The BLOCKHAMS™ Are Coming!
THE BLOCKHAMS ARE COMING.
THE BLOCKHAMS™ is an online comic strip devoted to the life and culture of Michigan fans, as told in the adventures of one multi-generational family and their loyalty to the maize and blue.
Created by soon-to-be outed MGoBlog user "Six Zero," THE BLOCKHAMS™ is to be an ongoing series, with two editions published per week. Every Tuesday it will run on the pages of www.mgoblog.com, the web's premiere Michigan athletics blog and information portal; and every Thursday will see a new strip on the site's own domain, www.theblockhams.com. For the sake of archiving and full catalog reading, each Tuesday strip will also be posted on the official site as well.
Despite previously teasing a January 1st start date, series creator Six Zero has opted to hold the series launch until January 3rd, the date of the team's actual bowl game and pending destruction of the Virginia Tech Hokies. As such, www.theblockhams.com will not be activated until its official launch date.
Although the surname 'Blockham' is obviously a not-so-subtle reference to the familiar 'Block M' brand that represents Ann Arbor's exceptional institution, the series is not affiliated in any way with the University of Michigan and/or its athletic department. The series' creator invites anyone to pronounce the name "Blockham" however they would like, but he phonetically says it as "BLOCK-ums."
At its best, THE BLOCKHAMS™ will be a fun distraction to anyone who loves comics, but it should certainly be understood that the series is a strip about Michigan sports for Michigan fans created by a Michigan fan. There will be inside jokes, obscure trivia and references, and even the occasional criticism. And it will show little mercy to Sparty and Ohio.
For more information on the upcoming release of THE BLOCKHAMS™, please keep a close eye on www.mgoblog.com posts by Six Zero. Business partners interested in advertising opportunities should express an interest on related posts, and further arrangements will be made for direct contact.
THE BLOCKHAMS™ arrive on Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012.
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and Go Blue!
December 20th, 2011 at 9:51 AM ^
I already gave you a million points so I'll just reward your efforts as follows:
December 20th, 2011 at 10:01 AM ^
Mgoblog user R Kelly also like referring to himself in the third person.
/Kidding, I'm excited for the premier!
December 20th, 2011 at 10:05 AM ^
My agency's marketing department knocked this out after several phone interviews this week.
No, not really... It was weird for me, too, to write it this way-- but I wanted to present this as an official press release of sorts, so I went for the third person perspective.
December 20th, 2011 at 12:53 PM ^
Do you actually have a registered trademark for the name?
December 20th, 2011 at 1:22 PM ^
to steel this if it's not?
Step 1.) steel Six Zero Trademark
Step 2.) ???
Step 3.) Profit
We're onto you Moleskyn, yes we are.
December 20th, 2011 at 3:48 PM ^
but likely "not yet."
Only an ® is a registered trademark. He has a ™, which can mean he is trying to protect it through common and exclusive usage or has filed to register it.
Six Zero: there's a misuse of "premiere" in the release. Mgoblog is the "premier" blog for Michigan sports, meaning the best or greatest, not the first (premiere).
December 20th, 2011 at 10:02 AM ^
I am very excited about this addition to the MGoUniverse, and I think it is appropriate to launch it on the same day as the bowl game actually - the more Michigan that day, the better, I think.
December 20th, 2011 at 10:13 AM ^
Did I miss wife day 2011?
December 20th, 2011 at 10:36 AM ^
Tremendous.
December 20th, 2011 at 10:41 AM ^
...Six Zero provided me with the opportunity to preview the site and the first several strips. I'm happy to report that you should believe the hype. In a word, Tremendous.
December 20th, 2011 at 10:45 AM ^
Braggar.
But seriously, thanks for adding to the hype. This is gonna be great!
December 20th, 2011 at 10:51 AM ^
I like the added touch of the Block M on the cruiser there. Looks good!
December 20th, 2011 at 11:09 AM ^
...tradition, double the excellence.
December 20th, 2011 at 11:13 AM ^
I thought that was Brandon's answer to the yacht.
December 21st, 2011 at 12:04 AM ^
Yep, looks good. Ticonderoga class isn't it, which one you got there?
December 22nd, 2011 at 8:56 AM ^
...USS Normandy (CG-60).
December 20th, 2011 at 1:15 PM ^
I'd like to see the Department of the Navy mandate the inclusion of the Block M as standard markings on all naval vessels. Shoe needs to make this happen.
Imagine a Block M on the flight deck of every aircraft carrier in the US Navy? Goosebumps.
December 21st, 2011 at 12:11 AM ^
Actually, we did have one on the USS Midway. Everyone else thought it stood for "Midway", except for a couple of us that designed it,... seems it had a distinctive maize Block M shape. What they don’t know doesn’t hurt, right?
December 20th, 2011 at 11:41 AM ^
THE RETURN OF THE KING
December 20th, 2011 at 10:51 AM ^
I am so excited... it is hard for me to put this excitement into words. January 3, 2012 will go down as the greatest day in all of history.
December 20th, 2011 at 10:59 AM ^
Scrumtrulescent. You're welcome.
December 20th, 2011 at 10:56 AM ^
Charlie Blockham looks like what Calvin (of Hobbes fame) would look like as a teenager. I find this to be a little bit tremendous.
December 20th, 2011 at 4:32 PM ^
December 20th, 2011 at 6:04 PM ^
"I'm just a tiny horse that likes to hang out with naked dudes."
That's pretty much what it says.
December 20th, 2011 at 5:38 PM ^
"After years of secret training in the football arts with a tiger-sensei, is Calvin ready for varsity high school ball?"
December 20th, 2011 at 11:01 AM ^
You said biweekly, which means once every two weeks. I believe you mean semi-weekly, seeing as you are publishing two per week.
December 20th, 2011 at 11:12 AM ^
Nice catch. Thank you.
And don't apologize for the nitpicking-- it's what makes this place great. Do not settle for mediocrity when excellence is within reach. Leaders and Best and all that.
December 20th, 2011 at 11:59 AM ^
Are you the illustrator too? And the sole author?
I'm sure this will be a win. Can't wait to see the first drawing of Hoke pointing at something.
December 20th, 2011 at 12:19 PM ^
Is the family a 5-star??? If so I'm down.
December 20th, 2011 at 12:50 PM ^
they are preferred walk-ons!
December 20th, 2011 at 12:58 PM ^
Maybe it's just me, but I think the Blockhams should have dreads.
December 20th, 2011 at 1:02 PM ^
can't wait!!
December 20th, 2011 at 1:11 PM ^
Since I only read comic strips that comic strip for Michigan.
December 20th, 2011 at 1:22 PM ^
1. Like the art style - good clean line but still cartoony which is meant as a compliment. Tangential but relevant to cartooning: The earlier post comparing with Bill Watterson is an awesome compliment. If you come close to that level of humor, insight and art, it will be terrific. And yes, he was from that state down south and the best collection of cartoon art is down at that institution. Worth a look if you want to see actual Calvin and Hobbes original panels and also the work of greats such a Milton Caniff (Terry and the Pirates), Hal Foster(Prince Valiant), Chester Gould (Dick Tracy) among many others.
2. Great topic and perfect for the web. Since the downfall of the traditional papers, many cartoonists are struggling to find a place. A strip like Nancy under Ernie Bushmiller used to be circulated nationally over hundreds of large papers. Today, most papers don't run anything or a really strip down version of a comic page.
December 20th, 2011 at 1:41 PM ^
December 20th, 2011 at 2:03 PM ^
YES!
Can't wait!!!
December 20th, 2011 at 5:01 PM ^
Let this serve as your official warning, Six Zero: I have very high hopes for this.
December 20th, 2011 at 6:10 PM ^
CANNOT. WAIT.
December 20th, 2011 at 6:23 PM ^
I already can't wait til the 3rd and now you gotta go an pull this!
December 20th, 2011 at 10:02 PM ^
Twice per week? Don't I violate my firm's acceptable use policy enough as it is? Oh well, haven't fire me yet.
Six Zero, I really can't wait for this. Based on your prior work, in particular Wife Day, I have high hopes for you with this. Like I said, I can't wait.
December 21st, 2011 at 12:47 AM ^
Clicking on the blockhams.com link in the OP sends me to Google Blogger, which requires me to sign in with my google account. After signing in it says "Permission Denied" due to not having an invitation. Does accessing that site require an invitation or will it not open until Thursday?
December 21st, 2011 at 3:03 AM ^
My apologies, I should have read morning carefully.
December 21st, 2011 at 3:04 AM ^
...and apparently I should type on my Droid more carefully.
December 21st, 2011 at 4:46 PM ^
I don't always read comic strips. But when I do, I prefer Michigan-related comic strips.
Stay blue, my friends.
December 21st, 2011 at 8:10 PM ^
This is epic. Can't wait to see how it turns out.
Tip: create an email delivery component . I know it's passe with RSS readers and such, but I would love to have a comic strip be delivered to my email on a regular basis.
December 22nd, 2011 at 8:59 AM ^
...Six Zero has established a Twitter account for the strip: @TheBlockhams
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