Strip 60

Okay, this is going up Friday evening. Just didn’t have it in me to get it up earlier.

I’ve been debating going back and deleting all of the blog entries that don’t have comic strips. While it would make it look like there was a major gap between strips, it would also allow folks to see the strips all in a row without having to go through a couple of pages of just text. Of course, part of me wants to leave it up, not just as an explanation, but also as a little bit of a reminder to me that I had a problem, but I worked through it and managed to keep going instead of giving up. You know, like a bit of a pick me up in the rough times?

The debate will continue in my mind for a while.

Alright, I’m done for now. I’ll see you on Monday!

Strip 59

Alrighty, so, I’ve figured out that I really HATE the new designs of the Transformers in the most recent animated series.

Okay, hate may be a tad too strong. I actually don’t mind Bumblebee all that much. Optimus Prime, though… sheesh, I really don’t like what they did with Prime.

It isn’t as much of a departure as the live action movie made, really, but the lack of straight lines and right angles does drive me a little nuts. Along with the goatee.

And, in case you don’t have a clue why I’m talking about this, I’ll refer you to the previous blog entry under Strip 58 – where I’ve been asked to draw these two characters.

Well, I did it. Here’s is the Optimus Prime Relay for Life Foot, and here is the Bumblebee Relay for Life Foot.

Okay, I’m whipped and heading to bed. See you on Friday!

Strip 58

Okay, well, I guess I asked for it.

A few days ago, I posted some images of a couple of Relay for Life paper feet that I had drawn on. Since then, those have been posted, along with all the other feet, where I work.

As of this morning, I now have four requests for foot drawings.

I don’t mind doing them, really, I just wasn’t quite expecting to get the requests. But, being quick on my feet, here is the deal I struck with the folks at work – I’ll draw the images, but they have to donate the $1.00 for the foot, and they have to donate an additional $2.00 to Relay for Life for the artwork.

I figured the total of $3.00 for each foot wasn’t asking too much, and it is all going to charity anyway. I’ll feel better about doing the drawings, too.

I’ll admit, though, with four requests already, I may have underpriced. I’ll know better if I get a deluge of requests over the next few days.

On a positive note, though, it is nice to see people willing to pay for my art!

The four requests so far? Optimus Prime, Bumblebee (both from the newest Transformers Animated Series), Dora the Explorer, and the fourth is to be named later. I don’t know if I’ll get a chance to post these or not, but I’ll try.

Alright, I’m tired and going to bed. See you on Wednesday!

Strip 57

Hey there, everyone!

So, something weird happened – my little comic strip here had a record setting day on Wednesday. I had more page views that day than any previous day.

And I have no clue why.

Sometime in the future, I’m going to have to actually put in some effort to figure out what causes more folks to check out my comic on a particular day. Of course, at that point, it will be to help me figure out how best to market the t-shirts, buttons, keychains, and books… so it’ll be a while!

For whatever reason, I’m happy to have people checking out the strip. I am also happy that the strip has resumed, and I’ve gone a full week (well, three strips, anyway) without any catastrophes. I thank God for that, and I also thank Him for each of you that kept encouraging me while I was unable to post a strip. I’m well over the 50 strip mark now, and I’m thrilled that when it came time to start posting again, it wasn’t an uncomfortable feeling at all, but a welcome return to the old process.

Alright, I guess that’s it for the moment. Let’s do this again next week, okay?

Strip 56

Welcome to Wednesday, folks!

Yep, things are still up and running. I’m just running a bit behind today.

So, at work, there are feet for sale, and I bought a couple. These feet are made out of paper and are for the Relay for Life, from the American Cancer Society. If you know me, you probably know that my father died from cancer, so I’m a pretty big proponent of helping fund the research to fight cancer.

If you haven’t seen the feet before, this is what they look like.

Basically, you pay your dollar, and you put your name on that line, and it gets posted somewhere. At work, they are taped across the front of the check-in desk.

So, like I said, I bought a couple. And, while putting your name on them is all well and good, I wanted to do something more. As I was thinking on that, I turned one of the feet over, and to my delight, I discovered it was blank.

Which is really kind of an invitation, isn’t it?

Taking my markers and my imagination, I made this, and then, a little while later, I made this.

I figure, at the least, maybe it will draw some attention to the fundraiser.

Alright, folks, I’m outta here. See you on Friday!

Strip 55

And… we’re back!

With no small amount of joy, I bring the return of The Crimson Scarab.

I really can’t express how happy I am at this moment. It has been a rough month, but I think I’ve passed through the wilderness.

It is odd… I actually figured out several easier ways to do things with the cleaning up process that have sped things up. I never thought that my convoluted two-computer process of prepping and posting would turn out to be faster than my previous method… but I think it will be in the long run.

With this strip, I’ve also started including the strip number on the top of the strip. Mostly just for my organizing, so don’t worry about it.

I’m tired, and I’m going to go to bed, very satisfied with this day. Thanks for checking in, everyone! See you on Wednesday!

Did I Say Friday? I MEANT Monday. The Crimson Scarab Returns on Monday…

Okay, folks, just being straight with you here – I blew it. I was expecting to have plenty of time over the last two days to get the strip loaded into the computer, cleaned up, colored, and posted.

And, then life happened.

Be it the fact that I had an unexpected meeting at work, or the cold snap (-8 degrees this morning, with winds of 25 mph) that has kept me jumping at home, or maybe the fact that I forgot to pick up… well, ANYTHING to back up my strips thus far, or perhaps that I’m out of practice…

All excuses. All bad excuses. I blew it. I meant to have everything up and running, should have factored in some extra time, and I didn’t. I beg your forgiveness in my stupidity in this matter, and pray your grace in this last delay.

The Crimson Scarab will be back on Monday. Even if everything goes completely wrong and I’m stuck drawing stick figures in MSPaint and describing what is going on in each panel in paragraph form, a strip will be up on Monday.

I know. I stink. Sorry. I’ll do better. Not “try to do better.” Do or do not, as Master Yoda says, there is no try.

See you all on Monday, to start the new week with a brand spankin’ new strip!

Gotta Love a Cliffhanger: Will The Crimson Scarab Return On Friday?

As my Magic 8 Ball says, “All signs point to yes.”

I spent the time, checking everything with my laptop (her name is Rommie, by the way), and everything looks like a go for this re-launch (of sorts).

I’m still hesitant, what with everything being all new and untested, but it sure looks like the strip will start up again on Friday. Keep that in your prayers, if you will. I know, it seems like a silly thing to take to the Lord, but… still. It would mean a lot to me.

I guess that is about all for the moment. Oh, yeah – since it has been over a month since a Crimson Scarab strip has been seen, I thought it would be good to include a link to the previous strip. It can be found here.

Alright, I’ll see you all on Friday for the triumphant return of The Crimson Scarab!

The Crimson Scarab is Scheduled to Return on Friday!!!

That’s right… the long national nightmare is over.

Well, almost.

I have my new computer, so production on The Crimson Scarab is set to start up again. I still have to load some stuff into the new laptop, but right now, it looks like I’m a go for Friday.

I should have loaded everything in over the weekend, but I didn’t. I blame laziness. Wait… can you blame laziness, or just claim it? Either way.

I was a little shocked when I recieved my laptop. I bought it online from an outlet, and while it clearly said, “The item you recieve may differ in appearance from the item you recieve,” I can’t say that I was quite prepared when I openned up the box and saw my brand new SUNSHINE YELLOW laptop.

Yep. That was a bit of a surprise.

I’m not complaining, though. It seems to work, and that’s all I need. Although, if it had come in pink, I’m pretty sure I would have grabbed the nearest marker or paint I could find and fix that, real quick-like.

So, the light at the end of the tunnel is clearly visible. Wednesday, I’ll give another quick update after loading in my art stuff and let you know if the light has turned into an oncoming train! Just kidding… I hope. I’m sure everything will be just fine, now.

Right?

See you all Wednesday!

The Crimson Scarab Will Return Next Week!

And, there was rejoicing in the land.

Yes, faithful fans, the Crimson Scarab strip will be returning next week, either on Wednesday or Friday, depending on how set up goes with the new computer.

My tracking information tells me that my computer is safely nestled in the arms of the loving UPS guy at the warehouse in my city right now, and will be delivered sometime later today!

Woo hoo!

Barring any major problems, I will have everything up, installed, and running over the weekend, and we’ll see some new strips next week!

Thanks for the patience you’ve all shown, and thank you for not completely abandoning this site with the extended lack of product.

As I’ve mentioned over the last few entries, there will be some special things coming down the pike for this strip, and I’m still taking commissions, in case you are interested! (Details in the January 7th posting right below this one!)

I think that is a good note to leave on for the weekend. I’ll see you all Monday!