The Blockhams in "GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER", now UPDATED
GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER
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Recently ProfitGoBlue playfully suggested that I was running out of ideas for strips. Actually, it's quite the opposite. When an idea for a multi-strip story arc like this comes around, the hardest part has been weeding out the material into a handful of self-contained scripts.
In short, there's plenty of additional ideas that could have been fleshed out, for say, the 'LADIES MAN' arc... Glenn telling Tom about the Sparty dress-up, Bump in the bathroom doing his hair and putting on his Drakkar, Bump actually on the date, stuff like that. That'd be fine for a daily strip, but for a twice weekly release like The Blockhams, that'd drag the story into several weeks, perhaps even a month. So by the time it was all over, no one would care, even the ones like Seth who hate me for hating Bump. That was a joke, btw.
All content aside, I'm curious to hear what you, the readers prefer-- self-contained, single stories or these multi-strip plots. The singles are easier for me to create, and certainly keep me from neglecting other members of the cast... but creatively speaking, the arcs have their own rewards as well.
Take for example, today's strip... I think it's safe to say that no one saw this coming, not even myself.
On Thursday we'll conclude the LADIES MAN story arc with an... epilogue of sorts.
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3 Doors Down...classic. I also love Dantonio's scowl and the orange jumpsuit that Donna is wearing.
I'll admit I always like reading your strip, but this is the first one that made me give an audiable chuckle I really like this one, curious where it goes.
Nice. Is that Mateen Cleaves and Kork Coupons? And is Tom wearing a McDonald's shirt under the jersey? Also, I almost completely missed the couch on the front lawn. The real question is: What does Glenn's shirt say??
The best selling shirt in East Lansing history.
below the numbers.
I love the Easter Eggs.
At least they didn't paint the house.
Is he hiding his hair color now?
Charlie isn't scared for life.
Classic. I like mixing in these multi-strip plots. Fun to see a story play out. Also, it's possible profitgoblue is running out of things to complain about. Constructive criticism is great but some people need to realize how cool it is to have our own artist doing a Michigan strip and featuring it on this site. Keep them coming.
I can't see the Blockhams, especially Glenn, going that far.... even in support of Bump.
Perhaps you should wait to see what happens.
How was that supposed to alter my opinion that diehard Michigan fans wouldn't be caught dead in Kelly Green and White?
I'm almost ashamed to say it but I did it once. Back in 1987 when Staee made the Rose Bowl and I was living in Okemos. My brother's wife went to Staee and for their Rose Bowl party I showed up dressed in bright green pants, white shoes and a white shirt wearing a MSU hat. For one day...check that...for one GAME....I was Joe-Sparty for my sister in law's benefit.
I still feel kinda dirty.
I understand the emotional scars you must have suffered. However, you should never tell that story. Ever.
For MICH fans, these peeps sure have a lot of MSU crap.
I'd say it really depends on how much time you have. If you have the time, you could always throw in an extra strip during the extended storylines. Frankly, I'm kinda sad we didn't get to see the "Glenn telling Tom about the Sparty dress-up" parts. It's the lead-ins that build the humor. And get you to the future punchlines. There's a reason a comedian's set doesn't just throw out his random best jokes. The story builds to it with smaller jokes. And I don't think a month of storyline is that bad a thing...particularly in the off-season where there's nothing immediate to reference to. Some South Park comment on the hot news, some are just...random. But really, I don't feel comfortable saying "write more strips, funny boy" when it's not my time or effort not only coming up with the ideas, but then producing the artwork. So whatever you think you can do. But I am thinking maybe extended storyline that you plan and then put out in the Spring and Summer, and in season "pulse" strips in the Fall and Winter sounds like a good way to go to me.
It took me five minutes to read this episode. Not because I'm an MSU grad, but because of the burning couches in the first panel. Couldn't stop laughing. The scowling Dantonio on the third panel was worth another long laugh. Hail!
The girlfriend arrived to a nice couch fire in the front yard, which instantly made her feel at home and comfortable. Nice touch, Blockhams. Well-played.
I barely got past the first panel with the burning couch on the front porch. By the time I got to "this is Pam my trashy wife" I was afraid that I would never stop laughing.
When this arc is done the whole thing needs to be published in its entirety so it can make it proper rounds around the interwebs.
Well done, for sure.
And to answer your question, I'd echo what M-Wolverine said. I prefer the drawn-out storylines, and really don't care if one goes on for a month or more. But it is your time and it's not like I'd stop reading if you only ever did short one-offs.
...but Dantonio is smiling too much to be taken seriously. Could you try to be a little more realistic next time?
/s
I say mix in both - single panel stories and multiple panel stories. Both have their place. This one is great.
So many fun and hilarious details... I love it!
We didn't get to see the tramp stamp in the first half. Bravo.
Poor Charlie...
Oh man.. what an ending... too funny - on many levels.
Am I a bad person for really liking the trashy Pam?
and so am I
And I feel like a fool for calling a cartoon hot, but there it is.
on Desmonds stomach?
You must have the good fortune of not having visited the former free-for-all message board at the Freep. The tattoo is one of the mantras of the Spartan/Buckeye ilk on interweb boards. Childish--yet in their minds, witty--name calling.
Trashy Pam looks good in those booty pants despite the recent baby. She must have good genes.
All content aside, I'm curious to hear what you, the readers prefer-- self-contained, single stories or these multi-strip plots.
A mix of both.
what i want to know is how Desmond got corn rows so fast. that takes HOURS to do...
Just a few extra lines of pen and ink. Hur hurr
I always love strips that do the occasional multi-strip story lines.
Now for some cleansing, I suggest ordering your mother some flowers:
Great epilogue! Glenn is such a softy...
I really think Sparty came out on top in this little exchange. I mean, it was soul-devastating for both parties - Bump gets ditched by a girl who is out of his league, but he swindles his whole family into green & white apparel for a dastardly photo opp. Both sides are suffering here, but that's how Sparty plays the game. They don't care about their own success (& I'm sure Bump is used to getting shunned by the ladies), as long as they can chip away at Michigan. This is a classic example. Masterfully-written.
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