Runners High
Hey folks,
So my 11 x 17 scanner, which is what I use to scan in strips, is on its last leg. Rather than buy a new one, I decided to give my ol’ drawing tablet another go. Seems like that’s what all the kids are doing these days.
This is my first attempt at drawing this particular comic on a tablet. I hand-lettered the strip so as to make it match with its pen and paper brethren, but I may end up using a font in the future. I think the letters are a wee bit thick one this one so I’ll try one brush size smaller for tomorrow’s.
It’s been a LONG time since I’ve had to actually play around with a tablet and Photoshop, and boy howdy, do I feel rusty. Hopefully this strip will look as good – if not better – once I my mojo working again.
It actually looks pretty good adam, kind of gives it a high definition feel. Everything is so bold!
Would jogging in place really be that much less of a work-out?
I think this strip looks fantastic, including the text.
Before I read the little text explanation, I was wondering just why the strip looked so good today.
It’s noticeably different, but in a good way.
Please don’t go to a font, I love your lettering.
What happened to jog-bugs face in the last panel?
Did he grow a snout?
That’s not jog-bug. It’s crack-addicted bug in the last panel. Thus the “fidgeting”.
I was thinking crackhead’s face was skeletal due to lack of food.
It’s great! It’s just different enough to make me go, “Ooooooo!” but not so far I feel the strip has been completely reborn. I agree that fonts, while faster, are just no substitute for lettering. Your lettering is tradition. You CANNOT take it away from us.
Are you gonna take away the xmas turkey shortly after that? I didn’t think so.
Face it, man. You’re stuck with lettering till your hands are just too shaky to draw the strip anymore.
Mwahaha!
Yeah, the way I feel about using fonts for this strip is like Darth Vader in Return of The Jedi when Luke asks him to leave the Empire.
“…It is…too late for me, son.”
I… didn’t notice a difference at all. I do like the lettering, though, now that it’s been pointed out.
Lettering takes some time getting used to, but everything else isn’t that different.
But don’t use font. It would by like Wallace and Gromit being in Shrek-like animation.
For being rusty, you sure can pull off a close to the original style!
You’ve quickly become one of my fave comics and you know there’s a fierce competition. Just saying.
For being rusty, you sure can pull off a close to the original style!
You’ve quickly become one of my fave comics and you know there’s a fierce competition. Just saying.
I can’t notice a thing, even after changing medium it fits right in with the old comics. Of course I am sure there are details that matter greatly to the creator!
I agree with everyone Adam, This looks great! Your letters are just fine, and all the detail is still there. Keep it up for this week and if you don’t like it then try it the other way!
Or switch and don’t tell anyone and see if they notice 😉
Oh, they’ll notice. My readers are far more observant than I am. I can’t get away with nuthin’.
I love the lettering work you do, and for having not used a tablet for some time, I am quite impressed!
I can’t afford a tablet quite yet, so I am still clicking around in Inkscape for the illustrations on my potentially blasphemous blog.
The last panel also had my coworker and I reeling. Great job!
Keep bein’ awesome, Adam.
Thanks!
The comic looks absolutely awesome. I’m on the “love the lettering the way it is” boat. I’ve been a big fan of your comics for a long time. Do what’s comfortable for you, but it’s perfect the way it is!
Looks great! No issue with the letters. Would have never known had you not said anything. Keep up the good work!
I didn’t notice that you drew the strip with differently until I read the comments. It looks fine!
Amazing. This comic is sooo funny
It’s fitting that I see an advertisement for GNC with today’s comic. If running’s a dangerous addiction, GNC is like their crackhouse (along with Foot Locker).
Is that a reference to “Reefer Madness” in the first panel?
Yep. Was wondering if anyone would catch that.
I definitely prefer the previous style, but it’s always hard switching mediums for the first time in a while. And Bug still made me smile, so it’s all good. 🙂
I didn’t notice any difference until I read your comment and compared this comic to the previous. If anything, the lettering simply looks different. Not better or worse.
Thank you all so much for your comments! I was really dreading today’s comments yesterday. I fully expected a backlash or people telling me the text was illegible. But, as usual, I was worried over nothing. You’d think I’d learn to just stop worrying so much by now.
No, it looks good. Much cleaner. But yeah you’re right about the font part. Good luck next time, we are waiting! 🙂
Might be harder to offer the originals for sale when using a tablet though.
By harder, do you mean impossible?
On the contraty. It’s way easier. They never sell out.
There is actually a somewhat recognized condition called IIRC “runner’s addiction” in which people compulsively run or perform other forms of exercise to the point it causes physical harm, impairs work or disrupts relationships. There have even been a handful of deaths attributed to the phenomena.
At least they die fit.
Running causes the brain to release endorphins, which triggers the same pleasure reaction in the brain that heroin does. Runners are just smack addicts.
Jogging make me sleep the whole day