What Are Little Boys Made Of?
A new expression for Charles Christopher? I’m as surprised as you are.
As some of you may know, I don’t plan these strips out ahead of time. I mean, I have an idea of where the story is going long-term, and I have a page of notes to help me pace out a few things, but from week to week the comic comes out however it’s going to come out based on what I’m feeling that day. And, I guess, on how Charles is feeling that day.
I like the organic nature of working this way. It’s sort of a direct connection from my brain to the page, and to plan it out in detail feels premeditated and dishonest. I might write myself into a corner, but hopefully that will just lead to more creative solutions.
So thanks for reading, everyone! To all of you who are asking for a book, it’s very much on the schedule. I just have to do enough strips to warrant a collection first, and I’m not even sure how many that is. Fifty? One hundred? I don’t know. You guys tell me. I’m new at this.
See you next week!
-karl
February 27th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
Oh noes… angry Charles Christopher! He’s so cute ^.^
February 27th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
Wow.
Damn good stuff! Love it!
February 27th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
Oh snap! Charles Bronson time.
BTW.
1) I can’t believe you find the time to get these out every week.
2) I can’t believe I have to wait an entire week for new ones.
3) I finally got my Countdown comps last week and had a happy. We need to do more covers!!!
February 27th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
Shit is mos DEF about to go down. DON”T F*%@ WITH CHARLES CHRISTOPHER!!!
Also, this stuff is gorgeous. How do you do it — ink, PS, watercolor? Please to give me your secrets.
February 27th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
Is he gonna open a can o’ whupass? I think he’s gonna!
February 27th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Hi! I´m another fan writing from Brazil.
Just wanted to say: Wonderful story, characters and art. Really touching.
I heard about this from the PVP online web site.
Now I am telling about this strip to all my friends.
I just love the wolf!
February 27th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
I’m digging this new blog!
February 27th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
Chuck C!
Fight the Power!
February 27th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
I think Charles Christopher is a pisces
February 27th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
but u know what… i don’t think mountain lion’s really look like that … (ok last comment….love the strip)
February 27th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
More great work, Karl. This strip continues to dazzle me with each new page.
As for the book, I think the key would be to get the story line sufficiently far enough along for people to buy it but make sure you leave it open ended so the public will be hanging out for the next book. Cynical, I know, but an artist like yourself shouldn’t have to struggle.
(Also, for my own selfish reasons, if you had people to help, you might be able to get Charles Christopher out more than once a week).
February 27th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
AMAZING strip, Karl. I bet Bill Waterson would like it.
February 27th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
From what I’ve gathered 52 strips is usually the minimum.
February 27th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
Karl (SIR) (MEIN HERR) (MONSIEUR) (SENOR) (DON KARLO)
Gee- I ought to give you some respect - I mean - oh well - a book is a given - but please take your own time and pacing . Let it flow in the way that works best - and I’d say that todays effort is a good example of that . Why do I get the feeling that this confrontation is a test arranged by the Moon Bear - he showed commitment in making the climb - but that was just a physical thing . Now he has to show further commitment in the face of real deadly danger . Things that the Moon Bear would want to know .
But what do I know - please - keep us guessing - and keep your own timing and feelings .
Thank you . ( : > ))
February 27th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
Thanks for doing this strip. I totally love Charles Christopher - his inability to talk to other animals, his kindness towards bunnies and other creatures, his disdain for traps, his fear, his courage. Keep it up.
February 27th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
Hells Yeah!
February 27th, 2008 at 10:55 pm
damn, is charlie gonna get busy?
double damn.
February 27th, 2008 at 11:29 pm
oh… FIGHT! i hope charles christopher uses the chair.
oh and this webcomic is on my list of webcomics to buy, which are only Gone with the Blastwave and Perry Bible Fellowship.
February 27th, 2008 at 11:39 pm
he ‘members the rabbit!
February 27th, 2008 at 11:45 pm
So organic, and so logical. We know that Charles Christopher *hates* traps. In fact it seems to be the only strong emotion that he has. The lion is arrogant and traps in all their forms are ultimately arrogant. (”I can kill you and not even be there.”)
The posture of the fox in frame 1 and his comment in frame 2 are wonderful in terms of the story-telling, but the sequence of frames 4-8 is *magnificent* in terms of the art.
“Pantsing” can be really hard. Sometimes your characters take you by surprise, and then you have to just watch and see what happens next. Looking forward to next week and many next weeks thereafter.
– O
February 28th, 2008 at 2:50 am
I don’t think I’ve commented yet.
With this strip, I can’t resist: @#$! beautiful.
February 28th, 2008 at 3:46 am
I really like this one, Karl! The connection is very logical. Even though I don’t know where this is going, it “feels right”.
Also, it’s nice that you’re beginning to write these little blog entries. It makes things more interesting. :)
February 28th, 2008 at 7:29 am
Uh-oh! This is gonna get ugly, but unpredictably so, I’m sure.
As for the book… you’ll know when. It’ll just feel right.
Thanks for the storytime.
February 28th, 2008 at 8:26 am
How clever- I like it! Go CC.
February 28th, 2008 at 10:06 am
I suspect that the lion won’t respect Charles without a reaction like this anyway (hence the antagonization), so it’s all good.
February 28th, 2008 at 11:18 am
SWEET!!!
charles continues to capture my heart . …NEXT WED. IS NOW TOO FAR AWAY!!
February 28th, 2008 at 11:56 am
Hey, first time commenting, but been following it for a few weeks now. Awesome work, I showed it to an artist friend this past week and he loved it too.
The eye for detail and simply the skill required to do such as this never ceases to amaze, keep up the good work man.
February 28th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
watch next week be about the flippin birds!
karl toys with us
February 28th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Whuh-Oh! Somethin’ baaaad’s about to happen.
February 28th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
You know, I think the Lion’s deliberately trying to goad CC into anger. Moon Bear took CC to the mountain for a reason I’m presuming, and the Lion, not being a mountain lion, can be assumed to be from the same circus Viviol apparently escaped from. I think the Lion is supposed to teach CC some courage.
First time poster by the way, and I have to say, you are a master of your craft, and I mean that sincerely. the sheer poetry of the artwork and dialogue is stunning, and the way you’ve developed CC without a single word from his own lips. His terror, his hunger, his compassion. He is truly Abominable in appearance only. The serene beauty juxtaposed with the witty, zany creatures it surrounds is brilliant.
I await each wednesday night like a child awaits Christmas morning.
February 28th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
Ohhh, you just know that when the pacifier drops something is about to go down!
February 28th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
Charles Christopher SMAAASH silly lion!!
February 29th, 2008 at 8:11 am
I work the same way on my book, Broken. Granted, your’s is much better than mine, but it’s cool we take the same approach to storytelling (at least on our 2 current projects).
When you’re ready to print the book, I’ll be in line to buy the book.
February 29th, 2008 at 9:42 am
Well, you should never ask someone else how long your art should be. That is crazy. Don’t do that. You are working the correct way when making art. When writing a great book, or writing a great comic strip, you should just let it flow out of you. People that try to sit down and make everything fit together wind up with either horrible drek, or stuff like Back to the Future, which is definitively not art.
You should just sit down each week like you are and create. And the story will take care of itself. Don’t try to force it. Your stuff is doing amazingly well so far and you aren’t forcing any story so just keep going. The story will know when to end itself. You don’t have to think about such things.
February 29th, 2008 at 10:05 am
Thanks Jackson. Good advice.
The ’story’ as I see it is designed to continue for a long, long time. Years, probably. So I guess I was mostly wondering how many strips I’d need to do before publishing the first print collection. But you’re right - I’ll just move along at whatever pace seems comfortable and trust that it will all unfold naturally.
Thanks to everyone for the support!
-karl
February 29th, 2008 at 10:21 am
A HERO IS BORN! Go, Charles Christopher, Go!
(That last panel is amazing. Also, I’m hoping Charles Christopher would get all Abominable and suddenly double his muscle mass. Rippling abs, anyone?)
Karl, you are an amazing artist and storyteller. Charles Christopher makes my day that much happier and brighter :)
February 29th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
If possible, Karl, when you finally do print your book, could you make the pages be something like the ones in “Bone” or in Marvel books? i.e. not so thin that you can see through them, and a with a slight “shiny” coating like in magazines to prevent the ink smudging. Paper quality really does make a big difference, and I’d rather pay a little more for an edition that I can be proud to own.
I say this because I just received a copy of “Sam and Max Hit the Road” from Telltale, and they erred on the side of cheapness with the paper quality…
February 29th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
The lion’s gaping mouth, the steel trap, the steel in Christopher’s eyes. Perfect.
March 2nd, 2008 at 5:02 pm
Keep it up Karl! :) brilliant work!
March 3rd, 2008 at 8:32 am
INTERSPECIES DEATHMATCH!!
Can the winner fight a bear? Although, with a snow fox helping out CC, I think the lion should have a tag-team partner too… Maybe an angry badger?
I think the lion is angry as he has snow on his back… Making his arthritus bother him a little. Grouchy old lion dood.
Next episode - “Mr Lion’s special tea party”
March 3rd, 2008 at 8:31 pm
I love Charlie C….
his innocence makes him so pure and adorable!
March 4th, 2008 at 8:42 am
Still reading … still loving your work :)
March 4th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
I think MrSurreal’s theory makes sense, re: the un-mountain-lion-y lion.
My first thought when I saw C. Christopher’s face in the last panel was “oh SNAP!”
March 4th, 2008 at 11:26 pm
I didn’t know that Charles Christopher even knew anger…
… I’m frightened
March 5th, 2008 at 6:27 am
Wow, just linked over from Anders Loves Maria, and I’m very impressed. Your style reminds me of Will Eisner. Please keep up the good work!