February 20th, 2008
A Lion In Winter
Hi everyone, and thanks for reading The Abominable Charles Christopher!
You might have noticed (if you’re not a strict RSS reader) that I’ve made some changes to the site. I realized that the look of the page hadn’t changed since I launched it, and the original banner was always meant to be temporary, so I spent the weekend re-branding a bit. I think the new look suits the tone of the comic and reduces the amount of wasted space on the page.
And I’ve also decided to use this space as a blog! There’s a community forming in the comments section, which is one of my favourite things about doing this comic on the web, and I’d like to have more of a dialogue going on.
More next Wednesday!
-karl
February 20th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
“NO.”
And he probably isn’t Aslan either. I just wonder how Charles handles that word. Didn’t seem to work with the bee…
February 20th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
I love how the pacifier reappears when the fox talks to the lion.
February 20th, 2008 at 7:45 pm
He seems to be keeping his head … or at least he’s hung on to his pacifier.
February 20th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
That’s obviously a mountain lion, or Tumulosus cattus.
Not to be confused with the fox, a Catanus oris
February 20th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
I love the panel where he’s panting for breath and Bravado is still using him as a platform XD he’s so cute.
February 20th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
whoa, that came out of no where.
February 20th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
i can just imagine the rumbling bass of the lions voice.
to quote the fox, magnifique!
February 20th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
That’s one shaggy lookin’ cougar…
February 20th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
I love this comic. Your art is fantastic, and I love your humour.
February 20th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
Dun dun DUNNNNNNNNNN!
February 20th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
Good thing that lion was honest about his occupation. I’d hate to see what bravado does to the next person (animal?) who lies to him.
February 21st, 2008 at 3:18 am
I’d like to point out that on the cover for Teen Titans: Year One #5, I noticed that Wonder Girl had a Charles Christopher doll on her bed.
Warmed the cockles, it did.
February 21st, 2008 at 4:01 am
Panel 3 is fantastic.
February 21st, 2008 at 10:17 am
I’d like to see the Teen Titans cover CJ mentions…
February 21st, 2008 at 11:43 am
Er, mountain lions don’t grow manes? Although I was figuring that when Vivol made his escape from the circus, he let out all manner of other animals. Perhaps this lion is an old acquaintance?
Also, absolutely beautiful work you do here, it’s very inspiring.
February 21st, 2008 at 11:51 am
You can see the Teen Titans cover at karlkerschl.com. There’s a plush Charles on the bed and a poster on the wall. :)
February 21st, 2008 at 1:28 pm
Awesome! One of the things I’m really enjoying about this is how varied and careful the pacing is. The last installment — Vivol and the Moon Bear part 2 — was so economical. So much information in so little space — and such an impact because of that. And then here (and elsewhere), there’s this effect where time slows down a bit and every aspect of a particular moment is explored from every angle. Love it.
February 21st, 2008 at 1:52 pm
Whens the Abominable book coming out?! I want this SOOOOO bad!
February 21st, 2008 at 2:28 pm
O_O <333
February 21st, 2008 at 2:39 pm
escaped lion from the circus? No idea, but I’m loving this.
February 21st, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Yeah - when the book comes out - I’m buying.
February 21st, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Beautiful words, awesome art and a story that just continues to intrigue. I want the book too.
February 21st, 2008 at 9:24 pm
I love that people are debating the probability of where a lion came from in a comic about an abominable…possibly snowman.
February 21st, 2008 at 11:32 pm
A lion! A connection between the two big stories! Now I can’t wait to see how our henpecked bird fits in to everything.
I don’t know why I feel like I’m watching a Neil Simon story even though this is clearly nothing like one. Have you ever noticed how Simon’s character’s prattle on in a humorous way until that moment of monstrous, dramatic silence somewhere at the end of the first act? That moment when you realize that all the prattling was a way for the audience and characters to avoid what was emotionally going on? It’s like Kerschl minimizes the prattle, keeps the humor, then takes the monstrous moment and divvies it up into tiny, acceptably bite-sized silences which lack the stage-directed melodrama.
Yeah, that’s it. Yeah, that’s it - things in the story aren’t monstrous in one giant, gut-clenching moment, they’re just monstrous in an everyday, average way. Life in the story just also happens to be beautiful and funny at the same time, and generally in the same ongoing, ordinary manner.
The story is beautifully written, the art isgorgeous and the comic is well-paced. This story has made me happy, and I lookforward to each new installment.
February 23rd, 2008 at 3:17 pm
The artwork on the lion s beautiful as always. Keep up the good work!!!
February 24th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
I’m quite intrigued as to what the fox intended to do before being interrupted by the lion. The mind boggles.
February 25th, 2008 at 11:50 am
Silly fox; maybe NOW he’ll believe the lemming!
February 25th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
Writing from Brasil just to say that this is an absolutely fantastic work! Poetic and beautiful. It reminds me Pogo and My Friend Totoro, but it’s also fresh and original. Congratulations!
February 25th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
I totally agree about that one guy who said that you give animals emotion without making them “cartoony” excellent work again
Aslan vs. Charles Chrisopher!
February 26th, 2008 at 6:17 am
Hello, Karl! I’ve just read all of your current strips for this webcomic! As many other have told you already - it’s a good comic, very wellmade. I love how you made the animals be so human-like, but still in a cute kind of way. This comic feels kinda like Miyazaki without all the japanese cultural influences, but instead with a whole different cultural background.
I’d be very curious to see a full-colored strip of this comic!
February 26th, 2008 at 9:48 am
book! book! book! :)
March 6th, 2008 at 1:36 am
Lun-Sei Sleidee:
Personally, I like the colour scheme just the way it is.
Plus I’m sure that this limited palette will be cheaper to print (not that that should be the reason for an artistic decision like that, but it’s a nice benefit!)
March 22nd, 2008 at 11:30 pm
This is my favourite webcomic, and there are lots of good ones. I love everything about it: you convey animals with both majesty and humour, there’s the magical story with moonbear, the linework is exquisite, and your expressions in particular are just perfect. So far, I’m looking forward to seeing more of the super-captitalist skunks!
Keep it up!