Destruction of Egg, Construction of New Reality - Generation 4: Panel 6

This generation was supposed to be longer but I will be cutting in short. For one I have been extremely busy with some great new work which will be released into the world shortly. They are both related to the comic world in some way and I think people will really like the end result of the work of the incredible teams I have had the honor to work alongside.

The second reason for cutting the generation short is because I have written and roughed out panels for a new generation. It will be a shift in gears that really has me inspired. The next generation will be taking the comic series in a new direction and is really expanding on the concept of the comic. It will be different in all the right ways and the same in all the right ways (I hope).

Anyways, it has been awhile since I've posted but hopefully people will come back and check out the new work once I start posting regularly again. Hopefully those who are still checking the site enjoyed this past generation.

Stars are Not Miracles - Generation 4: Panel 6

A long, long time ago in a galaxy far away Galileo was infamously sent into house arrest. His condemnation was a result of his findings in regards to the universe and the position of the spinning rock called earth in said universe. If people began to understand the earth wasn't the center of the universe, human existence didn’t seem so sacred. It then would be revealed that the clerics were wrong. We wouldn’t be seen as the special project of a designer who decided to build the universe specifically for the human race. So it should be remembered that although religion tries to fane progression, before they excepted these now widely known facts they adamantly tried to do away with the truth.

Every new discovery reveals that earth is not unique, that it is a product of chaos on the razor's edge if existence. We are learning that there may be other world's with similar formulas for life but with different results. We better understand that we are a spec amongst the dust hurling through the darkness we know as space. These are facts that some find depressing and undermining to the importance of human existence. However, one should not fret.

When you put it in perspective, the universe is bigger than us. Our existence and its importance aren’t supposed to stack up to the wonders of black holes or solar storms. Making babies, buildings and brewing beer doesn't stack up to the creation of planets, stars and rips in time itself.

This is something to appreciate. It doesn't make human life meaningless. We don’t have to make up egotistical ideas of gods to feel important. The meaning of human life should be looked at through a different frame. We are not special for existing. We are special for what we do with in our arena of life. Our lives are meaningful because we have an endless ocean of knowledge to explore and interpret. This becomes meaningful when we open up to each other and create relationships through the sharing of this information. Through this process we evolve and shed our egos and the ever self destructive god complex.

As far as we know, this is existent and there is nothing more once the electricity stop flowing through your body. There is nothing wrong with that. The chaos and unpredictability of this universe is greater than any representation of a rewarding afterlife that religions have offered.

"Crossing the Line"

"Do As I Say Not As I Do"

"Vatican is Thankful"

"Out of the Cave" - Generation 4: Panel 5

"Cardboard Christ" - Generation 4: Panel 4

"Follow the Sun to the Horizon" - Genration 4: Panel 3

"The Sky is Falling" - Generation 4: Panel 2

Better late than never. The 4th generation continues. Check in for some more updates through out the week.

"The Glass is an Illusion" - Generation 4: Panel 1

I'm back with more panels, my schedule has been extremely busy so the hiatus lasted a bit longer than I would have liked. So I will continue The Front Row with the fourth generation. The generation is completely written, edited and polished and ready to be illustrated so expect regular updates again. Following this generation I will open up the subject matter of comic strip again and see where it leads. So as usual with every panel, I have a some writing that goes along with the illusion of space and time created via ink and Bristol board. Here is the first of 10 panels for this generation. Enjoy or not, either way the sun will still explode.

The Glass is a Glass and the Water is Water.

Whether or not the glass is half full or half empty doesn't matter. The body needs a lot of water during the course of the day, so it makes sense to not spend too much time contemplating one glass. Your going to need about six or seven more of them before the day is over. What is important is finding out where the water is coming from and how you can assure you have a consistent supply of it. As long as you have that information you'll be at peace with the current states of your water holding glass container no matter your particular perspective on it's existence.

The reality is your perspective is relative to the size of the container. A glass that is half full or empty can be poured into a much smaller container. Now that new glass is full or maybe worse! overflowing. Pour that same glass into a larger container and it's mostly empty. Perspective is often relative, people's beliefs are often relative to their culture. Their culture is relative to their surroundings. Adaptability and acceptance of new surroundings allows the mind to expand much more easily and effectively. It leads to confidence in ones thought process and preparedness for new realizations. Following one particular perspective is not necessarily wrong, but ignoring others and trying to define existence by it is ignorance. No one perspective holds dominion over knowledge and understanding.

Never mind the glass and mind the world around it.

(As usual here is some media that I felt goes along with the theme of the panel)

Where we're going, we won't need roads...

Here is another one shot panel I did for a couple different exhibitions. The subject matter revolves around my recent trip to Shanghai and the studies involved with that trip. It is a commentary on the economic, social and political environment found in the complex city of Shanghai.

This will be the last of the extras and one shot panels before I begin the new generation of The Front Row. I began finishing up the writing for the next batch and new panels will start getting posted in May.

thanks for pointing your eye balls at my illustrations.

Gimme Some More!

This is the second panel of what may very well be a new strip I will be working on this summer alongside The Front Row. I also have a few other related panels that are collecting dust that I will post up in the next month or so.

Just to keep the theme going here is a video of a human saying things that will entertain and provoke thought. Enjoy.

Garbage In, Garbage Out

peace

Something on the side...

I'm not back yet. I have a lot of projects I'm working on so I won't have new Front Row panels up until late April. However, I will be back with a vengeance when that times comes. Surprisingly May will mark the one year anniversary for the comic. I'm upping the ante and hopefully expanding The Front Row even further this summer. Thank you to everybody who has been checking it out and either posting comments or contacting me directly.

For now, I'm posting some panels I worked on recently that don't belong to The Front Row series, but are on the same wavelength. They are more politically driven. It was this time last year I came up with The Front Row and I've been tossing around a pretty cool concept that could grow out of these panels. I may spawn a new strip to run parallel to The Front Row.

peace

The very beginning....

This panel was created for The Paula Pfeffer and Cheryl Johnson-Odim Political Cartoon Contest in March of 2009. As you can see it was topical to the economic issue of the moment. While people were choosing which side to panic on, my intent was to step off the political scale and provide what I felt was the reality of the situation and our economy in general.

The reason I posted this is because it is essentially the beginning of the Front Row. It was this panel that began the evolutionary process. I thought it would be interesting to show how the comic evolved from being very current event oriented with no central characters, to being more abstract and character driven. Ultimately I'm glad I did so. It allows my writing and artwork an opportunity to achieve a more timeless quality. It frees it from being tied to a specific moment in time and instead explores ideas that carry on from generation to generation. Whether it achieves that timeless quality is ultimately up to the viewer. As long as I can give the panels a chance I'm satisfied.

This was the first stage. The comic strip actually went through one other phase before it became what it is today. I will post some of those panels soon.

"The Sword is Mightier than the Pen?" - Generation 3: Panel 10

That does it for the 3rd generation. Stay tuned....or don't. Either way works for me.

peace

"The Choice is Yours" - Generation 3: Panel 9

"Solutions are the Differences" - Generation 3: Panel 8

First panels of the new year. After this batch there will be a bit of a hiatus. I will be working on a larger project that will involve the characters. As I complete each step I will post up the progress before revealing the piece in its completion.

Meanwhile, I have a lot of work to do so I will be taking a break from the writing for now.

Check it out.

The comic is now registered at onlinecomics.net, check them out here:

Onlinecomics.net

peace

"I Blow Up, Therefore I Am" - Generation 3 : Panel 7

"Religion is an insult to human dignity. With or without it, you'd have good people doing good things and evil people doing bad things, but for good people to do bad things, it takes religion." - Steven Weinberg

"The Known Unknowns and That We Know" - Generation 3: Panel 6

As small children in a Catholic grade school, we would occasionally be marched into the school's church for a quick session in the "house of god". Back then I was always glad on these occasions because that meant I could escape the rigorous classroom activity of cutting shit and then gluing it to other shit. Looking back, I can't help but find the humor in religion literally pulling kids out of the classroom and disrupting the educational process.

When we filed into the enormous church, I would plop into the uncomfortable wooden pews and examine the details of the room as the priest rambled on about what he always rambled on about. The church was decorated with extravagant stain glass windows, paintings of saints and golden statues of the J man himself (gold statues? yeah, go figure). Not to mention the gold trim in various areas and a gold lined case where the priest stashed his cup that he used to pretend he was drinking blood. Unfortunately, the school facilities weren't quite as invested in.

Usually the priest would wrap it up and we would then have to take turns in the confessional booth. This wasted about another 15 to 30 minutes. It was especially ridiculous considering the circumstances. I remember during on one occasion, I went to my teacher and asked what I was supposed to tell the priest in the booth. I was told to confess my sins, only thing was, I couldn't think of any! I had just gone through the whole shitty ordeal a week earlier. Did they expect a group of 4th grades were spending their weekends going on benders and murdering prostitutes?

Regardless, there was no way out so I came up with a solution. I lied about sinning so I would have something to say. After a few moments of"uhhhh", I just made up random things about stealing cookies or peeing on toilet seats. Anything to get the hell out of there (see what I did there?). Looking back my biggest regret was that I didn't have more fun with the lies. I can't help but think it would have been great to be a 4th grader telling a priest "it's been a week since my last confession and I Ted Kennedy'd a women over the weekend".

....too soon? No. Not soon enough.

"No Special Treatment" - Generation 3: Panel 5

Christopher Hitchens - Freedom of Speech 1 of 3

"All Gods Go To Heaven" - Generation 3: Panel 4

"We are all atheist about most gods humanity has ever believed in. Some of us just go one god further" - Richard Dawkins

If you were to ask the average person if they believed in Zeus or Ra the Sun god, they would quite easily admit that, no, they do not. As a matter of fact, a lot of people would consider the notion ridiculous. If you were to go around during thunderstorms warning people to fear the wrath of the almighty Zeus, many would dismiss you as a raving crazy person (That would be a good show; Gods, Where are They Now).

The question is, what makes these gods who now rest, abandoned in history books, any different from modern day conceptions of gods? Why is it understood that these gods were nothing more than myths? Yet people continue to adamantly state their replacements existence as fact as if they were any different.

Gods of yesteryear and gods of today, practices of old or practices of new, its all the same. Whether you sacrifice a goat or pray, it is the same idea being practiced. You are claiming to communicate with a supernatural power in a way that will ultimately benefit you in the long run. Just now a days, sacrifices aren't exactly socially acceptable. Imagine telling people you really hoped for the a promotion at the job, so you cut open a goat to call it in to god. This might make things a bit more awkward around the work place. No one likes the smell of dead goat in the break room. Especially when it's used for personal calls.

Let's say someone says they spoke to god, or that god has spoken to them. Oh yeah? what language does he speak? The same one you speak, you don't say? What did god tell you? That things are going to ultimately work out in you and your family's favor, no shit? When did he talk to you? Wow, he even waited till you were done watching your favorite TV show, class act. What's that? YOU'RE the only one who heard it when god spoke to you? It was as if the voice was in YOUR head? Miraculous.

I'm sold, thank god for the job promotion, good fortune and the delay of short term injury. Good to see the heavens still check in to straighten out the temporary and petty issues of existence on earth. Next time you talk, see if god can find some time see what he can do with the whole AIDS thing, thanks.

George Carlin - I Swear to God

"The Lucky Number of the Unlucky" -Generation 3: Panel 3

Recently, scholars discovered that the promises of 72 virgins may be a mistranslation. The actual Aramaic translation may be a promise of 72 raisins (or whit grapes). That raises some questions.

Why raisins? Why 72? Do you have to pick them or is someone there with arms full of those red boxes of raisins?

If it's raisins, isn't that kind of a low number? You can down those in one day.

Let's say it is virgins, but how can we assure nothing else is lost in translation?

What if you just get one, 72 year old virgin?

What if it's 72 versions? As in 72 versions of a 72 year old virgin to choose from.

Are these people willing participants or is it some kind of divine slavery? Are they just waiting around for the day you die? What are they doing in the meantime?

When you get there, do they wait in a line or are they just all hanging around? Do you get them all at once or can you have it distributed over time like the lotto?

Are they just physical rewards? If so, why are they tempting you to follow their religion and carry out their deeds with the same desires they tell you to suppress on earth?

Will there be punch and pie?

Maybe, just maybe, it's just something somebody made up?

peace

"If I Knew You Were Coming, I Would Have Baked an Infadel" - Generation 3: Panel 2

Armageddon is an awesome concept. It is the idea that this world will come to a horrific end with a incredible and hellish battle. During this battle the chosen people will be saved while leaving the non-believers behind. Coincidentally, everyone who believes in this idea, considers themselves to be of the chosen people. Usually, listening to them and agreeing with them will assure you your Armageddon sky-box seat as well. Convenient how that works out.

So naturally a lot of them can't wait. Some of then are even looking forward to it. So every decade a new "end of the world" date is set. This date is usually followed by a bunch of convoluted "prophecies" built out of misquotes, the twisting of facts and an eerie soundtrack. Rather than solve potential problems, they pray for everything to blow up before they have to deal with it. Basically, they don't care what happens on earth because they think they've got paradise waiting for them when the lights go out.

I had a woman tell me she was hesitant to vote for Obama because she heard the prediction that the world would end in 2012. She explained that this was the exact time his term would end and that he might be the anti-christ. Besides wishing I could launch her into the sun, I couldn't help but realize just how effective religious fear mongering is in seeping into people's imaginations and effectively poisoning their thought process.

Maybe there will be some catastrophe, maybe "being left behind" means you were lucky enough to survive a natural disaster and smart enough to go on with your life. Doesn't sound that bad.

Here is the mysterious truth behind 2012.
Neil deGrasse Tyson - Doomsday in 2012

Here is why maybe "armegaddon" may not be such a bad thing.
Bill Bur - Population Control (30,000 People)

peace

"Let's Get Spiritual" - Generation 3: Panel 1

I was confronted with the substitute term of "spiritual" during a discussion with a friend of mine. She proclaimed that she wasn't a religious person, but was however, very spiritual. Out of genuine curiosity I couldn't help but inquire what exactly that description detailed. The explanation only reinforced the vagueness of the initial self labeling. As she explained, she essentially held a belief in everything learned from religion under the guise of being spiritual. This spirituality was basically a pseudo religion spawned from the mutated ideas of old religion.

Now I don't consider myself a spiritual person, unless of course you define spirituality based on the whether or not you have spirit. If that's the case, what kind of spirit are we talking about. There are over ten definitions. One of them describe spirit as "enthusiastic loyalty". If that's the case, between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Batman series, I'm spiritual like nobodies business.

Another description describes it as a supernatural essence. If the proclamation of spirituality is based on this idea of a possession of a spirit and that everyone has one, claiming your spirituality seems like an unnecessary description. It would be just as valid to say, "I'm gassy, because I'm in tune with my colon and I believe everyone has a colon".

I think I may be on to something here. A new religion built on the power of the colon. I mean, we already have an altar with our toilets. No matter your convictions, you have no choice but to spend time at this altar (some of us more than others). We have a whole room dedicated to that altar, in every building. In some cases we even build temporary altars outdoors, just in case your not home in time to do some "praying". This altar even comes with its own holy water, used to wash away what is unclean. We already hold it to the highest of standards, disgusted by the slightest defamation of this holy porcelain bowl.

The colon regularly punishes us for our mistakes and failure to resist the great tempter (Taco Bell, the fallen angel). Depending on your last meal, the colon can create plague like conditions, which can bring any nonbeliever to their knees. It's also a necessity to bring offerings to our colon in the form of the finest food and drink we can afford.

As far as miracles are concerned, well, I don't think I need to get into the incredible transformations performed by the colon. Nor do I need to mention the importance of it in regards to our staying alive.

....anyway, back to what I was saying. That Stephen I. Zetterberg was one hell of a campaigner.

peace

"Holy Bribery" - Generation 3: Panel 0

This was the 3rd panel I illustrated for the comic strip. I figured it would be more fitting if I used it for this generation.

I decided to roll up my sleeves for this generation. I mean, a whole sequence of panels that question the god theory and no death threats? Clearly, I haven't reached enough people. Either way, I sat down to put each major religion (and some minor ones) under the microscope. This theme was more fun to write because there is so much to pick at. You have everyone sitting at the same table playing with a bad deck. They all have the exact same hand and are using the exact same bluff. Coincidentally, they all have terrible poker faces and obvious tells (kind of like John Malkovich in that movie Rounders, eating an Oreo every time you're bluffing is probably not a good idea for an underground poker player).

I will keep it short for this entry. I will be getting into the same format of breif stories and insight for the following panels. However, as always, I do have a link to offer.

George Carlin - The Greatest Bullshit Story Ever Told

"The Difference" - Generation 2: Panel 9

Many of the differences and conflict between people can be connected to assumption. Prejudice is passed down or exchanged amongst a particular communities narrow experience. When engaging in interactions with each other, a lot of people do so while stuck on "hand me down" assumptions related to gender, race or religion (whether conscious or subconscious). This leads to conflict based on unfounded lack of trust, misunderstanding or unwarranted uncertainty. If people took the time to actually listen and learn about each other, things would go a bit smoother (with the exception for Swedes, they're just dirt bags through and through). There may be reoccurring issues that one person experiences that another never encounters. So it would be best to approach people as individuals and not forget that your previous experience is only that of an individual. Devoting your outlook to generalizations and denying yourself the experience of discovery is only selling yourself, others and human progression short. The world is getting smaller so it would probably be a good idea to start working together more diligently to figure out how to clean up all the piles of shit we made (Obviously excluding the rune stone carving Swedes)

Recently it seems like the most unchecked bias held, is towards gender. People cling to all types of sweeping generalizations. If someone is an asshole it has nothing to do with their gender or race (unless they're the miserable lingonberry eating Swedes).

This is the last "official" panel for this generation. I have a couple extra ones to post up next week related to this generation. The 3rd generation covers religion and features the return of the egg. As always feedback is welcome.

peace

"Equal Pay Out" - Generation 2: Panel 8

"Calling It Early" - Generation 2 : Panel 7

My energy for writing has been allocated to another project at the moment. So I'm taking a day off with this panel and letting it speak for itself.

peace

"Tragedy is Relative" - Generation 2: Panel 6

This is only the second generation, but I wanted to shift gears and see if I could make the character, design and tone fit when venturing outside the boy's relationship with the egg. I figured if I could make panels with just the boy work (and eventually just the egg), it would make the panels with both of them that much stronger. 

For this generation I had to choose between using several female characters or introducing one reoccurring female character. I chose to go with numerous designs and personalities for the female characters so that they are more representative of the many perspectives and sensibilities with in the subject matter. If I had gone with a single character, it could be misread as over simplifying or trying to settle on a single definition for the women's side of the issue. A definition I by no means claim to have. Basically, the various characters represent my educated guesses (in regards to female perspective)..

The boy on the other hand (who I will now officially and appropriately name George), is meant to serve as a vehicle for my critique of society. He is not a cartoon version of my personality, perspective or physical being (he is more of a cross between Ringo Star and Han Solo). He provides stability, serving as a compass for each panel. I use his personality in juxtaposition with the subject matter to frame how I view a specific issue (or in some cases my evaluation of where people fit in the issue). Instead of using George to deliver a particular position, I remove my opinion from the character (for the most part). He is usually very emotionally removed from the subject matter and in some ways, appears to be completely clueless to the context of the panel. He is basically feeling his way through each situation. He is just trying to make some sense of everything. Hopefully, this allows the character to appeal to the reader by connecting with the universal desire to make sense of the world and human existence.

peace

"A Nod to A Great Artist" - Generation 2: Panel 5

A lot of artists have been overlooked, unappreciated and even denied the ability to express themselves throughout history. Many have had these circumstances fall upon them due to their gender and the societal role it played during their time. Even today, women artists often are underrepresented in galleries and classrooms across the world. When social standards go unchecked and are kept from review, they can turn against the very same progression that they are meant to maintain. They lead to stagnation, and sometimes digression, that can be fully backed by a misguided populous. The story of women and their exclusion throughout art history is simply one aspect of society, which involves one form of oppression, for one part of the population. The characteristics of this type of oppression and stagnation can still be identified in our society. The moment society finds comfort in its past progress, is the time best fit for re-evaluation of its standards. It is not a matter of women's right or civil rights. It is a matter of human rights.

The artwork referenced in the panel is a nod to an incredible sculpture by French artist, Louise Bourgeois. Below is a trailer for a documentary which features her work and some words from the artist (As well as two women wearing gorilla masks).

Louise Bourgeois

"Moving Up the Sideline" - Generation 2: Panel 4

Since the turn of the century, the game of football has seen an increase of women reporters hitting the sidelines, microphone in hand. Unfortunately, some of these reporters don't do much to combat the image that they are just cheerleaders moving up the sideline. Sometimes its in the quality of questions, other times its worse.

Some recent setbacks include NFL sideline reporter Andrea Kraemer flirting with Tom Brady on national TV and a WNBA announcer asking if there is a stat column for smiles. Making things even tougher, serious reporters have to deal with the likes of a drunken Joe Namath trying to kiss them mid interview.

It may be only a matter of time before there is a woman broadcaster doing play by play in the always professional Monday Night Football booth.
MNF Booth

...and of course the Brady fawning.
Kramer vs Brady

peace

"Gender! by Hasbro!" - Generation 2: Panel 3

Find a channel with children's programming. Watch it for 20 minutes and see how long it is before you notice some kind of direct message of exclusion based on nothing but what plastic mold you will overpay for to shut your kid up. Even during these wonderful times, the lines are clearly drawn based on a tired old blueprint. There are girl's toys that are centered around shopping. Think about that, going shopping for a product that helps you pretend to go shopping for products that help you look good while shopping. Boys still get sold mindless destruction via heavy weaponry to the soundtrack guitar riffs and high fives. Now these commercials can have an effect on our culture, but they aren't necessarily a cause for panic. These things can be countered, I just hate to see anyone denied heavy weaponry to the sounds of guitar riffs and high fives.

But wait! It can get much worse.

I worked at a photo lab for a couple years. I held the prestigious title of "shipping guy". There we manufactured and distributed signs and prints for both artists and big chain stores. I was going through some work reports, legs kicked up on a rusted metal table that buckled under the weight of a filthy computer ( A computer that still threw audio tantrums when connecting to the internetz). Some people called the particular corner of the warehouse my desk.

A co-worker, and friend of mine, walked up to me with a look of disbelief on his face. Interrupting me as I was having the time of my life reviewing Fedex logs; I looked at him curiously as he stood there looking back at me for a few seconds before saying anything.

"Have you seen this?"
"Seen what?"

He gestured with his finger to follow him through a warehouse with more health hazards than a industrial revolution meat factory. I plopped my work down and followed him across the floor decorated with discarded razor blades. Kicking through random rubble and pieces of loose floor tile, I made my way through the pending lawsuit that was our workspace. We came to a a large, circular, plexi glass sign we finished and were prepping to ship out. He looked back at me and simply said,

"Can you believe this shit?"

This pink sign, decorated with flowers and other random "girly" shapes was for a well known little girls clothing store. It was a spin the wheel type of deal, with all types of sayings and questions scattered around the sign. It was meant to be placed near the entrance of the store to maximize the fun output! Here are some of the questions found on this board:

- Am I pretty enough?
- Does he like me?
- Will I ever get married?

On the answer side of things, amongst the handful of positive answers you had plenty of great answers along the lines of:

- Sorry, its not going to work out!
- No way!
.
One can easily predict the unfortunate matches provided by the omnipotent plexi glass sign. I was tempted to take a marker and add a question they left out, "Will my self esteem be deconstructed, ensuring I will be maniacally insecure by the time I get a driver's permit?". There were even more awful questions and answers, but I can't pull them from my memory. The idea is pretty cut and dry as presented.

(check out this, as always, relevant link. Proceed with caution, awesome language is used that may piss off your douche bag boss if your at work.)

Louis CK on girls and boys

think it over!

peace!

"Empty Analogies" - Generation 2: Panels 1 & 2

The first generation was a bit abstract and heavy content wise, so I figured I'd take some time to poke at gender roles and social relationships. I chose to change the pace a bit to something a little more relatable, because after this generation I'm digging right back in to what I find to be the fun stuff (next generation covers religion). I'm posting the black and white panels for this generation, I'll probably revisit them when they get colored at a later date. I will also continue to offer some brief writings with each panel to help build a greater idea behind the panels.

Most of us don't have a clue when it comes to treating people right, even the ones we care about. This explains why we come up with stupid sayings and analogies like, "that's quite a catch!" or , "plenty of fish in the sea". Simply follow that analogy through, "..and when you catch a keeper, bash its head on the side of the boat till it's dead" (Some people follow that second part in their own poetic ways). We don't need these sayings. Relationships between any two people (gender, race or religion) are some the most important activities we involve our selves in. However, it also seems to be the activity we flood with more unnecessary, generic empty sayings ripped off of greeting cards and movie scenes. At the very least we can upgrade the ones we have so they are more fitting to reality. Life is like a box of chocolates, because a good amount of your choices will taste like shit, but you won't know that until you start chewing on them because you didn't bother looking at the paper to steer clear of the chocolate covered bird shit.

"Common Sense" - Generation 1: Panel 13

This is the last panel of the 1st generation, it is a nod to a quote by Thomas Paine that was more than fitting to the ideas presented in this generation of panels. In a few weeks, I'll kick off the 2nd generation. It deals with a topic that is much easier for people to discuss, gender roles and how they effect relationships amongst men and women. It also lends itself to a more accessible sense of humor (I hope).

As this is the final entry for this generation, I included a summary on some the ideas in the panel (to the best of my ability).

The Egg

The discussion of god on any level outside of glorious praise and acceptance is too often treated as an untouchable, unacceptable topic. People unnecessarily make it an overly touchy path to tread down. It has become the only subject that demands exception of critical thought. Too many people are unable to separate themselves from emotional attachment and take part in a perfectly healthy, intellectual exchange of ideas. Many people stray away from the debate, maybe because part of them knows the case for a supernatural power that they have built up, often a personalized case, can easily be cracked. The subject taps into a very fragile aspect of the human Psyche on various levels.

It also represents the more common concept of god and how it fits into our modern world. Religion was created and served people during a time when very little was known about the world. Religion was the first attempts at trying to explain why it rains, why the masses get inflicted with disease, why the stars sprawl across the night sky and ultimately why we exist. They were a long way from knowing the answers, so religion for better or worse served as a place holder. For many, the idea of god derives directly from this creation. Now a days, the much more evolved efforts to understand the world around us is manifested in our improving science, mathematics and philosophy. Our understanding has long grown out of it's primitive stage. Meanwhile, In terms of explaining the world around us, the dominantly employed concept of god is like an egg unwilling to hatch. It is stuck in the early stages when there is much more to the life of the idea. There is much more to making sense of our lives.

The god wears the pageant like banner (the bacon wears a crown), to illustrate how gods are flaunted around by certain people with such arrogance and competitiveness. It becomes much more about ego than about the betterment of people's lives. People seem do a poor job at defending their idea of an all powerful god, and do a much more effective job at defending their ego. What is often claimed as divine law is what people pick and choose from older beliefs based on personal preference. Which explains the infinite amount of interpretations, splinter groups and conflicts with in each major religion. This flaunting of gods reminds me of stories of beauty pageants where the contestants who are obsessed with being crowned go backstage and fall victim to the ugliest behavior. Unfortunately in the real world, the ugly behavior of religious competition over god involves much more damaging and violent outcomes.

(Also god being an egg is just as legitimate as any other assumed visualization. I've yet to hear a reasonable argument from anyone claiming they know what their god looks like. Its all personal preference. I thought the egg with some nice boots and gloves looks sharp, like it's ready to get some work done.)

I felt the egg was able to capture these ideas without sacrificing any aesthetics or style. It fits comfortably in the world and doesn't get in the way of the design.

***

Another detail that may have gone unnoticed was the presence of the sun in many of the panels. It served as an ever present representative of choosing to believe in the discovered world, or universe, around us. There is nothing wrong in believing in what we know (what we know is what we can prove evidence and logic). The natural has time and time again proven to be much more wondrous than the supernatural and our ancient mythology. Without the sun none if this would exist (Kind of a "no shit Sherlock" statement). So I figured there was no better symbol to represent this mentality. (note: It is a poetic tool, not an argument for Ra the sun god).

I tried to be as concise as possible but there is still a lot more to be said, about what I've already mentioned and what I've yet to mention. It would be way too much to write here so I'm going to have to compile the full blown description for each panel someday. Until then, if anybody has any questions or feedback that could help develop any ideas (or challenge them) it would be greatly appreciated.

peace

"Assembly Not Necessary" - Generation 1 - Panel 12

Pierre-Simon Laplace was a french scientist during the 1700's and 1800's who greatly expanded on the work of Newton. He wrote the five volume book entitled Celestial Mechanics. In his writing he employed mathematical calculus to demonstrate how the solar system consisted of objects revolving in a vacuum. Essentially, he created the first understanding of the solar system as a whole from the an "outside" perspective (basically the first mapping of the solar system, like you now see in grade school classrooms). Through his work he also formulated the concept of what we now commonly refer to as "black holes". Not too shabby.

Napoleon demanded to meet this great scientist upon hearing the Celestial Mechanics made no mention of a creator. Napoleon asked him why a creator failed to appear in the writing. Laplace calmly and thoughtfully responded, "Je n'ai pas besoin de cette hypothese." In other words, he casually stated he saw no need for that hypothesis.

Here is a cool and nerdy discussion about evolution, and how humans get owned in that department when compared to most other species.

Randolph Ness Interview

peace

"The Divine Adjustment" Generation 1: Panel 11

(The following is kind of a lengthy entry relevant to this specific panel, but is about some of the ideas in the comic strip)

There is a technique often employed in debates between the two sides. The limit of our current knowledge is tested. A chain of questions demands answer after answer. Even if you provide wonderful answers a million times over, the moment you fail to provide insight (saying "I don't know") they stake their claim for a supernatural power. They choose to step just beyond the limits of scientific and philosophic progress, using that as their foundation.

Science and philosophy have an impeccable history of progression with time. They constantly expand, pushing outward the limits of our understanding. So the argument (that the supernatural exists just outside the realms of our current knowledge) either claims that this supernatural force adjusts, staying just our of the reach, or that in due time the expanse of discovery will surpass the very spot in which they have staked their claim. Meaning that inevitably, we will have proven what they believe in, which would then mean they have no reason to become an opponent to the intellectual process of science or philosophy.

Another fault can be found when applying the argument to our history. Now a days, our limits are reached when explaining the origins of prehistoric single cell life forms or where black holes lead. However, there was a time before the establishment of the germ theory, where are limits were reached very easily. The proponents of a supernatural force would ask someone before this discovery took place, why do we get sick? They would not know. The argument would then make the claim that this is the mystery that fully proves their point. If this argument would have been unanimously accepted, not much would be said for out medical advancement and many would die from what we now know as easily treatable conditions. Not only would they die, they would pass away being immorally taught their disease is a punishment. Essentially manipulating people by exploiting the limits of their knowledge.

Related to this constant divine adjustment to human discovery is a newer pattern found in many debates. The tendency for people to use the 20/20 vision that is hind sight and adopt scientific theory for their own manipulation. They loosely borrow scientific terms to create an appearance of legitimacy for very unreasonable claims. They slowly shed the mythology of old and try to adopt theories that they had once so adamantly resisted.

It may very well be that there is a supernatural force out there controlling our universe. That could be a great discovery of the future and today's supernatural would become the new natural. There are many things we know now that if proposed to previous generations would appear to be supernatural. What science and philosophy argues, is that we have yet to discover any evidence to support the existence of a supernatural force with investment in human affairs. Until credible evidence is gathered, it should not be forced upon people, or children for that matter, as reality. It should not be waved around as infallible doctrine or absolute truth. That is just plain dangerous.

Here is a very relevant program that further tackles the subject.

Richard Dawkins - Enemies of Reason (part 1 of 5)

peace

"Looking for Answers" - Generation 1: Panel 10

July 23rd, 2009

(excerpt taken from Hagakure: The book of the Samurai, 10th chapter)

"As everything in the world is but a sham, The only sincerity is death."

peace

"The Assumption of Supervision" - Generation 1: Panel 9

I wanted a certain relationship to develop between the two characters as they spent more time with each other. As time progressed I wanted the boy's questions to parallel the academic and intellectual process. As they become more familiar with each other, he get's deeper into a natural investigation (as you will see in the next few panels). His approach to the egg takes on a new shape with each interaction providing new realizations. Often, the value in their exchanges can be found in him learning of his own assumptions. Assumptions that can easily go uncontested and unchecked unless they are brought into the light through critical thought. The potential of human thought is stifled when convinced something is truth without ever analyzing what exactly the proclamation of that truth is or the basis for its establishment.

peace

"The Universe Will Make You Humble" - Generation 1: Panel 8

One look to the stars can be therapeutic and humbling. It can remind you just how small you really are in the grand scheme of things. We can't see the stars in the city. Even in places where we can, it's still not clear enough to get the full spectrum. That explains a lot.

But moving on....

On the evening of June 22nd I was with some of my friends driving back from some place (I can't recall where at the moment). I had mentioned that Carlin was scheduled to come to town in October. All being fans of his work, we enthusiastically agreed that we had to be there. We also jokingly remarked, "If he's still alive by then, he wasn't looking too good as of late" (mostly referring to his Life is Worth Losing special in 2005). As I got home, I tossed my keys and wallet on my table, plopped on my bed and flipped open my laptop. I began my regular routine of checking emails and news outlets. I don't remember what news site I was on, but there it was. The usual flood of information on the website might as well erased from the page, as one headline jumped out at me. George Carlin passes away.

I didn't necessarily feel sad, but it definitely had an impact on me. Carlin lived to an old age and it would be unreasonable to expect him to live forever. I do remember selfishly thinking, "if he could have just stuck around for at least 10 more years". There was too much that needed to be said. Too much that people needed to hear. In an era overly concerned with image, marketing, political correctness and bullshit, his work became that much more valuable. May his soul rest peacefully in that garage in Buffalo.

Carlin on Dying

peace

"The World Is Enough" - Generation 1 : Panel 7

I consider growing up in the 90's and 2000's to be an advantageous experience. In many ways, my generation reaps the benefits of some of the greatest sacrifices and technological advances in history thus far. The knowledge at our fingertips is nearly endless. The beauty of the world around us is more fully realized and can be appreciated at a much deeper level. This makes things much tougher for the religious or supernatural sales pitch. Mythologies that were once filled with wonder that captured people's imaginations now seem primitive and unreasonable. They seem to sell the world short. They just don't stack up to our gained knowledge. After studying the mountains of evolutionary data, the story of Adam and Eve is revealed as the cardboard prop that it is. The discovery of germ theory and the overwhelming medical advancement since then, make claims of divine punishment appear immoral, childish and manipulative. When reading of hydrogen colliders and nuclear power, a burning bush, well, is a burning bush. Many speak of the awe found in religious mythology, but they are an old gimmick. An attraction that did not age well. They are like the lonesome "Prehistoric Parks!" at the side of the otherwise empty strip of highway. Their land littered with rusty, poorly painted, anatomically incorrect statues of ancient beasts, trying to sell a ticket that is no longer relevant.

Many stubbornly resist the truths discovered by science and are even further resistant to the discussion of these very truths. There is an unfair, negative stigma tagged to the world of science by it's opposition. I thought I would share another video that is very relevant to providing insight to the comic strip's influence. A great anecdote was told during a candid exchange between two great minds, Richard Dawkins and Neil DeGrasse Tyson. It serves as an appropriate response to the naysayers of science. (link below)

Tyson vs Dawkins

peace

"More Questions" - Generation 1: Panel 6

While working on the panels, it was hard not to notice the difference between the look when inked and when colored. With some panels, the color really bought out some details while dulling others. The retro style shading went from being a dominate detail when inked, to being much more disguised when combined with the shading in the color. The decision to color some areas and not others was part of the design, but for some panels I still held a preference to the original inks.


The very first panel created for The Front Row name (which is currently not in my possession), was a preliminary design very different from the look used for the 1st generation. It didn't feature these characters or any central character for that matter. The initial idea was to create a strip that was a direct reference to the political cartoon style used during the late 1800's and early 1900's. The black and white panel featured "generic" characters that represented an era and social class more than an individual personality. The penciled panel was even inked with the more traditional fountain pen, incorporating a more scratchy look. This uncolored panel heavily leans towards the final design, but in many ways serves as a bridge between the final and preliminary visual aesthetic.

"There Are No Stupid Questions" - Generation 1: Panel 5

Here us a two-fer for friday:

In the first grade at my Catholic school I was wandering the classroom bored. I can't remember if I were on break or if I was just going AWOL when I was supposed to be cutting construction paper or some other mindless task involving Elmer's glue. I was playing around by these metal beams aligned to a wooden shelf. It's where we hung our coats from hangers and stored our lunchboxes, or brown paper bags in my case. One of my weirder classmates came up to me and told me a story of a guy who was playing around just like I was. Eventually, the shelf collapsed on him and killed him (the guy in the story not my classmate, no such luck). He walked away. I went back to pretending I was Spider-man. He came back telling me he lied about the story and that he told it just to get me to stop playing around on the shelves. He said I was going to get in trouble (must've been a teacher's pet aka informant). I thought to myself, "Telling lies? That's a shitty way to get your point across". Then I went to religion class...

All through grade school my religion class was one of my favorites. Not because I particularly took to the material, but because I was told I needed good grades and I knew it was an easy "A". In all my other classes I had to show my work, explain my answers and show my reference. In religion class the answers weren't too demanding. God is great, its a miracle, draw a picture of Jesus and collect your "A". All in a days work.

peace

"The Inevitable Issue" Generation 1: Panel 4

Most faction amongst people can be attributed to superficial predispositions. Race, gender and religious associations claimed to serve as a vehicle for unity can easily have the exact opposite effect. It's kind of like unity among sports fans. How many times have complete strangers hugged, high five'd or bonded over nothing more than the NFL logos stitches to their clothes. Walk around with a popular sports team slapped on your back and its only a matter of time before some one gives you a nod of approval or generic words of support. No filter or screening whatsoever. For all they know, they're giving an approving nod to a serial rapist who kicks babies in the face for fun, but god damn it if he ain't a Bears fan. On the other hand, immediate blind hatred and anger is assigned to people wearing the logo of the wrong team. So sometimes religious, race and gender affiliations can be like being a crazed football fan, with alot more killing. Kind of like soccer.

(edit: Just a few notes. This one might be weird but I don't want to explain too much or the picture is pointless. Think faction created by our affiliation, limited resources, and a piece bacon in high tops.)

"Problem Solving" Generation 1: Panel 3

The characters of The Front Row never went through a drafting or concept stage. They were conceived and developed on the final panels themselves. So their personalities and look wasn't fully defined until about half way through the first generation (mistakes here and there can be spotted). Visually, the changes are subtle. It was there personalities that really became something I couldn't have planned better. It was cool to let the characters naturally progress depending on the situations in each panel. As I got more comfortable with their design and personalities, I felt like their interactions became more familiar and comfortable. So, for me, it was like watching watching a familiarity and friendship develop between the two characters. Which turned out great for who they are supposed to be and what each character represents.

Anthony Sixto

peace

"Who has the answers?" - Generation 1: Panel 2

(I mentioned in the first post I would incorporate an epilogue in the final post. I feel like I should say something in the meanwhile. So, I figured I would include some random stories on the creative process and a few providing some insight to why the series is named in honor of Carlin)

I remember my parents sitting down to watch the one of Carlin's specials. As far as I can remember this was my introduction to his work. I couldn't have been older than 9 years old. So as expected, I was kicked out of the room and sent of to bed. I was too restless to go to sleep and too intrigued by the forbidden comedian. As the special played in the next room, little did my parents know I had my ear against the door of my bedroom and heard just about every word. I was in complete awe. I tried to memorize as much as I could. I hopped back in bed with my latest linguistic expansion freshly swirling around in my head. I didn't know what half of it meant, but I knew it was good. While the kids at school were trying to talk to me about Power Rangers, I had a whole new set of words to take for a test drive in the playground.

Just to get an idea of what I was working with, here is the specific part I vividly remember leaking through the bedroom door and finding there way to my ears. Be advised, awesome language is used that may not be safe for work (no lie, this is the exact bit).

Filthy Words

"The Illusion of Riddle" - Generation 1: Panel 1 -

Day 1 - This is the first panel of 13 for the first generation. An introductory panel if you will (will you?). I will be posting panels every other day for the next few of weeks. There is much to be said with each panel. On the final post of the generation I will include an epilogue style summary. Thanks for taking the time to check out the blog. Questions, interpretation and feedback, both negative and positive, are welcome. Feel free to spread the word and send the link to the blog around.

Anthony Sixto

Peace