketch comics just keep getting longer and longer, and they don't show up on people's iphones. I donno!

Hark, a Vagrant: Cinderella

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 14:29:01 -0800

I like to work out, don't you?

Really I just wanted to make a comic something like the drawings for the DRAW and WRITE posters you see below here, and at the Topatoco shop! Because I like drawing those lumpy muscly people.

It's almost 2013! Did you know I have two calendars? Here is a link to some pictures and a preview too, so you know what they're all about! You can find them in stores all over the place, and online.

Hark, a Vagrant: Superquiz three - 1066

Fri, 14 Dec 2012 10:14:42 -0800

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Hey there! I'm headed to England for the Thought Bubble Festival in Leeds! To celebrate, here is another English history quiz. I hope you guys are liking these because I am having fun making them.

Have you watched this episode of Fact or Fiction with the charming Tony Robinson? It's a version of the story from Harold's side, and we are all for listening to different sides of the story here at HAV.

As if I had an office full of people! No, it's just me watching youtube videos by myself. Glamorous.

I was in New York for Hurricane Sandy. I got off just fine, but it was quite an experience and I made comics about it as we went. You can read those comics here.

The store updated with new stuff! We had a limited edition sketchbook, but it sold out already, which is nuts.

There is more to come!

Hark, a Vagrant: Superquiz Two (Halloween)

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 12:37:01 -0800

Are you ready for Halloween? Hopefully, now you know!

The store updated with new stuff! Not spooky stuff though, there's no pumpkins or anything.

There is more to come!

Hark, a Vagrant: Superquiz one

Sat, 27 Oct 2012 10:13:56 -0700

Ahh nothing like a refresher! Keeps you from getting rusty. I used to write quizzes like this in my university newspaper, in fact, they predate the comics.

Speaking of rusty, it's been a while, but I've been busy in good ways. Thanks to everyone who came to JFL42, and the Cabot Trail Writer's Festival. Both highly recommended! As for the other things I've been doing, some of it has to do with television, which is (anticlimactically) about all I can say, though hopefully it will continue and work out well enough. Just so that you know I've stepped out for a reason.

In really good news, I've also been working on merchandise! I do it about once a year in a big ol' update party and it's starting to roll in, hot off the presses! Click on the image below to see more!

There will be more to come as well! Some awesome things that I hope you like.

Hark, a Vagrant: A Medieval Film

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 19:24:44 -0700

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Gee whiz! These guys are just terrible at making a Medieval film. Don't they know anything???

Just kiddin' you guys, no one would ever try to shoot a movie in Chaucer-y English like the 4th comic, and if they did they probably wouldn't know their way around the actual grammar if Chaucer himself had a Dummies book explaining it. That shit is hard!

I think most people who like to nit-pick historical inaccuracy in films do it for a few reasons:
- it's fun
- it's silly to think that movies aren't "important" because they're entertainment, movies are the way most people come across with representations of histories they don't know much about! So I can't blame anyone for caring that they get the details right.
-it's... fun.

If you don't believe me, take a look at one of my favorite terrible movies, The Norseman starring Lee Majors. It's got it all! Bad Viking movies somehow earn a trophy for being even more bad than most bad movies. How DO they do it??

Hark, a Vagrant: Straw Feminists

Sun, 26 Aug 2012 16:29:44 -0700

God, what a nightmare! To wake up to Straw Feminists in the closet, one of the greatest bogeymen of all time!

Looks like feminism has been in the news a lot these days! It's of interest to me, which is why you saw that Guardian cartoon come of it last time. This time around, this sketch is more of a reaction to people coming up to me and saying they like "the Feminists" cartoons I draw. They're referring to the Strong Female Characters. Color me surprised! The SFC occupy a space in what is often shown to us to be "feminist" in movies and stuff, but that's not what they are. Their main deal is that they are horrible people! Granted, it's one of the words on the poster, but that's not what they are, it's a joke. I ain't in the business of misrepresenting equal rights movements, if I can help it. Rights for all!

These snakey ladies made an appearance a while ago as a twitter sketch:

Hark, a Vagrant: 1812 argument

Sun, 05 Aug 2012 18:28:08 -0700

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A little sketch! I see War of 1812 stuff everywhere this summer because it's the 200th anniversary. It's cool and interesting! But, a side effect from that war is that sometimes Canadians try to be jerks about it. For whatever reason. War sucks! Don't be jerks.

I recently had a comic printed in the Guardian's Cartoonist's Worldview special, along with some really awesome people! Check out all the comics on that link. Mine was almost a reaction to reading this article (we were given the assignment some time ago but it's only printed now), and the almost absurd idea that any politician would endorse the idea that they're bullied or weak. What did anyone expect from a debate like that? I tell ya.

Hark, a Vagrant: pony meets a ghost

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 16:23:55 -0700

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Just a little pony cartoon before heading off to San Diego! I will be at the San Diego Comic Con this week, and here is my schedule. We will be debuting these handsome calendars there with Drawn and Quarterly! D&Q will make them available for general sale afterwards as well.

I was also drawing some more teen sketches recently, you know, the Mystery Solving ones!

Here is a collection of some of the sketches I had lying around, plus all the comics in a row
and here is a little comic.
and another little sketch.

They are fun characters, I like poking around with them. Even when I'm doing other things, I keep doodling them.

Hark, a Vagrant: Idler

Mon, 09 Jul 2012 13:08:05 -0700

Extrapolating from old illustrations! These are from a once popular magazine called The Idler, full of drama and great Victorian things. I found them on Project Gutenburg, because the internet is a glorious bounty of things past, and we're awfully lucky for it. Please take the time to look at the originals! You can find them in their own context and under their own illustrator's names here and here. And, as Gutenburg themselves state: " This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net"

I've been sketching out some stories set on themes of rural identity, aging populations and family. I can show you some, I've been posting them on twitter and tumblr. I really like sketching small conversations, little bits of humanity.
one about visitng a new neighbour
and his friend
one from Mother's Day
an untimely death in the community
and one about another neighbour, the cutest and nicest lady.

Just a different tone of comic I am trying to figure out.

Hark, a Vagrant: the swing

Thu, 21 Jun 2012 17:09:29 -0700

You should pick up this month's issue of the Walrus Magazine, it's my first magazine cover! As I said in the last update, I am trying to teach myself to paint, and it's going ok I think. The Walrus will be selling prints of it, a limited edition sort of thing I think, as they do with their covers.

they are the same magazine I created this image for last year, if you see anyone carrying the totebag it was on around:

Hark, a Vagrant: Strong Female Characters 2

Sat, 09 Jun 2012 17:19:10 -0700

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The Strong Female Characters are back, and dare I say, stronger than EVER?

Although I take responsibility for this travesty, they are, as ever, the creation of Carly Monardo, Meredith Gran and myself.

I hope you're doing well these days, I've moved from New York to Toronto and am attempting to learn how to paint in an effort to become a better artist, so fingers crossed on that one. No projects to pass on yet, but a book and magazine cover or two I've done, and I'll post those when they go to press.

You can also find Carly and Meredith on twitter, @whirringblender and @granulac

Hark, a Vagrant: Dr. Sara Baker

Wed, 09 May 2012 13:10:51 -0700

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Dr. Sara Josephine Baker: look her up. Under her watch the infant mortality rate in New York city went from being one of the worst possible to one of the most enviable, and her ideas on public health and preventative care spread far and wide. She swam against the stream her entire life and she saved thousands of people, what more do you want in a hero?

As for Tyhpoid Mary, or Mary Mallon, well I guess you'd be grouchy too if you were her! Truth be told, I came upon Dr. Baker's story because I was reading about Mary's. She seemed to have been well liked by people who weren't public officials trying to drag her into quarantine. Let's be fair: that would be a real pain in the ass. But then again you can't just walk around making people sick! It gets complicated, but take a look through this book by Judith Walzer Leavitt for a sympathetic view.

I do keep that tumblr updating with things!

I added another link to the friends list, my friend Carolyn makes apps for children over at Shortstack Apps, and they are adorable and great!

Hark, a Vagrant: Birdhouse

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 14:32:26 -0700

Not the comic I said I was working on before, which I put aside (hah!) but one I sketched out tonight. About me and my dad. I love making those family comics, I love my family.

notes-

Are you checking out my tumblr? There are actually a load of comics on there, plus a Q&A about the comics business that I said I would do, and some other things. I'm still making stuff every day! Just a reminder.

Crimestoppers Club, my comedy show with Micheal Kupperman and our guests, is still happening! February 28 and March 27, at Luca Lounge in New York's East Village, 7pm! They've been super fun, why don't you drop by? You'll find details on my Tumblr closer to the dates.

My friend Amy Ash has a website for her art! Gonna add that one to the friends links at the bottom.

Speaking o' art and comics, I have some cartoons in the very beautifully named comedy zine, Pendulous Breasts Quarterly. Look for it in stores, look for it on that link, look look look.